One Giant Cast-Off Done, One in the Works

I am so thrilled to be back here!! I’m finishing up my online class…this is my last week! I’ve found a teaching job that I’ll start in August…YAHOO! 6th, 7th, & 8th grade math with a couple religion classes as well. I will be busy! But back where I need to be 🙂

Until then, I’m trying not to melt in this heat! The hard part is wanting to knit all the things, but I can’t bear to sit under them while I do so. I guess it’s very lucky that I cast-off this monster the other night!

It’s my Inside Out blanket for my friend Krista’s first baby girl 🙂 It’s really Stephen West’s Akimbo Blanket pattern. I knit it out of Berroco’s Weekend yarn in 6 different colors. I followed the pattern for the most part until I got to the border. I just repeated each color twice.

Now for all the ends to weave in!

Then it just needs a good soak and it can go on its way to keep baby Palmer warm…just in time for summer!!

I also uncovered my Foggy Sunset shawl…also a Stephen West pattern, but this time it’s his Daybreak Shawl. I’m using some leftover Vice Yarns and the lovely, slow-changing Mini Mochi by Crystal Palace Yarns. I received this in a yarn swap I participated in a couple summers ago. It’s so soft and the color changes are so beautiful.

I have no idea how many stitches I’ve got left on here, but I know I need to knit one more row then I can cast-off. Wish me luck!

Then I’ll have to go dive into the other WIPS I’ve got…even though there are 4 more babies on the way that all need something from my needles!!

❤
Jenna

Focus?

Perhaps, acknowledging such a challenge as NaKniSweMo was ambitious…

I’m always hesitant to take on challenges with deadlines. Deadlines. My undoing.

I’m still going on the sweater, Turia…I’ve made some progress on the sleeves, and I’m excited that they are coming along.

I won’t wax poetic on this…I’ll just show you.

Linking up with Nicole at Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm Craft On & Ginny at Small Things for Yarn Along.

❤
Jenna

Weekly WIP #2

You know how you have knitting projects. And you start them. And you knit them. And then all the sudden something else shakes its little yarny tail at you and then you’re right back at the “start them” and “knit them” and “ooooh shiny”…

Do you then stare wistfully at your growing pile of WIPs and think, gosh, I’d like to finish some of those…why did I put that one down? I’d really like to wear that one…

In an effort to focus, even just a little bit, I’m highlighting another WIP of the week!

You’ll never guess which one it is…

That’s right, its a new one, not even one of these listed on my project page (you know, the ones that are the subject of the wistful stare). It’s a Barley hat for my neighbor.

After everyone’s thoughtful input, and a hard look at the grams I had in each color, I decided to stripe up two of the colors.

It’s the lovely gray and the light blue. I’m hoping she’ll love it.

One thing I’m so grateful for is how my round starts right by the garter section which hide the jog from the color change. See?

I think after I finish this one, I’ll take a rest from Barley, but it is a wonderful pattern. Maybe I’ll head back into the pile of WIPs to work on one of those things I stare at so wistfully.

Linking up with Nicole at Frontier Dreams for Keep Calm & Craft On and Ginny at Small Things for Yarn Along.

❤
Jenna

Fall is in the Air

Oh my goodness does it feel like fall or what!!! The weather has been wonderful and breezy for about 4 days. Maybe 75 degrees Fahrenheit outside, low humidity…so low that we have our windows open and the air conditioning off! And each time I get in the car to drive somewhere I open those windows too!

I always feel like fall arrives in a very quick fashion. I was still thinking that I was in the sweltering depths of summer, but with a few nice days, my hands are itching to knit. And to knit wool. Not the light linen of summer, but squishy, warm wool. And pumpkin. I crave pumpkin! Beer, bread, beer bread, cake, coffee…all sounds good right now 🙂

 

I finally attacked finishing up the heel on this sock.

It’s my Bootstrap Sock from Lara Neel’s Sock Architecture…so cool!

The Balbriggan heel involves working a heel flap and then kitchener stitching the bottom up…I don’t know what it’s called, but it was fun to practice that special technique that I generally avoid save for the end of the sock process 🙂

Now to pick up the stitches again and get on down the foot!! Then I can start the next one!

I’ve also picked up my Cerise Curl again…I tried to get more yarn, but the shop was out 😦 I really wanted a LARGE shawl. I’m a tall girl, I’m not dainty and I like a lot of wool to keep me warm and/or stylish. I am hoping that once I get it off the needles, it will block out substantially. There isn’t much yarn left, maybe 12 grams? I’m hoping by next Friday, I’ll have it finished.

