July 2021 – 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.