I started a hashtag!!

I did it. I started a hashtag. It's my first one. It is #knitmywardrobe2016

I have quite an ambitious list of things I want to accomplish in 2016. Specifically in my knitting favorites list, so I made a list. It's probably more than I can actually do and it doesn't account for gifts or last minute mittens and hats for my kids.

So, in no particular order, here is the list:

Sweaters:
1.Strokkur - started 12/15 and using Cascade 220 in charcoal gray, and 2 colors that I don't know the name of, a heathered olive and a heathered rust.
2. Campside Cardi by Alicia Plummer - Madeline Tosh DK in the Earl Gray colorway.
3. Antrorse - Quince & Co. Osprey in Peacoat
4. Grace by Jane Richmond - in Madeline Tosh in Modern Fair Isle
5. Anna Vest by Karen Templer -Cascade 220 in Shire

Socks:
My goal is at least 4 pair, but I would love to do more. I have a Yarnbox Socks subscription each month that I would like to attempt to keep up with, but so far I haven't liked the yarn and pattern together for my first 2 months.
Other sock patterns I want to do this year:
1. Iced Gingerbread by Sarah Stevens
2. Farmhouse Flats by Hey Lady Hey
3. Dale by A Homespun House
4. Blueberry Waffle Socks
5. Baby Socks by Socks Street for my daughter.
I want to make a pair of socks for my son too.

Head:
1. Tallorcen by Lucy Hague for my husband out of stash Swans Island
2. Baa-ble Hat - started 12/15 and using many leftovers from stash.
3. Showcase Headband by

Neck:
1. Bradway Shawl
2. Honeycomb Cowl Resurrection by   for my son out of Kollage Happiness worsted
3. Trellis Shawl by Annie Rowdan for my daughter out of Quince & Co.    in Petal
4. Rivulet Shawl by Tin Can Knits

Other:
1. Press Pot Cozy
2. Rocky by Tin Can Knits
3. Kangaroo
4. Cozy Memories Sock Yarn Blanket (will be a WIP for a long time)

Outside of knitting, I want to do a lot there as well.
1. I want to dye yarn for fun and then for my Etsy shop.
2. Get a pygmy goat or 2 and a mini sheep.
3. Grow things more efficiently in our garden and increase the size. (That will mean that this year we will have roughly 1800 sq ft of garden space.
4. Do more canning for the winter.
5. Read more.

Catching up

Happy New Year Knitters!
It's been such a long time since my last post. I have a few partial posts that I will update and then make live soon. I know the things I'm working on are different since my last post.
Life on the farm is wonderful, although quite busy. Our daughter is now one year old and busy as ever. My knitting time is not as much as I'd like, with barn chores, 2 young kids, housework, and homeschooling, but it's such a wonderful and full life that I'm so happy to call mine.

With that, I do have several projects going, as always. I just finished 2 kids sweaters, one for each of my children. For my son, I made another Wonderful Wallaby Wallaby. I've made 3 or 4 over the years and they are a favorite. I have a few custom changes I did on this one, per my son's request. This is knit in a Donegal Tweed in navy, with beautiful flecks of light blue and red, it was purchased in Ireland by my Dad over the summer. The pouch is done in a contrasting light blue from Bonners Ferry, Idaho. My son wanted it to be a kangaroo sweater, so the pouch is closed on both sides and only open on top, then I added ears to the top. The pink inside the ear is Quince &Co.
Next, is the Bonjour Chicken sweater for my daughter. I used Cascade 220 superwash, in a gray called Space needle and a purple called Majestic, I believe. I chose little wooden buttons from Joann Fabrics.

I am also making a pair of sparkling socks using Susan B. Anderson's How I Make My Socks pattern. The yarn is Western Sky Knits Twinkle Socks in Stained Glass. I might be in love with this yarn and colorway! It's absolutely gorgeous! I'm finished with the 1st sock and almost halfway done with the second. I would like to complete them this weekend. I looked very forward to participating  in the Christmas Eve cast on with Little Bobbins Podcast. She does a KAL starting socks on Christmas Eve. I cast on, but ended up frogging them because the combination of yarn and pattern was a bad choice.

I have also started a sweater called Strokkur using Cascade 220 in charcoal gray and I'm wondering if my contrasting colors should be changed.

