Fiber Arts Friday: Oak Beanie

I agreed to make a hat for a friend.  She pursued Ravely and chose this pattern.  We then went to a few yarn stores and she chose a pretty pink-ish, single-ply, bulky(!), Merino.

Since she's from a warmer climate, the goal was to make a very warm hat with few holes.

So I'm knitting this yarn on much smaller needles (US7-8) than the suggested (US15-17).

I got the brim completed on US 7... and ordered a set of US8 for the body, which took a couple of weeks to arrive.

Once the US8 needles arrived, I started on the cable.  Then quickly realized that I might not have enough yarn to complete the hat.  The pattern calls for 115 yards of a much smaller gauge yarn and my skein is 109 yards.

So at my first break in the day, I took a sample from the tail end and the ball band to the LYS we bought the first skein from a few weeks ago...  would you believe that they not only had another skein in the same colorway, but that it was also the same dye lot?!?  My Lucky Day!!

After returning home, I did a little math.  At 14 rounds completed + the cast on and 60g used thus far, I should plan that each round uses ~4g.  

At a total of 48 rounds for this project * ~4g per round = ~192g total for the project.  There are a couple of increases and some decreases to come... and all but two rounds thus far was using a smaller needle, so this really is just a rough number.

Each skein is 200g.... so it is possible that I worried for no reason, but it will be very close with one skein.  Therefore, it is better to be safe than sorry with a few rounds to go at the end.  :-)

Stay tuned and Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Cattitude, part 4

As of last time, all of the pieces were made but nothing had been blocked yet...

I've blocked the pieces, but still find them more fiddly to stitch together than I am willing to work with.  So I have decided to scrap the yellow inner ear and just tack the ears down to finish out this project...

Starting first with a quick reminder on how to do the Mattress Stich:

I did finally get the pieces stitched together and tacked down.  This hat is a little big for me, but the double layered brim should be quite warm.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Piney House Socks, part 5

Since early November when I decided to forego the cabling, I have decided to make the legs ~4 inches long.

Now, just shy of 3 months from starting, I have a pair of Piney House Socks.

These fit better than the others I've made... I need to make sure I'm accounting for negative ease in my future socks. doy.

The leg is a little shorter than I tend to like, but about 2-inches longer than it would have been had I followed the pattern exactly as written.

It was a good time to stop... as I was getting quite bored with the Twisted Rib. lol.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Piney House Socks, part 4

As of last time I was ready to begin the cables on the leg of my Piney House Socks and completed several rounds.

However, I was dropping stitches and the cabling was hurting my hands.  So I ripped it out and returned to the smaller needles.

I'm thankful to have the lifeline in place which made the rip out and replacement of needles relatively easy.

I plan to knit the leg/cuff to about 3 inches or so.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Piney House Socks, part 3

As of last time, it was early October 2024 and I had just finished the second foot... and now mid-late October (10/21), I have completed both heels.

On both socks, I skipped the last two heel rounds because of the stitch count.  Both heels are also offset by a couple of stitches.... these together make me think I missed a couple of rounds earlier on....upon reviewing the pattern I did not find anything I missed.

After completing the first inch of the leg, I did find the next size up of needles as you can see now that there is only Twisted-Rib on the round, the leg is necking down and the cables will make it tighter.

Next up, cables.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Alpacamundo Monday: Pre-Winter Chores

 We've had a gloriously long Autumn season... which is about to end later this week.

Over the last several weeks, I've been making sure the pre-winter chores are completed.  That means, the barn is now full with hay...

The sprinklers have been blown out.

The gutters have been emptied of leaves, but first I had to take in the view.  :-)

There are still some leaves to come down.  However, they are sufficiently far from the house, so I don't expect them to find their way into the gutters.

The de-icers have all been set out.  I generally don't feel fully comfortable with the de-icers until we've passed our first hard freeze.  Once that happens, they generally work for the entire season.

Happy Late Fall.  I hope you are enjoying this lovely time of year.

Fiber Arts Friday: Piney House Socks, part 2

As of last time, I was nearly complete with the first foot of my Piney House Socks.

I have been continuing to work a few rounds most mornings and evenings... and there was a short trip out of town that allowed for more progress.  

I completed the second foot in early October.

I like this green a lot.... it's quite cheery.  Interesting how it changes in different light.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Cattitude, part 3

So as of last posting, I had just completed the crown of the Cattitude Pussy Hat.

