the colors of tahoe

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We spent the last part of June on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe.  June just happens to be one of my favorite times there.  The air is crisp in the mornings and the evenings.  The afternoons are warm but not too warm.  The colors are vibrant.  And, the crowds are low! 
I finished my Free Style Tee (photos coming soon!) and Easy Ruffle Socks while there.  The hat I packed was my Oslo hat.  I thought it would be perfect for early morning hikes and swims.  (The water is 57°, too cold for me to swim for exercise but still cold enough for cold plunging. )

I waited until the last morning to snap some photos and was so very grateful that Liesl agreed to wake at 7am to be my model.  
Pattern:  Ultra Easy Ruffle Socks by Easy as Knit
Yarn: Artisan Yarns Sockpaca Fingering Weight held double (wool, alpaca, nylon)
Needle: US5/ 3.75mm
Size: M  Cast on 40 sts
Mods:  none
Pattern:  Oslo Hat
Yarn:  Rico Socks neon, color 005 held with Rico Essentials, color 062
Needle:  Us 3/3.5mm
Size: Cast on 108st 
Mods: none
I did not plan to match the colors of Tahoe.  But was so pleased while looking at my camera roll and noticing the colors of my knits matched the scenery.  

creeping fig boxy pullover

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First off... I can't believe that today is Libby's 24th Birthday!  TWENTY FOUR?!!!!  How can that be?  Wasn't she just four?!!!  And wasn't I just 24?!!!

And, I know, I know, this isn't much of a boxy sweater as the name suggests. And, I absolutely fell in love with this sweater because of its boxiness and that is the beauty of the Creeping Fig BOXY Pullover.  However, while I was knitting it, I decided my wardrobe had a lot of boxy already.


It didn't really dawn on me until I was envisioning wearing this and the look I wanted to achieve and that is when I decided to take out the "box".  I suppose that is how ideas come to life.  

This truly was a joy to knit with the squishiest yarn.  There was a lot of "play" in the fibers so the actual fit wasn't achieved until I blocked this sweater.    

I absolutely adore the cable detail along the raglan.  Just enough detail to make it extra special.  
And this yarn feels dreamy on my skin.  No scratch at all!  
I can only imagine that this will now be on continuous rotation in my closet. 
Always up near the top of the pile!

BTW... I had the pleasure of meeting Beth MacDonald Stone at Rhinebeck.  More on that soon!  

Needle:  US size 7 and 8
Size:  S

Thoughts and Modifications:

I bought this as a kit and joined a knitalong hosted by the girls at Knitting Posse. (Love them!)

It was such a fun knit with a combination of the sweater I like to knit; a little bit of detail to keep things interesting with some cruise control knitting thrown in.

I did make some modifications while I was knitting and pondering what I wanted to add to my wardrobe.  

After reading other reviews, I decided to go up a needle size for the neck.  So, I used a size 7 needles for all of the ribbing (AND DID A TWISTED RIB) and a size 8 needle for the sleeves and body.

I cast on 76 stitches (instead of 64) to make a slightly bigger neck and after the completion of the ribbing, decreased 12 stitches around on last row.  Then I followed the size 1 directions until the split at the underarms.

Instead of the increases to make the sweater boxy, I decided to make a more fitted sweater.  I bound off at raglan by k2tog, Bind off, K2tog, BInd off (6X)  178 stitches remainded and I joined to work in the round.  

For the sleeves, I decreased 10 stitches.  (40 st) and knit straight until 5 inches before the total length I wanted, then knit in twisted rib for 5".  

pop-life no. 4

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Yep. I love a Pop-Life Cardigan!
My final (for the time being) Pop-Life Cardigan was finished for my niece.  I hope she loves it as much as me.  
I have a new video up over on YouTube if you are interested in hearing me talk about it.  (Wearing Dirty Denim.)  
It truly is a quick knit and a very versatile sweater to wear.  

Wearing Reclaimed Blue.  Hanging from my hand on the left is Dirty Denim.  Two on my right are Washed Out Denim.  
Needles:  US 8/ US 11
Size:  I finally heard back from Wool and the Gang.  I purchased this pattern when it was a OneSize pattern.  They currently have 6 sizes.  The size I am wearing is equivalent to the Size 2.