I have yarn set aside and wound for the Bradway shawl, but I haven't cast on yet. That will be done in some cream alpaca from a little farm in Michigan, in my hometown.

I just started the Baa ble hat in some leftover yarns, including Madeline Tosh vintage, malabrigo rios, Spud and Chloe, and Hikoo Simply worsted.

 

I am making my 2016 list of things I would like to knit. The next post will be a list of that with the yarn I'm going to use. Please join me in knitting some beautiful things and using the hashtag #knitmywardrobe2016. I will be tagging all of my projects with that this year. I am hoping to blog more regularly and show my WIPs more often.

 

Also in the works this year, I am reading some very interesting books about knitting and dyeing yarn. I hope to begin dyeing yarn for my shop very soon. I will do a separate post on the books.

Until next  time...

Happy New Year! 

Trying to knit with 2 kids

I'm coming out of the holiday and new baby fog...well, sort of. I took a short hiatus from writing as my due date drew near so I could focus on my family and the last few weeks of my pregnancy. I finished some knitting projects, frogged a few, and worked on some that I'm still slowly wading through.

The end of the year was a busy one for us: new baby, parents and in laws visiting, holidays, and we bought a new house and moved in time for Christmas. Needless to say, my knitting took a back seat some of the time, not that I mind.

Now, with school back for the remainder of the year, my oldest heads off to his school and the baby and I head to run errands or go to the local coffee shop and knit. More often than not, we end up knitting. I'm finally figuring out how to balance my time better and give everyone the attention they need and want while still having some time for my stitches. 

So, with my resolutions in mind, I have my 2 pair of socks on the needles. My progress at this point, is one sock of each pair is halfway complete. 

Currently on the needles:

1.Socks On A Plane socks in Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock in Berry Tart. (Update: I decided to frog these because I want to knit them on a smaller needle)

2. A Nice Ribbed Sock by Glenna C. In Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in Malachite. (Update: finished!)

3. The Twigs and Willows Cardigan from Botanical Knits by Alana Dakos. I'm using Madeline Tosh Vintage in Begonia Leaf. (Update: in hibernation again)

4. I just started a project from a club I'm in. It's a pattern called Loslassen by Shannon Cook using The Neighborhood Fiber Company Studio Sock in Fells Point color way. (In hibernation)
5. A cowl for my Mom called the Cassu Cowl is also in progress using The Neighborhood Fiber Company Studio Worsted in a beautiful charcoal color and I can't remember the name. (Update: in again time out!)

To be updated later as I progress. I hope to complete a few pair of socks this year for #operatio sockdrawer. I also hope to complete a few sweaters this year. Some will be for the kids, so those should go a bit faster.

just keep knitting....

Distractions

See the problem with distractions is....oh look! Yarn!

I seem to have my hand in too many projects. I'm not on any deadline really, just my own made up "wishful thinking" timeline. I may or may not finish projects by my deadlines I make up, but I'm not worried anymore. I used to rush myself while I knitted, hoping to finish as many projects as quickly as I could. While I always have enjoyed and loved the process of knitting, it was always the starting something new, picking a pattern, choosing yarn, beginning the process that really drove me. I enjoy that part immensely, but with two kids, I have less time to knit. I love every minute I get, but I'm taking my time. 

That said, I will hopefully reach my year end goals for this year, but I'm not stressing about it. It also means I've been letting my etsy shop sit a little bit. I was hoping I'd have a few small custom orders coming in on a more regular basis, but I am also enjoying that I can spend more time with my family and our new little farm and less time working on things for my shop.

Oh, did I get distracted? Yes. 

So I have far too many projects in the needles and several in queue and ready to go. Patterns and yarns are picked out and set together. It's time to step back, take a look, finish a few, then get back on track!

Easy Knitting

November 2014:

Pretty soon, we will be holding our new baby in all of her hand knits and I'm sure I will be sad to see how quickly she will grow out of everything. I know my knitting time will be less than it is now, so I am trying to finish up a few more things and set my project list up for things that are "mindless knitting." These are things that don't require very much brain function for me, lots of garter or stockinette, very little row counting, chart reading, and lacework. These are perfect projects for social knitting groups as well as sleep deprived Moms who need something easy to be able to pick up and put down without the fear of forgetting what I'm doing.

