FO: Bee Stitch Dish Cloth and some WIPs

I came across the Bee Stitch on the internet about a week ago, and couldn't resist giving it a try for some fall dish cloths. The Stitch is really beautiful...it's a shame my camera really couldn't capture it's real texture essence in this color.

The Bee Stich is mostly just gartering. The only difference is the places where you see the deep V's, you knit below that stitch. So, in 4 whole rows in the pattern, you knit below a stich every other stitch for two rds and the rest is simply knit straight.

I made a Hobby Lobby trip to find fall colored cotton yarn for this project. I will knit one Bee Stitch Cloth per color. Hobby Lobby was running a sale on a lot of yarns and these were under two bucks each. The only downside is that the yarn is rather splitty.

The first one was knit to a 9x9 inch size. I might cut down 3 sts for the next two colors. Maybe.

Pattern: Bee Stitch Cloth (my own)

Yarn: Crafter's Secret Cotton (a little more than half a ball used--approx 70 yds used)

Needles: US 7 

I have been really keeping busy knitting while the boys are in Kindergarten. I am slowing working on my Seed Stitch Bath Rug that will look like this when it's finished.  It's so large right now (and the needles are a beast), that I am pushing myself to knit 4 rows each day so that it eventually gets finished. It's really just a back-burner project. 

I am still working on my carnival sock. Another back-burner project for my purse, but almost done. I have about 3 more inches before the toe decreases.

I am also working on the first Flax Light sweater for twin #1:

I am itching to start my own adult Flax Light in a pumpkin colored yarn that I recently bought in sport weight. HOWEVER, I should be finishing this fall cardigan though!

This is an old picture. I left off last year around the hips. It will have afterthought pockets and a button band or zipper installed. I haven't decided yet.

WIP: Fall cardigan (knit during the spring)

I'm just a girl knitting a fall cardigan during the spring. Don't mind me.
Hey, at least it's been cold and snowy. It makes me feel a little bit better about my slacker self.

There will be pockets using the "afterthought" concept. I knit some stitches with waste yarn to unravel later so I can knit myself a stellar deep pocket.

You can track the cardigan's progress here on Ravelry.

Needles & yarn

Needle US 10 - 6.0 mm

Yardage: 1,270 yards = 10 skeins

Pattern: My own design

Lion Brand Lion's Pride Woolspun

3 skeins = 381.0 yards (348.4 meters), 300 grams

Colorway: Mesa Print

Lion Brand Lion's Pride Woolspun

3 skeins = 381.0 yards (348.4 meters), 300 grams

Colorway: Desert Sun Mix

Lion Brand Lion's Pride Woolspun

2 skeins = 254.0 yards (232.3 meters), 200 grams

Colorway: Taupe

Lion Brand Lion's Pride Woolspun

1 skein = 127.0 yards (116.1 meters), 100 grams

Colorway Cranberry

Lion Brand Lion's Pride Woolspun

1 skein = 127.0 yards (116.1 meters), 100 grams

Colorway: Pumpkin

FO: Baby Puerperium

I'm a little behind on posts, since I have finished 3 objects since my last post (wow, that sounds a little like a Catholic confession, lol).

I modified the Puerperium Cardigan to fit size 3-6 months for my cousin's first born child that entered this world on New Years Day.

Pattern: Puerperium Cardigan by Kelly Brooker

Yarn: 1 skein of Cascade 220 Heathers

Needles: Size US 6

Start date: Jan 10th   Completed date: Jan 18th

Mods:  Extra increases, thicker yarn, doing buttons only after every 6th "garter ridge," long sleeves, and wider garter borders. 

Due to all of the modifications to make this cardigan a wee bit larger, I had to play a little game of yarn chicken at the end. Yeah, I'd like to say that I won the war.

I had twin boys (and I am scared to death of another set of twins--which would probably be boys), so I will knit and live vicariously through them, who had a beautiful baby girl. Such gorgeous yarn...I absolutely recommend Cascade 220 Heathers.

Thanks for checking up on me. Have a happy Wednesday.

Podcast Episode 8: the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Absolutely Bad Podcast

I have been clicking away at the Fall Cardigan (that's not the real name) lately. I am at the hip increases. I figure that if I am going to design a cardigan, it might as well have some shape and pockets. Nice, deep pockets.

There's a podcast at the end.
It's awful, but whatever...keeping it real.

 I just casted on the Reyna Shawl using my handspun yarn.

I recently hosted a "Blind Wine Tasting" party with a few girlfriends. It was a smash hit! Or were we smashed? I forget.

No, I actually only poured 1 oz. samples of each wine so my friends could drive home safely! Plus, we gorged on a potluck style buffet of appetizers!

Red and white wines were separated and the bags were numbered.

There were 10 wines altogether! I told everyone to bring 1 white or red wine, and if they could, a really, really, really cheap wine...because sometimes they win the taste test!

 I had score cards and a little guideline for scoring...taste, appearance, body, etc.

My cheese and fruit platter (there was so much food by the end!). I had a mustard seed Gouda, regular Gouda (I love Gouda, what can I say?) a mango chipotle cheddar and a Parmesan goat cheese blend.

The wines, revealed. Guess which wine won? That's right...a cheap white wine (Vivello Peach Moscato from Trader Joe's).


