New Project: Tip Top Tank

Even though I have plenty of projects that could keep me busy for a year or two, I thought it was a great idea to cast on a new one. Blame the North American heat waves for the lack of common sense.

I cannot put this project away! The pattern is easy to follow and the yarn, despite being a cotton blend, does not hurt my hands. There were no warranties that a cropped tank would look good on me. Go figure! Therefore, I am performing sweater surgery now that I am confident that I have enough yarn to complete the tank. I cut the sweater at the ribbing band, pickup stitches and am adding length to the whole thing. Love how is turning out.

The fine print….

• Pattern: “Tip Top Tank” designed by Emily Bolduan from Maker Maker. There are plenty of free patterns on the designer’s website.
• Yarn: O Wool Balance Worsted Weight (50% Cotton & 50% Merino wool). Color is Butterstone.
• Needles: ChiaoGoo US 7 (4.5 mm). Changed needle size to get gauge as pattern is written for Sports weight yarn.
• Ravelry project page

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Stash Spinning: Merino

Back in 2019, my husband gifted me with four ounces of Paradise Fibers Merino in colorway Rust. I am spinning my “go to” handspun: two ply, fingering weight. I decided to practice spinning on my e-spinner. Somedays we have misunderstandings (it’s her attitude, really) and some days we spin along like besties (usually during happy hours).

I have half of the top yet to spin. If the stars align and yardage is appropriate, I would like to knit a Mara shawl . Wish me luck; it is very rarely that I have immediate plans for handspun.

PS: the free shawl pattern can be downloaded directly from the Madelinetosh website.

Feeling content…

I have been going with the flow lately; starting as many projects as I want. Being inspired by materials and feeling content with all my WIPs.

This week I started the Reyna shawl in my own handspun. I don’t know the exact yardage on hand but my gut tells me it will be enough for a decent size shawl. This free pattern is perfect for variegated yarns. Mine is creating some stripes which I am enjoying while they last. If it starts pooling in a way I dislike, I plan to alternate balls of yarn.

Note: the following are Ravelry links – do not click on them if the website causes any discomfort or sickness.

• Pattern: Reyna by Noora Backlund (free on Ravelry)
• Yarn: Handspun Merino | Light fingering | Spun in 2014
• Project page: here

There are almost 14,000 Reyna shawls posted on Ravelry and over 4,500 Instagram entries with the hashtag #reynashawl. The pattern deserves its popularity and more. It is easy and enjoyable to knit.

A tasty cup…

This tasty cup is half way done. I will stitch the other half as I take part on D’nali’s casual craft along. For beautiful inspiration, check my friend’s blog (here) & her Instagram account (here).

The cross stitch pattern is beginner friendly as is all full stitches and requires only eight DMC colors. It is also very reasonably priced!

What is a SweetPurls’ project without a modification (a.k.a as Monica’s inability to follow directions)? Totally went into auto pilot when stitching the cup and ignored the pattern. There isn’t a face in my cup! I might over stitch it when everything else is done.

• Pattern: Cup of Candy by AnvyStitch
• Fabric: 14 count Aida hand dyed by myself
• Thread: DMC
• Size: 109s x 101h stitches
• Instagram tag: #casualcraftalong

Knitting WIP: Lila Pullover

Haaaaaaaapy Birthdaaaaay to me! Well, the actual birthday was two weeks ago. I made the executive decision to celebrate the entire month.

A few weeks ago I found a knitting bag with skeined yarn, a pattern and its required needles. All this had been waiting for me since mid 2019.

See, I was well advanced on a project when all of the sudden the pattern instructions didn’t make any sense. What was wrong? I had started a pattern and then mixed up the instructions from another pattern of the same book. Uhum! #$@&&%!!? I give myself some credit in that I unwinded the yarn instead of smacking the useless thing in the trashcan.

I have started the pullover again. With a good attitude and a printed pattern copy. This is a borderline boring pattern that works perfectly for podcast binging. Oh my, I discovered “flosstubes” in Spanish and I cannot stop watching them. If anyone is looking to donate some hours of their day, please send my way. I need them for the podcast watching and crafting that I have on queue.

Here is what you might want to know about my pullover…

Pattern: Lila Top Down. Pattern is from “Madder Anthology 2” by Carrie Bostick Hoge

Yarn: Cascade 220 Worsted in colorway 2452 Turtle. Cascade has a some free patterns on their website that you might want to check out.

Needles: Chiagoo US size 8 (5.00 mm). Chiagoo is offering a free hat pattern in honor of their 15th year in business. Head over to their website to download it.

Ravelry link: here

Knitting WIP: Tolmie sweater

Say hi to my current work in progress (WIP)….her name is Tolmie. It is a beautiful sweater designed by Josee Paquin. I have been playing “yarn chicken”since casting on. I decided to use two different yarns just in case I ran out of the main color.

Let me confess that I cannot put this project down. The chart is not only easy to follow but addictive as well. It’s been a long time since I felt this urge to knit and it feels good.

Pattern: Tolmie by Josee Paquin, originally published on Amirisu Fall 2016 Issue II

Yarn: Main color is Elann A Series W02 Pure 28 micron mercerized wool (discontinued). Contrast color is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Worsted in Blackberry.

Needles: US 9 Knitters Pride Royale. I went up a needles size to get gauge.

Ravelry project page: here

Stressed? Then knit (and wash your hands!).

Stressful times call for casting new projects and lifting the quarantine on current WIPs! 

This week I have been working on a free pattern named “Cotton Lustre Wrap“. The yarn, a cotton and linen blend, is providing for a wonderful  drape and texture to the shawl. So far, my hands are not suffering while knitting this. Their mad dryness is due to world record number of hand washing. Let’s not even discuss if these three colors go together. Ignore that the combo might remind you of  low calorie, organic and gluten-free Neapolitan ice cream. There are bigger fish to catch out there. After all, the yarn is discontinued. Found six skeins on clearance at my LNS –long time ago when social interactions at less than thee feet apart were seen as normal.

