WIP: "Hermione's Everyday Socks" in Noro Sock Yarn

I have finally decided to use my ball of Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn that I bought in college. You might be seeing a theme here: start using yarn bought over a decade ago. It's a noble cause. However, you get to the point were it's nestalgic, and then you don't feel like you can use the yarn unless you have found the absolute perfect project for it.

I divided the 100g ball into two seperate balls. I am making no attempt to line up the colors as I knit the socks toe-up. This will be my first pair of mis-matched socks, and I can't think of a better way to do this than rustic yarn that looks handspun.

Project: Hermione's Everyday Socks

Yarn: Noro Kureyon Socks (single-ply yarn), colorway 185 S

Needles: US 1.5 (2.25mm) and US 1 (2mm)

Started: sometime in 2018 (started for car-knitting, and then hibernated)

Although there's some purple in it, this colorway is really out of my regular colorway preference, so I hope the colors work up nicely.

This pair of sock lives inside my lovely Sailor Moon project bag from Otterly Adorable Knits and my bamboo yarn bowl from Darn Good Yarns. Don't you love how the colorway matches the colors in the bag? It's the little things in life. I got this bag almost a couple of years ago during a slump in my life. Sailor Moon was my favorite anime show back in middle school, so this is me channeling my inner child for a few smiles.

There's so many shades of purple in this sock colorway. In the wrong lighting, it almost looks like one giant purple chunk. The green/yellow really looks much nicer in person though.

I was planning on working another shortrow heel, but since there's already large sections of one color, I plan on doing an afterthought heel with a contrasting color from the leftover yarn.

In the midwest (Illinois), everything is shut down right now. We have having historic extreme temperature with -30's-40's+ for the wind-chill. They are telling us that if you stay out longer than 5 minutes, you might actually loose a limb to frostbite, or get hypothermia. Yikes. We are actually have colder weather than Antartica at the moment. Hopefully it blows over in 24 hours and our furnace and water pipes come through this unscathed.

Stay warm! Times like these really make you grateful for the basic necessities that you have--warmth, shelter, food and er, knitting.

FO: French Press Slippers

Pattern: French Press Slippers by Melynda Bernardi

Yarn: 2 balls of Paton's Classic Wool in the color teal--double or triple stranded

Needles: US 15

Started: Jan 24, 2019  Completed: Jan 25, 2019

The easy portion is knitting the parts. (The hard part is the felting.) I timed knitting the "top" of the slipper, and each one took me roughly 25 minutes. The bottom is more like 30ish minutes. It seems like this whole thing should take an hour of knitting from looking at the photo.

To a first time felter, it might look as though you totally messed up with your gauge, since it's almost twice the length of the final product. They look like slippers for clown feet, and the stitches are messy looking on size 15 needles because the stitches need to be loose enough to felt properly. 

I placed the slippers in the front-loading washing machine with some towels, and it did felt the slippers some, but I found that I still had to do the majority of the felting by hand. (And it's hard on my hands.) I had to open the window in 0 degree F because it is a workout. Felting by hand takes about an hour of dedication to get it "just right." I always end with something really cool, but always say to myself, "no more felting for a long while."

The first version I knit was my MIL's French Press Slippers from December 2016, so it's been long overdue that I knit myself a pair. 

I love the idea of writing a message in puffy paint on the bottom of the slipper (instead of just doing no-slip squiggles) if you are gifting these slippers to someone. The other slipper actually said "do not machine wash" on the bottom.

 Teal is one of my favorite colors aside from sea-green, aqua and lavender.

In hind-sight, I would knit 2 extra sts for the "top" of the slipper pieces. For both set of slippers, it felted so much and sits much too low when you wear it. The heel has always been tricky too. I still have to figure out how to get it not to pucker out. One slipper heel ends up fitting better than the other heel, and I can't figure out how to sew the heel to better stay on the heel.

