Knitting Is So Fun

YOP Update – 7/18-7/24

SOCK UPDATE

Well, despite my saying I wouldn’t knit anymore socks on 9″, I did transfer my son-in-law’s Christmas socks to 9″ so that I could have a tiny project to take with me to the grocery store and then to the soccer game. I got to the game about an hour early so got in a few rounds. Then I sat in the parking garage for 20+ minutes waiting for traffic to clear out and got in some more rounds. It’s so nice to be retired and not have to get to work the next morning. Knitting makes waiting fun instead of frustrating. Maybe if I had knit while still working, I’d have gotten to meetings on time. Would have made those god-awful safety and department meetings much more bearable.

TANK TOP UPDATE

Ugh. Ripped out my son’s GF’s tank last night. It was way too big despite knitting the size S and she is at least a M. I don’t really mind since it’s bottom up so I had only knit the front and back hems and then about 15 rows of body. I hated the hem because the stitches were too large. I dropped the hem needle size by 2 and the body by 1. I’m now knitting the body with same size needle as I did my daughter’s top last summer so I know I like the gauge/fabric. I will again have her try on the hem/body to make sure it’s not still too large or now too small. I’d like to get it done by mid August which is only 3 weeks away!! I think it’s a pretty easy pattern and the stitches decrease as you get the yoke/neck. Still that means focusing on my knitting instead of spending too much time on the internet.

That’s it. Two WIPs. I really don’t like to have a lot of WIPs. I prefer to be a more monogamous knitter. I want to get the tank done so that I can cast-on my Advent 2019 colorwork socks. Once I get a few stripes finished I’ll cast on my daughter’s Sailormoon as I want to get that done by Thanksgiving. So focus is the key!!

This is a year of projects (YOP) update. YOP is a Ravelry Group – make a plan for the year ahead for all your fiber activities, then update your blog each week. Plans can be calendar year (like mine) or mid-year start (like many). Following the plan is optional and creates some of the fun of posts. YOP is in it’s 11th year. It’s my second in the group.

Year of Projects – Wk 7/11-17

July 18, 2021July 18, 2021 by knittingissofun, posted in Knitting, Project Bags, Sock Knitting, Sweater Knitting, Yarn

Another FO – Anklets

I did finish my Fixation anklets this week. They are very summery so I like them. The yarn is cotton so they are very comfortable to wear.

New Knitting

I haven’t done a lot of knitting this week. Not too surprised as I needed to catch up a bit following vacation. I started a pair of Christmas socks 3 times but I kept dropping a stitch or make a mistake so I end up starting over again. Hopefully this 3rd time is the charm. I am going back to my preferred method of 2 at a time magic loop. I really didn’t like 9″ circulars. But I still want to try 9″ when I knit my colorwork Advent sock. The experiment was a mixed bag in my little knitting group. Some liked 9″, some are returning to magic loop.

I have started my son’s girlfriend’s top. It’s the Heldig tank. I have to concentrate, at least in this beginning knitting until I get the two hems joined in the round. Then it will be lots of stockinette knitting. I’m not really sure if I like the needle size I’m using and not sure of the fit. I’ll knit a few inches to make sure the weave isn’t too open and make sure it fits her hips. Then I should be able to relax into knitting it.

New Project Bag

One of my knitting friends made all of us this cute sock bag. We are all participating in The Crazy Sock Lady’s summer sock camp KAL. She wanted to make a project bag for herself but since she had so much material, she made a bag for all 5 of us!! It’s so cute and the perfect size for a sock project.

Poems of Color

I was intrigued about Bohus knitting after watching the latest Fruity Knitting episode. The book from 1995 is no longer printed ($125 on Amazon) but I was able to get a copy from the library. I’d love to make this sweater.

Not a lot to share this week. It’s nice to be home again even if it means more errands and housework to do instead of knitting. It was nice to join my local knitting friends for coffee again. I will be knitting at a local micro brewery with another friend this afternoon. A great week!!

