Possibly the most meaningful thing (to me) I have ever knit.

A few years ago when I was knitting stockings for my family I chose something 'fancy'. Something that was a bit of a challenge and really love the results. I opted not to make one for myself. I continue to hang the same stocking that has been hung on a mantle for the past 30-something years. It was made by my Nana, as was everyone's in my family (and extended family, and pets). It's simple, made with inexpensive yarn and felt. It isn't 'fancy' and it is christmas. 

I was and is important to me to make sure the tradition of handmade things continues for my family. I think that would have made my grandparents proud. The moment I found out that had a little niece or nephew on the way, I wanted to make sure I would be able to continue this tradition for them and their parents (whether they use the stocking or not isn't the point). I know what receiving this gift for my children would have meant for me. I hope it means the same for them. 

I remember my Nana always having her double-pointed needles on the go with some tinsel-laced yarn working on a stocking whilst chatting. I don't have my Nana to ask how exactly she made each stocking but I do have her tools, some of her needles are still in their original sleeves with their original price tag of a whopping .45¢

Attempting to reverse engineer my stocking wasn't necessarily difficult but it was daunting. I put a lot of pressure on myself to make it perfect, like Nana's. I counted and measured and swatched over and over until I was as close as I could get. I literally counted the stitches in a round and counted rows. And swatched some more, and finally committed to the needles and cast on. I have never checked and rechecked my work as often. 

I had this stocking finished months before I knew the baby's name. I had never attempted to embroider before! I don't have the best penmanship to begin with but I am really happy with how this turned out. 

I think I did my Nana's work justice and she'd be really happy to see her legacy continue. Each stitch was knit the same way, on the same needles as the originals. I'm really proud of this simple stocking for my much-loved niece. 

FO construction truck sweater

I finally finished the sweater for Mr. Lovebug. We'll thats not true, I finished it some time ago but it was warm and then I couldn't get a picture of him wearing it. It's not easy to get a 4 year old to stand still for pictures. Oh well what can you do.

I'm about 75% happy with it. We'll see how it fits him in the fall, I have a feeling I'll end up taking out the collar and re-doing it. It's wonky and ill-fitting. We'll see how much the kid grows in the next few months, I followed the directions except making the sleeve flat for some stupid reason, I probably should have followed my gut instead but what can you do.

I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Gosling and size 5 needles. Or knee-nulls as Nature Baby says.I made the largest size and purposely made it a bit bigger, you know kids grow no matter how hard you try to get 'em to stop.

I'm really happy how the vehicles turned out and I'll probably use the charts again.

I really haven't been knitting much since finishing this guy. My hands are sore, my middle fingers especially are sore and stiff. It feels like I need to crack the knuckles, but I crack (or don't) and stretch and there isn't any relief. Not using my hands this time of year isn't an option, so I do what needs to be done and knitting falls by the way-side. I have two WIPs with no end in sight. Tough life, I know!

WIP Wednesday Just some mittens. Regular old mittens.

I still havent ordered more yarn for Mr. Lovebug's construction truck sweater. Friday, I swear! I have one mitten for my Mother-in-Law almost completed. I'm not really following a pattern, just a chart for the outside. So far, so good. I don't really want to put up at photo because she'll see it, but I will show you the palm-side. Not so sassy, once they're in the mail I'll post a photo of them. They're stranded and will be warm. Warm is what she asked for, warm is what they'll be.

I need to start some baby things for someone. They're due in May, maybe I'll actually get them out on time. Don't hold your breath! My yarn has finally arrived for my undone sweater from Jen Geigley's weekend. Can't wait!

If you follow my instagram, you may have noticed I destroyed my hands yesterday, hence not finishing the thumb and starting the second mitten.

FO from another place sweater for Great Northern KAL

How the heck did I finish a sweater in 10 days?! This is unheard of for me. I worked on this relentless because I'm a crazy person and had this nagging voice in my head saying "you are not going to finish, pick up the pace! You can't make a sweater in 6 weeks." Take that voice of unreason! In true me form I said "oh yeah, I'll show you!" Because I'm a stubborn child. And here we are.

