Making myself sew and finished Antler Toque and Sara's Slouch

Well, I tried to make a dirndl skirt and it looked like crap.  One pocket was a half inch too high and when I tried it on I realized that this style is not for me at all!!  I looked like Ma Joad from Grapes of Wrath.

 

So then I was like now what?  Dirndl skirts were supposed to be the foundation of my new summer wardrobe.  Why did I just spend $100 on fabric?  What does it all mean?!

I decided to go through my stash and maybe I could find some direction and/or inspiration.

 

Out of 7 boxes I kept only 2.  I wanted to take them to Goodwill that day but I was lazy and decided to wait until I could borrow a dolly from work to haul them down to my truck.  Glad I did because I remembered some scraps that I wanted to keep so I could add pockets to my green and yellow muumuus.  I'm actually really surprised that I haven't reclaimed more.  It's a sad lesson on how I tend to buy stuff spontaneously without a project in mind.  Definitely want to stop doing that.  I'm hoping to sew up my stash and then only buy enough fabric for one project at a time.  Like Diana Rupp says in her book Sew Everything Workshop.

I sorted my keepers by color.  It's all cotton.  Man fabric is it's own category LOL

Then I worked on an easy project. Curtain doors for my apartment! 

 

I'm in a really dated 80's apartment with bi-fold doors on the closets and they don't shut!  So, I finally got sick of it and watched a Youtube video on how to remove them without tearing them up, stored them in the porch storage space and made some cute curtains.  I really like them.  Brightens up the place a bunch!

 

This one is in the kitchen.

 

Entry way coat closet and bedroom closet.  Look at the pattern on the bedroom closet curtain.  It got off grain when I was squaring the ends :(  Looks like it's sliding downhill.  Easy fix but still annoying.

 

I really enjoyed sewing them up and seeing basically instant results!  I need to remember that when planning future projects.

Finished the Sara's Slouch by Wooly Wormhead and I love it!  First time knitting with two strands so that was cool.  The pattern isn't very specific about how tall to make it for a slouchy look so I decreased too soon and ended up with a beanie lol.  I still really like it.  I used Malabrigo Rios (worsted) in Ivy and Arroyo (DK) in Reflecting Pool.  It made a really dense, warm hat.  I'm not sure if I used the right combo of yarn weights. I might try a DK and fingering weight together next time. This was my first time using Malabrigo and I love it!! Cascade 220 worsted feels like twine now in comparison! LOL.

I love love love the Antler Toque by Tin Can Knits.  It was my first try at knitting cables!  This one went to my mom.  She loves brown lol.

A friend requested an orange hat so I'm working on that.  It looks a bit like a carrot but that's what he wants :/

Here's Ole Pokey lovin' some cuddles <3

My knitting fails and some easy mitts

I've been in a bit of a knitting slump.  I tried the Barley hat from Tin Can Knits and it just didn't turn out like I'd hoped.  I used some Cascade 220 that I already had and it was too fine of a gauge because the hat brim was REAL small and I made the biggest size!  I finished it but soon ripped it out.  It looked like poo poo.

 

Then I decided to make the Miss Marple Scarf.  It was a fun pattern and I really like the gold color of the yarn but I finished it and the ends were curling really bad and it super bugged me!  I tried to block it but in the end I wasn't happy so I took a pic and ripped it out!  Looking at it now, it doesn't look so bad and I feel kinda dumb for ripping it out so fast lol.

 

 

After those two fails I was feeling bummed.  So, I decided to make a super simple scarf and mitts.  The scarf is just CO 31 on size 7 needles in garter stitch but I really love it!  All the previous scarves that I made were for other people so it was nice to make a scarf just for me!  The gold yarn is so soft and I love the pop of Flamingo Cascade 220 on the ends.  Now I just have to wait for winter to come back around to wear it lol.