This is a year of projects (YOP) update. YOP is a Ravelry Group – make a plan for the year ahead for all your fiber activities, then update your blog every week. Plans can be calendar year (like mine) or mid-year start (like many). Following the plan is optional and creates some of the fun of posts. YOP is in it’s 11th year. I’m in my second in the group.

Wk of 7/4 – 7/10

July 11, 2021 by knittingissofun, posted in Knitting, Knitting Plan, Sock Knitting, Sweater Knitting, Vacation knitting

Yea!!! An FO!! I did finish my Hermione anklets. I love them. I used The Crazy Sock Lady’s idea of using the contrast yarn for only the final few rows on the cuff since I really like the main color yarn. I didn’t want the whole cuff in contrast color. I plan to use a little of the colorful Deep Dyed yarn in one of my Advent Sock stripes. Then I’ll knit another pair of anklets with contrast toes, heels, and maybe cuff to make sure there is enough yarn. Next year!!😁

Didn’t quite get my Fixation anklets done this week but they will be done in the next day or two. I’m knitting the heel and just have short legs and cuffs to finish.

Duh Department

After spending a little more time swatching this week I remembered that I used this same yarn for my daughter’s top last summer. Hence I already had swatch info!! Arg! 😣 Well at least now I’m ready to cast on. Grocery Girls have a summer tee/tank KAL going on so I need to focus and get this done by the end of August.

Vacation Ends

Heading back home this week. We had great weather while at the beach. But I’m looking forward to getting back to my kitty, some yard work, and hopefully some deck knitting. Unfortunately, July and August tend to be very hot and humid in Ohio so not sure how much I’ll be outside. (Photo – that was supposed to be a dog bed but the kitty claimed it.)

Wk of 6/28-7/4: Second Half Goals

July 4, 2021 by knittingissofun, posted in Knitting, Knitting Plan, Knitting tools, Sock Knitting, Sweater Knitting, Vacation knitting, Yarn

Second Half Goals

Socks: A pair of Christmas 🎄 socks completes my ’21 plan but I have 2 more pairs already on needles. This goal should be met and exceeded.

Sweaters: My plan calls for 4 more to be completed but that will not happen. I definitely want to complete a tank top for my son’s girlfriend and another Sailormoon for my daughter. Hopefully I’ll start a sweater for my husband or more likely a summer weight cardigan for me.

That sums up my goals as I set them at the beginning of the year before “life happened”. As I said in last week’s post I’m happy with changes I’ve made.

This Week’s Knitting

I have been trying 9″ circulars for sock knitting. I have a pair of DK on size 4s and a pair of fingering on size 0s. I don’t particularly like 9″ circulars and likely will go back to 2 at a time magic loop socks. I will only do socks on 9″ when I want an extremely small project to carry with me. I still want to try the 9″ for my colorwork socks. Fixing a stitch is nearly impossible and I don’t feel I’m knitting any faster as it’s hard to move the stitches around the needle.

Hubby and I are enjoying two weeks at our friend’s beach house on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It has become an annual trip. Lots of sun and good food. We are very fortunate. But writing this blog on my Kindle is a challenge.😵

I have made progress on both my Vanilla Fixation anklets and my Hermione Deep Dyed Yarn anklets. I’m at or nearly at the heels so at least one pair should be a FO by next week’s post. I do so love the Deep Dyed yarn!!😍.

I also started swatching for Caitlyn’s Heldig Tank. This hot pink yarn is going to be so fun to knit. I hope to get the top cast-on this week.

Hope you are having a fun week crafting.

This is a Year Of Projects (YOP) update. YOP is a Ravelry Group. Make a plan for the coming year, update your blog weekly, and share the link to the group’s Ravelry page. YOP is just tarting it’s 11th year!! I’m starting my second in the group.

FO and 2021 Half Year in Review

June 27, 2021June 29, 2021 by knittingissofun, posted in Baby Knitting, Knitting, Knitting Hats, Knitting Plan, Sock Knitting, Sweater Knitting

Before I get to my half year review – A Finished Object!!! I have completed my second attempt at copying my friends hat made by her German cousins. You can decide for yourself how close I came. I feel it’s “close enough” and thus represents the best I can do. This photo is preblocked. With blocking I was able to make the size match.

