KnitPicks Order and Ravelry Planning

The Husband was a very smart man this year and got me a gift certificate to Knit Picks to celebrate my first ever Mother's Day.  Very very smart man.  Over holidays and birthdays he has figured out what makes me most happy: yarn money (and dark chocolate).

When I get yarn money to spend, I like to plan out my projects before picking out my yarn. This is where the Ravelry Queue tab is SUPER useful!  I don't always stick to my queue plans, but it helps me tremendously to plan out what types of projects I want to knit in the future, and that helps me to organize my yarn orders with the right quantities I need in the colors I like most.

1.)  The Terrace Wrap

First up in my queue for the summer is this gorgeous lightweight wrap from Purl Soho.

The Terrace Wrap by Purl Soho

This wrap calls for 1236 yards (1130 m) of fingering weight silk yarn.  For this project, I'd like it to be super lightweight for summer, so I've decided to knit it in lace weight cotton yarn.  Knit Pick's Curio is perfect for this.  I'm guessing I will need to go down a bit in needle size and increase my yardage to get a similar fabric as the fingering the pattern was originally designed for.  For this I'm ordering 3 balls (2163 yards total) in Sagebrush.

2.)  Sockhead Slouch Hat

Next I plan to knit the Sockhead Slouch Hat by Kelly McClure.  This hat calls for 400 yards of fingering weight sock yarn.  For this I will use Knit Picks Hawthorn Fingering Multi Yarn in Forest Park.  I'll need to get 2 skeins and will have most of one left over after this project, but I'll use the extra in my next queued project.

3.)  2-Color Shawl to be designed

My next project will be a two color shawl that I'm designing.  It will use one varegated yarn as a contrasting color (the Forest Park Hawthorne above) and a solid yarn as the main color.  For the main color I'll be using Knit Picks Stroll Tonal Sock Yarn in the Pearlescent colorway.  I'll be getting one 100g skein for that project.

4,) Circe by Jenny Wiebe

The last project in my queue I'll be buying yarn for is a baby cardigan.  We just welcomed my little niece into the family this last weekend, so you betcha I'm planning out her Christmas present already!  I'm going to knit her a baby size of the Circe cardigan.

For this project I'll be using Knit Picks Comfy Sport yarn.  After chatting it over with my SIL, she decided on some super cute colors.  I'll be ordering 2 skeins of Marlin for the main color, 1 skein of Peapod for the bottom and polka dot CC, 1 skein of Zannia for the neck CC.  I'm thinking I'll make it for Christmas 2018 for her since I know from experience it isn't always ideal to put an infant in a sweater.  It should be a very fun and colorful knit when I get to it.  I'm thinking I might be able to work out a matching hat from the contrasting color leftovers.

I'm also ordering a US size 2 16" fixed cable needle.  I don't have this size in my needle inventory and I'll need it to make the sockhead hat.

So there you have it.  Four lovely projects planned for under $50 of Knit Picks' yarn!

1-Hour Kitchen Soap Mat - Free Pattern

I have been working on several longer-term projects recently, and I just needed a win... I needed a quick F.O. (finished object) to take the edge off.  I perused my yarn stash and found some KnitPicks Dishie in Honeydew that my parents had gotten me for Christmas last year.

I've had this idea in my head for a while that I want to knit myself a TON of dish cloths and retire all of my store bought ones to the rag bin, but I want to replace them in one fell swoop.  This time, had the urge to finish a project that I could use immediately, so knitting that many dish cloths was off the idea board.

I looked around my kitchen and saw two places I was using dish cloths other than in the sink.  I had one dish cloth folded in half next to my sink with dish soap, hand soap, and sink plug.  I don't like these things being on that little area of the actual sink, so off to the side they go.  I decided I could knit something to replace it at the exact size I needed.

I also had a folded dish cloth to the right of my oven where my salt shaker, pepper grinder, and nutritional yeast is (it's a vegan Parmesan-like thing).  My pepper grinder was leaving behind little pepper particles, so I had stuck a dish cloth there to catch them and keep my counter more tidy.  I decided to knit a second one exactly the same size for this space.

After measuring and approximating my gauge, I got to work.  I finished knitting both of them before we finished our movie the other night.  (We were watching Dances With Wolves, which was a great movie.)

This is a perfect beginning knitting project, or one to give you a quick FO when you just need to feel accomplished like I needed the other day.

To download the FREE pattern PDF on Ravelry, check out my designer's page here.

OR CLICK HERE FOR AN INSTANT DOWNLOAD.

