I had planned to be back in the pottery months ago. For some reason my head is just not there. I struggle to stay focused, to find the energy to get in there and create. I have loads of ideas, I have sketched things out.. planned on how to bring these ideas to life and yet I just can’t seem to do it.
So I have found that knitting has been my happy place. Where it used to be that I struggled with my knitting… held the needles tightly, stressing over every stitch, hyper focused on the pattern. Now I relax (sometimes too much). I am able to read, or watch a movie without looking down at the stitches I am making. This is both good and bad. It has given me a safe place to land while my brain takes a break and can work through whatever it needs to and yet it is a bit too comfortable for me to stay cozy and knit all day. (or is it really?)
I have my first finish of 2023, Mushroom socks. These were so fun for me to make although they are not without their issues. The main color yarn I used did not offer much for the mushrooms and stems to contrast against so they blend in a bit more than I would like. Also I made them a size bigger than normal (I have no idea why, more of that mental fog going on right now) so they are very roomy. Bit annoying but would be great if I have to double up socks for extra warmth, then they would be perfect!
I still need to weave in the ends and block them. Maybe that will shrink them down a bit. Does anyone else issues with a noticeable line when using magic loop? I used to not be a fan of dpns BUT now that I keep getting this line I am beginning to lean more that way than magic loop. What are your thoughts?
Happy Wednesday friends. What projects are you working on?
I am really beginning to believe that I was either a magpie or chipmunk in another life. I have spaces in my home set up for creating and yet I find that I keep little stashes tucked away in various spots around the house. Not to mention a little coat rack of sorts to hang “on the go” project bags for when we leave the house. Because how could I leave and not have my knitting.
Right now my living room stash basket is filled with Woolberry, Desert Vista Dyeworks, Loft Twenty Two and Kate Selene
I tend to keep one skein projects tucked away around the house (who knows when the mood will strike to cast on another sock right?) I absolutely blame Kay over at https://crazysockladyco.com/ for this. If it weren’t for her I would absolutely still be dreading socks.
The projects that require more yarn gets tucked away in the studio. Behind a screen door. Yes I had my husband put a screen door on the sewing studio. I have found that our cats love yarn as much as I do.
Home studio. Yarn Stash.
And of course there is my basket full of current projects. I have my no frills sweater by Petite Knits being worked up in chamomile from The Plucky Knitter (this is my first “for me” sweater). Then there is the Calendula kids sweater by Agasalhos e Bugalhos for the boys and of course Mr Merry Bear (1 of 2)… with twins I usually knit two of everything.
First finish of 2021 and I am thrilled. So I went ahead and knit the right hand mitt again going up one needle size and use the magic loop method instead of DPNs as I mentioned in my previous post. And it worked like a charm. Maybe one day I will have more confidence (and patience) working with DPNs but for now I will keep avoiding them… it works for now.
The one on the right was my first one on DPNs and as you can see my tension was a big snug. Now the one on the left is the new with the bigger needle size. It is a bit bigger obviously. But also I didn’t soak and block the first one. I like a looser fit…
I also like the length of the cuff to go a bit further down. That way when I am moving around and my coat moves it doesn’t get drafty down my sleeve.
I am so pleased with out this second one turned out. It was a bit nerve wracking … I am taking a break before I dive into the left hand mitt. Going to work on some beanies for the boys. I am also getting back into the pottery studio.. If only I could knit faster hahah
Other than knitting I have been working on planning some new things for my little shop. I am going to be adding some fabric items and changing my fairy houses from polymer clay to stoneware. A bit of a learning curve and lot of trial and error but I think it will get there…
A little tester Mushroom house. Once she dries I can get her in a bisque kiln and see how she does. Then glazing and into a glaze kiln to see if she can make it through without exploding.. fingers crossed.
So I am still a beginner with knitting. I starting knitting while I was pregnant with our twins so about 6ish years ago. Since I started I have done only a handful of colorwork projects that worked with two different colors, like a striped hat with red and white.
This project was my reward for finishing the boys’ cardigans in time for Christmas. The first ones I ever knitted for them were pullovers and they took me forever to knit. They were my first attempt at knitting sweaters and I was going at a snails pace. So by the time I was done…. the boys had grown so much that their heads did not fit through. (Trust me I tried desperately to make them fit hahahah) I kept them for nostalgia but had to begin again. This time I made them button front, went a few sizes up and tried to knit as fast as I could. It was a good exercise and I was beyond thrilled that I finished even if I was sewing the buttons on into the wee hours of Christmas morning.
With those done and that goal accomplished I had set this mitt pattern aside for me. I wanted to give it a go and see how I faired with working a color work project like this.. before I dove back into knitting another double project for the boys. Twins = I knit double everything.
For my celebratory knitting project for myself I chose the Briar Mitt pattern by https://knitfoxandfolk.com/
The pattern is so easy to follow. I have tried so many knit patterns.. many a times I end up frustrated because I am not grasping what I am supposed to do. This pattern is a breeze and so fun. I was excited to read my first color chart and again her instructions make this knit super easy and fun.
Now the crux. Double pointed needles and I do not get along. I have an issue with keeping the tension between the needles then throwing in colorwork on top of it was not a good mix. I knitted this first mitt as my swatch, to get a feel for the pattern and how my tension was with the double pointed needles.
I extended the cuff by 5 rounds to make it longer… personal preference. The tension was a bit too tight which I figured would be the case. Not too sure what happened and made that wobble appear on the thumb… oops.
I was beyond thrilled to have it finished and how easy I found following a color chart to be. It was great practice but keeping the tension with double pointed needles and working with multiple colors… I found it maddening. So this second go round I went up one needle size and decided to pitch the double pointed needles and go with magic loop instead. What a difference and I am only just on the cuff…
I did an extra row after casting on and then started on the colorwork. So far I can feel a huge difference with the size. The tension feels even and I am able to work it up quick while keeping the tension even across the piece. I am excited to get to the flowers and see how differently it works up on magic loop.
I should have known to start out with magic loop vs double pointed needles. Even when working sleeves I will opt for working on circular needles or magic loop, anything to stay away from those dreadful dpns… but I wanted to give the pattern a try in it’s original form before I went off and made adjustments for my style of knitting.
Anyway… there is my two cents. This pattern is amazing. I cannot wait to finish these mitts up and start on the cowl. Beautiful pieces easy to follow patterns. If you are new to colorwork this is a good challenge starter.
I would love to hear about your experiences with double pointed needles, knitting, colorwork…. do you have any knitting quarks/tricks that make it easier for you?