These items will be posted and listed soon. Stay tuned.....

Resolutions

My knitting resolutions or goals for 2015 are to become a proficient sock knitter and make a couple of sweaters.

To begin this, I pulled my Socks on A Plane out if hibernation. I had put them on holders a few months ago when I lost my place at the heel turn. One of my lovely friends in my knitting group frogged my worked back and got me where I needed to be while I nursed my sweet baby. The socks are in a gorgeous hot pink and purple self striping yarn by Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock called Berry Tart. I'm halfway through one and hoping to finish them soon. I'm knitting those on two sets of circulars, which is a newer technique for me.

To compare techniques, I started another pair of socks using the magic loop method. I'm not sure which I will like better or which will be faster, but I will be paying attention to that as I knit. This second pair is a simple ribbed sock done in Hazel knits Artisan Sock in Malachite, a beautiful, dark green color. 

Also on the list is to FINALLY finish my Twigs and Willows cardigan from the Botanical Knits book by Alana Dakos. I'm using Madeline Tosh Vintage yarn in Begonia Leaf. I only have the sleeves and

Button band left, so hopefully those will go quickly in worsted weight yarn.

I have some yarn in my stash from frogging another cardigan I made a few years ago. It's a charcoal Cascade 220 and I also have some of the same yarn in hot pink and a similar worsted weight yarn by Mountain... In green. I'm thinking of purchasing some cream wool and using the combination to make the Hiro pullover. It has some gorgeous color work, but I am not very good at stranding, since I've only done it twice. I plan to practice on a baby hat first, then dive into that pullover this spring. 

My plan for sweaters is to complete at least 2 sweaters for me, one for my mom, and one for my son, as well as start on one for my husband, all by the end of the year. 

My plan for socks is to complete at least 2 pair for myself this year and one for each of my kids. If I can do that, I will make my husband a pair for Christmas.

I better get knitting!

Knitting Storm

I've just been knitting up a storm! When I look back at the amount of projects I've completed over the last 6 months, I'm shocked at how quickly things have flown off the needles! What a sense of accomplishment. Not much has been made for my Etsy shop, but I'm hoping I can knock out a few items before the holiday shopping truly begins!

Recently finished ones:
1. I completed the Dinosaur Wallaby for my son. It's not my favorite project because I have loved making the wallaby in the past, but I made a few changes that were not well thought out. I made the arms slimmer and did not do the increases as usual at the cuff. when I joined the sleeves to the body, this created an odd join that I don't love the look of. My son also requested that I leave the hood off. This adjustment then required some creative stitch counting and decreasing for the neckline. I think I frogged the neckline about 5 times and remade it. I finally have it so that it looks ok and will easily fit over his head.

2. I also finished a second pair of the Footies that I made. I did this second pair also in Malabrigo Rios and these are in my hospital bag to take with me for when the baby comes.

3. I've been making a few small Christmas ornaments as gifts, but also to sell in my Etsy shop. (www.etsy.com/shop/SeraCraft)

4. My mittens are almost complete, but the second one has been a real trouble maker and she has been put in a time out, with only the thumb to finish.

5. Baby Mittens for the newborn stage were ridiculously fast and are so tiny, I can hardly believe they will fit! 

6. My Pine Tree Place cowl is also done and it has moved to the front of my scarf wardrobe, since its perfect for fall, easy to wear, and matches me coat. It has become a quick favorite.

I should be finished with a sweater soon and I'm working on organizing my winter projects now. I will be looking forward to posting some new ones!

Socks

In the past I haven't been a sock knitter. I found them to be difficult because I always looked at intricate patterns and very fine fingering weight sock yarn. I realize, of course, that people have made socks out of heavier weights of yarn, but I wasn't sure about doing that. 

I did a little searching on Ravelry when looking to make a gift. I found some worsted weight patterns that were free patterns and decided to choose a yarn I love and dive in. While those gorgeous, fine sock yarns do make beautiful socks, I wanted to get some under my belt before attempting those again.