5 Tips to become a Motivated Summer Knitter

As summer and warmer weather approaches, I can't help but feel a little sad.  As a knitter I thrive on chilly weather and cozy couches by the fire to knit.  Then summer comes along and my time at the needles takes a dramatic plunge, but it doesn't have to be this way!  You can have your yarn and knit it too!  Follow some of my tips below to keep the knitting obsession love going all year long.

1.)  Choose your projects wisely.

Are you going to want a bulky project on your needles (and on your lap) when the summer heat hits?  Definitely not!  I give you permission to put down that wooly cardigan you've been working on and cast on something airy and petite.  Loose-gauge knitting, simple lacework, or something small like a sock would be ideal.  Here are a few (FREE!) projects that would work great.

Claire by Lynn Anne Banks

Rose City Rollers shorty sock pattern, by Mara Catherine Bryner

Holey Square Shawl by Marianne Sigg

2.)  Explore plant fibers.

Wool and summer don't really mix well.  That's okay, because there are tons of plant-based fiber blends to choose from that can work well for household knits as well as apparel.  To avoid those sweaty-wool-palms try casting on in yarns made of cotton, linen, bamboo, hemp, flax, or even modal which is made from wood.

Personally, I love a good cotton blend like KnitPick's Shine Sport, which is 60% pima cotton, 40% modal.  They have 30 colors in this yarn line, and at $2.99 per 50g skein (110 yards), you can't beat the price!

KnitPick's Shine Sport

Another KnitPicks yarn that is great for summer knitting is their Lindy Chain yarn.  It is a 70% linen, 30% pima cotton blend, in fingering weight.  Perfect for lightweight summer accessories, and it comes in 26 different colors.

KnitPick's Lindy Chain (fingering weight)

No knitter's stash is complete without some cotton Dishie 100% cotton yarn to make dishcloths, towels, and other household items.  Dishie yarn is durable and has high absorbancy for cleaning around the house, but is soft enough for items like baby bibs.  KnitPick's offers Dishie in solids and multi-color shades.

KnitPick's Dishie (solids, worsted)

Dishie Multi-Yarn (worsted)

3.)  Make it mobile.

Again, size is important when it comes to summer knits, but so is the accessibility of that project.  Are you going to be likely to grab a large project bag with multiple skeins as you are running out for a summer adventure?   Keep your projects mobile by using a small project bag that you can easily toss into your beach bag or purse.  Here are a few handmade project bags on Etsy that would work wonderfully for a small summer knitting project.

Project bag by Piggy's Market

Zippered Project Bag by Aubrey Ann Sewing Co

Drawstring Project Bags by Sew and Tell Handmade

4.)  Keep it simple.

I love colorwork and striping as much as the next knitter, but in the summer I like to keep my projects limited to one or two colorways.  I also like to avoid projects that require extra notions and supplies such as cable needles, stitch markers, waste yarn, etc.  If I pick a project with a chart, I download the pattern PDF on my phone so that I'm able to read that pattern without printing anything out.  Here are a few simple (and free) patterns to consider for your summer knitting.

Oh, Helen! by Knits With Penguins Designs

Bonus!  This pattern has a mobile PDF download for easy pattern reading on a phone.

Honey Cowl by Antonia Shankland

How lovely would this be in a nice linen yarn?  

I could see sitting around a summer fire with this cowl for sure.

With a 4 round repeat (two of those knit stitches), this would be a fun and easy summer knit.

Simple Shawl by Jane Hunter

This shawl is in fingering weight and is primarily garter stitch.  Easy, squishy garter!

5.)  WANT that FO.

Let's be honest.  You aren't going to knit a lot in the summer on a project you don't WANT.  So, pick a project that isn't a gift knit for upcoming birthdays or Christmas.  Don't pick something with utility like you might in the winter such as gloves and hats.  Pick something you've been wanting just for you.  Do a little selfish knitting and love every minute of it!  That's why we all love knitting, right?  It's our "me time".  So make it even more your "me time" by making yourself something special.

Here is my little indulgence this summer:

Purl Soho's new Terrace Wrap

I've decided this will be my summer knit.
 I have a KnitPicks gift card from Mother's day
I'll be using to get some lace weight yarn to make
it even more light and lovely.

Do you have any other tips on how you keep yourself motivated in the summer to knit?  Leave them in the comments below!  HAPPY KNITTING!

Ascension

April is a dear friend from high school.  She is one of the few friends that now as adults we still get each other Christmas and birthday gifts.  My gift to her this Christmas was a jar of jelly... which is lame of me, but a baby was just had and mama was tired!  She sent her gift to me with my mom when she visited earlier this month and it was hilarious!