It felt really good to take some time and do something for me. Yes, I knit regularly, but it's always for someone else, which I love to do but doing something that's purely selfish feels pretty darn good sometimes. Almost like a vacation. I definitely skirted my responsibilities and knit while the kids did quiet things breaking my own rules.Tough cookies children!

I really enjoyed every part of this sweater, the directions were simple and straightforward. I had to bug Someone for the third page update. I feel really bad for being a pain whilst they were sick. Sorry lady!

I used a around 850-900 yards, I frankensteined one skein around all the color work and collar. That one skein was both significantly darker and lights than the others. Had I known that I would have ended up with a whole extra skein I wouldn't have bothered, but I couldn't have possibly known that. I used size 7s for the body and 4s for the ribbing. Some of the ladies in the KAL had problems with their cropped version during blocking, I was extra careful while it was wet to keep it from getting all wonky.

Thanks Scribs for taking pictures and chopping my head off in most of them. I hope you enjoy the awkward poses.

Finished! Denali Sweater!

Here it is! It's finished! My Denali Sweater by Brooklyn Tweed out in the wild surrounded by feral children, beautiful snow capped mountains and a dormant berry field. Such a terrible back drop, let me tell you!

This sweater has been out and about a few times. Scribs wore it to work and no one believed I had made it. So there's that. I asked Scribs for comment his response "It's great!" Well ok then. 

This has been finished for a while, but it has been so rainy (and flooded) we couldn't get out to get a good photo until a few days ago. 60 degrees, not a cloud in the sky! 

Overall, I'd say I'm about 90% happy with the finished product. I should have made the ribbing and sleeves smaller, and I'm not crazy about the saddle at the shoulders. But when it's all said and done, I'm not complaining. I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Gosling, size 6 for the body and 5s for the ribs. Next time I'd use 4 or smaller and probably add some stitches for the ribbing. 

I honestly can't believe that it's finished. I feel like I was working on it forever!

Interested in how this all came together? Here's all my wips! (1, 2, 3, & 4)

Wip Wednesday 2 sweaters? what the what!

Soooo I was going to started something for myself. I had had yarn in my basket for two sweaters for ages! Crazy, I know. Then, a certain LoveBug boy asked me for a sweater, you got it kid. He doesn't like the red yarn I picked but too bad! The amount I'll use for the fair isle isn't worth buying something I'll never use the rest of. Tough cookies boy!

My favorite Mother-in-Law asked me for mittens. You got it, lady! Now, of course I could just bang out any old mittens, but that would be boring. I had to make her something a bit sassy. So there you go. I'm certainly not complaining about people asking for knits, I'll gladly do it!

And then I thought about my goals for this year, "Knit something nice for myself." The Great Northern KAL started February first. A KAL is a knit-a-long for you non-knitters. It's my first, pretty fun so far. Anywhoo, I certain SOMEONE twisted my rubber arm. I swear, the knitting peer pressure from this one!

I've started From Another Place, using some on the yarn that was in my basket from 35 million years ago. I wanted to make the cropped version, I've never made or worn a cropped top and wanted to get out of my comfort zone a bit but after really thinking about it, I came to the realization that I will NEVER wear a cropped top, even with high waisted pants the weird post-baby belly button would be right there. No thanks! TMI? Whoops! So I'm making the long version.

I'm just a few days away from starting the color work! It has been so nice out the last 2 days that we've been out and about, no time for stitches! The rain is coming back, so I'll be able to sneak in a few rounds. I'm hoping I will be able to finish by the March 14th deadline but thats a bit of a stretch for me. The colors I'm using are Wild Huckleberry (purple) and African Grey which I'm obsessed with. I love this color way to the point where I'm considering making a fully onesie jump suit and wearing nothing else. I'm kidding.... kind of. The subtle variations in both yarns are perfect! I would consider choosing colors to be... not my strong suit. I am very happy with these two. Alright, thats enough rambling from me, I've got some knitting to do!

What are you working on?

