Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This? Festive Edition

I've got the perfect little number for a calm night of festivities at home with friends.

Happy New Year!

Whoops. I knit another Helix hat. I didn't mean to but my other project was all the way upstairs. #helixstripes4eva #rosekimknits

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Thursday Is for What the Hell IsThis? Christmas Edition

Merry Christmas to all. Keep it classy!

I haven't figured out my next project yet but it won't be a Helix hat. #rosekimknits

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Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This

Fashion for spring in one word: Fluffy.

Makeup for spring in one word: Sickly.

Spring is going to be awesome.

Lambing Mittens

Pattern: Lambing Mittens by Veronika Jobe

Yarn: Cascade Pastaza, every last bit of one skein

Needles: US7 Clover Takumi DPNs

Notes: I knit these as written until I realized that I did not have quite enough yarn. I ended up ripping out a few garter ridges for the foldover on the first mitt to complete the second. These will be a gift for a co-worker who keeps telling me that the coffee cozy I gave him also works as a hand warmer. I think a full pair is in order.

Georgetown

Pattern: Georgetown by Laura Aylor
Yarn: Noro Kureyon and Cascade 220
Needles: Addi Turbo US8
Notes: I used a larger needle than called for because I thought it would feel too stiff on a US6. I also made mine a little shorted and sewed the ends together to make a cowl. This is a great stashbuster and so simple to knit. And there's no purling, if that's a bonus for you.

Bella's Mittens

Pattern: Bella's Mittens
Yarn: Schulana Cortina
Needles: Addi Turbo US8
Notes: My co-workers have begun to drop not very subtle hints about knitted things they may enjoy. My Store Director whipped out her phone one day and started showing me a pair of mittens she had that her dog ate that looked a lot like this pattern. She didn't outright ask me to make them but it's the holidays and all.
I didn't love knitting these. The large cables on such a big yarn and not-so-big needle made this a bit of a chore. But a very quick chore!

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

"Is this outfit too busy?"
 


"Um." he replied, trying to be diplomatic, "Well, dear, maybe the print is a bit much."

"Ah, yes. Much better."

Twelve Year Blogiversary

Wow. Twelve years. That seems...crazy.
I know I haven't been the most attentive blogger lately. I still feel pretty new at my job despite being there six months. I'm still adjusting to work 40 versus 28 each week. But I am still knitting. And still blogging!
Thank you all so much for coming and reading all these many years. It means so much to me.

One of these is a USB external battery and one of these is a travel makeup brush. Guess which one I brought to knitting last night to power my portable lamp? #rosekimknits # twinsies

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Had the day off. Knit a hat. #rosekimknits #helixstripes4eva

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It appears that Isabella is also a big fan of Buxom's Full-On Lipstick. So long, Barcelona. You were my favorite. #rosekimknits

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Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This? Thanksgiving Editiion

Happy Thanksgiving to all my wonderful readers!

Finished my cowl while finishing Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter. #rosekimknits

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Our old lady is getting gray around the eyes now. #rosekimknits #neighborhoodwatch

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Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

Fit and proportion are the hallmarks of great clothing.

And spikes! Got to have giant spikes.

Don't worry, fellas. We've got you covered too.

I am not knitting a hat. WHAT?! #rosekimknits

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Yesterday's hat has ALL the colors. #helixstripes4eva #rosekimknits

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Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

Well, hello Doily.

New marled Helix hat. When will I get bored of making these?#helixstripes4eva #rosekimknits

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Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

Architecture as clothes?

Capitol [sic] idea!

Two days of the stash sale and I can just barely see my bed. #rosekimknits

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Best gift ever from @truespark13 and @jitteryknitter. #rosekimknits

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An hour and a half in and I've already but the stash sale pretty hard. #rosekimknits

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Latest Helix hat finished on the ferry on the way to my fall knitting retreat. #rosekimknits

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Knit a piece of candy for Monday's #sephoraween. As one does. Pattern by @pdxknitterati. #rosekimknits

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Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

Paper fashion is a thing, apparently? I appreciate the artistry and the sculptural quality but they don't seem to relate to the human body. 

Even more so when you see them in motion.

Yesterday's X-ing Xs in Lamb's Pride. Haven't decided how to decorate the flap. #rosekimknits

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Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

(Sorry for the late post. Insert usual excuses here.)

This week's post is all about preserving personal space. It's a hustle-bustle, cram-packed world and sometimes you just need to preserve a few feet to maintain your sanity.

And sometimes you can go a bit too far.

Fortunately these ensembles work as both a physical and psychological barrier.

Crock Full o'Dye

I fired up my dye pot (aka very yucky old crockpot I bought at a thrift store for a few dollars years ago) to overdye some yarn. A friend had to give up spinning and knitting in the last few years due to arthritis. I took home lots of her handspun this fall and recently "adopted" another load of it. We do not have the same color sense. At all.

So I grouped her skeins and did three batches of dyeing. The skeins were all different. They are different weights and different fibers. I just grouped them by color. The orange-yellows and oranges were overdyed with a mix of Cherry and Black. (I did a full blog post about overdyeing last April.) I am extraordinarily unscientific about dyeing. I slosh and glug dye over yarn until I like it.

Yellows and greens went to maroon.



Dusty pinks and lilacs went to deeper purples after being dyed with Violet and Black.



And a a straggling vivid yellow skein and an undyed skein (both commercial yarns) went into a pot along with a blue skein. I just used some Cyan and Black.



I think these three skeins really show you what overdyeing can do. All three went into the same dye.

Now I need to decide how to use all these many small skeins in different weights, fibers and colors. I'm considering weaving with them but, you know me, I'll probably change my mind.

Behold the power of over-dyeing. #rosekimknits #handdyed #handspunstagram #handspun

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Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

I'm sure there's a story behind this design.

I think it might involve a girl and a bowl of porridge?

Handspun Single Skein September Wrap Up

So many misfires!
This year Single Skein September was not my friend. I detailed a few of the oops moments from the first two weeks in this post. Then, woof, it kept going downhill.
I made this fun garter hat. No issues there. Came out great and used every last bit of the yarn. A win.

Then I decided to just cast on a bunch of stitches and knit a reversible pattern for a cowl. I used a chevron stitch chart from Up, Down, All-Around Stitch Dictionary. Except I twisted the cast on and didn't realize it until I was about halfway done. I decided to just keep knitting. The final product isn't terrible but I would have preferred it without the twist.

I then started the Swan Maiden Mitts but eventually had to admit that they were coming out much too large and I frogged my first mitt.

Last, I started a pair of Helix Mitts. I had many, many missteps from carelessness. The pattern is almost too simple. My brain would shut off and then I'd start knitting in stockinette or work my join incorrectly. I have only finished the first mitt. It's not bad but it was hard won. And I can't decide if I want the seam on the inside or outside. Leaning toward the outside.

Now that September is over I'm not sure what to work on next. Back to knitting Helix Hats in the meantime.

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

1 part chenille blanket
1 part hairpin lace
1 part pailettes

17 partshairpin lace
1 part laundry hamper

100% sad clown