Tag Archives: yarn

January Mittens

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Last spring I started walking around our neighborhood with a few other friends/women. One dropped out due to health issues, one spends her winters in Florida, and one is still walking with me…weather permitting. We don’t walk when it’s raining, snowing, or sleeting. And we haven’t walked together since mid-December. I walked by myself during the second half of the month as my walking buddy was not able to due to prior commitments, doctor appointments, and family concerns.

WB (walking buddy) doesn’t have near the natural insulation (aka fat) that I do so she’s chilled rather easily.

I started knitting these January Mittens by Hanna Leväniemi last month which will keep WB’s hands warmer than gloves.

I am almost finished with the thumb and top shaping left to do on mitten #2

Though the pattern is designed for a child, my Fairisle knitting is looser so it should fit her hands fairly well. It fits my hand!

I’m using worsted weight yarns: Lion Brand Wool-Ease in Oxford and Caron Simply Soft in Ivory. It’s slow going as the US #2.5 (3mm) circular needles are too small for a worsted weight yarn and the stitches are crowded, however, the fabric is extremely dense which should keep one’s hands extremely warm.

An FO will be happening the next day or so!

Patti

0-Finish in 2 hours

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Mr. Aitch and I don’t have “real” tv. We watch shows on Amazon Prime, Brit Box, Peacock, and a few other apps.

Monday evening I started and finished another scrubbie in less than two hours while watching some shows. It would have taken less time if I didn’t have to change colors partway in the row.

Scrubbie in Scrubby Sparkle. Blueberry and avacado.

Red Heart Scrubby Sparkle in Blueberry and Avacado.

My second FO (finished object) in 2022. The first is half of a pair of socks that I didn’t have time (aka I forgot) to photograph.

I also have the second sock of the above-mentioned pair on my needles and just started the heel flap. More FOs and WIPs coming up soon!

Any FOs to report? Or WIPs? Or just thinking-of-casting-ons?

Patti

Wild Bees

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I finished the third sock in the Handmade Sock Society with yarn that I dyed in the Crockpot.

The name “Wild Bees” is the perfect name. The lacy pattern looks like bees and the yarn color reminds me of honey. I think they turned out great. I just have to weave in the ends.

Details

    67 grams of yarn
    US #1 (2.25 mm) needle
    Began March 31, 2021, finished April 20, 2021
    Size medium
The 33 grams of yarn leftover will plenty for at least a contrast for another project.

Unfortunately the socks are too snug for my foot. But one of the twins has narrower feet and will be able to wear them. Now all I have to do is knit a pair of socks for the other twin…

Patti

I dyed

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Helen Stewart released the third pattern in the fourth season on the Handmade Sock Society early and that’s OK with me. This is called Wild Bees Socks. The stitch pattern looks like bees and she chose a honey color of yarn.

I’m trying to use stash yarn for as many projects as I can but I didn’t have any color that would work. So I decided to dye a hank of Knit Picks Stroll Bare yarn in a Crockpot/slow cooker using food coloring and Easter egg dye. I’ve tried the microwave method before with great success, however, Mr. Aitch doesn’t like the smell of hot wool and vinegar thus the Crockpot technique. On the deck. Because it was a warm, sunny day.

I didn’t take any pictures of the dyeing process but I added water and vinegar with the yarn and turned it on high. My Crockpot is a small one (3 1/5 quarts) so I only had room for one skein. I added the dye (in three, four, or maybe five batches) while the water was hot. The yarn grabbed the dye as soon as it hit the water.

I got some great golden-yellow tonal yarn. Exactly what I wanted.

You can see the various tints, shades, and hues ranging from pale yellow to golden yellow to pale apricot and a bit of brownish yellow.

I couldn’t wait for the yarn to dry to cast-on this sock pattern.

Here are two repeats of the pattern already. Blocking will be key to this pattern to even out the yarn-overs so the “bees” stand out more.

I love how the plain back shows off all the tones of the yarn.

I think I have 15-20 more skeins of yarn I could dye. So many options. Plus Easter egg dyes should be on sale after Sunday! That’s a great time to snag some great deals on non-toxic dyes.

Have you dyed before?

Patti