Blue moon Fiber Arts Rocking sock club

I first heard about Blue Moon Fiber Art Rocking Sock club a few years ago after Scribs brought me some of their Socks that Rock yarn back from a trip. It's delightful yarn! The sign-ups were closed that year and I vowed to join the following and then I forgot. Whoops! Finally I said, this would be the year. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, thats ok, I'll fill you in. It's a bi-monthly yarn club, they send at least 1 skein and 2 patterns and sometimes little bits and bobs. Sounds fun right? And the colorways are exclusive. Fancy! I'm into it!

This week I received my first shipmen! Check it out  After the Jump

WIP Wednesday Denali Sweater

We're in the home stretch! I waited until after Christmas to block the front of the Denali, I messed up one of the sleeves and ripped it back, popped it on the needles then started both shoulder shaping decreases at the same time. Is there anything worse the making one sleeve just a touch longer than the other.

I was extra careful this time with the sleeves, measuring and re-measuring every few rows as tedious as it was. Both sleeves are off the needles and blocked, of course I had to rip back one of them, again! Way to not pay attention!
I was so hoping to be done by this month's WIP but that's ok (I don't have anything else lined up... yet)

Up next is grafting the sleeves to the front and back, picking up the collar and doing all the seams and weaving. I still haven't finished any of the ends, in the back of my mind I'm still going to mess it up some how! The closer I get to being finished the more nervous I get that in the last steps I'm going to somehow make on monstrous mistake and have to start all over agin. I think I'm starting to loose it.

Here it is!

I can't believe that this is going to be my last WIP for the Denali Sweater!  (If you want to take a look back, here's part 1, 2, and 3) Coming up, Finished Object status!

wip wednesday toddler hoodie

I've started working on this raglan toddler hoodie  for Nature Baby. I needed something simple to work on while my stress level was through the roof. Nature Baby could always use another hoodie, those kids get so dirty! 

I cast on using left over KnitPicks Brava and decided to double up Cherry Tree Hill's supersock DK in For The King for the ribbing. I am not crazy about the color way of the ribbing. Nature Baby loves it so I can't complain. I've been sitting on two hanks for years, I wanted some color, so why not! I don't think I'll have enough yarn left to make the hood, we'll see! I'm using slightly larger needles to make the size slightly larger than the 24 months size. I'm using size 9s for the body and 7s for the ribbing. Nature baby isn't wearing 24 months/2T, she'll be able wear this sweater next year too. She knows the sweater is for her, any time I pull it out to do some work she says "Sweatshirt, for me?" and she tries to help. She'll be picking up stitches before she's 5, I'm sure.

I'm not usually one to have more than one project on the go, when I look at other people's multiple WIPs I think "How? Why?" but now I get it. I see the light! Check out my other WIP!

What are you working on?

wip Wednesday denali Sweater part 3

Here we are, for the third installment of WIP the Denali Sweater. I've actually made some progress despite having a ridiculously crazy, stressful month. 

As you can see I've nearly finished the front (on the left beside the blocked back). You can see the difference blocking makes, for you non-knitters I might as well be speaking Mandarin. 

I'm still really enjoying this sweater! It's simple enough that I don't have to pay too much attention, thanks in part to using 35 stitch markers. The next row is dividing for the collar and shoulders. I even did all the proper decreases like a big girl. If I have the energy I should be able to finish the front before next weekend. I hope. We'll see, we have a ton going on in the next few weeks. 

I was so excited to be finished one of the sleeves. I worked on it while I was away but in the process I guess I wasn't measuring properly and it was about 4" too long. Good job dumb dumb. I'll have to rip it back once it has dried. At least it's easy to get straight stocking stitches back on the needles. 

For once, I've been keeping track on ravelry and I've used over 1100 yards of yarn. Scribs jokes that he'll unravel the whole thing at which point I may or may not use a knitting needle as a weapon. 

In case you're wondering, here's part 1 and 2. This may be my last WIP for this project!

WIP Denali Sweater part two

Here we go, round two of my Denali sweater by Brooklyn tweed! You can find part 1 here! We have been sick and sick and sick some more around here. I'm amazed that we're all still mostly upright. I play a game of "Allergies or am I getting sick?" almost daily. It's really fun! Here's how you play, wake up with a sore throat and start sneezing 5 or 6 times every 10 minutes. Take a guess, Allergies or sick? Then wait a little while until your nose is completely blocked and still dripping like a faucet. Hmmm which could it be? It's really a great time to be had. I suggest avoiding it at all costs.