So how am I doing on my 2021 Knitting Plans??

2021 KNITTING PLAN – PROJECTS

A WIPS – 2 out of 2

I completed both carryover WIPS. One turned out to be much bigger than planned since within 10 rows of completing the sweater, I ripped it back to the armholes!!

B SOCKS – 3ish out of 4

Satisfied with status at year midpoint. Supposed to be 3 pair with fingering weight yarns and one colorwork. The colorwork sock was converted into a pair of mitts when it turned out I had made them too tight to go over my heel. I’ll call it met. I have made 2 pair of anklets – one fingering, one is DK. I also made one sock (sample sock). So I’ll call that equal to 2 pair. That means I’m only one pair off for the year’s goal. I already have two pair of socks on needles and I really want to make the advent colorwork socks this fall. It may get postposed till ’22 as I have a pair of gift Christmas socks that have to be made first this fall. So I expect to exceed my sock making goal.

C SWEATER/TOPS – 2 out of 6

Behind but expected. I always overestimate how many tops/sweaters I can get made in a year. Having to remake most of my WIP sweater didn’t help. Plus adding a baby blanket has changed my plans. So far I’ve only finished 2 tops beyond the WIP. I’ve also decided to replace a top planned for me with a top for my son’s girlfriend. I suspect that getting 2 more made in the second half of the year is about all I’ll get done considering the socks I want to make.

D. MISC – 2 out of 1

Met. I planned to try to recreate a hat pattern of my friend. I ended up making two attempts and I’m done. Not on my plan – I’ve finished a baby blanket.

Since I generated the plan the end of December, I have added to this goal as I’d like to try making knitted ornaments. Three of my kids have gotten married in the past two years so I’d like to make them a wedding ornament. Also with a granddaughter on the way – a baby’s first Christmas ornament would be nice. We will see. I won’t be upset if I make more socks instead of ornaments. I think my advent colorwork socks will definitely be higher priority.

Other than sweaters/tops, 2021 looks to be on track!

2021 KNITTING PLAN – GOALS

In addition to projects, I have set some goals to work on in 2021. This was my list back in January.

Make something Brioche Hmm, probably next year
Track stitches per day (1000/day goal) Check. Digital calendar working well to track stitches
Make something with Continental Knitting I keep working on this with vanilla socks
Make a hat Check. Made two.
Make something with Colorwork Check. Advent mitts
Make Ravelry Queue match Knitting Plan I think I did this once but I know it’s out of whack.
Clean out Ravelry favorites Yeah right, cleaning out is not my strength.

I’m doing well at averaging 1000+ stitches per day. This past week has been really low since we are in high harvest and lawn maintenance season. I’m enjoying having knitting related goals in addition to project goals to keep me growing. I’m happy with my status on these goals.

All and all, 2021 is going well.

This is a year of projects (YOP) update. YOP is a Ravelry Group – make a plan for the year ahead for all your fiber activities, then update your blog every week. Plans can be calendar year (like mine) or mid-year start (like most). Following the plan is optional and creates some of the fun of posts. YOP is starting it’s 11th year; I’m starting my second in the group.

YOP – Week of June 14 – 20

June 20, 2021 by knittingissofun, posted in Knitting, Knitting Hats, Social Knitting, Sock Knitting, Yarn

I did not get nearly as much knitting done this week as usual. It has been cherry and black raspberry picking time at our house. We got a good crop of cherries this year so I’ve been picking and pitting most everyday this past week. Monday hubby and I will make sour cherry preserves with our harvest. My son has also requested a cherry pie. My husband is an excellent pie baker. My husband makes homemade chambord with the black raspberries although I’d prefer preserves or pie.

Sunday is Father’s Day here in the US and it was our first family gathering since Christmas ’19. It was so nice to spend some time with my husband’s brother and his wife plus some nieces and their hubbies. Plus 2 of our sons.

