Category Archives: Yarn

FO – Cold Mountain

Posted on 08/18/2010 by hjnknits| 8 Comments

Pattern: Cold Mountain from Knitty Summer 2009

Yarn: Malabrigo Lace in Purple Mysteria (1.75 skeins)

Needles: US4

Oh, how I love this knit. The actual knitting was not difficult but still interesting. I was chained to the chart, but a more confident knitter could probably go without it after doing a repeat, especially the ends. I have difficulties letting go of the security blanket that is the chart.

The yarn is gorgeous. Unbelievably soft (what else do you expect from Malabrigo?) and the color is divine. No bleeding when I soaked it despite being a very deep color. However, I don’t think this is going to be a hard wearing shawl. Single ply, 100% merino…it will wear quickly. That said, it is not like it is a pair of socks or anything.

My only complaint about the whole project is the final size of the piece. The blocked dimensions for this shawl are 26″x 72″. I *so* did not get that. In fact, mine is 17″X72″. When I first pinned it out, I tried to get 26″ wide. It was scary. The yarn actually groaned I think at about 20″. I mean my gauge could be off but 9″ off? Anyway, this is a little disappointing because the lovely woman I am sending this to is not petite, and I feel like she won’t be able to wear it the way I hoped she could. Which gets me thinking….should I keep it? *sigh* It is so lovely. Yet this is how I would wear it….

Not very nice for the knitwear to just be bunched around my neck, but it is oh-so-soft and warm. Must.be.good.grand.niece. :)

Guess who started school again today? Bubba. He is not thrilled to be back. I think his words when I picked him up from school today were, “I am not going back tomorrow. It is not an option.” *sigh* Oh that child of mine. How can he not like school? Did I not raise him to have an inquiring mind? Cripes, he asks enough damn questions you think he would go to school and be the sponge that he is at home. Terry tells me though that it is possible to hate school and still like to learn. That is just crazy talk, I tell you. Anywhoo, I know on Facebook I whined about how much I couldn’t wait for him to go back, but I do miss him when he is gone. He’s my quirky guy, and I adore him.

The other thing in the back of my mind on this first day of school is that this time next year I could be teaching again. That about made me throw up. I have been out of the classroom for 8 years now. That’s like a lifetime in kid years. It almost feels like I am completely starting over, and while I can’t imagine doing anything other than teaching, I often think I should take the opportunity to start afresh in another field. That would mean more school. That would mean money. However, I like teaching. I still dream about it and come up with lesson plans in my dreams (just so you don’t think I am crazy…I taught kindergarten…it helps to have kids around you all the time that age). Could be big changes next August…for Muskrat and me. :)

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Posted in Da boys, Yarn, finished object, shawls

If you got it, knit it

Posted on 05/26/2010 by hjnknits| 4 Comments

I have mentioned before I have not a big stash, but not a small one either. Stash is really not the right word. All the yarn I purchase is purchased with project in mind – I never just buy “a sweater’s worth of yarn”. Instead I buy yarn for “that gansey in IK” or “Ishbel”. Unfortunately, I don’t knit stuff up then months or years pass and the yarn still languishes. To make matters worse, the project I originally planned for the yarn no longer is exciting yet I can’t seem to get past the yarn’s original project. For example, I have 7 skeins of Harrisville Designs’ Flax and Wool Yarn in a delicious cranberry. I bought it, oh, three or four years ago intending to knit a gansey with it. NOW, however, I realize I would never wear a gansey as it would make me look even fatter AND I also know now that I do not knit garments that will not be worn. So. Here I am with about 1600 yards of worsted weight yarn, which is a lot for most sweater patterns. Even for me. I am paralyzed with the idea of knitting a pattern that will not use up all of this yarn.

*sigh* To make matters worse, with all of this gardening money I have spent I feel a lot of guilt about spending ANY money on knitting stuff. So, I have got to get over this fear.

And I have. About two weeks ago, I cast on Mondo Cable Pulli from ChicKnits. It is a pattern that I knew would soothe me. Miles of stockinette knitting, size 7 needles, top down construction, and some cabling. Perfect for lazy Alaskan summer afternoons at the park with small children. I smugly cast this pattern on two weekends ago at my folks. I have knit a half dozen top down sweaters and figured I could knit this sweater with my eyes shut. Man, this pattern smacked me and reminded me that I do not know all. As the well-written instructions indicate, the increases are worked a little differently so the sweater doesn’t get so wide so quickly (good thing) at the same time working the V-neck. It was a lot for a knitter to think about especially a smug, assuming one. I might have snapped a few times and said, “Leave me alone. I am counting.” Now I am passed the great divide and just working on the body.