And now, on to the WIP.
(Yes, I'm singing Salt N Peppa's push it, but as WIP it because that's what I do!)

This picture, is almost the same spot in the knitting as I was last month, except there is one big difference, I was working on the back last month. PROGRESS! HURRAY! Once again, I'm using 85 stitch markers, it worked for me last time so why mess with a good thing. I put on my big girl pants and used the slant-bind off as per the directions and didn't just go at it willy-nilly. 

The cable pattern is super simple to memorize and work while watching TV, but a tad too difficult to do while falling asleep watching TV. I know my limits and the last thing I want to do is rip back cables and hope to get them back on the needles in the right spot in the pattern. 

As far as I can tell I haven't messed it up yet. I was a bit skeptical until I blocked the back (and of course didn't take a picture), and made sure it was going to fit Scribs. I have yet to weave the ends for the back for the reason above. I can see how it is all going to come together, hopefully I can keep on the no-stupid mistakes path. 

Until next time Denali, I hope I'll be working on sleeves this time next month. 

I do have some non-knitting posts coming up, I swear! 

WIP Wednesday Denali sweater

I just started working on a new project for Scribs, well I'm a few weeks in. I've made him a hat or two in the past but now I'm busting out the big guns. I'm working on a Denali sweater by Brooklyn Tweed. I love giant fisherman sweaters. Love, like to an unhealthy degree. And don't get me started on cowichan-inspired! Where was I going with this? Oh yeah, Denali. Is it just me, or is there a (maybe not so surprising) lack of modern, decent looking men's sweater patterns? A lot that I found would be the equivalent  to women's sweaters from 1986 with giant shoulder pads and terribly ill fitting. And then I stumbled upon Brooklyn Tweed and their BT Men 2 section (and the first). I could make everything (not just in the men's section). Their sweater patterns are simple, interesting visually, not enormously bulky and wearable. I could go on and on but I will not.

And on to the deets. I'm making the second smallest size, using size 6 circular needles. I don't think I'll ever use my straight needles again, interchangeables are just so much easier. I'm using knit picks wool of the Andes in gosling. I really wasn't happy with the color when it first arrived but once I took it outside and saw it in natural light things started looking up. Now that I'm a few skeins in, I'm really happy with how it's shaping up. The pattern only calls for two stitch markers but I put one at every pattern change, otherwise I know I'll mess it up. I do all my knitting after the kids are in bed and I've been up for 15+ hours, some times paying attention is too hard for my sleepy-brain.

Here's the progress thus far.

I have a feeling there will be a few More WIP Wednesdays feature this cabled sweater. I have a few inches left until starting the arm holes, maybe just maybe I'll get it finished this winter.

I've sustained my first knitting injury. I know, I know, knitting injury, really? Think about it, the same hand motions over and over litterally hundreds of times in one sitting. My middle digit is paying the price. My middle knuckle to back to the middle of my hand is screaming for immobility. I don't know if you've tried not moving your middle finger on your dominant hand, it isn't easy. Especially with little kids around. A few days of stretches, heat and not knitting and things seem to be slowly feeling better. Something almost-miraculous happened Monday evening, my knuckles finally cracked. And cracked some more. It's still a bit sore moving side to side but at least now a lot of the pressure has popped away. Sweet relief.

Yes, I googled finger stretches and have been doing them constantly. If I didn't feel like I'm 100 year old before, I certainly do now... knitting injury. I'm shaking my head at myself in disgust.

I've got some serious knitting mojo going on, all I want to do is knit and do it all day. But I have grown-up things that needs to happen, like clean my house and feed my family, you know grown up stuff.


This is not a sponsored post, I just REALLY love Brooklyn Tweed. If they'd like to send me some yarn or something, that'd be pretty awesome.

Anders sweater for Simon

Guys, can I tell you how happy I am with this sweater? This is by far the best item I have made to date. I'm usually too lazy to go back and fix my mistakes unless they're huge. Not this time, no no. It's like I'm a grown up or something. I made this sweater for our friend Jef's squishy new baby, Simon. It should be delivered today, so it's safe to share.