 

 

 

The mitts are a super easy pattern from a deck of project cards that I bought at the library used book shelf.  Hat, Mittens, and Scarves Deck: 25 Cool and Cozy Projects has lots of projects to browse and these mitts were a really cool, easy project to help me get my knitting mojo back.  They need to be blocked because the yarn that I took from the Miss Marple Scarf was a bit wavy but I really don't care.  The main thing I like about this mitt pattern is there is no thumb gusset.  So it fits my crooked thumb really well and no fingers means that my nubbin isn't floating in a too long glove :)

 

 

Right now, I'm working on Sara's Slouch by Wooly Wormhead.  It is very fun and easy and I love how the two yarns look together.  I made the largest size and used size 7 and 9 needles like the pattern recommends but I'm worried that it may be a bit too tight but if the FO is good I think I'll be making several of these.

 

 

I want to start sewing this spring after a long dry spell. Hopefully, I'll have some projects to share in a few weeks!

 

Here's Ripley all cozy on my lap.

 

 

 

And here she is on the back of the couch giving me her best resting bitch face LOL!

 

 

 

 

 

FO's: baby hats, 2 Conversationalist hats and a Mariner's Scarf

I think I've become a baby hat addict.  They are so much fun to make and such a small project that I can take them everywhere.  They take like three evenings each, if I really stretch it out, and the FO's are so tiny and cute!

I added a pom-pom to the slouchy baby beanie that I made. Its like comically oversized and totally out of proportion but whatev.  Its just for a doll lol.

 

 

I made two more hats using this really cool free pattern on Ravelry.

 

 

This pic is overexposed but I wanted to show the really cool effect of the ssk decrease stitch on the top.

 

I also made this kinda funky looking hat. Its free and called Declan.  I wanted a gnome look but its not quite there.  Looks more like an upturned funnel lol.

 

 

I finished two Conversationalist hats.  The first one went to my cousin Abigail for her 18th birthday!  I used Cascade Superwash 220 for the teal and pink.  I'm not sure what yarn I bought for the gold color.  The teal looks so pretty on her.

 

 

 

 I so obsessed over that pom-pom lol.  It still looks a little ragged to me after trimming.  I used the 3" Clover pom-pom maker and its appropriately huge but its kinda uneven and lumpy.

 I want a perfect pom-pom!

 

 

With this Conversationalist, I agonized over the top two colors.  I tried white, gold, and orange before finally settling on the pink with the blue pom-pom.  I like it but not as much as the one I made for Abigail :/  I needed a dog walking hat for my dog sitting weekend coming up so it'll do.

 

 

And lastly, a Mariner's Scarf for my Uncle Brian.  After finishing this scarf, I think I'm gonna stick to hats for awhile.  No more long projects, ugh!

 

 

I bought some more I Love This Yarn in peacock, hot rose and sungold.  It looks like the exact same colors that I used in Abigail's hat lol.  I wanna make super rad baby hats with it!

 

 

I'll cast on a new baby hat while I'm thinking about the next project I wanna start.  I promised to make two Christian's Hats for my cousins.  I've been stalking this cool and easy free hat pattern from Tin Can Knits called Barley and I still wanna make the Miss Marple Scarf.  Decisions LOL

 

Watching this week

 

Galavant Season 2 on Hulu (so dumb with occasional bits of funny, good for knitting)

Downton Season 6 (Mary's gonna find out about Marigold!)

Downton from the beginning with Gran (She can't keep the characters straight.  I've told her who Cousin Matthew is like 5 times)

Fear the Walking Dead (more like Fear the Family Drama, right! Hahaha! No really its great)

 

Reading this week

 

Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas (big book sigh after that one, so good)

Saga Volume 5 (just keeps getting weirder, not sure why I read it really.  I think its for 

Prince Robot IV)

 

Poke giving me the stare so I'll pet him.

 

 

The roll over and snuggle is also a popular move.

Love me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My luscious Conversationalist Hat and my new obsession with baby hats

I went a bit yarn happy this month.  Planning my Conversationalist Hat I really splurged at the yarn shop.  But look at the pretty colors! <3

 

I was so excited to start this pattern!  It a pretty easy knit and good for beginners like me. 