I came across a cute pattern for Footies by Quirky Bird Knits, a low sock that is an easy construction and done on a size 5 needle. Much more doable than the size 1 I had last worked on! I chose a yarn I love, Malabrigo Rios, a worsted weight yarn, in a beautiful color way called Liquid Ambar. It's a blend of very "fall colors" and I'm in love. The pattern was easy, surprisingly fast, and the yarn is soft and lovely. 

They turned out beautifully and I wish I had enough of that yarn to make a pair for myself in the same color! I do have a little stash yarn in Malabrigo Rios in 2 different color ways, and I should be able to squeak out a pair from each ball. I may have to get more of that color though, since I'm so in love!

Ok I've taken them off and I need to block them and cast on my own pair! 

Little House Shoes

I whipped up a quick pair of house shoes for my son. I held the Cascae 220 heathers double in a dark blue and a light blue. I followed a pattern that came with the suede slipper soles and it was incredibly easy. He wanted them to look a little like my slippers, which I would love to take credit for making, but I got them for my birthday from Padraig Cottage in Canada.

He loves the new slippers already and I think they will be his slippers for school. They wear slippers inside and pull on rain boots outside.

Am I nesting?

I always have several projects on the needles at any given time. It's almost a joke. Sometimes, it's sort of a ridiculous amount. Most of them are either finished or hibernating, but on occasion I frog a project or two. I'm happy to say that only 2 projects are currently hibernating: my Twigs and Willows sweater from Botanical Knits done in Madeline Tosh vintage and my Ishbel shawl done in Maui yarns.

Currently in the works:

1. Pine Tree Place- a cowl done in Malabrigo Rios in Archangel. 

Just bound off yesterday!!

2. My final Christmas stocking done in Cascade Chunky and Noro Iro I am just casting on.

(Picture coming soon)

3. I'm almost finished with the slippers for my son. It's a pattern that came inside a package of suede slipper soles lined with shearling. All I have to do is attach the base to the body. These are knit with Cascade 220 in two shades of blue, held together. 

4. Of course, the Wallaby is still in the works, but getting closer. That's done in mostly Cascade 220 Superwash with some Lambs Pride as the dinosaur. 

5. I'm getting ready to cast on the Ashby by Brooklyn Tweed in Cascade 220 heathers in shire, a gorgeous dark green.

6. Also just cast on a pair of mittens in Oh! Loops DK for a Harry Potter KAL on Ravelry. These are the Green Leaf Mittens by Spicy Jellybean Knits.

7. Soon, I will be casting on some bed slipper socks for a gift. 

This is a pretty good typical idea of what I have going! Looking at it seems awfully overwhelming, but really it's 2 projects that are fairly close to being finished and then some newbies that I'm very excited about!

Time to get those needles clicking!

Happy knitting!

Christmas in July, August, and September...

I know, I know...it's way too early to start thinking about Christmas, right? I mean, it was 100 degrees today here in Spokane, WA not very long ago and I could hardly stand it! I've been knitting lightweight and small items, like a baby sweater made of organic cotton, in a gorgeous super light lilac shade. I've also started a late summer/early fall transitional cowl that I hope to have enough yarn for to make it useful for a nursing cover as well.

Those pattern links are here:

The baby sweater is called the Cradle Cardigan and it is from a small baby pattern book called Mabel's Closet by Hannah Fettig. It was given to me as a gift by a very good girlfriend of mine. The entire collection is made with Quince & Co. Yarn, so it's been a treat to look through it and go through my stash looking for the perfect yarn choices. I ended up using a yarn that's been in my stash for a long time and I believe it's been discontinued. It's called:

The cowl/cape is the Standing Stones Cowl/Infinity scarf and I'm using Cascade Yarns Venezia worsted. Here are a few finished pictures. It will have to be blocked.

Why Christmas in July, August, and September? Well, I started thinking about Christmas stockings and Christmas gifts. I don't want to get down to the wire again this year, like I usually do. I always end up racing to finish projects. I mean, I started the stockings in July, and I was dying from heat while my lap was covered with wool. Now, here it is September....I'm on my 3rd stocking, out of 4. It finally started cooling off and the weather teased us, so we dug out long sleeve shirts, lightweight sweaters, and shawls or cowls. I was giddy with excitement! Then the weather channel tells us that it will in the 80s this week! I'm kind of bummed and looking forward to when the mini heat wave ends.