This pattern was really easy to follow, the fair isle was fun and it was a quick knit. I made a 3 month size, I not sure that the sizing in the pattern in right as other on Ravelry have mentioned. Guess what, babies grow. Quickly! I nixed the vikkle braid on the wrist cuffs and bottom ribbing. I couldn't get the stitches tight enough, the row follow always looked like a sloppy fishing next. After 3 or 4 tries I quit. I know when I'm beat! As I mentioned in my WIP post, I had never done a vikkle braid and used the video below to figure it out.

Here she is, in all her glory! The

It doesn't matter which side is the front or the back, the pattern doesn't specify, but I would put the buttons on the front. Speaking of buttons, that's the only part of the sweater I'm not 100% happy with. The spacing of the holes is a little off. Can you tell? Did you notice before I pointed it out? I should have noticed before I contiued but such is life. I noticed when I put the buttons on, the only way to fix it would have been to rip the whole the back to almost the starting. No thanks!

Here's the video again for the vikkle braid, it sure is pretty when it's done right.

Wool of the Andes in Marina

I used size 5 and 6 needles, Knitpicks wool of the andes in Marina (which is MUCH greener in person. No matter the lighting or photo editing I just couldn't get the color right, see the above photo? Just a wee bit different) and dove heather with 18mm wood buttons. I had no idea what size of buttons I'd need, so I had to make an educated guess. Surprisingly, I didn't find that anyone else had listed button size on Ravelry. I asked a few people too!

Baby knits!

Confession: I'm terrible at getting things made on time. I'm pretty sure every baby has been born before I got their knits finished and some times before I even started. So it goes, when it's time for me to sit down and knit very often I'm too tired. I fell asleep on the couch the other day at 8pm, most days I'm ready for bed at 5. pm. Before making dinner. 

Anyways let's get on to the knitty-gritty. See what I did there? Anyways.

I wanted to make a vintage-style TFL beanie without getting too busy. Making a baby beanie in worsted makes for a quick knit and not a lot of room to get fancy. I made a swatch in sport cuz that's what I had around, the swatch turned out great. Once it came to doing the real thing it was a disaster! I don't even remember how many times I had to redo the intarsia, maybe 5 times before I gave up. I ended up just doing double-stitch. Double-stitch isn't my favorite technique but it works when nothing else will. Let me tell you, it was a mess! My tension was out of control! Too tight, too loose, wonky-donkey mess. That's what happens when I'm too tired to pay attention to what I'm doing. And here it is.

I used Purl Soho's Classic cuffed hat pattern and Knit Picks wool of the Andes in Noble Heather and Silver. I think I used size 5 needles, but I'm a scatter-brain and didn't write it down. Whoops!
I did 16 rounds of green, and 10 stitches high per letter. I, of course, used my graphic paper pad to plan out the letters and did almost a full swatch. For the swatch I knit 3 rounds in grey before started the tests for the letters and knit until 2 or 3 rounds from finishing to make sure the spacing was ok. If it wasn't for a baby, I'd add a pompom.  I learned my lesson with babies and pompoms. (hint - they chew the pompoms and it get gross really fast!)

I'm really happy with the color combo, sometimes it's hard to tell when ordering online. I'd definitely would use Noble heather and silver together again. The top picture is the most true to life colors, it'd a bit difficult to get photos of accurate colors without natural light, and there is no natural light at 5 am. Let's give an around of applause to my lovely model, Zip-lock bag full of air in the top photo.

I hope you like it, little-bitty baby! I already know your parentals will be all about it. Up next is part two of little bitty Rosie's baby knits. Isn't Rosie such a beautiful name? 

Wip Wednesday Anders sweater

I've started my last baby project! I'm told the mom to be is in labor, Simon is here! and as usual I'm late. Oh well, what can you do! I'm working on Andres sweater. My goodness it's too darling.
Ive learned a new technique! It's a sideways stitch that I kind of love. It's called (the? a? I'm not sure) Vikkle braid.

Isn't it pretty! I just couldn't figure it out from the directions, so I took to Ravelry (blogger autocorrect Rav. to Rev about 10 times before I could get it to stay.) and found a link to this video. Thank you fellow Raveler!