KUAS Podcast: Episode 8


SHOW NOTES:

WIPS:
1. Fall Cardigan (name to be determined)
2. Reyna Shawl (using handspun yarn) by Noora Laivola
3. Abrianna Cardigan
Tea: Yogi's Cinnamon Vanilla tea

Needles: knitpicks and Denise interchangeable needles.

Life after the hiatus

The temperatures in the Midwest are feeling a bit like fall. Last night, it got down to the 40's, so I decided it was a good time to snuggle up with my woolen Ripples Reading Afghan to keep warm in our family room.

In honor of the cooler weather, I am running a 15% off sale on all of my patterns. No coded needed; the difference will be made at the checkout. Now might be a good time to stock up on some already reasonably priced patterns for your knitting queue this fall and winter?

The pattern sale ends September 20th at the stroke of midnight.

Last week, I started this Fall cardigan design that features stripes of bulky yarn that patterns (like Opal socks, but in bulky weight), and yarn that variegates in a couple of tones, as well as solid stripes. It's hard to tell, since the top is folding over, but I am about at the armpits, so I will save the sleeve stitches soon and work on the body.

I did all of this in about 2 days, but then had such an awful congestion type of cold, I stopped the knitting train. I am back to (almost) full health, so I feel inclined to get back into it again. 

I am testing out Lion's Pride Woolspun yarn in their new fallish colorways that I got at Michael's. It is a 20% wool, 80% acrylic blend. I like blends for durablilty and softness, but I hope that one day, we can find 30% or 40% wool blends, for added warmth and naturalness without sacrificing that soft feel (and inexpensive price) that people expect out of an acrylic blend.

I love yarns that pattern. I am spending the time to add additional yarns, so there will be a bit of weaving to do, but who can resist working with a yarn that looks like intarsia? I am all about creating patterns that look good, function well, but are generally easier knits. 

For example, I feel like any good cardigan deserves deep pockets. Right? Pockets can get fussy or confusing though. I plan on implementing "afterthought pockets" in this design. When I come to the area where pockets should go, I will knit a set of stitches with waste yarn and will pick them up with dpns after the cardigan is done and knit in the round like a sock or hat. I will graft like sock toes (so it's a little nicer and flatter than a 2-needle bind-off) and push the fabric down back into the pocket. It should be painless. Stay tuned?

KUAS Podcast: Episode 7- the toddler who video-bombed

SHOW NOTES

WIPS
Abrianna by Berroco

SPINNING
“Midnight Tides” sport and worsted weight yarn, approx. 670 yds, 2-ply
WIP- Pink and multicolored yarn, 2-ply

STASH ENHANCEMENTS:
Frabjous Fibers Hand-dyed Blue Faced Leicester “Daffidil” roving, 4 oz.
Opal Sweet2 & Spicy2 yarn Rotkohl, fingering weight; Partie 1000
Eucalan’s No-Rinse Wool Wash samples in “Grapefruit” and “Eucalyptus” for gifts

HOT IN THE MOMENT:
Twinnings Pumpkin Spice Chai
Better Homes & Garden “Vanilla Cedar Glow” candle

WIP: Abrianna

670 yds of "Midnight Tides" 2-ply sport-worsted weight handspun yarn.

New dress at a party smile.

FO: Mrs. Darcy Cardigan

 

And that's a wrap, fellas.

 Pattern: Mrs. Darcy Cardigan by Mary Weaver (revised edition)

Size: Medium (with modifications)

Yarn: 3.4 skeins of Patons Classic Worsted Weight Wool (approx. 750 yds)

Needles: Size US9 circulars and dpns

Started: December 1st, 2014

Completed: January 14th, 2015

Modifications: sleeve increases (8 extra sts per sleeve), extra rows on the hem and collar and ribbing area, an extra button hole, waist ribbing changed to standard 1x1.  

This is a very cute cardigan.  It has two main problems though: the fit is off, even with all of my sleeve modifications, and the whole armpit seaming is completely unnecessary if it were worked top-down instead. Why isn't this worked top-down? 

The main fit issue lies in the yoke. The sleeves, even with 8 extra sts that I added isn't enough fabric area to do increases around. This forces the increases to be placed incorrectly, pulled into my arm instead of lying nicely at the diagonal crease of the arm. The back of the cardigan fits great,  but the front won't stay put on my shoulder. I catch myself pulling on it to stay on. It's still a cute cardi though. 

I used the buttons from my birthday yarn shop trip.

This is a nice Valentine's Day coverup over a dress or tanktop.

I can see myself redesigning the cardigan to address the fitting issues.  I might also make it a smidgen less deep-V shaped as well, and add some more ribbong length in the waist area.  

I hope you like it. Have a great weekend. Take care, 

Anna

Blocking like a boss

Mrs. Darcy is fully completed, was washed in some eucalyptus and lavender scented wool wash and is currently blocking like a boss right now because I'm making sizing my biotch, and not the other way around. Right? Right? ;) This babe needed some serious blocking to fit and sit flatteringly. Sometimes you have to man (or woman)-handle these fussy things.

Maybe I was a little dramatic. It didn't need a lot of pin-blocking. Laying flat while damp on the floor after smoothing it down a bit did wonders all on its own. I did a few pins for width on the bottom of the sweater just to make sure it stayed put.

Want a spoiler? Ok, twist my arm...