Hexipuffs

Another project for the never ending sock yarn leftovers which has been in progress for a couple of years but I dug out the bag of hexipuffs determined to knit more...



 
See? This is what I accomplished in a week. Not a lot but it's something. When I have time, I knit a hexipuff which I hope to have enough to sew together for some seat cushions for the kitchen. In theory, I think it will be awesome and great looking, plus functional for the hard seats. Then reality sets in and I think of how easy will it be to clean, etc.

But I will press forth since the original pattern is a blanket so I always have that to fall back on. Just add another 5 years before that will be done. That's why I decided on seat cushions in the first place.

 

I'm Back

Sorry for being out of it but I'm back and focusing on some projects.

There are so many things I want to do and not enough time or I need time to prepare/plan/execute but I will get to them.




I can't remember if I posted my small lap blanket knit from scraps. I used the seemless neverending supply of worsted weight yarn to knit a colorful blanket. Well, this blanket attracts the cats like catnip and to be honest, it's fine with me since I wanted them to have their own blanket so they hopefully leave my nice squish blanket alone (it's wrapped up away from the cats).

So I just put the blanket on top of a beach towel, tucked the ends underneath forming a cat bed. They love it! Phil is the usual occupant of the bed but I do see Shadow on it a couple of times. 




Above is proof that Shadow still exists. That mangled knit ball has been a fave of the cats since we adopted them. I keep patching it up and they keep tearing away at it.






Here is the entire blanket minus cats. The pattern is called Chasing Rainbows on Ravelry and it's free. My version is definitely scrappy and random. The original version has stripes about 8 rounds each but I just kept knitting and adding yarn when I ran out. A wonderful stash & scrap buster.

Speaking of stash, I was searching in my vast yarn cupboard/closet looking for another project and I was sort of stunned (for a second) at my worsted weight stash. Um, I think it'll be year of the hat and blankets this year if my wrist holds up. 

Garter Squish blanket

Warning! This will be a long term project. I began this project December 5, 2015 and this is a super, mindless knit intended to use up my leftover sock yarn bits that I've had forever (it seems) and the sock yarn that has just lingered far too long in my yarn cupboard. I have some KP Palette fingering yarn that I chose way back when I picked the needles again and had no clue how to select the proper yarn. 

The original pattern calls for 2 strands of worsted weight to get a nice bulky weight yarn but I didn't really see a need for such a heavy blanket. The nice thing about blankets is that it is usually easily adjusted. Thus, I will be using 2 strands of fingering weight (which = worsted weight).




This is my starting point. I keep adding to the mix with entire skeins to blend with the little bobbles of leftovers. 

I'm intending to knit a lap/sofa type blanket approx. 3 x 5 feet. We shall see...




Here is the very beginning, as you can see I chose 2 different yarns with similar complimentary palettes. One is self striping and the other has long color shifts so it will have a pretty effect.




Then I begin adding another color when I run out. I chose some significantly brighter.




I'm sure some knitters/people in general will be horrified at the randomness of it all since I don't have a color scheme in mind. I rather like it. I was rummaging in my yarn stash and found the same self striping yarn that I used at the start so I can finish off with it for some balance. 




This was taken a few days ago. It measured 2 x 3 feet. The width is perfect to cover me when I sit on the sofa but I want it much longer...

My scraps in the plastic bag is dwindling down so I'm in the process of adding more. Also this blanket has encouraged me to knit some socks to acquire more leftovers. Win-win. This may be a major factor in completing my blanket since that may take some time. 




Hopefully I will have made significant progress when I report next month...

Show and Tell

I have some pretty knits to show off today. Actually some have been done for a while but I've taken photos now so I can share.

We had a heat wave 2 weeks back which sucked the life out of everyone and now we are to our usual May gray/June gloom. I like the cool weather, personally.

Okay, here are my Smaug socks which I may have shown off before but I took a couple more photos of me wearing them which displays the stitches off better. Yes, the socks are really bright and my legs are even brighter.

These are kind of snug on me so I will gift them to my niece who is graduating high school and going off to school in Chicago where she will need some more warm accessories. 

Another pair of socks that are plain vanilla socks because look at how crazy colorful/bright the yarn is. Lots of knitters refer to this kind of colorful yarn as clown barf. Descriptive, isn't it? With all the socks I knit with intricate patterns/textures, I do love me some plain socks. A ribbed leg for lots of stretch will fit a variety of people.

These are just a tad long for me so I will gift them to a dear friend. I know she will appreciate the wild colors.

I also finally finished a baby blanket. I targeted the future dad since he is a USC grad and he can avoid the typical cutsey factor. This can be very tedious and hard for me to complete but I gave myself enough time and slogged along. The finished result is great so if I do attempt another blanket, this pattern is the perfect  one to use up those leftovers I save up. I'm sure I can find another pregnant friend somewhere.


Last, but not least are some cute coasters. The pattern is called Drip Coasters (free on Rav) and another great way to use up leftovers; this time with sock yarn.



  I think these will a nice end of the year gift to Joshua's teacher. 

November catching up

Getting through another hectic and emotional week just in time for the holidays so hold on to your hats.

Tyler made honor roll again and last year because of scheduling I was never able to see him receive his award but for 7th grade the time slot would work out perfectly. Well, that's what I get for assuming because the school changed the times again and I would have to do some quick driving back in forth to make it. I had to drop off Tyler first so he would there for the ceremony, drive Josh to school at 8:30am then drive back to catch what I could of the ceremony.


I walked into the cafeteria to see him already standing on stage so I was able to take a few photos. Also in addition to this hectic morning, we had to bring in Tyler's science project and his potluck dessert of mini pumpkin cupcakes. He thought he would be able to drop them off in the classroom but the teachers are in their in-service meetings Tuesday mornings. Ugh. Luckily, he found his friend G to watch over it during this time. :) Phew.


I have been knitting but not as much as I like but here is the latest. I finished the Apple Core blanket which can be used for a small lap throw (believe me, I used it for this purpose while stitching it all together) or a baby carrier blanket that can convert to a security blanket. I only took one photo so I definitely need to have another photo shoot with it. It took me about 1.5 days to get the I-cord edge on there and I really like it. I can't imagine how long it would take if this was a bigger blanket.

My November MOCK (mystery sock) with the challenge as Texture. A side story with this particular yarn because it's one of the earlier sock yarns I purchased way back when so the ball band is long lost so it is really a mystery yarn.

Next this yarn is fickle...I really like to find the perfect pattern for the yarn (for the most part) and this yarn has been started, frogged and restarted numerous times.  It's very thin and when knitted up, it doesn't feel very good. Very rough and scratchy.

So this yarn has been without a purpose until this month I noticed the mystery socks were named Moody stockings ( more after Mad Eye Moody vs. being moody like me) but I thought it was perfect because this yarn is definitely moody like me and I will finish these socks with this yarn. I guess I will keep them for myself just because I went through so much trouble to even find the right pattern but they'll be a reminder of their moodiness.



Look, even the color conveys moodiness but dang it, I don't like knitting with it.



Here are the socks somewhere around Clue 1 (Clue 3 was just released) so I have some knitting to do.
The texture made with the knits and purls are hard to see but like I said before...these WILL be knitted.

Watch, when I complete them they'll turn out to be my absolute favorite pair of handknit socks. Some hair conditioner should soften them up...