Here’s linking up with some wonderful people! I’ve missed for a while now and it just feels right to get back into the habit 🙂
Yarn Along with Ginny @ Small Things
Keep Calm Craft On with Nicole @ Frontier Dreams
Whatcha Workin’ On with Beth @ iknead2knit
Stitch Along Wednesday with Tammy @ Life & Yarn

What is gracing your needles this week? Anything make you feel like fall is right around the corner??

❤
Jenna

Made it to Monday

So we made it to Monday, again. I’ve started a new job at a law office as a docket clerk. My days are filled with giant files and computer screens so the last thing I want to do is really come home and soak up more of the computer screen.

Instead I have been knitting. A. Lot. I’ve been giving a good effort at Stash Dash…I keep hearing the Knitmore Girls & the Prairie Girls talk about it. I love to listen to audio podcasts while I drive to and from work. It’s better than the radio with the same old songs and there is only so many times I can listen to the same depressing news on NPR.

So how about a look at my knits…

I’ve officially frogged the “Colour Change Scarf.”  The more I looked at it and the more I worked on it, the less I liked it. It was supposed to be a birthday gift for a friend…now it’s at least 2 years over due and it was looking less like what I initially had in mind. Now I’ve got 4 full balls of Silky Alpaca Lace…what to do with this goodness?

There is also all these bags that have been sitting by me on the couch for at least 48 hours. I keep bopping between bags, moving needles, notions, patterns around…it’s really a form of procrastination. But at least I am putting my hands on the projects.

I pick one up. Knit a few stitches. Get distracted by another pattern. Mostly I want to finish things, but I can’t decide which one I want to finish first so I keep picking up different things. It’s hard to see the progress, but my attention span is short. I don’t have too much left on this one…

Maybe I’ll focus and free up some needles. And the Curls book. So I can start another one. Since I fell off that KAL after my Caesious…but Cerise is lovely, especially in the Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Glitter Sock 🙂

How is your summer knitting coming? Are you procrastinating? Or do you genuinely have project ADD?

❤
Jenna

 

 

 

Getting There

So we knit and knit and knit, but sometimes the things stay on the needles! I can’t understand why even after all the stitches (I think) I put onto these lovely Technicolor Socks, I still feel like I’m a few rows from actually starting the toe decreases on the right sock!! I think the left sock is ready.

 

Maybe I’ll blame it on my long toes. Or on the US 0 needles.

Maybe I shouldn’t blame them at all. It’s so nice to have a mindless knitting project to cart around in my purse that’s not huge (here’s looking at you Turia)

or doesn’t need a book to travel with it (Bootstrap Socks that are ready for the heel)

or doesn’t need to be really looked at every stitch (Curl #2 Cerise)

or isn’t turning out like I think I want (Colour Change Scarf)

or isn’t a general pain in the bum (Skinty Stripe Scarf) with a kitty supervisor

or doesn’t need a chart, pencil, row counter and complete silence (Catkin Shawl)…

That’s all the current WIPs and most of them are not travel worthy…maybe I should just finish these socks and turn the heel on the Bootstrap Socks so I can have more things to travel with and some empty needles?

Or the alternative…

I could start something new! Maybe keep it in line with my Love Your Library Challenge and work on a Curl or another pair of socks from Sock Architecture? I could go and check out all the lovelies at Keep Calm & Craft On for inspiration…

What would you do in this situation, keep your nose down and finish or venture into the stash for something fresh and new?

❤
Jenna

Knitting it UP!!

The stash! And the WIPs! And the WIP stash!!! I’m trying to stay away from spending money and knit some of the beautiful things I already have. My stash is gorgeously curated…from travels and impulses, I feel so inspired when I look at my cabinet! I’m trying to refrain from casting on though and just working through my WIPs…old and new!

In fact, I’ve been working pretty hard to finish things up. I know I’ve featured this cute little hat, the Aviatrix. But I actually technically finished it since I put the super cute button on!

And I’m working on weaving in the ends on my awesome 3 Color Cashmere Cowl.

SO MANY ENDS!!

And I’ve been tackling these Technicolor Socks…I’m about an inch away from starting the toe decreases and I’m excited to explore some toes in Lara Neel’s Sock Architecture. That’s where I got the heel from. Shout out to the Love Your Library Challenge!!!

