An FO I'm a lot happier with, a purple handspun Yeti. #rosekimknits

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I always say that the colors in a Helix hat come together somehow in the end no matter how unpromising. I may have proven myself wrong with this, my ugliest hat ever. #helixstripes4eva #helixstripes #rosekimknits

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According to Ravelry I started the Snack-Sized Yak in November 2013. He's finally done! #rosekimknits

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I brought a big basket of knitted hats, cowls and toys to work to share with my coworkers. Our new clear door lockers allowed me to see the items as they were squirreled away. #rosekimknits

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Fresh Tracks from @curioushandmade is done! #rosekimknits

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Collection of Cowls

I recently went on a brief cowl binge. It started when I decided to find a project to use up three skeins of vintage Cash Iroha that I bought last year at my November retreat. I usually agonize over pattern/yarn pairings. I will add a pattern to my Ravelry queue and pick a yarn to knit it with. Then I'll change my mind again and again. Eventually I lose interest in the pattern and the yarn is still unused. This time I decided to make a swift decision and knit it straightaway.

I chose Adama by Hilary Smith-Callis. It is a shawl-cowl hybrid, knit flat at first then later in the round. It fits nicely around your neck and shoulders without needing to be pinned or tied. It's a bit funny looking when not in use.

Ignore my epic side-eye in this photo. I really like it. Cash Iroha, despite being horribly prone to breaking and pilling, is a favorite yarn of mine. And this color is lovely. The pattern was very quick and easy to knit up. Once you knit the one lace panel it's easily memorized.

Next I grabbed a few skeins of Woolfolk Får that I bought several years ago at another stash sale. The yarn is a chainette of incredibly soft merino wool. Again, without much dithering, I dove into a pattern, the Grayhaven Cowl, free on Ravelry. It's very basic. I didn't end up using as much yarn as I thought I would need so I still have a whole skein leftover.

The yarn is heaven.

While I was at my November retreat I found a mostly-knit scarf in the "free" basket. I took it back to my room and ripped it out. The yarn was Schoppel-wolle Gradient in the In der wiese colorway. I love this yarn and love the colors. I challenged myself to knit a cowl with it in time for show and tell on the final night of the retreat.

I chose Trust Me by Louise Zass-Bangham. I've knit several of her patterns and have really enjoyed them. Trust me is a circular cowl, knit flat, with no seams. Cool trick, right? I could try to explain it to you but maybe you should just knit one yourself. The one drawback of the cowl is that it needs to be as tall as half the circumference. So it's kind of tall for a snug-fitting cowl.

So there you have it, I've moved on from hats, for the moment, and am obsessed with cowls.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

The great Tom Lehrer once said,"Political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel peace prize."

I feel rather the same at the moment. What is the point of WTHIS? when the THIS is on the COVER of Vogue Knitting.

Knit flat and then stitched together, no less! Am I being punked? I think I'm being punked.

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

Dear Readers,

I realize I have been scarce lately. Luckily, something has knocked me from my stupor. I was surfing Ravelry, as one does, and saw something that made me spontaneously blurt out, "What the hell is this?" And then it struck me that I have been neglectful.

I don't think this requires much further commentary. It is a head-scratcher. And probably a nose-tickler for that matter.

The pattern is available on Ravelry should you feel the sudden urge to recreate it.

Oh yeah, knit another cowl. Trust Me by Louise Zass -Bangham. #rosekimknits

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My first finished object of the retreat, Grayhaven Cowl in Woolfolk Får. #rosekimknits

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Worsted weight hats knit up SO FAST. #rosekimknits

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Finally wove in all the ends on my #rikaart2016 cowl. #rosekimknits

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And here's the handspun mitts that I will definitely run out of yarn on. I plan to forge on and sub in something random at the end because it's my knitting and I can do that. #rosekimknits

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Here's a shot of my Blue Star Beanie that shows off the gorgeous @hazelknits color. #rosekimknits

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Finished my latest #singleskeinseptember project with less than two feet of yarn left. Now that's some satisfying #stashbusting. #rosekimknits (Color is way off but I was so excited to show you how much of the yarn I used!)

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Ran around the house and pulled out all my WIPS. There are a lot! Five hats and a pair of mitts. Time to focus and finish something. #rosekimknits

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I woke up crazy early this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. But I knit a baby sock while catching up on The Great British Bake Off. #rosekimknits

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Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

Let's call this, The Case of Mistaken Identity.

This is Pidgeot.



This is also Pidgeot.



This is a crochet pattern called Pidgeot.




Do you see where I'm going with this?

This is a Snowy Owl.



This is the Snowy Owl Tea Cozy.



I assume we're all familiar with a little fella named Mickey Mouse.



Then who the hell is this guy?



By the way, the pattern is for sale for $3.99.

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

Okay, so I know what this is. I just don't know why it is.



This "pattern" costs $4. That is four US dollars. FOUR. That is more than half an hour of work at federal minimum wage.

I think this is unjust and have decided, based on viewing the finished object, to offer an alternative at no charge.

Free Pattern
Step 1: Make giant ass pom pom.
Step 2: Attach to headband.

You're welcome.

Two more Helix Hats done and another in progress. #rosekimknits #helixstripes #helixstripes4eva #myknittingaddiction

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And another Helix because I can't stop. #helixstripes4eva #helixstripes #rosekimknits

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I leveled up. #crochetgo #pokemongo #magikarp #uselessfish #rosekimknits

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Another Helix from sometime recently that did not get photographed. #helixstripes4eva #helixstripes #rosekimknits

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Things have been awfully Helix-y around here lately. #helixstripes#helixstripes4eva #rosekimknits

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Been binge-watching Penny Dreadful and knitting helix hats. You? #rosekimknits #helixstripes #helixstripes4eva #netflixandknit

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Little Coffee Bean

Pattern: Little Coffee Bean Cardigan

Yarn: Berroco Vintage

Needles: US7 and 8 Addi Turbos

Notes: My District Manager is expecting her first baby so I made this Sephora-inspired baby cardigan. The pattern is a very simple and straightforward top-down cardigan. I didn't make any changes.

Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

You don't have to look at it. 

But what about the rest of us?

I think I feel a hat jag coming on. #rosekimknits #helixstripes4eva #helixstripes

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Thursday Is for What the Hell Is This?

I don't know about you but I feel a little dizzy.

I think I need to sit down.

Annoying Older Son while he cooks Korean food. #rosekimknits

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Waiting for Rain is Waiting for Blocking. #rosekimknits

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Blue Moon Dye Day

A few weeks ago I went to Scapoose (I LOVE saying that name), Oregon, for the Blue Moon Fiber Arts annual dye day and barn sale.
I haven't seen Tina in ages so the first order of business was a huge, long hug. Next it was selecting yarn and fiber to dye. There big bins along the wall so you can see everything that is available. You fill out an order form and the Blue Moon folks pull the yarn and fiber and get it soaking for you.



While it soaks, you can shop.



Then you dye. It's all about hand-painting.



Here is Tina giving Trish a little guidance.



I dyed two skeins of De-Vine. The color is much richer and deeper than I managed to capture.



I also dyed a skein of Tigger Targhee. Unfortunately on this one the dye hadn't set completely so it lightened a lot when I went to rinse it.



This yak/silk fiber is my favorite though.



And I had to pick up a few skeins dyed by the master herself.