I am starting this post with determining where the ears go... by placing two pairs of removeable stitch markers.

After letting that sit for a week or so, I picked up the 14 stitches for each ear.

Having been sick with Covid for early September, the initial part of the ear pattern was not making sense to me... It states to pick up 14 stitches, then first row has two increases resulting in 14 stitches, then the next couple of rows have short rows, which are normally fine but the abbreviation/name doesn't make sense.... so I need to have clarity of mind before I progress.

...

...

...

Then, finally on a beautiful and chilly first day of Fall, September 22nd, I spent some time reading through the ear instructions again and figuring out where the stitch counts were incorrect...

I picked up and knit 14 stitches of the outer ear, then made two stitches for 16 (not 14) and continued as written, with a few other corrections.

It looks a bit like Pikachu or a Viking Hat right now.

Hopefully the ears will widen out after stitching together and blocking.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Piney House Socks, part 1

After playing with the Rainbow Trout Colorway for more than a year on two different Top-Down sock patterns (Jaywalker and Squircle), I wanted a solid-color and Toe-up sock.

I looked at a few options, and then settled on House Socks by Purl Soho in the Alpine Fir colorway by one of my favorite local-ish indy dyers, Teton Yarn Company.

I have been doing a lot of Twisted Rib lately.  Mostly on a project I have not shared here yet.... that being said, I like the simplicity and construction of this sock.

... and given the last few days of Covid+ Tests, not only was I able to finish Squircle, but I was able to make a lot of progress in a short few days... nearly completing the first foot by the time I had a negative test.

I am continuing to work on these a little each morning and evening, while watching politics and sports, and hoping I'll be able to complete them in short order.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Rainbow Trout Squares the Circle, part 6

As of last time, I was just beginning the second foot...

Thanks to catching Covid in early September, I had a lot of quiet and alone time and was able to complete these socks.

"Thanks" is of course is said facetiously... there were several days with a cloud in my head where I couldn't think critically or for very long on anything... the only thing I could do was make stitches... slowly.

I do not wish this illness on anyone.  Having Covid sucks and anyone who says otherwise is not being truthful.

That being said, I am delighted to have these socks completed.

I love how the Rainbow Trout colorway has varying thicknesses of each color, so it's not obvious that the heel rounds are longer and therefore thinner stripes.

These are by far the best fitting socks I've made thus far.

The construction of these socks is really quite interesting.  I'm glad I worked it exactly as written and am looking forward to using this pattern again.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Rainbow Trout Squares the Circle, part 5

Last time, I had both socks on 9-inch dpns and a few rows into the second half of each gusset...

While the pattern calls to decrease to 64 stitches prior to working the toe, I decided to check the fit at 72 stitches... I really dislike my toes being pinched... so I want to ensure there's enough space for the ball of my foot and toes...

Pretty good so far.  I plan to continue fit checks after each decrease round....

and the result is as written.... 64 stitches remain.

And at the end of the Paris Summer Paralympics on September 8th, I had both gussets complete, the first foot complete, and the second foot started...  Time flies when you're having fun.  :-)

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Rainbow Trout Squares the Circle, part 4

 As of the last post, I was ready to begin the second half of the first Gusset....

Since then, I am well-into the second half of the first gusset and have moved it to a single 9-inch circular.  I have also set up the second sock for the first part of the second Gusset, as of the end of July 2024.

And... at the end of August, I have both socks into the second half of the Gusset.

As of this writing, the DNC concluded last week and the Paris Paralympics begin on Tuesday.  I have put together a list of the football games for the local teams, but I'm unsure if I will work on these socks along with those games.

In the meantime, Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Cattitude, part 2

I completed the joining of the hem during the last day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC)

Since I did not leave a marker at the beginning of the round upon casting on, I spent some time marking the first stitch with a handful of removable stitch markers... Once that was complete I joined the hem by stitching the two sides together... I did a few stitches using a short dpn, but then moved over to a leather stitch holder which worked better.

I finished the crown at the end of August (August 26th)

I only have 11g of the full skein remaining... but I also have 25g remaining from another skein and another project (Emotonal Support Chicken and Yarn Fest Homework)

Next step is to figure out where there ears should go.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Rainbow Trout Squares the Circle, part 3

We took a last-minute trip to San Francisco over Memorial Day Weekend.  Fortunately with both socks set up for travel, I was able to take one with me and chose the sock with the 9-inch circulars.  I made fair bit of progress on the airplane... finishing the cuff and beginning the leg.

Then I spent much of Memorial Day unpacking my studio, which means I now have access to my longer circular needles.  So I pulled out two 16-inchers and two 24-inchers and then moved both socks to the longer circulars... both socks are now much more comfortable to be knitting, and both have the cuffs complete.

In June I took both socks with me on a 10-day road trip, so I was able to make some progress.

Then a few unexpected light days meant I finished both legs at the end of June 2024.

In mid-July, I completed both Heel Straps

and began work on the first Gusset.  These socks sure look weird right now.  lol.

By late July (2024), I completed the first part of the first Gusset.  I am pleased that the Rainbow Trout stripes are not in an even cadence.... if they were, it would be very obvious that these rounds are longer than on the leg section, and therefore thinner.

I find myself wanting to make a pair of these out of my mini-rainbow skeins... since the skeins are separate, I could control the thickness of each strip... but there would be more ends to weave in.... alas, something to spend some time on later.  ;-)

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Cattitude Pussy Hat

Well, I really don't need another project on my plate... but if you know me, you know some things just need to be done.

With the Republican attacks on child-free women recently (here and here)... I, along with many women like me, have been incensed.

One, I follow on Threads, took it further and wrote a (free) pattern for an updated Pussy Hat.  This one is angry and has her ears folded back... full-on Cattitude.

With the addition of Tim Walz to the dem ticket, I feel much more positive and fighting FOR something, than AGAINST something.

So while I was vacillating between including one of the phrases on  the brim, I decided to leave it word-less.  :-)

My hat is still green... though mine is much darker than the BRAT green suggested in the pattern. :-)

At this point, the first day of the DNC, I am ready to join the brim...

I should have done two things when casting on this project...

• Marked the beginning of the round and
• cast on over a lifeline.

Sigh.... picking up these dark stitches will take some patience, good light, and good glasses.

Until next time, Happy Fiber Arts Friday.

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece, 2024 - part 7

 **Second part of Women's Race

Continuing with the second half of the Women's Tour de Fleece... I am pleased to have completed the Paco-Vicuna single last week.

Friday, August 16

Alpaca-ish - Paco-Vicuna:  15 minutes

I began plying today.

The cake weighed 30g (~1oz) when I started and now weighs 20g.  So I only plied about 1/3 of the single.

Saturday, August 17

Alpaca-ish - Paco-Vicuna:  11 minutes

I have a knot in the singles... if I'm not able to open it, I will have to break the singles and make 2 yarns.

Sunday, August 18

Alpaca-ish - Paco-Vicuna:  10 minutes

I was able to remove the knot, then continued plying for ~10 minutes.

I have 8g remaining to be plied.

Weekly Status:

Duration:  

• Alpaca-ish:  1 hour 21 minutes + 38 minutes = 1 hour 59 minutes

Net Days Spun: 4 of 4 + 3 of 3 = 7 of 7, no missed days

Finished Skeins:  1

Epilogue

While I did not finish the Paco-Vicuna during the tour, I did finish it this week.... while also making and resolving another ouple of knots.  :-/

The total is 30g (1 1/8 oz), 93 yds, 2-ply over ~2hours and 7 days.

Remember - The Paralympics start on August 28.

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

Fiber Arts Friday: Tour de Fleece, 2024 - part 6

Now that the Men's Tour and the Olympics are concluded, the Women's Tour de France is beginning.  So the Tour de Fleece, Femmes is beginning too.

The Chiengora Team has decided to be loose.  So I am focusing on finishing the little bit of Tibetan Mastiff I have remaining from the Men's Tour, the 1/2 ounce of Paco-Vicuna I started during the Men's Tour, and the two rovings of Suri Alpaca I have set aside.

   

I don't have any time or specific progress goals, other than spin each day.

This tour is only 7 days, so I will not accomplish as much as the 3-week race.

Monday, August 12

Alpaca-ish - Paco-Vicuna:  10 mins

Tuesday, August 13

Alpaca-ish - Paco-Vicuna: 15 mins

Wednesday, August 14

Alpaca-ish - Paco-Vicuna:  15 mins

Thursday, August 15

Alpaca-ish - Paco-Vicuna:  40 mins

I finished the Paco-Vicuna single today.

Weekly Status:

Duration:  

• Alpaca-ish:  1 hour 21 minutes

Days Spun: 4 of 4

Finished Skeins:  0

Happy Fiber Arts Friday!