I’m so loving the way the fabric looks…It’s some gorgeous Pagewood Farms Denali Sock Yarn in the Sky Blue Pink colorway.

And of course, I’ve been working on the Turia Sweater. I’m loving it and I so want to wear the thing…we’ve had a couple of cooler days (55-66 degrees Fahrenheit) that would make wearing this linen blend sweater so cozy without being hot.

I wandered out onto the front steps to take these photos in the fading daylight…so much better than trying to capture them inside where I can’t seem to get enough light!

Head on over the Snapdragon Crafts to see how everyone else’s Love Your Library Challenge is coming 🙂

Or to Nicole’s Keep Calm & Craft On 🙂

Until next time!
❤
Jenna

Crazy Sock Knitting

Since it’s Wednesday, I thought I’d share one of the things I’ve been diligently stitching on every day, my Squishy Socks. I’m using the Schachenmayr Regia Adventure Color 6 ply on some US 2 (3.00mm) Addi Sock Rockets. I’m working off of the Paton’s Basic Sock pattern from a booklet I bought a few years ago (loving my library). If you think back to maybe a few posts ago, they looked like this:

They may have even looked a little longer. I posted some of their progress over on Instagram (@hardknitlife) and I really love how they are coming along and I love that I was working them two-at-a-time style.

Confession: While I have worked 4 of my 6 completed socks two-at-a-time, I have never done so ON THE SAME NEEDLES! Previously I have used either two sets of double-pointed needles or two sets of two circular needles.

Well this time, I braved sticking them on the same two circulars and everything was buzzing along just fine. I knit the leg. I knit the heel flap.

 

I “turned” the heel. I even picked up my gusset stitches. Here is where the tricky part began. I fiddled a bit with the craziness of all those stitches on the two circulars, but I just couldn’t figure out how I was going to actually KNIT! So I wandered over to my bag-o-needles and pulled out some double points. Luck must have really been on my side because I found two sets!!

Doing what any sensible knitter would do, I used them both and transferred each sock to it’s new needle home. I started knitting on the left one (using bamboo needles) and thought that they felt a little smaller than my Sock Rockets. I picked up the right sock (using metal needles) and thought the same thing. So I pulled out the packaging of all three and noticed while each set of needle is labeled as a US 2, the Sock Rockets are 3.00mm while both sets of my DPNs are 2.75mm.

Oh well. I guess that will make for a nice firm fabric in the heel!

You may find yourself wondering where all those other planned WIPs are. Don’t worry, they are still floating around in their little bags, just waiting to be worked on. I have just been feeling the sock mojo lately and I was amused by my adventures using double points. Aren’t they just lovely?

A contributing factor to wanting to work on socks? Knitting Sarah just finished up her year long KAL last week called Socks with Sarah. I didn’t come across the knit-along until maybe November, but I really love that it’s main goal is to promote daily sock knitting. How many socks could you knit in a year if you did a little each day? Even though the KAL is over, Sarah is still keeping the group open on her Ravelry group. I know I set forth some goals a few weeks ago and I’d like to add daily sock stitching to it. Maybe this is just the kick start I need to get my sock drawer into shape!

Linking up with some great people:
Emily for Love Your Library
Tammy for her Stitch Along Wednesday
Ginny for Yarn Along
Nicole for Keep Calm Craft On
iknead2knit’s Whatcha Workin’ On Wednesday

Until Friday 🙂

v’s & bumps,

Jenna

The Mad Rush

Hi there, broken record here…you know, the one that seems to keep saying the same thing over and over again? Yep, that’s me. I am still here. My life has been a little hectic with the holidays. We were hosts to my in-laws for the last week. It was great 🙂 I had a blast cooking for everyone, there was an epic game of dominoes (that is still unfinished!), and so much wonderful time spent with family.

But onto the knitting.

I don’t know what it is about the new year, but I’ve been feeling the desire to clear up my needles. I have so many things I want to start knitting, but it is hard for me to pull out the ball winder and swift to start some new project when I see the pile of WIPs both in real life and on my Rav page.

In good news, I did finish up the Settler Shawl in my Two Grey Dogs yarn. It is luscious! Only slight frustration I had was that I ran out of yarn during the last pattern repeat! Good news? I only had about 2 more rows of garter stitch and the bind off to complete when I scoured my bag-o-ends. I found some shiny, happy pima cotton in the perfect yellow from a wrap I knit myself a couple years ago.