Upcoming post: "Hermione's Everyday Socks" using Noro yarn

FO: Tweedy Flax Sweater

Dear Reader,

I know what you are thinking: another Flax sweater? Really? Do you knit anything else?

I mean, I don't blame you for thinking that. I'M thinking that too.

The fact is, I've knit 4 versions of the Flax sweater, 2 in fingering weight, and two in worsted/aran.

This, however, is the first time I've altered it more than striping Christmas colors.

You're curious now. Ok, Here's the list:

1. Sam's first Flax Light

2. Flax Light in the Pumpkin Spice colorway

3. Sam's Christmas Flax

4. This one on this page. You've arrived. (Ravelry project page.)

Pattern: Flax Sweater from TincanKnits

Needles: US 6 and US 8

Yarn: de-stashing 6 skeins of Caron Simply Soft Tweeds (from 2003! I was in college.)

Size: M

Started: February 2018    Completed: January 23, 2019

Modifications: see notes below

Clearly, I made a few modifications. If you are familiar with the Flax sweaters, you know that it's just a top-down raglan with a nice garter stitch panel along the sleeves and 1.5'' of 1x1 ribbing on all edges.

My modifications notes for the size M:

1.) Slit hem ribbing: on the round before the ribbing, add 8 sts evenly to the front of the sweater and 16 sts to the back of the sweater, and then put the back sts on a separate circular needle and work the front for at least 3'', BO, and work at least 4.5'' of ribbing for the back. Next time, I would add another inch or two of stockinette and then work 4.5'' for the front ribbing hem and 6-7'' for the back ribbing hem. 

2.) Sleeves: knit sleeve 15'.5'' total before doing a 4'' (1x1) ribbing. 

3.) Button Panel: pick up 34 sts along the diagonal increase armline on the yoke (I choose the right side), starting from under the ribbing on the yoke to the underarm. Knit in garter stitch for 1.3''. BO loosely. Sew ends to sweater. Attach 3 buttons. 

This sweater has been a few places: family trips, piano lessons, car rides, couches, and more.

 

I think it looks rather dashing.

Ok...stay warm, folks! It's in the negatives here in the northern suburb of Chicago and won't get any better this coming week. I had to buy my Civic a new car battery on Monday. How fun! Cosy sweater wearing it is this week! 

What's on the needles?  Noro "Hermione's Everyday Socks"

Future knitting plans: The Weekender, from Andrea Mowry

Upcoming FO post: French Press Slippers! Stay tuned.

FO: Sam's Christmas Flax Sweater

This is a little, erm, after the fact.

Sam's Christmas Flax sweater was completed two weeks before Christmas Eve, but between the hustle and bustle of the time of year, plus the fact that these photos were stored on the internal memory of my camera (and for some reason the camera didn't want to appear on my computer while plugged in)...I am finally showing these now!

Pattern: Flax by Tincanknits

Yarn: I Love This Yarn! (aran weight) in "Aubergine" and "Marled Forest"

Needles: US 6 and US 8

Started: October 1st, 2018      Completed: December 12, 2018

(Above ^^) This is always my favorite point of the sweater. Rounds are short, and you can see the thing swiftly take shape.

The area about two or so inches down from the point where you separate for the sleeves is another favorite (less stitches! Things are really coming together now!) of mine.  

This project was brought everywhere--boys' piano lessons, while in the car before helping at a school Halloween party, watching a show, etc. 

Unfortunately, I did not get to Jake's maroon (MC) and heathered blueish black (CC) version. I will save that for next fall, I guess. Jake didn't seem to mind, since Sam was the one who requested this sweater in the first place. (Oh, and it had to be "non-scratchy yarn" too.) I told the boys that they could share this version until they each had their own.

I made it large enough to fit next year too. The sleeves are long, the sweater is long enough, but I hope that the body circumference is large enough for his growing body! But hey, it stretches, it will be good!

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season! Happy New Year!

Birthday Giveaway Pattern!

