New Year, New Socks!

I actually finished these basic stockinette socks in Bramble & Berry Co.'s Go Van Gogh colorway before the end of 2021 but got so distracted with the holidays that I didn't get around to taking photos until now.  This sock yarn is 435 yd of MCN 80/10/10.  The dyer of this yarn is based in Sunnyvale, CA so I assume I must've bought this locally at a yarn store or at Stitches West but I just can't remember! 

 

I suppose the colorway is meant to be inspired by A Starry Night (which has more yellow than orange) or maybe just Van Gogh's color palette in general.  All I know is that blue and orange are my favorite colors; I could write a thesis about it.

 

I love my fraternal twins!

They are a perfect addition to my wardrobe because they will match so many of my outfits.

 

As usual, I used my favorite Not So Crazy sock pattern and size 0 needles.

This next pair of socks is especially dear to me because I won the yarn through my participation in the #comfortknitwithuskal hosted by La Bien Aimee.  This is her 100% SW Merino Sport sock yarn in the Chihiro & No Face colorway.  One of Xena's and my favorite Studio Ghibli films is "Spirited Away" so I really feel as though this yarn was destined for me.

My legs are so short and my feet are so small that with 355 yd I was able to knit a pair of knee high socks with plenty of yarn to spare.  I used size 0 needles and a sort of hybrid version of Atelier's 2x2 ribbed fingering weight sock pattern and Summer Lee Knit's sporty socks heel and gussett.

 

Irina got me these boots for X-Mas with the specific intention that they should be worn with my hand knit socks.  

 

I'm actually planning a whole outfit for these socks but I haven't finished knitting the sweater yet.

 

This is my first time ever knitting with self stripping yarn.  This yarn also glows under a black light.  I'll grab a photo with our black light at work later on tonight when I teach my knit and crochet workshop.

 

Knit Braided cable and moss stitch pillow cover by Ladyship Designs + XMas gifts gifted

One of my knitting students started working on this Braided cable and moss stitch pillow cover pattern designed by Ladyship Designs.  I thought it was cute and I decided to make one for myself since we needed a new pillow cover.

The pattern is designed for a 16"x16"pillow insert. 

The pattern calls for 375g of super bulky yarn.  I used the size 13 knitting needles required but in the end I actually needed over 500g of Cascade Magnum 100% Peruvian Highland Wool (2+ hanks) , Color 4009, Lot 7F0515.  Blue is Xena's favorite color and she instantly fell in love with this yarn.

I thought it would be interesting to calculate the cost to knit this pillow from scratch.  Here is the break down:

Needles: $19.95 (+$6.95 for a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and affixing buttons)

Yarn: $92.85

Buttons: $24.00

Pillow insert (pack of 2): $16.99

Obviously, depending on the type of supplies you use, you could probably do it a bit cheaper but after taxes, it would still cost over $150.  Also worth noting, since I work at a yarn store, I get an employee discount but even after my discount, it still cost me over $100.

 

I'm not complaining.  I think this would make a perfect housewarming or (because it's right around the corner,)Valentine's gift.  It took me less than a week to knit.  The pattern is extremely easy to follow as an "experienced" knitter but as my student pointed out, it shouldn't just be assumed that everyone understands what "continue in rib" or "rib to the last stitch" means.  Also, there aren't any specific seaming instructions but because of the flat fabric naturally created by the seed stitch, it is very simple to seam by matching up the purl bumps.  It took me less than a 1/2 hour to seam both sides and affix the buttons.

Moving on; now that most of the Xmas gifts that I knit in 2021 have been received, I can finally share some photos.  There is still 1 more major gift that I need to finish that I swear I will finish by the end of this month!

 

I used the Madeline Tosh Free Baby Raglan pattern to knit sweaters for Zev and Anne.  They were born about a month apart from each other.  

The smallest, 6 month old size of the pattern uses less than 1 DK 100g hank of yarn.

I used the Cat Tails Yarn I bought in NOLA over the summer for Zev's sweater.

 

This soft and squishy yarn is hand-dyed exclusively for the Quarter Stitch and it has ALL THE COLORS!  

The base is called Javanese and it's 50% SWM/50% silk.

 

These weren't a XMas present but Baby Frances finally grew into the socks I made for her.  I also managed to secretly knit a hat for Matt that fits him perfectly!

 There's a story behind this cardigan that I knit for Armen.  I bought a kit for Kristine to crochet a matching cardi for Anne but then Kristine got pregnancy carpal tunnel that still hasn't gone away and Anne's cardi remains unfinished.

 

Armen's cardi is too small for Xena but I wanted her to try it on so I could show off the cute little lamb eared hood.

 

The kit is from Appalachian Baby & Design in West Virginia.  It includes 3 balls of organic cotton yarn plus the pattern for $62.00.

 

With my leftover yarn, I knit a bonnet using Atelier's basic pattern.

Modified Ateliler Crochet Mobius Cowl Pattern #327 with Michael's Hand Painted Mohair

 A few months ago, Atelier started carrying a brand new hand painted mohair yarn from Art Yarns dyed exclusively for Atelier.  As soon soon as I saw this breathtaking slow gradient ombre laceweight yarn, I fell in love.

I used Atelier pattern #327 and an I hook.

It took me nearly 2 months of frantic crocheting to finished the entire cake.

At first I thought I would follow the pattern exactly but by the time I got the end of the cake, I realized that I had crocheted enough fabric to seal the tube in the round and make the cowl long and thick enough to wrap around twice if so desired.

This was a gift for my MIL.  The photos simply do not do this yarn justice.  It needs to be squished IRL.  It is like wearing a cloud around your neck.

Where the dark meets the light is where I SC-ed around to "seal" my "neck ring" (an awesome cowl synonym invented by coworker John's dad).

 

By using a comparatively large hook with extremely fine yarn, you can create a delicate chain mail pattern simply with SC.  If you look closely you will see that the interlocking stitches create a sort of loopy Star of David.

 

Matt took these photos while we were visiting Irina and Ruslan in Vista (where they now live) after X-Mas.

 

It was overcast.  I just woke up and I wasn't wearing any makeup but before shipping the cowl to my MIL, I wanted to capture it in a photo complimenting the Outline Tee and socks I recently knit.

 

I thought these outtakes were pretty hilarious.  Matt has a real knack for capturing me making the lamest faces.