Where Are They Now? The Isle of Misfit FO's

This baby blanket was knit with love. The pattern, colors, yarn and fabric were thoughtfully chosen for a baby boy I adore. The baby's mama is the person who taught me how to knit. My intention was to gift the perfect handmade blanket to show how much appreciation and love I have towards their family.



Now that the blanket is finished . . . I hate this blanket.



This blanket has been frogged twice. The cotton yarn for this blanket had knots in bad locations. The lining had to be ripped out and re-sewn. This finished object represents all my knitting failures rolled in one.



This blanket has been placed in a box. Out of sight and out of mind.
I have not given this blanket to the family yet, because I can't stand to look at the blanket long enough to gift wrap.



I know I sound unreasonable. The blanket looks fine.
But did you ever have a project not go well from the start?
Did you ever have a work in progress cursed with bad knitting juju?
For me, this blanket is it.



Here lies the blanket. Banished to the TV stand where it goes unnoticed.



2KCBWDAY4

Tidy Mind, Tidy Stitches: Yarn Stash Confidential

This is a view of my yarn stash as it sits in a box on my craft shelf. The shelf holds books, patterns, hooks, needles, fabric and a few Japanese anime icons. I am a monogamous knitter who buys yarn with specific projects in mind (except the yellow Malabrigo). My yarn stash is modest, but on the pricey side. Malabrigo ruined me for any other yarns.
The shelf, a gift from my DH, is a vintage stainless steel bookcase with glass doors. The glass doors protect the yarn stash from dust and from my kiddo's grubby hands.
I am organized to the extent that I can usually find what I am looking for (e.g., loose pattern, "K" crochet hook, old issue of Knitscene magazine). Knitting helps me relax during times when life is chaotic and disorganized.



Detail of a sock knitter's library.



Box o' yarn



The yarn porn explained . . .



Top row L-R: blue Mirasol Hacho, brown Shibui Sock, pink Shibui Sock, orange Koigu KPPPM, multi Cherry Tree Hill Supersock, amoroso Malabrigo Silky Merino, snow bird Malabrigo Worsted

Bottom row: blue-purple Handmaiden Casbah Sock, gray Handmaiden Casbah Sock, blue-green Handmaiden Casbah Sock, peacock Cascade Heritage Sock, red Cascade Heritage Sock, red Dream in Color Smooshy, yellow Malabrigo Worsted, orange Malabrigo Worsted



2KCBWDAY3

Skill + 1Up: The Year of Magic Loop Knitting

There is a baby boom happening around me. My friends and family are having babies faster than I can knit. I needed a baby gift - yesterday. After deciding on a pattern for infant socks, I soon realized tiny socks on dpns did not work for me. I already owned a set of Hiya Hiya Interchangeable Needles, and thanks to this YouTube tutorial by verypinkknits, I embarked on my first Magic Loop project.



After frogging my failed attempts, somehow, unbeknownst to me . . .


I ended up with an infant sock.


Now, I happily knit in the round using the Magic Loop technique. If I get stuck, I refer to The Magic Loop booklet by Sarah Hauschka and Bev Galeskas (ISBN 1933398000). The Magic Loop has instructions for both top-down and toe-up socks.
These days I have Patons Kroy Jacquard socks on the circs, a request from my teen daughter. But I'd better finish soon because I need to cast on for another overdue baby gift.




2KCBWDAY2

A Tale of Two Yarns: Favorite Sock Yarns

As a new knitter; socks were my Everest.
Knitting socks looked complicated and overwhelming. I admired sock knitters and viewed them as the Yodas of the knitting world. When I finally managed to finish my first sock (single sock and not a pair), I kept knitting socks for fear that I would forget how to knit socks.
I love socks because they are small, portable, practical and unique. And there are many yummy sock yarns to tempt my addiction.
I have knit with Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino, Dream in Color Smooshy, Handmaiden Casbah, Koigu Painters Palette Premium Merino, Lion Brand Sock-Ease, Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock, Pagewood Farm Denali and Shibui.

Recently, I have fallen in love with two inexpensive and dependable sock yarns.


The first is Cascade Heritage Sock. This springy sock yarn costs $12 solids per skein ($17 for variegated paints) and has a generous 437 yards/100 grams.
The 4 ply fingering weight Heritage is 75% Superwash Merino/25% nylon. My Heritage socks have held up to many washes and maintained color integrity. Cascade is famous for their 220 wool yarn but have done sock knitters proud with Heritage. Heritage is a true pleasure to knit and I hope more knitters discover and request Heritage at their LYS.


My second favorite is Patons Kroy Socks. This cheap, dependable yarn ($1.99 solids/$2.49 jacquards) is a steal and a pleasant surprise. If you use your 40% off coupon from Joann or Michaels then this yarn really is a steal. Knitting a pair of socks requires 2 balls of Patons Kroy Socks at 166 yards and 50 grams each (still cheap). Kroy Socks is a machine washable, 4 ply, fingering weight yarn (75% wool/25% nylon). It is easy on the hands, but a tiny bit splitty. I did have one ball with 2 knots, but that was the extent of my discontent. The price point and quality override any minor complaints. The next two projects in my queue will be knit with Patons Kroy Socks. If you have a Joann or Michaels nearby, try Patons Kroy Socks and let me know what you think. Patons Kroy Socks gets a huge endorsement from this knitter who has knit with the likes of Casbah and Shibui.


2KCBWDAY1

Neglected Blog

Thank you to my six subscribers who have been hanging in there while I've neglected my blog. I've been busy with work, kids and life in general. Unfortunately, I haven't had a lot of quiet mommy time and my blog posts have fallen off.
The 2nd Annual Knitting & Crochet Blog Week 2011 will run March 28th through April 3rd. I plan to use this event as inspiration to get my blogging mojo back. If you are a knitter or crocheter please consider blogging about your fiber arts passion. I would love to read about what you have on your hooks and needles.