Tag: #knittingnotions

Swatch Done

Before I get to the new design progress, I did get around casting on the body of my Wonderful Wallaby yesterday. I only have 3-4 more rounds of ribbing to go.

So I mentioned in my last post that I am working on a vintage inspired sweater. It is primarily a baby cardigan but I can see potential for making multiple sizes up through children’s and possibly adults too. I love the pieced format, and while it’s not the popular choice, I may just keep it. There are several reasons for this. One, I like the smaller pieces on the needles. I also like the stability it gives the garment against stretching out. And third, I think it’s a classic look.

This is the right front of year sweater. It’s about a 12 month size to me. This size will be about 23″ or so chest circumference and around 12″ in length from the shoulder. The gauge is 8 st. × 10.5 r. per inch on 2.75mm needles. It’s very light and has lovely stitch definition at this gauge. I steam blocked the sample.

I won’t be knitting the whole sample from this color, though I will be using the same yarn, Classic Merino Superwash Sock. The ball I used here was a remnant from another booth sample and I don’t have more in this dye lot. I am thinking I would like to use a neutral like Pewter, Earl Grey, or Graphite and then use remnants for the embroidery.

Here’s a couple embroidery ideas I have tried. I like the five petal lazy daisy better of the two. I also am surprised that I like the double crosses maybe better still. They are simpler to execute and have a wider gender appeal, don’t you think? Maybe I could just include both as options in the pattern?

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Spring stuff

I know it doesn’t look like much yet but I am excited about my little garden spot Jerry dug for me this past weekend.

A few tomato, peppers, and herbs

We put in a tomato, a red bell pepper and a jalapeño pepper. Also some of the herbs I use most often in the kitchen; parsley, thyme, oregano, basil, and lemon balm.

An update on my knitting; I have completed both sleeves on the Wonderful Wallaby. I haven’t cast on for the body yet since I began work on one of my design ideas. More on that in a moment.

Now more on my new project. I have in mind to do maybe a series of designs, mainly baby and children’s stuff based on vintage designs. I want them to look like vintage, think WWII era, but with updated pattern directions and possibly construction. Usually older patterns are knit in pieces and sewn. I do like working that way and there are good reasons to do so, but for baby stuff seamless can make sense. Still not decided on that aspect so we’ll see.

So here’s the first swatch for a little cardigan. See the slip stitch diamonds? There will be two above those and one on the top. Then there will be some embroidery probably inside the diamonds. I am thinking lazy daisies but will try a few ideas out. The colors in the bowl are some scraps I will experiment with.

I have charted out the slip stitch diamonds after I knit this and will be testing that as I continue the swatch. I knit what you see without aid of my chart since I needed it knit in order to work out the chart. I should have some more to show pretty soon. 😍

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Knitting and Festival Preparations

First up on today’s post is my progress on my Wonderful Wallaby. I have completed one sleeve and started number two.

We are hopeful that the late spring festivals we have on the schedule will happen. The first on up is the Kentucky Sheep and Fiber Festival on May 15-16. It’s going to be a little different this year, in that it will be all outdoor vending. So, we needed some tents for that.

I wanted to see how I will do setting it up solo.

It wasn’t too hard really. It would be a bit smoother and faster with one other person for this step, but I did manage it myself just fine. I’m sure I will get faster with practice too.

We also changed my truck’s oil, got new tires for the trailer, and did some reloading of the trailer to fit in the tents.

We worked them in between the two columns of storage totes on the right.

Ok see you next time. 😊

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Monday Knitting and Dyeing

The blanket is all done! I love it! So glad to be done with the sewing and back to knitting.

What is on the needles now? A Wonderful Wallaby. I have some design ideas floating around in my head but this will do for some easy knitting while I plan.

Some lovely blue Cascade 220 that has been marinating in the stash for some time.

This morning, while I would love to be knitting all day, work must take priority I guess 😉. I am back at the dye pots. I have about 12.5 lbs. of fiber to dye for the mill.

What are you doing today?

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Sewing has begun

I have finished the knitting and begun the sewing. And let me note that I am trying to be good and stay on task, because sewing is not knitting. By that I mean, I like to knit but sewing together knitting is less fun. 😉

I have joined the strips of 5 of the 8 colors. So 3 more strips to make then just sew those strips together. Oh and guess how close I came to losing at yarn chicken 🐔. 2 g. Yep, I should have had 8 g but for some reason I squeaked by with 2 g left. Whew!

