FO Friday – Batad

On June 15, 2018 By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Shawl5 Comments

In a surprise twist, I’ve got an FO Friday this week. This is my new Batad. It’s unexpected because I thought I had more yarn. Turns out, I don’t. This is what happens when you let gorgeous yarn languish in the deep recesses of the stash. I completely forgot, I poached the other skein of Deep, the dark blue color, for a Doodler, way back in 2015. Fortunately, I still love that shawl lots so no knitter’s remorse here.

Of course, it also helps that the Batad was at a perfect stopping point. I was able to bind off with no ill effects whatsoever. I was only going to add one more wedge, so no harm done really.

This is one of my favorite patterns both to knit and to wear. It’s Stephen West, of course. I love it’s no fuss nature. It stays put with no fiddling and no shawl pins. I tend to wear it on one shoulder but it’s great as a sort of cape, worn to the back as well.

It doesn’t hurt that the yarn is MadTosh Pashmina…yay for merino-silk-cashmere blends! The white speckled color is Cosmic Wonder Dust, my favorite color name ever. I brought this yarn home for this specific project in 2015. I have no idea why I didn’t get to it sooner because I can tell already, it’s my new favorite.

I wore it out last night…complete with ends hanging. LOL. At least they were on the inside (unlike the Schitt’s Creek sweater!) I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who noticed. I was surprised how many people commented on it. I shouldn’t be though…I was at a drag show. Those queens know fashion when they see it!

And so, my Batad collection has grown. I still want another one though! I should probably weave the ends on this one before I wear it again.

“probably”

WIP Wednesday

On April 4, 2018April 4, 2018 By FogKnitsIn Shawl, WIP7 Comments

It’s Wednesday and I have progress! There’s not much of a story here, but that’s kind of a story itself. It’s my favorite kind of knitting, miles of nothing but knit. Perfectly relaxing, stress reducing, stash busting, striped, garter stitch.

AAAAAaaaaaaahhhh. yes. I’m loving the dueling Dotted Rays.

They’re keeping pace with each other pretty well. AND, I’m keeping up with the end weaving. I can’t wait to see how they turn out. At this point, each shawl has grown so large that it’s mostly relegated to a large crumpled pile until it comes off the needles, revealing it’s true beauty. At least that’s the way I’m hoping it goes…

I’ve made a couple questionable decisions in the pink/red/orange/purple stripes. It’s completely possible to balance it out down the line though, so I’m putting faith in the process. I’m not expecting to be unhappy at the end. I’m sure it’ll work out. It always does, after all.

FO Friday – Connect the Dots

On March 23, 2018March 23, 2018 By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Shawl3 Comments

New hat for the weekend! Nothing fancy, just a plain stockinette beanie with a little stripe. Easy Peasy.

The real story of the week is a bout of Castonitis. With all this finishing lately, I’ve been contemplating new cast ons. I may have gone a bit overboard once I got started.

First, a little Peanut Warmer for the impending nephew. It’s so tiny, size 0-3 months. It’ll be done in no time!

After that, I sorted my stash picking blues, greens and purples for a new Dotted Rays.

Of course, as I sorted all the cool colors out, a pile of warm colors that was just as appealing formed. And so, Dotted Rays #2 joined the cast on party.

Needless to say, this completely obliterates my strict 6 project limit. I’m currently at 10 and I’m not ruling out #11 this weekend.

Whoops.

I am imposing one rule, though. There needs to be, at least, a tiny bit of order.

If I want two scrappy Dotted Rays at once…I have to weave the ends as I go. So far, so good. It makes photos nicer and it actually helps with the knitting too…no extraneous tails to get tangled with the working yarn. Totally practical!

Now let me see what else I can cast on…

Happy Friday!

WIP Wednesday

On February 7, 2018 By FogKnitsIn FO Friday, Socks15 Comments

This week’s work-in-progress is a baby!! I have recently learned, I am an aunt-to-be!

