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.

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?

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!

2016 goals

Can you believe it's 2016, I certainly can't! 2015 was a big year for us with really great highs and really low lows.

This year I've got goals!

• Paint every ceiling and the 3 bedrooms
• Build a fence, even if it's just cattle panels.
• Improve the garden (more on that coming up later)
• New play set for the kids, the death trap has got to go!
• Upgrade a few things in the house the dishwasher, get a few bookcases, figure out a better toy stage system, some new light fixtures for above the table and the bed rooms. 
• Stop looking like a hobo all the time. I should to start getting my hair done regularly (once a year doesn't cut it and that'll give me some knitting time), get some new jeans. Mine are bad! And just take a little bit of time for myself, I'd like to not be so tired all the time
• I'd like to knit something nice for myself, it'd been a long time since I made anything for me. I have a ton of this I'd like to make but always end up starting a project for someone else. 

I think my goals are reasonable and all very do-able. I'm keeping it simple for 2016.
What are you working towards this year?

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 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.

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.

WIP Wednesday, Under the Sea blanket

Oh this blanket. It is off my needles, blocked and after doing much research and asking many knitters advice. I think I'm going to just have to tack the ends down. Not how I wanted to finish this blanket at SO MUCH work, but what can you do. My options aren't great. I'd rather not have the whole thing fall apart.

Honestly, I don't even want to look at it like this, it makes me so upset! I think I can fix it but I'm pretty sure i'll never be happy with how it turns out.

2015 goal Finish Under the Sea blanket. Progress!

This month I have made a pretty big dent in my under the sea project. I have 3 more stripe repeats to go!

This is what a typical night looks like for me! Sitting on the floor, working, laundry basket and toys on the floor. I don't know how blanket knitters do it!

I have yarn for another blanket but to be honest, I have zero desire to do another intarsia blanket. EVER!

Check out the progress since the last update.

The second Wednesday of each month I'm going to do a WIP Wednesday (Work in Progress) to keep up with what I'm working on.

2015 goal Finish under the sea blanket

This blanket  I started a million years ago in September 2013. That doesn't seem right, maybe it is? anyways! I put this down when we moved and just picked it up again last night. I pulled it out and certain 3 year old said "WHOA! That's cool! Is it for me?"
"Yes dear."
"THATS AWESOME! Will it be done by morning time?"
"No Bud, it won't be finished for a long time!"
That's encouraging!
I have finished 3 of the 8 stripe repeats, it seems never ending! Maybe I'll be able to finish this year!

I thought the charts were going to be too small for me to read while working, but the repeats are so simple that I only look at it to see which rows are the color switches. I use a row counter but this could easily be done by counting stitches. Easily.
I bought this as a kit when I first saw it in the knitpicks catalogue. I couldn't stop thinking about it for days! I ordered it and couldn't wait for it to be delivered. I'm using size 8 (5mm) interchangeable needles with a 60" cable and the Brava Worsted provided in the kit and I will say I'm impressed! I thought I hated acrylic yarn but this Brava is so soft! Very smooth on the needles and nice in the hands.

My advice for this pattern is definitely weave your ends as you go! I couldn't imagine weaving all the ends after casting off.

Everyday that 3 year old asks me if it's finished yet! Thats motivation enough to keep working.