I'm using wool of the Andes in marina and size 5 needles. The color is much greener in person, I can't for the life of me get a true to life photo of the color in artificial light and unfortunately there's no sun at 6 am. I just started and re-started this week after messing up the braid.  Thus far it's going really quickly. We'll see if I can keep up this momentum. I have a few more rows, and one button hole left before knitting in the round, I have a feeling until I get to the fair-isle, I'll blow through it. I do need to get buttons for the front but thats easy peasy.

Every time I write 'Wip' I sing 'Push it' in my head. Yup, I'm that dork! What are you working on?

Wip Wednesday

I really haven't made much progress since last month, I'm disappointed to say. But who wants to knit at 8pm, when its 80 degrees inside, you've been up and going non-stop since 4 or 4:30, especially with worsted weight wool!
Rosie has arrived! Healthy and adorable! Even that wasn't motivation get get my hands moving.

Eli Dress Front

And then there's Michelle. That lady is a hardcore knitter. I'm starting to think she's a motivational-knitting-robot. Every time she updates her blog with something she's finished or working on I pick up my WIPS that day.

Eli Dress Back

I had some issues with follow this pattern, mainly because I've been tired and not paying attention. I did want any too-tired to think knitter does uses stitch makers to make sure I'm doing each section right. It's an amateur move but guess what it's prevented me from having to go back and count over and over again. Counting stitches in low light is not fun.

I only have 10 rows left of the Eli Dress, then finishing and blocking. I should be able to get it done this week, unless of course some disaster happens. I'd like to make another for Nature Baby, perhaps in a sport weight. I'll add it to my queue, it's already enormous!

Oh boy does this little lady need a good blocking!

WIP Wednesday

Some friends of ours are having their first babies! Two couples each having a baby, not one couple with multiple babies. The first squishy snuggle bug is due at the end of the month and the second isn't until September. Good thing I just started working on these projects, leaving it until the last minute.

For the first time a long while I'm excited about knitting something! I'm about halfway through this Eli Dress . I'm using knitpicks wool of the andes Worsted on size 7 needles. I'm pretty happy with the everglade heather color way. I'm kind of a jerk not using yarn thats machine washable, but I guess they'll just have to deal.

For some reason I seem to be incapable of reading this pattern correctly. I've had to rip back sections at least 3 times. The pattern is written straight forward but I must be too tired to read properly. Or I've been too distracted by Game of Thrones. Can we talk about John Snow for a while? Anyways back to the point...

I have 2 other baby things to knit after this dress. I love knitting baby things, they're so quick. I'm always tempted to make things I want to make with cool construction like this, (I want one in my size) but I always end up opting for things that non-knitters will like.

Speaking of knitters, how do you get good WIP photos? Do you block it? This morning I had one heck of a time trying to get a decent shot of the leaf details.

Baby knits!

I have no WIPS for this Wednesday, I figured I'd look ahead to my next project.
Some friends of ours are having some babies this summer and fall. Now that I have nothing in terms of WIPS (except fixing all the ends of the under the sea blanket) I'm looking forward to making some teeny tiny things. I have about 30 things I'd like to make in my ravelry queue (and of course, no yarn to make them). Good thing these people live in New England with seasons!
Decisions, decisions.

From the Purl Bee

 From Craft Foxes

From Kasia Smolak

From Pickles

From Barbara Ajroldi

From Jupiter Modeles (Good thing I know French)

From Petite Purls 

From Rasmilla

From Silk and Wool

From Universal Wool

From Natually Caron

From Christine Rouville

From Annypurls 

From Sorren Kerr

1 from the Purl Bee
2 from Craft Foxes
3 from Kasia Smolak on Ravelry
4 from Pickles
5 from Barbara Ajroldi on Revelry
6 from Jupiter Modeles
7 from Shelley D Jones
8 from Rasmilla on Ravelry
9 from Silk and Wool
10 from Universal Wool
11 from Naturally Caron
12 from Christina Rouville
13 from Annypurls on Ravelry
14 From Sorren Keer on Ravelry

What do you think? Which would you choose?