Maybe the cotton will give the edge of the shawl a little weight. I guess it will all come out in the wash.

I also dug out this little bunny that has been hibernating for entirely too long. I finished it up. And it’s super cute!

Only complaint? I chose to do this in a cotton-acrylic blend, it’s worsted weight and I was knitting on US size 3 needles for a super tight fabric so the stuffing wouldn’t show through. It was a bit torturous on my hands but thankfully I didn’t have much left. And the yarn used for the rainbow “socks” was a wool blend and was nice and springy.

I’m surveying what I’ve got left and seeing what I can finish by Friday so I can start a sweater for me in the new year 🙂

Does the rapid approach of the new year make you want to finish all the things??

 

v’s & bumps,

Jenna

Let’s Be Honest

It’s late. It’s Wednesday. I failed once again to get good, natural light photos of my WIPs. And I am still feeling the KNIT ALL THE THINGS bug! It is taking a good amount of self control not to walk over to my cabinet, pull out some yarn, wind it, and just cast on to knit. It doesn’t help that my hands have been aching from golf and knitting so I’ve been spending a lot of time on Ravelry and reading up on blogs. My queue has grown (Libby’s Settler Shawl pattern just launched on her blog Truly Myrtle…and I have just the yarn to cast this on, and I’m sure I could come up with some needles…do I really need to justify this????)

And I’m traveling tomorrow to go see my NEW BABY NIECE!!!! She will receive her Midsummer Baby Blanket in person…You know what this means, right? Airplane knitting time! So now I really need to pick out which projects are going with me. Plus I’ll be with my Mom who is the best knitting buddy. So I need to bring projects to just work on. Can’t I just pack up my whole cabinet and bring it? I don’t think I need clothes, I can just pack a whole bag of yarn. That’s not crazy, right?

How about an update?

Truly I’ve only been knitting on these projects:

My Whispers Top is coming along. I know it seems to be going slow, but it is the easiest to do while reading blogs or watching TV or in a group 🙂 I just love the Rowan Fine Art I’m using for this.

These socks are a little tougher…those are on the US Size 0 needles that are only 9 inches long…my hands tend to hurt some when I’m working on these, and passing the yarnover over the 2 stitches makes it a little tight. I’m thinking about ripping back to the ribbing and going 1×1 rib all the way down…or maybe rip it all the way back and work a little 2×2 or 3×1 rib for the cuff. I’m going to keep trying because I love the stranded look that the pattern uses to highlight the yarn (Pagewood Farm Denali Hand-Dyed Sock!!!)

Then there is this awesome hat…the MariGOLD Slouch. Just a fun knit with some cables and worsted weight yarn and US size 8 needles are just flying. I’m in love with it and have a hard time putting it down. I’m still wondering if I should keep this or end up gifting it. I don’t like to just knit stuff and then determine who to give it to, I like to knit with a recipient in mind. We shall see!\

So I totally feel like I should pull out the rest of the goods from my WIP trunk. Maybe these can travel with me on my adventure.

 

Remember the Tumbling Bunny? I do 🙂 Only down side? I don’t know what I did with the pattern and my flight is tomorrow morning at 7:30am…

And there is Jordan’s Cozy Man Scarf…it’s gotten some love over the last few days trying for a little mindless knitting and easy on my hands. I took one photo with the flash and one without. Neither really capture the true colors, but the Mountain Colors Twizzle is magnificent.

And here we are with the Momma Daughter Knitalong. It has been temporarily put on hold since I picked up all the edge stitches. This is because I may be a little further along than my mom. I’m trying to wait so I picked up the Man Scarf and started the socks and and and and keep staring at my yarn cabinet and pairing them up with my Ravelry queue in my mind, over and over.

Oh yeah, then there’s Jabe’s Flurfy Scarf. This hasn’t come out of the bin in a while. Maybe not since the time I met up with a group here in STL. It’s been hibernating.

Finally, the Skinty Stripe Scarf that has also been in hibernation. I worked on it in mid-June for a little road trip to Omaha. I do love it.

So this evidence suggests that I should NOT cast on anything new and just drag most of it on the plane with me so I can have something to fiddle with as I fly. Thoughts?

Have you been bitten by the KNIT ALL THE THINGS bug??

v’s & bumps,

Jenna

Linking up with Tami & Nicole.