Sock Knitting – 9″ Circulars

I’m so tickled with the yarn I’m using for my Size 0 – 9″ circular experiment. I just love the vibrant colors. I’m using a pink variegated mini to put a small stripe at the toe and then will use it at the heel and the cuff. I will also be trying an afterthought heel which will be a new technique for me. I did not make much progress on my Size 4 – 9″ circular Fixation socks since they are intended for the flight next week.

Attempt #2 at “German” Hat

I have started a second attempt to copy the hat given to my friend by her cousins in Germany. I think the yarn is not as bulky as her cousins used. It was some acrylic/wool blend that I had leftover from a sweater. I’ve finished the headband portion. Now I’m working on the cable band that gets sewn onto the headband before picking up stitches to make the crown. I’ve already realized that her cousins used slip stitches for the contrast color but oh well. I think this is as close as I’m going to come. I still can’t figure out what stitches they did along the edges of the cable. Again I think it’s some type of slip stitches. When I get this one done I’m going to have to declare close enough. There are too many other things I want to knit beside copying this hat pattern.

Getting Back to “Normal” – Social Knitting

I got to have 2 social knitting sessions this week!! My usual weekly group of knitters has been getting together on Saturdays since May. This week I also got together with a broader group on Friday. That will probably turn into a monthly. It is so nice to share tips and tricks from good podcasts to watch, to how to make an afterthought heel, to getting to use my friend’s really good ball winder to get some skeins ready for projects I’ll be starting in mid-July. I wish the monthly group that would meet at an area microbrewery would restart but I’m not sure they will. I may just have to get together with my friend that was one of the leaders on our own each month. I think I can be talked into that. 🙂

Futball

I really really like soccer!! So much so that my kids and hubby gave me season tickets to our local Major League Soccer team for 2020. We all know how that turned out. So I was able to roll them over into season tickets for this year. I finally got to go to my first game as now there are no restrictions on attendance. It was so fun even though the team lost (we are in last place). It’s a brand new stadium. I go by myself as my hubby’s health issues make it impossible for him to attend. But the people sitting by me were so friendly that it was enjoyable. I appreciate their kindness.

17 Year Cicada Update

I’m happy to report that we are definitely past the peak. It’s almost like a light stitch being turned off. One day they are everywhere and noisy, the next day it just tons of dead bugs and quiet. I so enjoyed getting to hear the birds singing again! The cidadas aren’t completely gone but they are no longer a nuisance. I don’t expect to be living here when they return in 17 years. Heck, I’ll be lucky if I’m still living on this side of the grass in 17 years.

YOP – Chicago, Knitting, and Cicadas – Week of June 7-13

June 13, 2021June 14, 2021 by knittingissofun, posted in Baby Knitting, Knitting, Sock Knitting, Vacation knitting, Yarn

Well, this weekend included a surprise trip to Chicago. My son and his girlfriend left yesterday to spend a week in northern Minnesota with her family. 4+ hrs out I get a call that her car has broken down just south of Chicago. After confirming her car would require costly repairs and couldn’t be done for over a week, I drove the 4 hrs to give them my car. Of course my oil light came on as I reached Chicago. Hopefully the quart of oil we added tides them over until they return to Cincinnati. Then I flew back to Cincinnati today on frequent flyer miles I had from a long time ago. Gotta roll with the punches.

BABY BLANKET FO

I did finish the baby blanket for my stepdaughter. I’m happy enough with it and glad it’s done. Now off to make projects with yarns that bring me greater joy.

FUN SOCKS

As always, the blanket took longer to finish plus the unplanned drive/flight to Chicago. I did get to start a pair of Fixation yarn socks. I think the colorway is Tutti Fruiti. I am trying out the 9″ circular needles (US Size 4) instead of my usual 2 at a time magic loop. Making the toe was much to fiddly with 9″ so I had to do that magic loop. Once I finished the toe increases I moved the sock to 9″. This was great to work on in the airport and on the plane. I’m going on another plane trip in two weeks so the 9″needles will be getting plenty of trial over the next month.