Let me just say – it has been gorgeous here. Glorious sunshine for about a week. My skin is very, very sad. Rashy, slightly dried, and pink from all the new found warmth and UV, despite sunscreen. It is one of the strange things about living in Alaska. We go from very little sunshine and cold quickly to sun ALL the time (about 18 hours) and warmth. It does wonders for our souls but honestly my skin is screaming for me to go see a movie or something. :)

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Posted in Yarn, sweaters

A lot of Noro Kureyon Sock yarn….

Posted on 02/03/2010 by hjnknits| 2 Comments

Rewind to Christmas of 2008. I was a little obsessed with Noro sock yarn and asked my folks for some for Christmas. Now my mom crochets and is not intimidated by words such as worsted or bulky. She understands yarn. However, I failed to give her some very important information. I opened my present which was beautifully wrapped in a basket and I kind of balked…

Mom: “What’s wrong?”

Me: “Oh, nothing.”

Mom: “Something’s wrong. I can tell by your face.”

Me: “Oh, no. Nothing is wrong. It is just REALLY a lot of sock yarn.”

Mom: “What do you mean? It is enough for two pairs like you asked.”

At this point, I come clean that it is enough yarn for four pairs of socks. See critical information missing? 100g makes a pair of socks. Now I have 400g of yarn. That’s a lot of sock yarn folks. Not only that, but I have two 100g balls of two different colorways, which of course means I could knit something other than socks. For the last year, I have mulled over what to knit. Clapotis? Simple Yet Effective Shawl? Well, last week when Terry was struck down with the plague I decided finally to cast on Multnomah. Lots of garter stitch for a while and then some feather and fan. Love it.

This is it as of last Friday. Now I am knitting the feather and fan border. The pattern is lovely, but how it is written is kind of wonky. Almost like some punctuation is missing. I managed to get through and figured it out. It could just be that I have never knit a triangular shawl and had a hard time visioning what was happening too. Either way I love how this is turning out with the striping of the colors. It is great.

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Posted in Yarn, shawls

A well-timed box

Posted on 06/21/2009 by hjnknits| 1 Comment

My husband recently abandoned me for some training down in Dallas. This makes what is going on right now THAT much more difficult. Seriously. If he wasn’t in Dallas (no offense to Dallas, it is just miserable there), I would think he planned this on purpose. So, when a box was found on my porch this week from my friend Jessie, I was very grateful. My kids were too.

Behold – Mountain Colors Bearfoot. Jessie wrote, “I know, I know more sock yarn.” What she doesn’t know if this isn’t just ANY sock yarn. It is my FAVORITE sock yarn. Bearfoot is soft AND durable – something a lot of great sock yarns can’t boast. The colors are to die for and, get this, the colorway is called “Crazy Woman”. Too cool. This yarn, however, is not destined for sock yarn. No sir. It deserves to be an Ishbel.

The best part of the box though was the yarn she sent from Thirteen Mile. About 260 yards of an aran weight two ply. Is it weird that I like to sit and sniff it because it smells so wooly? Don’t answer that. Anyway, it BEGS to be something cable-ly. I am thinking mittens, of course. A pair from the autumn 2008 Vogue Knitting, Harvest Mittens, that were originally made out of Malabrigo. Into the queue it all goes.

Thanks for thinking of me, Jessie! I love all the yarn, and it could not have arrived at a better time.

Can’t wait to see you guys. I don’t think the kitchen will be done. Can we use your stove?

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Posted in Yarn

A girl knit

Posted on 01/12/2009 by hjnknits| 3 Comments

So, I need to ease myself into this whole sweater thing. Cue a Divine Miss A knit. A close friend of mine has a daughter almost the same age as Muskrat. I adore her, but I can’t let on that I adore her otherwise I will be shunned. So, my love for her is casual and subtle. My knitting for her must be the same. The Kitty Hat, just simply tossed to her one afternoon with no other mention of it. She wears it often and loves it despite the fact that it is not NEAR warm enough for current temperatures. So, when I got the bright idea to knit her a sweater I had to be stealthy. No taking her to pick yarn. No measuring. No asking. My first thought was Reid. Way too fussy for this gal. No. Must be something simple, yet girly. Something I can knit easily so if the ever fickle three year old, which I am all too aware of, does not like the sweater I can shrug it off. I settled on Helena.

I love the resulting fabric with this yarn (Patons Grace, viola, 5 balls) though I worry about overall care and drape since it is cotton and sportweight. I think it will be simple enough for her, but it will require some Hello Kitty buttons which I am looking for now. Any ideas where to go on the net?