Not being one for suspense, my sister has dispensed with the waiting. She’s announced, already, it’s a boy! His name is Marcus. We can expect him in July!

Naturally, the first thing I did was cast on a little pair of socks.

Wee little baby socks are so fun to knit and I had just the right yarn. Cascade Fixation, 98.3% cotton, 1.7% spandex. The most amazing yarn blend ever. The amount of stretch that can be introduced into cotton with less than 2% spandex is phenomenal! Perfect for baby stuff. And cotton…exactly what a summer baby needs!

These little socks are the definition of instant gratification knitting! Done in under 24 hours. The pattern came from the wayback machine, you can find it here! Super easy, top down with a heel flap.

Now, with baby’s first knitwear out of the way, I can start planning all the fun stuff. Goes without saying, I’ll definitely be buying yarn again this year! (I’ll take any excuse I can get.)

I’ve got so many thoughts.

I’m actually anti-baby blanket. It’s a lot of boring repetitive work. You get so much more bang for your knitting buck with a sweater. But, I only have one sister and she’s only having one baby (they checked…it’s not twins!), so I’ll definitely be making a blanket exception here. One with a pocket for a stuffie friend, I think.

Then, I’ll have to knit the stuffie friend. And, of course, a sweater with another pocket for the stuffie friend. and the stuffie friend might need a friend. You see where this is going, yes? It’s just going to keep snowballing.

And that’s before we even get to the whole Auntie Em thing. Flying monkeys definitely need to happen. I’m thinking about combining the ‘quiet book’ idea with a knit block in the Wizard of Oz theme. I want to knit a house, with ruby slippers sticking out from under it. Each side of the house, will have a little activity, like a quiet book. The front door might open with a zipper. Maybe the side of the house will have windows that attach with buttons. Snaps are another idea. More pockets to stuff things in. Maybe an abacus sort of thing with beads that slide around.

Baby’s first ugly christmas sweater? A baby gramps sweater…complete with elbow patches. So many fun hats…animal hats and dinosaur hats. Photo prop diaper covers. Loveys with stuffie heads. Yes, I want to knit all the baby things. All of them! ALL OF THEM!!!

An Honest Accounting

On January 23, 2017January 23, 2017 By FogKnitsIn Hat, WIP3 Comments

This is usually the time of year, I do a stash flash. I don’t think I have it in me for 2017 though. It takes all day to drag all the yarn out, spread it all out…at least that’s the fun part. Then it all needs to get put away, which takes even longer. I just don’t have the time.

I do have last year’s photo though. The least I can do is redact the yarn that is no more. There are a few key piles that are gone but most of these lovelies are still with me.

It’s not that I didn’t use a lot of yarn in 2016. I definitely bought new yarn last year. None of it is in this picture. Even more than that though, none of the half balls are in this photo. I did a lot of scrap busting last year. That’s a lot of progress not in the photo either.

I should probably be on a yarn diet. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. amirite?

I really am trying to use it all, though. I’ve got 9 WIPs currently (one less than I’m ‘allowed’ to have.)

I allow myself 10 on-going works in progress. This is not an arbitrary number, there is method to my madness. The genesis of 10 WIPs came from my view of Ravelry. When I open my notebook, I see 10 projects without scrolling.

Unfortunately my tab organization has grown by a few rows. The second row of photos is now obstructed. I still get the idea but maybe it’s time to get my WIPs under control.

I’m still committed to each of these WIPs. It’s way easier to get my WIPs in a pile than all my yarn so here they are…

I could get it down to 8 WIPs instantly, that ball in the lower right corner…nothing on the needles. It was an idea that started strong but ending in a frogging. So…there we go! Progress…on a monday morning…before 7 am!

Yesterday, I worked on the bit of burgundy ribbing tucked in at the bottom of the photo. It’s now 3/4s of a hat. I think, sometime, after 7 pm, I’ll have the list down to 7 WIPs!

Watch out Monday, I aim to get shit done! Ready, Set, Go…