I got my yarn wound with a mini selected for the heel and toe stripe. Again, I will cast the socks on with magic loop and knit the toes before transfering them to 9″ circular needles. This time I’ll be trying out US Size 0 9″ circulars. Can’t wait to cast it on later today.

ADVENT SOCK

When my size 2 needle proved too tight for my colorwork advent sock I went up to size 4. While I planned to make a fairly tall sock, I still think the cuff may be too big. Only have one cuff done since it was my first attempt with 9″ circular needles. Plan to frog and start the cuff again with 3″. I’ll go back to using the Size 4 9″ circulars for the colorwork once I finish the Fixation yarn socks.

17 Year Cicada Update

The air, and ground, is thick with 17 year cicadas. We are at the peak point. You can’t walk outside without one landing on you. The driveway is covered with dead bodies as they only live 3-4 weeks. Here’s what hubby’s windshield looks like after a short drive.

YOP – Week #22

June 6, 2021 by knittingissofun, posted in Baby Knitting, Knitting, Knitting Plan, Yarn

May’s Yarn In/Yarn Out

Cinnamon inspired me to start tracking my yarn purchases and usage. I’m happy to say more yarn went out in May than went in. Stash progress!! At the moment I’m counting yarn “out” when a project is completed so finishing my Sailormoon sweater was a big help. I had 1800 grams in and 2494 grams out in the month of May.

Baby Blanket

I’ve never made a blanket before. This project started it’s life as a prayer shawl for my church’s knitting group but I could never get excited about knitting on it. An hour every two weeks pre-Covid didn’t yield much progress. I’m much happier thinking of it as a blanket for my granddaughter. I’m thankful it was already planned to be rainbow striped even though my stepdaughter wants a “nature” themed nursery. Her colors are more brown and green.

I’m over halfway done and since the rows are now decreasing it hopefully will be done by next weekend. I’m using up acrylic yarns my daughter-in-law gave me for Christmas. My stripes are not all the same size since the longer stripes take more yarn than the shorter ones. Oh well. It’s a design element now. I’m thinking acrylic is good since it’s washable. Definitely not as soft as wool. I am focusing on it so that I can “get it done”. The baby blanket was not on my 2021 knitting plan but I’m looking forward to casting on some colorful socks that are on my 2021 plan.

This is a short post this week since I focused on the baby blanket exclusively. My only other WIP is my second attempt at the Advent colorwork socks. Spring means lots of lawn mowing which is greatly affecting my knitting time. Almost looking forward to the hot, dry weather of July and August when the grass doesn’t grow as fast. Did get out a little to enjoy my deck with the bug netting. The cicadas are getting loud although as long as I can hear my speaker over them, I’m good.

YOP Week #21 – Cicadas are Here

May 30, 2021May 31, 2021 by knittingissofun, posted in Knitting

Actually the cicadas started appearing just before last weekend. They are out in full force now. All plants are covered with the nymph casings as well as the juvenile cicadas that are rapidly growing into adults. Fortunately the males haven’t started screaming by our house but literally just up the driveway, they are already screaming by our neighbors. Lucky us. 17 year cicadas are the loudest insect in the world.😖 Hubby gave me a mosquito net for my patio umbrella so I have a bug free outdoor space to knit all summer.

FO Anklets

I did finish my anklets made from the leftover yarn from my @agirlandherwool sample sock knit. Not a bad deal. I did learn that the Russian lace bindoff listed in my cast-on/bind-off book as stretchy is not stretchy enough for socks. Oh well. I also got my Fixation anklets done today!!!

TRAVELS

Visited my stepdaughter this weekend which is why I’m posting so late. Got to enjoy eating out which we never do at home since my husband prefers his own cooking. Evansville, IN is not exactly a hot tourist spot so she gets frustrated that we don’t make the 8hr trip more frequently. We split the drive over 2 days. Unfortunately I don’t get to knit on car trips due to hubby’s health issues. Car drives are just a waste of time for me.

Looking forward to working my my stepdaughter’s baby blanket this week and maybe casting on a new project!!

Week #20 – Sweater, Socks, and YARN!!

