It’s Wednesday and I’m here to chat all about my current works in progress. I’ve been working on a crochet project. Yup! You heard that right! As always, I hope you are still all staying safe, happy and sane. Thank you for reading my blog and I hope it brings you some joy during this tumultuous time. Definitely check out my YouTube channel to see any projects “in person.”
For Ravelry users: There are links throughout this post that link to Ravelry. If you are experiencing issues with the new Ravelry design, you may not want to click on those links. You can also see pictures on my instagram account, youtube channel or feel free to go to the contact form and send me a note if you have any questions.
Total: 5 WIPs (4 active)
Knitting: 2 projects -1 pair of socks and 1 blanket
Crochet: 2 projects – 1 wrap and 1 blanket
Spinning: 1 project
Finished: 2 projects
2020 Total Finished: 19
Altheda Sweater – DONE!
Pattern: Altheda / Jennifer Steingass
Yarn: Rauma Finull PT 2
Needles: Size 1 Needles (neckline), Size 2 Needles (Body) and Size 3 Needles (colorwork)
Gauge: 20 st in 4 in on size 1 needle
Cast on: 6/9/2020
Cast off date: 7/31/2020
Check out my FO Friday post from last week to read more about my finished sweater! This sweater was knit in the blink of an eye!
Magnolia Socks
Pattern: Magnolia Socks / Helen Stewart
Yarn: agirlandherwool / BFL sock base / Golden Hour
Needles: Size 0 Needles
Gauge: IDK
Cast on: 5/26/2020
Cast off date: 8/10/2020
I’m not even sure if I had cast this second sock on when I lasted posted about my WIPs. I did a second cast on party with my mom, which you can watch on YouTube here. During that party, I cast on the second sock, and what do you know? It’s done! I’ve still been pretty monogamously and like the sweater, this sock seemed to just knit itself. Check out the FO Friday post this week to read more about the socks.
Fish are Friends Socks
Pattern: Vanilla Socks
Yarn: Lazer Sheep Yarns / Lazer Sock / Fish are Friends not Food
Needles: Size 0 Needles
Gauge: IDK
Cast on: 7/18/2020
Cast off goal: None
The cast on date here is a little deceiving as I did cast these on during the cast on party. I am using the day I officially brought out the project as the start date though. DON’T CALL SHENANIGANS! (Do people still say that?)
Anyway, I’m knitting up a pair of vanilla socks out of this hand dyed yarn that I bought back on a San Diego trip a couple of years ago. It was nice to buy some locally dyed yarn and now I get to enjoy knitting with it. The socks are vanilla, meaning that they are plain stockinette and I’m using my standard sock pattern. I am knitting them magic loop, two a time, toe up. Nothing really to write home about. A good pair of socks to pick up during work calls and while I’m reading. Stress free, fun knit.
Rainbow Showers Wrap
Pattern: Rainbow Showers / Dana Freed Fiddes
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay / Fino / Henrietta Mini Skein Set
Hook: Size E (3.5mm)
Gauge: IDK – I wouldn’t even know how to find out
Cast on: 8/3/2020
Cast off goal: None
Well, here it is. A crochet project. See, I wasn’t lying! This is the Rainbow Showers wrap, a simple crochet pattern that I’ve already managed to screw up and rip out. You know how it goes. I think I barely watched a video on how to crochet and went for it. Anyway, I knit crochet (I will do that a lot) most of the pink mini skein and ended up with this (photo on the left):
You can see how not straight the edge is in that photo. The quality is so poor because it’s a screenshot of a vlog I filmed. On the right side, you can see my second attempt and how much better it came out. Practice and education definitely helps.
So, back to the beginning. I bought this yarn from my local yarn shop, A Knit Sheep, during a virtual trunk show that they held with Manos del Uruguay. They had kits set up for this pattern and I thought it would be a great way to experiment with crochet and to see if I like it. The pattern calls for 2 sets of mini skeins and the kits had two different sets. Each set has 5x20g mini skeins. I decided to buy two of the same set instead of two different ones, just because of my color preferences. My sets each have 1 white mini and then 4 color minis. I decided that I’m going to add in a stripe of white between each color instead of using the white as a 5th color in order to break up the colors and also avoid a chunk of plain white. I will also crochet one set in the order Pink -> Green -> Purple -> Blue and then go in the reverse order so that when the scarf hangs, it’ll match up.
I’m making great progress on this now and am already through some of the 3rd color. I definitely caught onto the crochet quickly (once I actually learned how to do it) and am cruising through it. I do have to look at the project so even though it’s now a bit mindless, it’s not the best tv knitting. Anyway, stay tuned for more!
Other
1. Spinning – I’m almost done with my first braid. I will do a longer post once that is finished.
2. Northeasterly – I have worked on this and will talk about it soon.
Inactive
1. Neat Ripple – This is on hold until I finish up the charity items with the colors that I have used so far.
What’s Next?
Still thinking through this. Let me know if there are specific patterns you like seeing samples knit in.
Shop
I launched a new Dye with Me Fade Series. You can participate on YouTube by checking out the series. I’ve already published the dyeing of the first skein, so go check it out! There will even be a fun giveaway at the end of the series.
September mystery yarn clubs are now available. Use code BACKTOSCHOOL for 15% off the single month and 3 month clubs now through August 21st.
Check out the shop here. There are some great kits for shawls and socks along with good pairings for sweaters. Let me know if you need help with some color selections.
You can watch me talk about these projects on YouTube: