Actual Knitting Content

On August 22, 2017August 22, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Cowl, Hat, WIP3 Comments

One more tease before I actually have FO pics to share. This is the chevron edge of my WestKnits Fadealong Shawl, a faded Dotted Rays! It’s amazing! And you’ll always be able to find me in a crowd when I wear it! Hopefully it’ll make FO Friday this week!

As for projects on the needles, don’t worry…got plenty of those too!

Finally started a pussy hat for myself. I don’t like pink so I figured if I’m doing it, I should really do it. It’s from White Birch Fiber Arts. Her yarns are amazing but typically sock yarns. The striping definitely works best for socks so I didn’t have much reason to buy her yarns. Until…I found worsted weight at her booth during Stitches! Woot! Instant Pussy Hat Gratification here I come!

And, I’ve got the last of the horrible acrylic that shall not be named cast on too! I was summoned for jury duty yesterday. Not knowing what courthouse security would be like, I opted for the yarn I wouldn’t miss in the event of confiscation. No worries there though. I got to hurry up and wait with all the knitting I wanted!

Doing a basic brioche in the round cowl with it. I’m really loving the color play. I don’t necessarily like either of the colorways on their own but together in two color brioche, they’re really shining! So, back to the courthouse today, hopefully I can squeeze in more knitting time. The judge might want our attention though. Who does he think he is?

And here’s a couple random photos I’ve been meaning to share. There’s a large yarn bombing installation down by city hall. The goal of this civic minded project (because it’s a paid art installation, with lots of public input) is to connect the sprawling Civic Center Plaza with UN Plaza across the street. I don’t think they’ve accomplished that goal. Not to mention, if yarn bombing alleviated the problems created by homeless drug addicts leaving biological excretions on the sidewalks, San Francisco could be a much, much, cleaner city.

At any rate, before I go off on too many tangents, here’s the pictures. It’s kinda fun. They think it’s going to be there for 2 years. I think they have no idea how much maintenance it’s going to require.

It looks good for now though.

Down the Rabbit Hole

On August 20, 2017August 20, 2017 By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Misc10 Comments

First, it’s been a while since I’ve posted and a lot has happened in the world. It used to go without saying that nazis are bad. Not anymore, so I’ll say it, just to be clear. Whatever the label, nazi, white nationalist, alt-right, kkk…I strongly disagree with it all. Killing people is bad. Violence is bad. Hate is bad.

With that disclaimer out of the way, let me share some fun! I’ve been busy making things!

It started innocently enough with one funny cross stitch piece.

But it’s developed into a major bathroom redecoration scheme.

After the first two hoops were completed, I had to go back for more.

These aren’t complicated designs. Naturally, that lead me to the craft store saying I can do that…if I just had a few more supplies!

Soon enough, I was designing things that aren’t for the bathroom.

Indeed, it seems I am going way down the rabbit hole with this one. Never fear, there is also knitting progress! The Dotted Rays, WestKnits Fade is off the needles and it’s an amazing color explosion! It’s blocking, but you’ll get to see it soon!

There’s still plenty of knitting love. It will return shortly. But for now, I think my next cross stitch will be the immortal words of Rodney King…

“Can we all just get along?”

WIP Wednesday – Cat Sweater #2

On August 9, 2017August 9, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Sweater, WIP6 Comments

You can say a lot of things about Professor Meow but one thing is certain…He’s a happy fellow!

I started with this back this time around. It’s now done and I’ve moved on to the front! It should be ready for assembly soon, assuming I don’t get distracted by a new project. (What the Fade? I’m talking about you! August 31st is a long way off…I bet I can finish this by then. **Knock on Wood**)

Happy Hump Day! :)

Welcome to Fogust!

On August 6, 2017August 6, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Misc, Shawl, WIP5 Comments

Fogust is here! It goes without saying, here at FogKnits headquarters, we love fog season! A lot! I love nights quieted by wind and fog. Everything calms down and the city becomes very still. It’s an amazing change from the hustle & bustle of daily life. aaaaaahhhhh! I love it! It’s good knitting weather!

I’m at the point with everything where despite making good progress, the photos continue to look the same. L to R, That’s the Faded Dotted Rays, the Shawl in a Ball and the Cat Sweater.

The Dotted Rays rows have grown to 450 stitches, slowing progress way down. Especially when this is so light and easy to pick up…

I finished the stitching!!

I’m going to attempt finishing the fabric edges and the hoops this week. I can’t wait to hang them in my bathroom! I’m tempted to go back and get a few more. First though, there’s knitting to do. I want to make sweaters and hats! I definitely feel a hat binge coming on!

The Royal Bee – A New LYS

On July 30, 2017July 30, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Misc, Stash Enhancement, Yarn9 Comments

I saw a thread on Ravlery ‘new yarn shop in pacifica’. Yes Please! Knowing nothing more than yesterday was the soft opening, I set out! I haven’t had a spontaneous stash enhancement in a couple months!

It’s funny to read the old post and see that my decision was guided by parking. I pulled up to Royal Bee yesterday completely in love with the PARKING LOT. I couldn’t wait to take a picture of it! ha ha.

Rows of FREE PARKING! Can you tell I live in the city? Free parking is all it takes! LOL! So Royal Bee gets two thumbs up already!

Once inside, the delights continued! The beehive themed yarn wall is so pretty! If I lived in a house with lots of wall space, I’d love to display my yarn like this! Lots of interesting yarns here…some Rowan, a bunch of Skacel like Kenzie and Simplicity and HiKoo. Yarns I know of but haven’t used. A variety of fibers, colors, weights. There was a bunch of sock yarn too.

I chatted with Kelley, the owner, a bit. She’s super and definitely interested in recommendations. My first suggestion was local yarns so I can’t wait to go back after the grand opening and see how the shop evolves. (August 16th, details are here, if anyone wants them!)

It’s a poly-stitchual kinda place, with a really cute selection of fabrics and notions and whatnots.

And Rainbow Elastic!! I love that stuff! I use it in hats all the time! It takes the worry out of stretch & fit. Look at all those colors! There were even more too. I can’t wait for my next hat binge, which is due at any moment. I know where to find the perfect Rainbow Elastic now!

I picked up a couple balls of Llamor, 100% baby llama. It’s so soft…perfect for cozy winter hats or August in Pacifica.

The best part of my purchase though, hands down, is the snarky cross stitch kits! I couldn’t resist. I finished the first one already.

Not only have I finally figured out French Knots but this new fangled cross stitch kit innovation blew my mind:

The strands are held secure on the back so you just snip off a strand as you need it! I love it! I’ve started my second design already. No sorting colors and wondering if I’ve labeled them right. This little tag makes it so easy!

I may have to redecorate my bathroom with snarky cross stitch now. Assuming I can make the finishing work. As much as I’ve cross stitched, I’ve never finished anything in the hoop. The instructions involve cutting the excess aida away and installing a running thread.

I know what all those words mean. How hard can it be? Wish me luck!

The cutest socks!

On July 28, 2017July 28, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Misc, Socks9 Comments

Now for the second half of the knitters knitting for knitters part of the swap! The gift I was given! In a perfect twist of fate, the knitter who chose me was the knitter I chose!

I got kitty socks! They’re the YinYang Kitty Ankle Socks, a free pattern on Ravelry!

Without a doubt, the absolute best way to get hand knit socks is as a gift! I have half a sock I haven’t touched since January. Knitting them myself is certainly not the fastest option! And these were even in my queue!

They’re the cutest little kitties! I’ve been wearing as house socks. I’d feel bad cramming them into shoes. This is cuteness that needs to be shown off!

Thank you, Branka! They’re awesome and I love them!

The last bit of awesomeness from our party…the cake!

It didn’t come from a store! One of the knitter’s made it!!! It’s chocolate on the inside and there aren’t enough superlatives to describe it. It was delicious! My favorite part, though, is the care that went into the swatch. Those stitches look like stitches. They’re all pointing the right direction. They’re all in rows and columns just like they should be. There are four stitches in the swatch and correspondingly, four stitches on the needle. The ball of yarn is attached to the swatch, in the right place no less. All little details non-knitters don’t know about.

And now, it’s almost the weekend! Wooohooo! I’m fading away on my Faded, Speckled, Dotted Rays for the Westknits’ Summer Fadealong!

Color 4 is fading in. It’s more Hedgehog Fibers. I started off with Skinny Singles as the first color. The last two colors have been Hedgehog Sock. I don’t like the Sock as much as the Skinny Singles. Of course, the Western Sky Knits MCN in the middle puts all the others to shame. A little bit of cashmere really goes a long way!

My next color will have cashmere, an MCN from Magpie Fibers!! Not sure I’ll get there this weekend. I’ve gotten to the place where the rows are looooooooooooong. I’m going to try though!

Hope you’ve got some fun weekend plans! Happy Knitting!

Super Secret FO Revealed

On July 24, 2017July 24, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Cowl, FO Friday18 Comments

Once upon a time, my weekly knitting group decided no one ever knits for knitters, so we should knit for ourselves. Each year at the holiday party, we draw names and six months later at our anniversary party, we swap gifts in the form of things we’ve knit for each other.

I’ve received some terrific knitted items, a pair of socks, a felted bag that I carried everywhere for at least a year, a westknits cowl that I never would have knit for myself.

I’ve taken different approaches to what I knit each year. Sometimes, there are many consultations with other people, will so-and-so like this? Knitting by committee is definitely a thing with a project by a knitter, for a knitter, in a knitting group. One year, I openly blogged about it. One year, I forgot to take pictures almost entirely.

This year, it’s been completely secret! I didn’t share who I picked or what I was knitting at all. I mean, I told the group I was knitting a pink fringed poncho. We’re celebrating year 8, pretty sure no one believed me when I said that.

So, without further ado, I present this year’s super secret knitting…the Dragon Wing Cowl!

Details: Pattern – Dragon Wing Cowl by Jessie Rayot, Yarn – Cephalopod Yarns Beastie in Man-Eating Tree, My Ravelry Page.

The construction is super fun! You start off with a long garter stitch rectangle…

It’s got a series of increases to give you the wing effect. The spines come from dropping stitches all the way back to the cast on…

and then picking them back up in segments of stockinette stitch…

Lots of fun! and they look great!

Block the points out, add some real bone buttons…

and it’s a cowl fit for a Khalessi! Thanks to HBO, it seems like I planned this perfectly!

Best news of all, it was very well received and as soon as the recipient put it on, she had styled it better than anything I had managed to do in two months. That made me very happy! It was super as I finished it but it came to life as soon as she put it on. It was clearly meant to be!

And in true O.Henry fashion, she was the same person who picked my name! I’ll show you what she knit me after I’ve had some daylight to take pics! Hint: Cat Socks!!