This is the big year that I've decided to make Christmas stockings. It's been a difficult choice for me because my late grandmother cross stitches some family stockings many many years ago. While I cherish them for the memories and because they were made by my grandmother, who I was very close to, I am a knitter and knitting stockings for the mantle has always been something I've wanted to do since I started knitting. I will eventually find a way to have handmade hand knit stockings hanging from the mantle, while still displaying the ones she made somewhere nearby. Plus, the only ones that truly match are for my parents, my brother, and myself. The ones for my son and husband are similar, but not matching. Now that there is another baby on the way, I'd like to have some for my immediate family that are all the same style and colors that reflect each of our personalities a little bit.

I've finished the first 3 stockings in this 4 part project and is was easy and fun, not to mention rather quick! The yarns are gorgeous, the colors are fun, and the deal on the yarn was impossible to beat! I have one more going on the needles and then I will be done! The pattern isn't one I can share, it's a pattern from my local yarn shop. A simple design that was easy to follow. The stocking is on the rather large size, but I don't mind. 

I'm having a great time working on these almost instant gratification projects! What are you working on?

The Wallaby

Ahhhh The Wondeful Wallaby... I have such love for this pattern. If you've never made one, it should be next on your list. I have yet to make an adult size, but it's only a matter of time. I've made 2 for my son and I'm just starting a third. 

The Wonderful Wallaby is an adorable little hooded sweater with a pouch on the front and a good. It's the hoodie sweatshirt that almost everyone loves for a casual day, but it's made better by using lovely yarn and hand knit. You use worsted weight yarn and simple stitches to create this sweater with very easy to understand pattern instructions.

This time, I'm doing something special and inserting a dinosaur into the pocket design. It will be a size 4T and my son chose the colors. The main body is light gray: Cascade Yarns 220 Superwash in Spaceneedle. The dinosaur is done in black, using a Lamb's pride washable yarn in black. The teeth will be either duplicate stitched or embroidered on and the eye will be blue, using some leftover Cascade 220 Superwash in blue from the Abate Sweater I made him. 

The sleeves are something I'm playing with a little. I didn't do the increases as suggested by the pattern. I decided that since my son is so slim, I would do the sleeves a little slimmer so he isn't "swimming" in the sweater. I hope that the sweater looks good when I'm done. I'm finished with the first sleeve and on to the next one. The overall fit is a little larger so he will fit into it longer. I'm really unsure of how this will go....

I've been asked by my son to leave the good off on this wallaby. I sure wish I'd have known he didn't want the good sooner, as I would have chosen a different pattern for this, but no worries, I will come up with something. I'm at the point of attaching the sleeves, so it's time to search through the patterns I have and  read over them to make any changes needed. I think it will be rather straight forward, since I will follow the wallaby up to the neckline and then just not of the v split in front or the hood. I will post when finished.

New Tools

Oh how fun new knitting tools can be! Whether it's a new measuring tape that looks like a chicken or turtle (my favorites), funky stitch markers, a new notions bag, or something else, knitting notions and tools are lots of fun and can renew your interest in a project by simply being something fun to look at. 

I love to keep organized with fun bags and small plastic containers for all of my markers. I have several project bags of various sizes, markers with birds and lady bugs, and I've felted a large bag to carry my precious knitting from place to place. 

This year, I've just received a very special birthday gift from my parents. They knew I was getting more into knitting but they had no idea the depths of my "obsession." On a recent visit, I had a little show and tell of the projects I've completed since their last visit. Needless to say, they were surprised that I had accomplished so much and certainly impressed with how much better a knitter I've become. It actually brought tears to my Dad's eyes as he spoke of his mother knitting many years ago. I was very close with my late grandmother, but she had given up on knitting many years prior to me picking up a set of needles. She favored cross stitch later in her life until she wasn't able to do it anymore. When they saw my passion and skill, they bought me a very special gift: a set of Lantern Moon interchangeable rosewood needles! How lucky can a girl get? I'm so excited and I immediately cast on a new project with my smooth, beautiful new needles! 

This new project is the Standing Stones cowl by Andee on Ravelry. I'm using Cascade Venizia worsted yarn in Winterfresh. This picture doesn't do the color justice. I will work on a better photo!