 

 

As you can see, I went back to the store and bought some gold that was just wonderful so I could match the hat on the pattern pic. It was more expensive then the Cascade, $15 a skein, and the store charged me 2 bucks to wind it!! Still pissed about that one.

 

I posted a pic of the hat on Instagram and a friend asked if I wanted to make some baby hats for February for Little Hats, Big Hearts.  I got so into it that I made five! I used this super easy and free pattern on Ravelry, Baby Bear Hat, and left off the ears.  They are the cutest! And so easy to make.  I used I Love This Yarn in Cranberry.

 

 

I used the storytime dolls at work to model them lol.

 

After I finished those hats, I decided to experiment with making my own pattern.  So I bought some more I Love This Yarn and went to town!  I used Grey Beard and Pink Neon.

 

 

Well, I just kept knitting and knitting and ended up with a super tall hat LOL.  This hat will be part of the storytime doll clothes collection so its not that big of a deal.  I'm going to add a pom pom and hopefully it will slouch perfectly and he'll look like a proper little hipster baby. I'm making 3 more hats for the storytime babies so hopefully I'll have the pattern down soon :)

 

I really enjoyed making baby hats.  I could use acrylic, which is way cheaper, and it was a fast knit so like almost instant gratification. I'm getting bored with the Baby Bear pattern, tho I'm sure it will stay in my rotation. I hope to find some new patterns soon to make and share!

 

No cute animal pics but enjoy this bit of wisdom from my personal hero Tina Belcher of Bob's Burgers.

 

 

 

 



 

Finished Mitts and McCall's 6970

Finished the Maine Morning Mitts!  I tested them out at work before sending them to their new owner.  I think they'll work :)

I need some new work clothes so I decided to work on something easy and basic.

 

 

 

Right now, I'm working on grading up View B.

 

 

 

 

I don't really know what I'm doing.  I did some internet research and this is what I came up with.  I wanted to add 4 inches overall to the width so I decided to slash and spread by 1/2" in two spots.  Then I added 3" to the length because I want it to be like a tunic and I figure I can always cut it off later. 

 

 

 

This is what I came up with.  I was super excited that it fit!  I added 1" to the regular 5/8" seam allowance just in case.  

This pattern would work.  I could make it and wear it and it would be fine but I want to make a few more adjustments so it will be more then fine.  I plan to lower the bust dart and do a full bust adjustment.  I also don't like how wide the neck hole is so I think I will take an inch out of the center, pulling in the neck hole and then add it to the seam allowance if that makes sense. 

I also want to make the slit on the front a little longer. After all those changes, I'll need to make new interfacing.  I think I can do these adjustments pretty easily and then I'll have an awesome well-fitting top that I can make over and over!

 

Knitting Projects in my Queue - Conversationalist, Lambing Mitts, Outlander Mitts and Miss Marple Scarf

After I finish my uncle's Mariner's Scarf I'm gonna indulge in some selfish knitting :)

I'm dying to make this hat!! Not sure why.  Its not a particularly challenging pattern.  I think its the pompom ;)

Its the Conversationalist from Plucky Knitter and its a totally free pattern!

After the hat, I wanna try some mitts again.  I'm thinking about doing these Lambing Mitts.  They are another totally free pattern from Veronika Jobe.  I think they are supposed to be for a dude but I don't care lol.  I heard about them on episode 113 of the Doubleknit Podcast.  Yes, I'm listening to knitting podcasts now!

I really wanna try the Lambing Mitts but I still yearn to knit something from Outlander.  There are a bunch of mitts on that show but I think Claire's are my favorite.  Maybe I can knit both lol.  This is the Cabled Armwarmers pattern by Elaise Piper.  Its totes free :)

This pattern seems kind of frivolous and quaint and might look terrible on me but I still wanna try it.  Its the Miss Marple Scarf.  I've wanted to make a self-closing scarf ever since I saw Dot wearing one on Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries! I love that show!  It looks snuggly and warm and might make me look like an old lady but whatev, granny chic is a thing, y'all.