Not in the sense that it was a gag gift or meant to be outright ha-ha funny, but hilarious nonetheless.  As a non-knitter, April always appreciates any hand knit items gifted to her (which I need to get working on for her birthday this spring to make up for the lameness of Christmas this year), and knows I love all things yarn-y.  In opening her card before the gift she explained that when she ordered the gift online she thought it was like 7x bigger than it actually was.  I pulled the present out in front of my mother hoping to god it wasn't something raunchy, and this came out.

I could just picture the hilarious look on her face when she got this in the mail instead of the full-sized skeins she was expecting.  Each one of these wee skeins is 17 yards of worsted weight yarn.  I can fit one in the palm of my hand.

Well, never letting the appearance of not enough yarn get in my way, I promptly cast on and knit up a hat taking advantage of the color gradient.  I ended up making a nice beanie to fit my big head with enough to make a pom pom for the top.  The hat only took me 6 of the mini skeins (I left out the purple and brown for a different project.)

In case you have something like this guy to use up, or have a couple of minis from advent calendars to use up (Seriously, how did I not know about the advent calendar minis!?  Next Christmas I will have to tell the Husband that this is a thing and all yarn-crafters get one and if I don't I will be missing out on a vital part of the holiday season amongst my fellow yarnies.) here is my rough (free) pattern.

If you prefer to download the PDF, check the Ravelry pattern page here.

 

 Ascension (noun) - the act or process of ascending

Yarn: 6 gradient colors, worsted weight (17-25 yards/16-23 meters each), referred to as C1-6
Needle: 16" US 7 (4.5 mm) circular, US 7 DPNs or long circular (for closing the crown)
Gauge: 18 sts and 24 rows per 4"/10cm in St st
Sizes: adult small (medium, large)

CO 80 (84, 88) sts in C1.  Ensure the sts aren't twisted and join in the rnd, placing a marker at the beginning of the rnd.

In C1, k2, p2 rib for three rounds.

Gradient pattern:

With C2 and knit one round.

Switch back to C1 and knit one round.

Repeat these two rounds once more.

Switch to C2 and knit for 3 rounds.  

With C3 and knit one round.
Switch back to C2 and knit one round.
Repeat these two rounds once more.
Switch to C3 and knit for 3 rounds.

Continue in this manner ending with C6.

At this point you can add a 7th or 8th color and continue the gradient through the decreases, or you can use up the yarn you have.  From here I continued to finish up C6, then moved back to C5 and then C4 to finish the crown.  I used the rest I had left from C1-3 to make the pom pom.

Crown Decreases: Follow your chosen color pattern through the decreases.
Rnd 1: k2tog 0(1,0) times, [k8(k8,k9), k2tog] repeat 8(8,8) more times, k2tog 0(1,0) times.
Rnd 2 (and all even rounds): k all sts
Rnd 3:[k7(k7,k8), k2tog] repeat until end.
Rnd 5: [k6(k6,k7), k2tog] repeat until end.
Rnd 7: [k5(k5,k6), k2tog] repeat until end.
Rnd 9: [k4(k4,k5), k2tog] repeat until end.
Rnd 11: [k3(k3,k4), k2tog] repeat until end.
Rnd 13: [k2(k2,k3), k2tog] repeat until end.
Rnd 15: [k1(k1,k2), k2tog] repeat until end.
Rnd 17(only for large size, small and large skip to Rnd 19): [k1, k2tog] repeat until end.
Rnd 19: [k2tog] repeat until end.

Break yarn and thread through remaining stitches, pulling tight.  Weave in ends and add a pom pom with any leftover yarn.

 

Happy Knitting!

Seahawks 12th Man Wine Cozy

Any Seahawks fans out there?!  I've lived in the northwest my whole life and am therefore a Seahawks fan.  Life as a Seahawks fan has been admittedly pretty good over the last few years... except for that one moment which we will never speak of again.

Watching football is generally associated with beer drinking, but hey, wine drinkers like football too!  I designed this Seahawks wine cozy for a white elephant gift exchange, and I don't know if it is because booze were involved or everyone at the party was a Seahawks fan, but it got passed around a few times ;).

To find the pattern for purchase ($2.50 US), go to my Ravelry designers page here.

If you are a new knitter and haven't tried fair isle (stranded) colorwork yet, don't be afraid of this pattern!  This is the perfect project to give fair isle a try!

