Finishing Up Small Projects

 I have been sick this week and haven't had much brain power or energy to tackle much. I'm trying to finish up some projects though.

I decided to take on one more red scarf for World AIDS Day as the donation bin has just been put out at the library. I really don't have much red left, so I went with a diagonal garter stitch, changing yarns randomly. It's much more subtle without the textured yarns. It weighs in at 116gr, so wouldn't work if I was using just a 100gr ball. 

The community group I donate other items to made a post and mentioned that baby items needed to be in baby yarn. While I'm not a fan of baby items in bulky yarn, sometimes worsted works fine. I questioned it ("baby" yarn also seems to be fading away) and they said just use thinner yarns. I usually use DK for newborn hats, sometimes thinner. So I thought I'd make up some newborn hats in sock yarn as I have a lot of odd bits from a donation I got. 

This weighs a whopping 16 grams. I had some green left, but not much, so I did another one with a slightly different row pattern.

This one weighs in at 14 grams. I ran out of green near the top.

The two, side by side. Similar but slightly different. 80sts on 3.75mm (I think), rib 3", knit 2", do 8 decreases every other row to about 24st, then every row to 8st. Easy peasy.

Lastly, my East Coast road trip socks. Yes, the picture is upside down. Blogger does not have photo editing features and I'm too lazy to edit in Google Photos. I didn't make these as tall as my Thunder Bay socks, mainly because it's been 2 months since we've been home and they need to be done. The yarn is Kroy Socks, "Woodsie". 

For some reason, I couldn't remember how to do the Judy's Magic Cast On so I improvised. It ended up being kind of inside out. I don't really care though. I just wanted something to knit while being a passenger princess. We had a last minute change to our trip which meant we took my SUV instead of Rob's truck and trailer. I thought I'd actually get to drive on this trip, but no. Rob did not want to sit in the passenger seat and do nothing. Well, at least we're clear on our responsibilities LOL. These socks weigh in at 75 grams. 

I've been working on a crochet hoodie that is taking forever. Hopefully I can get it done soon. 

Yarn In:   4397gr

Yarn Out:  12,133gr + 221gr = 12 354gr

Balance: 7957gr more OUT than in

Costs: $436.34

Sweet Things

 I haven't gotten to knit baby items in the past few years, but things are changing...as long as my kids give me enough notice!  Lucy requested an item for her boyfriend's brother's wife's baby shower coming up. It was a great opportunity to go through  my pattern books and vintage booklets. Lucy felt something classic was the best choice. I ended up using a free pattern on Ravelry for the sweater; Garter Yoke Baby Cardi. I used some vintage Pinquoin "Confortable DK" in a cream, and leftover Debbie Bliss "Baby Cashmerino" for the trim.

The bear is another Bill & Ben Twin Bears (link to a corrected, easier to use, pattern HERE).

The hat (bonnet) is from "Beehive for Bairns" (#505), Special Anniversary Edition. It's in the very first set in the booklet. I thought it was a bonnet, as it was called, but it's more of a toque with a chin strap. I altered it a bit because I wanted garter stitch as the trim, and I added the i-cord bindoff to match the sweater. I also made chin ties instead of a button strap.

Buttons came out of my collection; I have no idea where or when they're from. 

I actually did the button loop side twice. I had finished it, woven in some of the ends, and I just wasn't happy. It was pulling and the yoke didn't line up. I could see that my gauge on the i-cord had gotten significantly tighter. So I pulled out that side and re-did it, lining up the loops better too. Much happier.

I also altered that pattern so the i-cord went all the way around the sweater. 

What a sweet little outfit for a new baby. I love making tiny things!

Yarn In:   4397gr

Yarn Out:  11,969gr + 164gr = 12,133gr

Balance: 7736gr more OUT than in

Costs: $436.34

The Last Red Scarf?

 I needed a purse project quickly one day. So, a red scarf got on the needles. 

I used the same size needles as the previous one, and a 2x2 rib. For some reason, I really struggle with a 2x2 rib!

The needles were perhaps a little too small. The resulting rib was more sculptural than I expected!

The yarn was from Dollar Tree or Dollarama. It feels very soft! I would definitely NOT make mittens with it though!

It weighed in at 107gr, which means a little more than 2 balls. This was all I had left and it was a touch on the short side.

Yarn In:   4397gr

Yarn Out:  11,862gr + 107gr = 11,969gr

Balance: 7572gr more OUT than in

Costs: $436.34

Pass The Pumpkin (or, a Significant Case of Startitis)

 I usually limit how many projects I have on the go at once. One or two portable, easy projects to take anywhere, and 1 or 2 more complex projects. Recently, I saw a video where a woman was saying it brings her joy to have a lot of WIP to choose from. Some people find it stressful, but not her. 

I decided that I was cast on/start a few more things! October is pumpkin season in the music room, and I needed more pumpkins! I gathered up every little bit of orange yarn that I could find in my stash, and got to work. I crocheted a rectangle, using HDC in the back loop to give a vertical pattern (once seamed, it's vertical). 