Until the next time. Lather, rinse, knit and be kind!

Work in Progress: all the chocolate

I cannot live without chocolate in my pantry…or in my stash, apparently.

I am knitting a hat using Blue Sky organic cotton in color number 623. The yarn is super soft and pleasant to knit with.  I am entering this in the Glidden Hat KAL hosted by Blue Sky Fibers. Head over to the forum for more information.

Also on the needles is a pair of plain vanilla socks in Online Supercocke 100 color number 904. I have been caught myself smiling at the yarn!! Perhaps due to my constant craving for all things chocolate.

Spinning and stashing

Another week and my master closet is not done. We are still waiting for the hardwood floor. Jumping of joy for more days of having to tour the house to complete an outfit. Shoes in one corner. Tops in the spare room and bottoms in the crafty room. Confession time: I’ve been wearing the same shoes out of laziness.

Also in progress is some spindle spinning. Of course, I discovered another bag of blue fiber after I was done with three skeins (blogged here). My goal is to be done tomorrow. We are going on vacation and I want an empty spindle to start a new project.

Spinning here and stashing there. Multi tasking in other words. Who could resist these two skeins of Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock? Left: Inner Child  and right: Sunstone

Talk to you after vacation. Knit, eat and smile at every opportunity!

Forget FOs, think WIPs

Today is my first of a few days off work. I want nothing but to have a joyful time with my family, spinning wheel and knitting.

First project on the needles is this scarf inspired by a free pattern from Jane Richmond, Mustard Scarf. I plan on using up all the yarn, making it longer than instructed. I am almost decided on seaming the ends and converting into an infinity scarf.

Also in progress are the Maine mittens from Carrie Bostick Hoge’s Swoon Maine book. They are very easy and quick to knit. One done, one to go.

Finally, I have been spending quality time with my spinning wheel and some Pigeonroof Superwash BFL. The colors are spectacular!

Spindrift Shawl on a Sunday

Happy Sunday! I am currently working on the Spindrift Shawl, a lovely pattern by Helen Stewart from Curious Handmade .

These photos were taken at the 50% progress mark. I love Helen’s pattern format–where you can mark your progress and check your stitch count at any row.

Malabrigo Sock yarn is very pleasant to work with. And, look at those colors of “Indiecita”!!

Happening

I am trying to squeeze time for spinning this gorgeous Corriedale fiber from Unwind Yarn Company.

This will be a traditional three-ply worsted spun yarn. I am spinning it short draw. Hopefully I will be able to finish the third bobbin today.

What I’ve been doing?

When spare time is limited, I spin twenty minutes here and there….Remember that Coopworth fiber that I’ve been spinning? I now have 900 yards of three ply yarn. Pre washed, the yarn is looking like heavy fingering. There are six bobbins of singles waiting be plied.

This project has been very relaxing; I cannot wait to spin large quantities of natural fiber again.

How I knit. How you knit.

How I knit?
I am a slow knitter. I knit English style.

How you knit?
Love watching knitters on the short Instagram videos tagged #howIknit and #seemeknit

What I am knitting?
Pin Stripe Socks. Details here.

 

WIP: Spring spinning

While it doesn’t feel like Spring, I am spinning like it is. Wonderful, bright colors are flying off my wheel. I have spun eight ounces these past weeks. Handspun details: here and here.

WIP: Soay

I am really loving working on this little cardigan. It is my first time knitting a Gudrun Johnston pattern.

The details:

• Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport Weight in Stone
• Needles: US 4 (3.55mm)
• Pattern: Soay by Gudrun Johnston
• Project page: here

WIP: Rusty Stripes Socks

Sometimes the simplest things bring so much joy!

The stats:

• Yarn: Patons Kroy Socks in Rusty Stripes
• Needles: ChiaoGoo Red Lace US 2 (2.75mm)
• Pattern:  Step-by-Step Cheat Sheet for Socks by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

WIP: Julieta

I’m almost convinced that one can’t go wrong with a cardigan designed by Cecily Glowik MacDonald. Add Quince & Co. yarns to the mix and I willing to bet on that.

I am enjoying knitting this cardigan! Is a special project as both, the pattern and yarn, were a gift from my husband.

To continue with the “blue” theme, how about a portrait of a hungry toddler waiting for her lunch? She is a sweetheart when her stomach is full. She is my sunshine. Love her to the moon and back!

WIP: Cassis

Here is my current WIP. The details:

• Pattern: Cassis Shawlette by Collette Audrey
• Yarn: The Fibre Company Canopy Fingering (Fingering / 4 ply, 50% Alpaca, 30% Merino, 20% Bamboo)
• Needles: Hiya-Hiya US4, 3.5mm
• Project page: here

WIP: Checkerboard Lace Scarf

This is my “Checkerboard Lace Scarf“. The project is not difficult but the twenty row repeats require attention. Mess up one stitch and forget about checkerboards. 

The details

• Pattern: Checkerboard Lace Scarf by Purl Soho
• Yarn: Jojoland Melody, 3-ply, light fingering
• Needles: Addi’s US 7 – 4.5 mm

WIP: Pink me happy BFL

Who spent the weekend at the wheel??? Me!!!

This was my first time spinning Woolgatherings fiber. I must confess the color seemed a bit too pink  at first. Pink won. I now love the fiber’s screaming brightness to death!

The important stuff:

• Woolgatherings BFL 4 oz
• Dye Lot: BFL04301101
• Spun like: butter
• Project page: here

I’m linking in with Tamis Amis WIPs.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a fibery week!