It's my birthday today! I am grateful for many things, and so I'd like to celebrate with gifting you lovely knitters my favorite fingerless mitten design:

 Mr. Cratchit's Convertible Mitts

 

Also, ALL other KUAS Designs patterns are 33% off. Why that odd number? I'm not saying why... SHH!!

 

No coupon needed. Discount taken automatically at the checkout process. Reedemable only today until midnight CT. :) 

 

Have a lovely day!

FO: Christmas Project Bag #1

It's December 3rd! Can you believe it? I can't! We have one of the two trees up and I have yet to decorate the outside of the house because it keeps snowing.

Since it's officially December, I figured I would share some Christmas project bags that I sewed early this November. This was my first pull-string project bag (and Christmas bag) made, and the process went smoothly. Win, Win.

The 12'' x 14.5'' size is just right for shawls, hats, mittens, light-weight sweaters, etc. I have been squeezing in my flax sweater for twin B in there, but with the two yarn hanks inside, it's a little snug.

The fabric is festive and playful with a hint of glitter, so it's fun to have this around during the holiday season. Since the fabric was a little busy, I decide to go for a solid cream colored liner.

I hope you are enjoy the joys of the seasons, both in the way you celebrate and with the start-up of vlogmasses, and such. It's such a wonderful time in more than one way.

Next post: Christmas project bag #2 (a quilt-like pull-string bag).

Black Friday 2018 Deal and GRATITUDE

KUAS Designs is offering 50% off ALL knitting patterns WEDNESDAY 11/21 through SUNDAY 11/25 at midnight CT! Plug in the coupon code "halfoffkuas18" at the checkout at my KUAS Designs store. 

Your coupon will bring your price from:

$3.99 patterns to $1.99

$1.99 patterns to $.99

KUAS Designs is also featured here on KNIT like Granny, along with other Black Friday/Cyber Monday knitting deals on patterns, yarn and classes.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow! I am trying to focus my mind-set on gratitude as we approach Thursday...

I am GRATEFUL for my family, having all my basic human needs met on a daily basis, my crafting hobbies that I use as therapy, my various musical skills, having a part-time teaching career that allows me to be a full-time mom, plus YOU. I am grateful that you are here, reading and keeping up with my knitting adventures, the support I get from knitters who purchase my patterns, and for those who take the time to drop a comment in the box below. It always brightens my day. It helps me feel that I am not alone in this vast internet space. Thank you, dear reader.

Happy Holidays.

FO: Thanksgiving "Hermione's Everyday Socks"

Project: Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder

Needles and Yarn

Needle

US 1 - 2.25 mm, US 1.5 - 2.5 mm

Yarn

Dreams in Fiber Superwash Sock Kona Base

How much?

1 skein = 400.0 yards (365.8 meters), 100 grams

Colorway

Ratatouille

 Notes

Socks are too loose. Needles might have been size US 2, not US 1.5. 

The pattern is simple and straight forward. You can memorize the stitch texture pattern rather easily and pick up the sock after weeks of hibernating it and still know what to do.

I chose to do a slip-stitch heel for this pair, plus a 1x1 ribbing for the cuff. That's always my go-to ribbing for sock and mitten cuffs. 

I used yarn from a trade done years ago with Erica Lueder when I used to sell yarn. I fell in love with this colorway because it was so fall-like. I felt like this would be the perfect colorway for Thanksgiving socks.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Our 50% off all KUAS Designs pattern sale for Black Friday week starts tomorrow! I'll post the details tomorrow!

NEW Pattern Release: the Super Bulky Hat

CLOVER POM-POM MAKER TUTORIAL INCLUDED!

Here’s a wonderfully speedy bulky hat pattern for all sizes, with handy sizing chart columns that you read vertically and a pom-pom tutorial on page 6 for your convenience. This pattern is wonderful for those last-minute gifts that need to be knit up, whether it’s for a baby shower, a Christmas present, or just needing a quick knit when the weather gets chilly!