Then I got creative and added some short rows.

When I was securing the ends inside, sometimes I'd pull them tight and knot together, to create a little dimple. I wasn't looking for perfection, or identical!

I did go and buy two balls of yarn. One chunky, Loops & Threads "Charisma" which I used entirely, and one "Impeccable" which I did not finish.  I spent $13.91, and the two weighed 327gr together.

Yarn In:   327gr + 4,070gr = 4397gr

Yarn Out:  11528gr + 334gr = 11,862gr

Balance: 7465gr more OUT than in

Costs: $422.43 + $13.91 = $436.34

Red Scarf Again

 Yes, another red scarf for World AIDS Day. I did this one a little differently. It's a 2x2 rib and I went up a needle size or two. 

It might not be exactly 6"x60", but it's close. I hope it just blends in with all the other red scarves and no one notices. 

I'm pretty sure that's the last of the red yarn I got from unravelling a sweater from the thrift store. This one weighed 69gr.  I also sold 300gr of yarn I bought many, many years ago...before I even started blogging. From back when elann.com was around. I've been reorganizing my crafting space and storage and hopefully the area is getting finished this winter. 

Yarn In:   4,070gr

Yarn Out:  11,159gr + 69gr + 300gr = 11528gr

Balance:  7458gr more OUT than in

Costs: $243.78 + $178.65  = $422.43

Never Again?

 The community charity knitting/crochet group sent out an urgent plea. The Cancer Care centre needed new blankets. They needed to be 45" by 55". No problem! I can crochet one up quickly, right?

No.

45"x55" is huge. 

When I used to make blankets for seniors, I don't think they were that big. 

I knew immediately what yarn to use.  Two years ago I made one of those sweater/scarf/shrug type things and wasn't overly happy. Despite the recommendation to not make it shorter than the pattern said, I did (I'm short, I thought it'd be okay). This made it a little hard for some of the looks, and too much for other options. That item weighed 550gr. I can't count that in this project because I already counted it 2 years ago. However, this blanket also took 300gr of the second ball that I had bought, and I can count that!

Corner to Corner, a row of single crochets around the edge. Total weight, 850gr! Almost 2 pounds!

I missed the original deadline, but they continuously accept these.

I really believe that when you possess a skill or talent that can bless others, you are obligated to do so. Our lives become more blessed by giving of ourselves. 

Yarn In:   4,070gr

Yarn Out:  10, 859gr + 300gr = 11,159gr

Balance:  7089gr more OUT than in

Costs: $243.78 + $178.65  = $422.43

I'm Amazed!

 On my YouTube channel, I've been talking a lot about designing or altering patterns to fit my body specifics.  I've been on a crochet tank top kick this summer and although I've collected quite a few free patterns, but none seem to work with the yarn I want to use. So I put my money where my mouth is, and just designed my own. 

The lower body is easy enough. Body circumference (plus or minus ease) times stitches per inch. Length until underarm split. 

But then I stalled. I was on a road trip. I did the math for the front vs the back (unless you are totally flat, or maybe an A or B cup, don't split evenly), and continued on but due to the nature of our road trip, I couldn't get my head around the armhole shaping and when to do the neck. So I waited until I got home and could really focus. 

The armhole shaping was really winging it. I knew only the depth for certain. So I'm amazed at how well it turned out! It weighs 277gr. I have over 500gr left of this yarn.

I bought the yarn in 2005 it seems! I wonder if that tank top is kicking around somewhere. 

Does my bust look huge in the video? LOL. Is it the higher neckline? The lack of disguising pattern? The slight negative ease? I know I put on 5lb while on vacation, but my bust (and most of me)  is definitely smaller than it was last summer. 

I don't usually combine posts, but I just wanted to add about a little sweater that is finally finding a new home. Lucy's BFF (they met in grade 2) had a baby this past spring, and lives all the way in Halifax now. Lucy and her other housemate from their university days are going to go meet the baby, so I felt that I should really send a little something. 

I found this sweater in my bin. It just needed 3 buttons, but I had been trying for years to make a matching hat or bootees with the left over yarn (Very vintage Patons "Astra"), but it just wasn't enough. So Lucy picked out three buttons, I got them sewed on, and it will get crammed into her "personal" bag for the flight (she bought the cheapest ticket LOL). It weighs 144gr.

It's such an adorable, classic sweater. From an ancient Patons book, and apparently other sources (I don't think I have either the hat or the bonnet!) Check out this listing on Ravelry for some details about where it's available and the changes to each version.

A natural yarn would allow that lace to really open up. It's such a sweet pattern, and still looks modern. A true classic. 

Yarn In:   4,070gr

Yarn Out:  10,438gr + 277gr + 144gr = 10, 859

Balance:  6789gr more OUT than in

Costs: $243.78 + $178.65  = $422.43

Whoa. Look at that balance. 6789gr. I had to check the math on that one LOL!