I like how it is coming out. Because I want to see it complete I am trying very hard to hold off casting on a new project until this is completely done. Wish me luck. 😉

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One thing done

I am finished with the scarf I was knitting for my son. It’s all blocked and ready to pass on to him when I get a chance.

I am back at the afghan and will show you some more progress on that next time.

I am busy this week setting up my “booth” for the Carolina Fiber Festival Virtual event. It’s happening on March 12-14 and I will be online from 9 to 6 all three days. I’ll post a link to my booth page when it’s ready.

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New Pattern Shapely Mitts

Hey there, 👋

I know it’s been a little quiet on the blog lately. I am still plugging along on the afghan and making slow progress. I completed another color and have five more to go. That’s 30 hexagons for those of you keeping score.

Here’s the color I am working on currently.

I had a birthday 🎂 last week. Jerry took me out to our favorite place for pizza and local craft beer. I made one of my favorite desserts too, instead of cake, lemon meringue pie. Here’s my go to recipe for it. Works perfectly every time. You can thank me later.

You may recall last year that I was knitting a pair of fingerless mitts in my Classic Merino Superwash Sock yarn. I had a few requests for the pattern and I have finally gotten to writing and publishing it. I have it on Ravelry and on my website.

I am extending the special introductory offer that I ran last week from my social media. Beginning today and running through February 8, 2021, you can have the pattern for free with purchase of a skein of yarn to make it. I wrote the pattern for both fingering weight and sport weight yarn. I linked the fingering weight above and here’s the Classic Merino Superwash Sport yarn.

Lavender, Damson Plum,Midnight Blue, Sapphire, Winter Sky, Peacock, Robin Egg, Atlantic
Heather, Orchid, Quartzite, Pewter, Slate, Obsidian, Graphite, Earl Grey
Glacier, Ironstone, Emerald, Lichen, Jade, Honeydew, Fern, Marigold
Tea Rose, Cerise, Crimson, Garnet, Paprika, Sea Coral, Chamomile, Sea Oat

The special free pattern offer is good only on my website. Just pick your yarn and color and then add it and the Shapely Mitts pattern to the cart. Add the code SHAPELY when you begin the check out process for $5 discount. If you have any problems or questions please contact me at knittingnotions@gmail.com. Thanks for reading!

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Back to it

I am back to the afghan this month after finishing my sweater before Christmas. I am trying to stay on it and resist the temptation to start something new.

I was working on it by doing a new color every time I started a new piece until I had a whole row of each color. I had four of every color and planned at that point that I would need at least ten of each to make a good size lap blanket.

So now I have switched to just knitting all six I still need, one color at a time. When I have ten I move on to the next color. So the sum total of my knitting since my last post is six hexagons in the blue. Maybe I’ll have a lot more to show you in my next post.

In other news, we have a bunch of new Sock Keepers on the website. We already had some Cherry, Walnut and Oak but we have added back Mahogany plus a small stock of Maple for the first time ever. These are all available to order for $20 each. I love using mine whenever I am working with double point needles. It works for socks of course but also for mittens, gloves, sleeves, etc.

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Wednesday

Here is my Cables and Lace Baby Blanket swatch in Classic Merino Superwash Sport all blocked and looking lovely. It should take about 3 skeins to use this yarn to make the smallest size. It takes 4 of the Organic Cotton Sport for the same size.

I got back to work on the fingerless mitts I am making. It’s been a nice change to work on small things, especially the mitts. I haven’t made anything using my dpns for awhile. I feel like it might be time for a sweater next though. I should probably browse through my patterns or maybe design a gansey I have had in the back of my mind for quite awhile. We’ll see after I finish the second mitt.

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A little side knitting

I finished that first fingerless mitt and dutifully cast on for it’s mate. But then I got diverted with a little side project.

Two years ago I designed my Cables and Lace blanket. I knit the original with my Organic Cotton Sport yarn.

I have always intended to make another booth sample using my Classic Merino Superwash Sport. Since I have a few remnant balls of this hanging around, I got the idea to just make a big swatch to show it in this yarn rather than a full size one.

I will probably do one more repeat of the lace then the top border and call it good. It only took a few hours to get this much done so if I get to do any knitting today I should have it done soon. Then it will be back to the second mitt.

Have a good weekend and see you soon 😊.

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