FO: Hedgerow Socks

I finished my 2nd ever pair of socks the other day.  This has been my grab and go knitting for the last month, so the bulk of my at-home knitting time was spent on other projects.  Socks are really a labor of love.  They take longer for me to finish than most things I generally knit, but that is what I like most about them.  I like that my project stays small and portable.  I like when I give these away as a gift (and these ones I am), that person will know how much love and time went into them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this pattern.  This pattern is written cuff down.  The repeat was super easy to memorize, and the directions for the heel, gusset, and toe were clear and concise.  I particularly enjoyed how the toe was constructed.  Rather than having decreases on either side of the toe with grafting at the end, it treated the toe decreases similar to that of a hat.  I may just use this toe to replace others in sock patterns I knit in the future.

FO: Baby Pilot-Style Hat

This weekend is my cousin's baby's 1st birthday.  (I did the research and apparently she is my first cousin, once removed.)  Unfortunately, I live half a state away and won't be able to be there for the celebration, so I'll be mailing little Sophie's hat to her.

Master Bathroom Remodel Plan

My parents planned a last minute trip to come visit us this upcoming weekend (after Mom and I figured out with our schedules and their other travels we wouldn't see each other until late April).  I've been plotting a master bathroom remodel for quite some time, so I thought with my handy dad around, we might be able to hammer a few projects out this weekend.

My goal is to make myself a relaxing and chic master bathroom that has MINIMAL costs.  The Husband generally rolls his eyes at home decor/remodeling, so if I make it as inexpensive as possible, he can't really complain when we end up with a nice new room right?

Here is the "before" (as I started clearing things out to begin painting).

The walls are not quite a lime green, but not quite pastel.  This is the color when we moved in, and I don't think I would pick this color for my house.  I do like cooler colors overall, but when I'm putting makeup on every morning in this room... I have to be careful not too put on too much blush when a green tint is being reflected back at me.  It took me a while to realize that the ceiling was also painted this spring green color and not just a reflection of the walls.

A Week of Tired

Last week was shadowed by an overarching, dreadful tiredness.  So tired, in fact that my knitting has come to a slow crawl with only a row here or there right as I sit down for the evening to watch this or that on Netflix (last night was Full Metal Jacket - the Husband's pick, not mine).  Not that my knitting isn't interesting.  I'm really enjoying my current projects.  It's just that knitting takes hand movements... but more importantly requires some brain work and that just isn't happening been happening lately.

Here is what is happening in the slow roll of my projects this week:

I finished my Brioche Cowl over a week ago.  I had this idea that I wanted to wear it for a date night we were having the next day to see the Globetrotters.  (This, by the way was not a "Valentine's" date.  I had gotten the Husband these tickets for his birthday last month.  We have made it a tradition to not celebrate Valentine's day, and instead we have a goal to go on at least one date a month.  I like this spread out love and fun rather than one day of trying to show off and annoyingly post it on social media.  The only person in the world that needs to know how much the Husband loves me is me.)

Fortunately, I got some pictures of me in the Brioche Cowl at the game.  Unfortunately for you all, I really didn't make much of an effort with makeup... or a hairbrush for that matter.

I also have a pair of Hedgerow Socks on the needles.  This is my commuting project that is always in the car with me.  I have two points in my commute where I sit not moving in traffic for 10-20 minutes each way depending on the day.  That's vital knitting time... and better than messing around on my phone waiting for the line to move.

I'm making these for a gift for someone in the coming months.  This is my second official pair of socks ever (I've made Christmas stockings, but those don't quite count), and my second so far this year.  I have a goal to finish three pairs before the end of the year, and I can tell I'm getting the sock knitting bug.  I like this pattern and how it is written, but I probably won't knit it again.  It is a lot of knit purl knit knit purl purl.  My favorite part of the sock is the toe.  It is different than I have knit before (with decreases on either side making almost seams).  This is more similar to a hat decrease of k2tog every couple of rounds.  I think it is much more comfortable to wear, AND no kitchener stitch to finish the toes!

I'm excited to finish and block these socks, although I will need to wait until my parents visit again, as my dad made me sock blockers out of really thick cardboard.  I'm excited to see how they work!

The second item (still and will be for a while) on my needles is the Gnarled Oak Cardi.  I've made it through the body up until the bottom of where the sleeves will seam in, and have now moved on to the first sleeve.  This is slow going and boring, so I have been knitting a few rows when I get the will power every now and then.  This week this has not happened with the eternal tiredness.  I'm hoping to have this cardigan done around June so I can wear it for my birthday.  I'm picturing a backyard BBQ with friends and a fire in our firepit.  I'll wear a cute pair of shorts I have with a black tee and this cardigan.  What a nice birthday present it will be for myself.

The third item on my needles in a Garter Yoke Baby Cardi (for 6-12 months).  It is knit in one piece top down.  Is small.  And will make me feel accomplished when all I have been knitting are hats and cowls and socks.  I cast on to make this for a friend who just had a baby, but if it turns out too cute to part with, I may keep it in a future baby stash.