I spent a long time test knitting my own pattern to have numerous sizes! It all started with my son Sam requesting a Christmas hat (which I accidentally knitted the adult version first).

HAT MEASUREMENTS:

0-6 months: 5.5’’/14 cm long; 6.5’’/16.5cm wide

6-12 months: 6.25’’/15cm long; 7’’/18cm wide

12-24 months: 6.75’’/17cm long; 7.75’’/20cm wide

2-5 years: 7.25’’/18cm long; 8.5’’/21.5cm wide

6-12 years: 8.25’’/21 cm long; 9.25’’/23.5cm wide

Teen/Adult XS: 9’’/23cm long; 9.75’’/25cm wide

Adult S/M: 9.25’’/23.5cm long; 10.25’’/26cm wide

Adult L/XL: 9.5’’/24cm long; 10.75’’/27cm wide

From left to right: size 0-6 mos, size 6-12 mos, 12-24 mos

From left to right: size 6-12 yrs, 6-12 yrs, Adult S/M

MATERIALS:

YARN: Super Bulky (6WPI) yarn

0-6 months: 38yds/67g (plus 10-12g of worsted weight yarn for pom-pom)

6-12 months: 45yds/75g (plus 10-12g of worsted weight yarn for pom-pom)

12-24 months 50yds/80g (plus 10-12g of worsted weight yarn for pom-pom)

2-5 years: 52yds/85g (plus 10-12g of worsted weight yarn for pom-pom)

6-12 years: 68yds/110g (plus 15g of worsted weight yarn for pom-pom)

Teen/Adult XS: 85yds/140g (plus 15g of worsted weight yarn for pom-pom)

Adult S/M: 90yds/145 (plus 15g of worsted weight yarn for pom-pom

Adult L/XL: 100yds/165g, plus 15g of worsted weight yarn for pom-pom)

NEEDLES: Set of 5 dpns, or 1 long circular needles in sizes US 10 (6mm) and US 11 (8mm) needles

NOTIONS: Beginning of rd st marker, darning needle, sharp scissors, and (optional) Clover Pom-Pom maker (Size 46mm /Yellow=medium; Size 65mm/green=large)

I hope you have a wonderful start to the week! I will be announcing the Black Friday week deal very shortly!

Copycat Fringe Supply "Field Bag"

Friends, I don't know about you, but I caught the "Field Bag" project bag bug from constantly seeing knitters show off their bag on my Instagram feed.

I looked up these supposed bags online at the Fringe Supply Co., and they are priced at $65, not including shipping! Yikes! (They are really well made, I'm sure they are worth the cost, but I'm too cheap to spend over 70 bucks to ship one to my door.) The maker in me accepted the challenge to find material similar to the original Toffee version (and others) and voila! A really close copycat version! Thanks Joann Fabrics!

^^ LEFT column photos coypright: http://www.fringesupplyco.com

Photos on the left column are the original bags, and photos on the right column are my re-creation. Aside from the lighting in the photos, and a couple of subtle differences such as width in strap, the label and minute differences in dimensions, I have to say it is really close! I added a "KUAS" tag so it wasn't naked in the front. Heck, I even folded the bag and ironed the vertical crease and included pockets in the inside because you have to have the little details if you are going to go all out anyways!

 I am very pleased with this bag. I will be creating more in the future, but I still have to work on another Christmas project bag before it gets too late in November.

Not bad for not having a pattern. I have made bags in the past, and took those templates and made the bottom boxier for this one. My one gripe was that after changing my sewing needles out for the "heavy duty" ones, because I was using canvas fabric AND thicker thread, the machine kept eating the fabric and kinking up the thread and I must have re-threaded that machine 30 times (and unpicked dozens of stitches) before I realized that I inserted the needle in the wrong direction, and that does make a difference in performance!!

My next bag will have a "webbing" strap and slightly thinner rope for the pull-string. I'm a happy knitter! Have a great weekend!