May 23, 2021May 23, 2021 by knittingissofun, posted in Knitting, Knitting Plan, Sock Knitting, Sweater Knitting, Yarn

Sailormoon is FO!!!!

I finished my Sailormoon this week and I love it. Really, really happy with the modifications I made and I will repeat them on my daughter’s sweater. I am learning that I don’t like as much ease as I keep knitting because I’m afraid the sweater will be too tight. But I really need to try going down a size so the sweaters/tops aren’t so baggy.

New WIP – Advent Sock Attempt #2

Since I finished my sweater, it means I can start a project right?? Throw in that my local knitting friends have been discussing 9″ circulars for sock knitting versus magic loop (for 2 at a time sock knitting). So we all decided to cast on a sock with a 9″ circular this weekend to see with we think. Since the advent socks are colorwork, there are some advantages to knitting it kinda one at a time so I’m not juggling 4 balls of yarn. So I cast on my second attempt for an advent sock using a 3.5mm (US 4) needle. Recall the 2.75 mm (US 2) needle ended up with the socks being too tight. I have to admit using the 9″ is much easier that I thought it would be when I was just handling the needle without yarn. I was afraid I’d be fighting the needles as being too restrictive as I knit. Knitting also goes faster since I’m not constantly repositioning the socks on the magic loop. Now this is cuff down whereas I usually knit toe up. So we will see how I feel about the needles as I get to the heel and the toe. I need to watch The Crazy Sock Lady’s videos on using a 9″ circular to make socks. But I like them well enough that I’ve ordered the second needle so that I can “kinda” do 2 at a time. I’ll do cuff on sock A and then cuff on sock B. I’ll continue back and forth for each stripe.

Sock WIPS

I got a little work down on my Sunset anklets – one heel done. This will be my focus in the coming week as I really want to finish the 2 sock (anklet) WIPs I have before casting on my next top/sweater.

Yarn Swap

My local weekly knitting friends decided to do a yarn swap today. While I still liked all my yarns I realized that I had about 4 sweater/tops in reddish pink to deep red. I didn’t need that many tops. So I gave away 4 skeins to one friend. Then I had some Summer Silk yarn, that I love, to make a top for about 3 years. It keeps falling to “next year’. So I gave that away to another friend. Finally the skein that I got in my advent calendar, which I didn’t like, went in the Goodwill pile. But I picked up yarn so it was pretty yarn stash neutral. I ended up with a top quantity to replace one of the top quantities I gave away!! Then I got sock yarn in my son’s college school colors. Ironically I took a skein of Madelinetosh speckled yarn only to find I already had one at home. But I’m thrilled as I had paired it with some gorgeous solid and now I can really feel free to make another striped sweater. My son’s girlfriend wore a shrug I had made and liked it so I picked up a skein with turquoise, that she likes, so I can make her this simple shrug. Then I just love orange so I picked up a skein. Still have to figure out what to do with it. Till then I’ll just enjoy looking at it.

Yarn Sale – Who Can Resist??!!

I was trying to be good. Then a friend texted that a LYS was having 50% off Daisy yarn – a yarn I LOVE. It’s the yarn I made my daughter’s tan tulip top out of last summer and my Seeing Eyelet to Eyelet top I made for me in winter 2020. It’s Linen, Silk, and Hemp. So bought 2 top quantities!!! Uhh, one in that deep red that I said I already had too many projects in and one in bright pink for my son’s girlfriend. I haven’t made her any tops/sweaters yet. Although she is the recipient of the advent mitts I recently made.

Tracking Update

I have decided to add yarn purchases and usage to my knitting plan tracking. I’m really happy with my digital calendar tracking. Since it’s excel based, I can track how many stitches I knit each day and what WIPs I worked on that day. I list all WIPs each day so all started projects are always in front of me. I maintain a list of my knitting related goals (such as trying a new technique, etc.), a list of project/goals for next year, my average daily knitted stitches for each month, and now the grams of yarn obtained and used during the month.

All in all a pretty great week. Hope yours was too.