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Posted in Yarn, sweaters

Me and My Stash

Posted on 04/27/2008 by hjnknits| 7 Comments

The scrapbooks are done. Thank heaven. I don’t know what ever possessed me to think I would like to do it. I like sorting through the photos. I like looking back over the past couple of years with my boys, but I don’t like cutting and gluing.

My reward was first to cast on Nutkins with some Cherry Tree Hill yarn (*swoon*) and second to sort through my stash. I heart organizing and sorting. When it involves yarn, even better.

The first thing that became painfully obvious to me when my sock yarn was all in one location is, well, I have a lot. Thirteen pairs worth. That is a lot of socks.

Now prior to this sorting I had my stash throughout the house. Under beds in bins. In sweater holders. In bags. When it is scattered it doesn’t seem so large. First I put it all in one room and began sorting. There were two major piles – yarn that was purchased for a specific project and has yet to be knit and then leftover stuff. There was about three largish tubs worth of leftover stuff. Like most knitters, I over buy when I purchase for a project “just in case” – my husband thinks it is a big fat excuse to buy more yarn. Perhaps it is because in some cases I really over purchased.

Behold. Yarn that has been sorted and has specific projects in mind that I have been wanting to knit. Such as Koolhaas hat. EZ’s mitered mittens. Foliage. Vests for the boys. Backyard Leaves scarf. A myriad of fingerless gloves. This is a lot of knitting.

Here is what it looked like when I was done. Sweater holder on the left houses the yarn for specific projects that I have been meaning to do such as Gathered Pullover, Charisma, Lopi sweater, Clapotis, and some hats. Holder on the right has all the yarn I recently rediscovered. Tub on the bottom left has bulky weight yarn from my felting days and I can’t bring myself to give away. Tub on the bottom right has worsted weight yarn, which is really just a lot of Cascade 220. I should do something with color work. Overall not a lot of yarn, but more than I should have. Clearly I need to stay away from the yarn store to keep myself from buying more.

Just in case you were wondering we ended up with 22 inches of snow. That is a lot of snow for here. It is melting very nicely.

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Posted in Yarn

What I bought

Posted on 03/10/2008 by hjnknits| 4 Comments

I went to just one lone yarn shop on my trip. Still, I managed to do some damage. Sierra Vista has the Squirrel’s Nest. While it is mostly a quilt shop, they do have some yarn and an impressive collection of weaving yarns (my husband was a little apprehensive to go into that part of the store for fear of me collecting another fiber habit, er, hobby). I told myself I could only buy yarn my LYS-s don’t have.

Behold, Panda Wool. Sorry about the overexposed picture – too much sun – I am sure you understand. I have no plans for this yarn, but the blues and greens were perfect, and I had just read Grumperina’s review of it so I felt compelled.

Wildefoote in Peasant Blue. Boring, perhaps. I find though that I am drawn to sock patterns that require boring yarn, but I never buy solid, or even semi-solid for that matter, yarn. I hope to knit Conway or Hedgerow with this.

Panda Cotton – I got smart and moved it to the shade, so you can see while it is mostly white there is some greens, blues, and purples to it. Cotton socks, what is this world coming to? Well, I DO have friends and family in very warm locations so I need to get yarn for their socks. I envision Padded Footies or something kind of lace-y.

That’s it. Only sock yarn. EXACTLY what the stash needs. I had hoped to visit a couple shops in Tucson because I have this weird obsession with finding Handmaiden Seasilk. You know for all the lace knitting I do. Unfortunately, the boys were wiped from the Sonora Desert Museum, and there was the getting lost incident that we don’t mention. Good news was they got a very nice nap in the van while Mom and Dad struggled with the dumbass rental car map.

That is a rattlesnake he is holding. You can’t believe the number of people he freaked out with that toy. “Is that a snake he is holding?” Why, yes, it is. He sleeps with it at night too – draped around his neck which DOES freak me out, and I remove it from his neck once he is asleep.

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Posted in Arizona trip, Yarn

Frenzied

Posted on 07/12/2007 by hjnknits| 5 Comments

Who knew an extra child in the house could add so much work and laundry? Funny how being out of your routine exhausts a person. We got off the plane in Seattle and have been running ever since. Down to Kenai. Back up to Anchorage. Squirt guns and lightsabers during the day and education innovation by night. *whew* Tonight I said no more homework – must rest my brain.

So what did I buy on my trip to Bainbridge Island? First, let me say Churchmouse Yarns and Teas is a lovely store. I didn’t want to take much time there so I scanned the store and honed in on stuff I don’t have in Anchorage.