I feel a bit nervous about having five little buttons on a baby cardigan like this.  Babies stick everything in their mouths and this is just the size to be troublesome if they were to fall off.  Is there a trick to REALLY sewing on buttons?  I'll have to do some research.

Heartwarmers and Basic Winter Hats

My adorable twin nephews are turning two next month, and of course I have to knit them something!  Because I'm determined to have my knitting theme of the year be "Seriously?  I'm done a month early?!", I started back in January.  I know, my theme is probably overly optimistic, but a knitter can dream can't she?

Their mom (my sister-in-law), Katie requested Heartwarmer cowls so that they could match the one I made their dad for Christmas in 2014.  The whole "I wanna be like daddy" thing is about the cutest thing I can imagine, so I cast on right away in the 2-4 yo size, finishing the cowls (Archer's and Xanders) within a few days and well before the end of January.

I really enjoyed the Heartwarmer pattern.  It was very well written with short rows (which have been hard for me to wrap **hehe, get it?** my brain around), as well as reglan shaping for the shoulders which I have never done before.  I used seed stitch at the top and bottom as the pattern suggested, but still found that with the yarn I used it had a bit of curl to it.  I'm currently blocking them, so hopefully that will straighten things out.  The pattern is written fairly well for those who use the magic loop method like I do, but it is certainly not necessary if you use a short circular or DPNs.

Next, I cast on to make two Basic Winter Hats in toddler size (Archer's and Xander's).  This pattern was really simple and I managed to finish both in about two days.  I really love the wide brim on these, and with the lovely family trait of having large heads, these should fit them for a year or two at least.  I didn't feel like the hats needed blocking, so I weaved in the ends and am leaving as is.

The yarn I used for both projects is Cascade Yarn's Pacific in Persimmon, purchased in November 2013 in Port Angeles, WA at Cabled Fiber Studios.  This is the same yarn that I used to make the twins little foxes and scarves before they were born.  Awww....  Right?  Even after making the fox softies, fox scarves, winter hats, and cowls, I still have a skein and a half leftover.  I also have this same yarn in a black, blue, and green, so maybe something can come of that someday.

I also found these cute little socks in the Target to go with the hats and cowls.  The socks may be a bit too big for them yet, but I just couldn't resist!  Here is the full gift.  Two year olds in the excitement of birthday party will probably move on quickly, but as long as mom and dad get me some pictures of them wearing it later, I don't mind.  Baby/Toddler knits seem to go so quickly too.

Vitamix

Please join me in welcoming the newest addition to my kitchen.... the Vitamix 5300!!!!  I'm currently contemplating what to name her/him.  I think it should start with a V, just so I can remember it better.  Vasco?  Vladamir?  Victor?  Vera?  I'll work on it.

Here is the beauty making me a berry smoothie for breakfast this morning.
(The Husband who leaves earlier than me for work was quite jealous when I sent him a picture.)

I am lucky beyond belief that the Parents thought an appropriate exchange of goods and services was to give me a Vitamix for watching their pup for the last month or so.  (I think I got the better end of that deal, but don't tell them!)

Now, since we were first married four years ago, I have had a very good KitchenAid blender.  It got the job done (with time and often lots of spatula scraping) enough so that I could never think of a good enough excuse to abandon it and spend a small fortune on a Vitamix.  I just kept hoping that a time would come that it would "vroom" its last and we would simultaneously win the lottery.... or at least a really good scratch ticket.

Alas, this wildly impossible situation did not need to come.  When the Parents arrived Saturday morning, Dad brought in a sizable box and pronounced it as their "thank you" for watching Tilly (now and at least one more time).  I ripped open the brown paper wrapped package to see just a part of one side.  It had a fondue bowl on it.  I have been lactose intolerant for over a decade and mostly avoid (especially liquid) cheese at all cost.  The Parents know this, so I had a momentary mind panic of what I would say.

Here is it on its virgin run in making Hummus (recipe on my food blog here).

More of the brown paper came off to reveal a brightly colored smoothie.  I knew what this was!  Jumping up and down squealing in my robe and slippers followed.  The Husband looked on with only a portion of the enthusiasm I was experiencing (he will understand my joy when I get to using it more and more this week... and forever!).

Our conversation later on Sunday after the Parents headed home went something like this:

The Husband: So you are covered for life when it comes to kitchen stuff right?
Me:  Yes.
The Husband: Ok, good, because next time you--
Me: Well, at least for now.  Let me clarify, I am covered on major appliances for a long long time.  Having this now means that I can give away my old blender, my old food processor, and my old mini food processor.
The Husband:  Sigh.