Modifications and Helpful Tips:
• Use bamboo needles.
• This size takes 5 balls of Billie Jean cotton.
• If the yarn is twisted too tightly, re roll it by hand into a ball.  This helps take out the twist and makes the yarn much softer! 
FRONT:
• Knit the fronts and the sleeves simultaneously.
• To achieve this length, knit 18 rows of rib and then knit 62 rows for the fronts before the neck increases.
BACK:
• Knit the back in one piece by joining the fronts after you cast on the stitches for the neck.
• To achieve this length for back, knit 68 more rows (including the increase for neck rows) for a total of 130 rows and then knit the 18 rows of rib on back piece.
SLEEVES:
• Knit the sleeves simultaneously.
• Sleeves are NOT knit in reverse stockinette.
• Knit rib on sleeves for 18 rows.  Then knit 40 rows before binding off.  The increases end after 56 stitches omitting 2 of the increase for a total of 4 stitches.
FRONT BAND:
• Front band is 200 stitches by picking up 1 stitch in every row.
• When binding off band, decrease by knitting 2 together along neck edge while binding off.  (Neck edge = where you cast on the 12 stitches along neck.
FINISHING:
• Fold your sweater to match the front rib to the bottom rib and seam the ribs together at the sides. 
• Continue up side seam for a few inches. 
• Fold sleeve together and match the center stitch of sleeve to the center stitch of shoulder.  Start here seaming sleeve to body of sweater.

simple stripes sweater

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I know some people that don't like stripes. However, I am in the other camp and I LOVE stripes!  And knitting stripes couldn't be more fun because you never get bored.  The next stripe is right around the corner!   

I originally fell in love with Andrea Mowrey's sweater called STRIPES! I bought the pattern and knew at some point I would make that sweater.  It was in my queue and on my mind.  Then, Gina (from SkeinCocaine) posted her striped sweater and I instantly knew I loved her color choice.  I headed to her site to purchase the mini's that she perfectly named the Perfect Pallet.  Thank goodness I talked about making a striped sweater on my Podcast, and thank goodness Gina was watching and left me a message explaining that I should make the Simple Stripes Sweater by Suviknits not the STRIPES! sweater.  The Simple Stripes sweater calls for fingering weight yarn which is the weight of the Perfect Pallet minis.  The Stripes sweater calls for a sport weight yarn.   She sure saved me a lot of time and headaches not having to adjust the gauge.   

After seeing the Simple Stripes pattern, I realized this style is a little better for my body.  It's a little less boxy and a little longer.  I also love this neckline.  
I knit 13 rounds in each color for the body, but didn't have enough yarn to knit 13 rounds per sleeve, so I knit 10 rounds instead.  I'm not that fussy so that is not a bother for me, but I do know that may really bother someone else!   It also made my sleeves shorter.  I adore 3/4 sleeves so this was perfect.  

 Pattern:  Simple Stripes by SuviKnits
Yarn:  Perfect Pallet Minis by SkeinCocaine
Needles:  US 4
Size: M 

toast

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The knit I love to wear the most is hands down (Ha! Hands down, get it?!) TOAST mitts. Well, don't get me wrong... sweaters are my number one knit. However, the most worn knit I wear is TOAST.
I throw them on in the morning when the house is cold and dark and I stumble to the coffee maker.  They are a great addition to my jammies.  
I throw them on when I'm wearing a t-shirt or a sweater and need just an extra something to warm my body.
I throw them on with a coat to pull over my fingers when I'm walking or driving.  They add a little extra when the steering wheel is too cold.  
There truly isn't a time I don't wear them.  
I must take them on and off a half a dozen times in one day.  
And they are that easy to wear.  Pull down, push up, take off! 
The yarn I used in my latest batch of TOAST was from my November Knitcrate.  I was thrilled when my box arrived knowing immediately that the yarn inside must be TOAST mitts. (That's the beauty of having stash!)  I knew they would be a tiny bit short of the 11" that the pattern calls for, but that would be fine.  These measure almost 10".  To make sure I would have the same amount per mitt, I used my kitchen scale.  Everyone always talks about using their scale, so I finally felt like one of the cool kids on the block.  I loved the yarn and color so much, I snagged an extra skein of each for another pair to gift.  
Yarn:  Vidalana Ambiant Worsted.  !00% Peruvian Highland Wool.  100 yards/50 grams
Color:  Titan
Color: Michelangelo
Color:  Vanezia
Color:  Fresco

As always, if you are interested in a KnitCrate Subscription you can receive 20% off your first crate by using code FKW20 at checkout.  
Yarn at my doorstep never looked so good!  

these ankle socks!

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Okay, friends.  These ankle socks are my new favorite!  I was drawn to them because it calls for worsted weight yarn.  And because I thought it would be a great sock to wear with boots.  I'm not a fan of pulling a sock up over my jean before I put on my boots.  So, I thought these would be a great solution.  Also, using a size 5 needle, along with an inexpensive machine washable and dryable yarn?  IN!
When I started them, they were for me.  However, I have since then thought of the perfect person to gift them to.  You can probably whip up a pair before Christmas.  I promise!  They go fast.  Go get some yarn today! (It's on sale!) I'll be casting on this weekend for another pair.  Going to do the toe, heel and ribbing in a contrasting color.

Pattern:  Home Ankle Socks
Yarn:  Lion Brand Wool-Ease 1 ball
Needles:  Size 5 double points