Just saw this pattern on @cascadeyarns on Instagram.  Knitted Neck Scarf by Martha Stewart Design Team.  I might use this pattern.  Not sure yet but isn't it pretty <3

Also, in the back of my brain I'm thinking about trying my hand at socks.  I'm not sure what pattern to use yet.  I want to make a pair for my bro.  He doesn't like hats or scarves or mitts so I gotta step up my game!  And I've been itching to try them for awhile so they might move up in the queue if I find a super amazing pattern or yarn that I have to try. Both Yarniacs and Doubleknit podcasts have mentioned the Rose City Rollers pattern so I might give that a try.  Not totally dude appropriate but maybe I can butch them up with a manly color and make them taller :)

So much to knit!  Can't wait to try them!

FP'S - Maine Morning Mitts, Llewyn Davis Scarf and Mariner's Scarf

First off, I'm working on a pair of Maine Morning Mitts!  I finished the first one Monday and I'm in love!  They are a fun project and a little out of my comfort zone but not too challenging.  I learned Magic Loop and M1L and M1R and the phrase "pick up and knit".  Thank goodness for Youtube tutorials.  I have to see a stitch done before I can do it and videos really help!

I changed the pattern a little bit.  I used Cascade Superwash 220 which is a finer gauge yarn then the pattern suggests.  Its a 3 stitch repeat so I CO 54 stitches and used a size 6 needle.  They are wearable but I wish they were a little looser.  I think if I use this pattern and yarn combo again I will use a 7 needle instead.  I was attempting to copy the $50 Jamie from Outlander gauntlets that I saw on Etsy!  I think they work :)

I was so worried about the unevenness at the top where I bound off.  I posted this pic on Facebook and Instagram and several knitters commented that its totally normal.  Apparently, knitting in the round is actually knitting in a spiral and there are tutorials for creating a neater BO.  Whew!  That's good.  I was all ready to rip it out and start over.  So sure I'd messed up somewhere.

My Mom's scarf turned out great!! I was trying to copy the scarf Oscar Isaac wears on Inside Llewyn Davis.

Its not an exact replica so I'll have to call it inspired by Inside Llewyn Davis lol.  I used the pattern in the neck ribbing section of this Seaman's Scarf pattern as a starting point and then began making samples, playing with the number of stitches cast on to get the width I wanted.  Its just a basic 2X2 rib but I wanted to make sure that it had a nice edge so I really liked the added detail of slipping the first stitch.  So, this is the pattern I came up with.  I used the pic below and counted the number of ribs.  I got 12.  Then I multiplied 12 by 4 to get 48 then I added 2 because the first stitch of every row is slipped.  It isn't perfect and I wish someone on the internets would find out the REAL patten for the Llewyn Davis Scarf so I can make an exact copy but for now this will have to do.

Inside Llewyn Davis Inspired Scarf

Size 6 needles

Medium weight alpaca/wool blend

CO 50

Pattern:

Row 1: Slip 1 purlwise with yarn in front, *P2, K2; rep from* ending K1

Repeat row 1 until you get desired length.  Bind off in pattern.

I also finished a really cool scarf for my coworker Mark!  Its the Mariner's Scarf Pattern from the Seamen's Church Institute.  It's a super fun pattern to knit and I started another one right away in red for my Uncle Brian! I used Cascade Superwash 220 and size 7 needles.  

Mark wears it often and while I was photographing it I noticed that its started pilling!  I'm super annoyed with this and hope that I can find a way to fix it soon.  Mark hypothesized that its getting fuzzy because its rubbing against his stubbly chin and neck.  I didn't even think about that being a problem with making stuff for dudes. Arg!!

Can't wait to get started on my new sewing and knitting ideas!  Post coming soon ;)

Obligatory Pokey shot.  He loves attention <3