Enter this first: Socks that Rock. I am kind of smitten – okay in love – with Socks that Rock. I had Jessie pick a colorway she likes and promised a pair of socks to remember the trip by. It is Puck’s Mischief – greens, blues, purples, browns. Nice.

Then this: Malabrigo Lace Weight. *swoon* I love Malabrigo and can I let you in on a little secret? I have been craving lace. I don’t know why, but I want to knit lace. So, now I have about 1000 yards of lace weight. What to do? If you know a really good rectangular lace pattern, let me know. Nothing too complicated because I have not done a lot of lace.

On the trip, I kind of got a lot of knitting done. Here is my Roza Sock in progress – out of STR in Downpour. Down to the heel. I am knitting this using magic loop. I love this pattern – I think I have found a new standard rib sock. This sock is going to be shipped off to Kristina when I am done. She is going to finish the second one, and I am going to knit her second Monkey sock. We are finally getting around to doing our swap since her life has slowed somewhat and I have managed to find some time to actually knit. I am excited we are going to do this – it is like getting to knit two pairs of socks for the price of one.

The yoke to Muskrat’s raglan tee. The longer I knit on this though the more I want it to be a sweater. Once I am done with the body I am going to try it on him – if it is pretty big, sweater it is; if it is snug, tee shirt it is. I am lazy, er, I mean flexible like that. This sweater process really deserves better detail because it has been a learning one, but I do not have the energy tonight. It will make a nice post in the near future.

Last but certainly not least, ravelry. I have not spent near the amount of time on it that I have wanted to. Haven’t posted all my projects, have not posted any of my stash, nor sorted through all my friends stuff. It is going to be my treat when I finish up my paper. I am also seriously behind in my blogging. Only about three more weeks of class left, and I can go back to my normal evening stuff.

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Posted in Yarn, socks, sweaters

Oregonian Yarn

Posted on 05/14/2007 by hjnknits| 5 Comments

So, if you are looking to hear about someone who did a yarn crawl while on their vacation you might want to move along. I learned that people who go on vacation with small children do not visit many yarn stores. I had big plans. I researched places and had a list going. Once we got down there it just never worked out.

In Olympia, I really wanted to go to Canvasworks. They carry Green Mountain Spinnery – something my LYS lacks but yarn I have always wanted to fondle. The first time I smelled, I mean, saw the store we were downtown with our kiddos plus my nephew, and I could not face leaving my husband with three small, excited children in a urban type setting. The next time we set out for the store the Procession of Species was happening and downtown was a zoo, quite literally. So, Operation Canvasworks was cancelled.

In Newport, I was going to Yarn for All Seasons come hell or high water. Why? They carry Socks that Rock. Now all I ever read from blogs is this is the best yarn you will ever knit socks with – I am not quite sure it will ever live up to the hype it has received. She was pretty sold out, but I did like these two colorways in lightweight – Downpour (left skein) and Lucy in the Sky (right skein). I also snagged the new IK sock book everyone is talking about, which I cannot tell you how much I love. Sock patterns books are my favorite. This store also carries Namaste bags. *swoon* I heart bags. I carried this one around in my hot little hands for quite some time. I had my husband validate my purchase with the usual, “We are on vacation” phrase whenever I long for something I know we can’t afford and I don’t need, when we are on vacation. In the end, I put it back. That is an absurd amount of money for me to spend on a bag – no matter how much I love it.

Yarn: Fleece Artist Merino Sock Yarn
Needles: Magic loop with Addi Turbos US1
Pattern: My old stand by – Priscilla Gibson-Roberts Toe-up Dream Sock

I did finish these while on vacation. They are socks. It is hard to talk about socks because they are so functional, but they are my favorite thing to knit no matter “how boring the pattern”. I danced the handknit sock dance of joy when I finished them and have worn them several times with a great deal of enthusiasm.

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Posted in Oregon Trip, Yarn

Somebody help me…

Posted on 04/15/2007 by hjnknits| 13 Comments

So. We are about to go on vacation, and I need to decide what to take for knitting. Socks, of course, but I don’t have any on the needles so I need to start a new project. I want to knit a pair of simple socks because I want to be able to chat and chase small children while I knit. My dilemma is I cannot decide which yarn to knit up. From left to right – a green, brown, grey yarn with aloe in it; a red, grey, black Trekking XXL; and finally a green, purple, blue, yellow Fleece Artist merino (the last two in the row Muskrat put up there with a great deal of enthusiasm, didn’t have the heart to take them away). All of them are good yarns, and I want to knit them all. However, like I often tell Bubba, you can only take one. So which one do I take with me?

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Posted in Yarn, socks