I love this project, the yarn is beautiful, as always with Cascade Yarns, and the needles are amazing! Lucky me!

Chevron Baby Blanket

I started another beautiful baby project. This time I'm making a colorful chevron baby blanket. I'm not one for pastels usually. I like more interesting colors choices and I prefer something unique. This chevron blanket was the perfect place to play around with a fun color combination. I chose a mix of colors and it turns out, a mix of yarns. They are all washable too.

I'm loving this pattern and my color choices! It's been a pretty quick project, so far, but I did put it on hold the other week due to very hot temperatures here in Spokane, WA. I just couldn't bear the thought of sitting under a wool blanket to knit when it was 95-102 degrees! 

Now it's complete and waiting for the arrival of Baby Girl.

The pattern for this one is called Chevron Baby Blanket from Espace Tricot. It's a free pattern on Ravelry.

I am very happy with the outcome! I added a few rows here and there and I'm very happy with how large it is. It will be a cozy blanket for her for a few good years this way. 

Farmers Market Bag

I love my LYS, both of them. They are equally awesome, in very different ways. One is A Grand Yarn, and they are a smaller shop, with lots of very cool yarn choices, many by smaller, independent companies. They often hold Knit Alongs that are free to participate in, and there's a chance you will win a small prize. It's fun to connect with other knitters, some who you are friends with and some new folks. This summer is a Welcome to the Lake series of KALs that features a new topic each month. In June, we each hose a shawl to knit, July has just been posted and it's a bag. Within this theme, you can choose any pattern and any yarn. I am using some stash yarn Kollage Riveting Worsted made of recycled denim to make The Sully Market Bag. What a fun, quick knit!

I finished this project this week. I have to say, I'm happy to be done, but I'm not super happy with the end result. The yarn isn't my favorite and while the pattern was quick and easy, I just don't like how it turned out. Maybe it was te yarn choice. Ah well, they can't all be favorites. It's a little flimsy and will only hold lightweight items, but I'm happy to have it complete and will be taking it to the market this week.

Baby Elephant Sweater

Knitting baby stuff is so fun! It can be a pretty quick project too because everything is so tiny! It's great for small projects in between larger projects like adult sized sweater, large shawls, and afghans. Even something simple can be a nice change from a complicated pattern.

I've recently started a new baby sweater for our 2nd baby arriving in the fall. I've been very excited, scouring Ravelry for fun baby knits! If you've never looked at Ravelry, you must check it out! It's free to join and it's a great way to find millions of projects for both knitting and crochet, but it's a great place to chat with other fiber friends, the perfect social media network for fiber fanatics!

I finally settled in my first baby project of the Ella Funt sweater by Pamela Wynne.

My color choices are all Cascade 220 Superwash Sport

The main body cast on in gray.

The sweater was a very fun knit and a little but challenging for me, since I haven't done much color work, but I think it went pretty well. 

It's complete, for the most part. I have the finishing bits of weaving ends and closing under the arms. The biggest challenge will be to find buttons I like. 

I'm very happy with how it turned out and I absolutely adore the yarn! It's washable, so I just hope it holds up well, although it's Cascade yarn, so I know I will be happy! Their yarn is my favorite!

Update 7/20/14: I finally have buttons! My Mom chose some yellow and green simple circular buttons before we knew the baby was a girl. They match quite well and I will close the arm holes and put on buttons then post a picture! Excited to add this to the finished items for the baby.

Little Newborn Sleep Sack

I'm knitting a very cute little baby item this week. It's a tiny little newborn sleep sack for our baby girl, coming in November. It's done on a size 13 needle and the patter calls for super bulky yarn, so it knits up extremely fast! I only cast on late last night and I'm 3/4 of the way finished!

I'm using Spud & Chloe Outer in a gorgeous salmon-pink color. It's my first time using this yarn and it is so incredibly soft and squishy! I'm already in love and dreaming up the next project that I can use this yarn for. I also now am dying to try all of their yarns!

 

 

You can see my project notes on Ravelry here. I will post an updated picture when it's complete.

Update: this was such a quick and easy knit! I can't wait to see the baby in it! It's going to the hospital with me for sure!

My son put his stuffed puffin inside to test it out. So cute! I may need to make another one of these!