Knitting with Cashmere

Is like heaven.


That is all.

2 more pairs of sock done!

I'm getting closer and closer to finishing up my custom list and being able to start on Christmas knits and other fun things for my kids! Here were the most recent 2 that were sent off this weekend.

I need to apologize for the my white board. Mysteriously one day 2 little boys were playing with it and when they were done it looked like this. I guess it's time to invest $2 in another one.

And I am totally slacking on the pictures lately and forgot to post the tiny tickle hat from the last post!

A Tiny Tickle

Sometimes you just need a break from socks and fingering weight yarn, so I jumped on the chance to knit up a quick Tickle hat for a friend.

I always forget just how fast newborn items are to knit up, especially a hat. It's so refreshing to take a break from something that takes me a good 2-3 weeks to finish and start and finish a project in the same day!

It's still just lightening up here, and Nathan seems to have run off with my camera. But if I find it later today before I pack it up for the mail I'll get a picture up.

It's knit with Blue Grass Baby's "Making Mischief" colorway that Dev custom dyed for me back in the spring. I forgot how much I love those colors! I think whatever is left needs to be something for the new baby.

Playing catch up

I think where I left off I was just starting my first pair of summer swap socks. Since then I've knit almost 4 pairs, with 3 more pairs to go before I am done. Let's get some pictures...
First up, a pair knit with the Duckies pattern using Splendor's "Matisse" colorway on sport weight, this gave me a bit of trouble, but with some adaptations to the pattern they turned out great!

Then I knit this pair of socks with the colorway "Emily", it was really great non-pooling yarn so I didn't have to think much at all

These were knit using Mosaic Moon's "Copper Patina" colorway and the Charade sock pattern, unfortunately this pair and the Duckies above seem to be lost in the mail :-( I really hope they show up to their owner soon!

Like I said I am almost done with a 4th pair, but no pictures quite yet.

I also had the pleasure to test out a brand new pattern from Teresa Cole called "Andalusia" it's a cute little button down jacket
Here are a couple of pictures of the boys modeling for me

AND in case that was not enough knitting for you, I'm not done yet!

In June we found out we were expecting a 3rd *tiny "bee" as the boys like to say, so I started on some cute things for the new baby for some quick and easy knitting satisfaction
Here is a Sweet Mama Small Sugar Gift Wrap Romper knit with Mosaic Moon's "Seaglass" colorway

Oh and I matching bonnet to go with it. I entered this and a few other knits at our county fair and this received a 4th place. Nathan's Easter vest (can be seen in previous posts) won 1st, and a pair of mittens I knit for Nathan placed 2nd.

I still need to get pictures of the mittens and a cute Cub Cuddler that I have also finished up this summer. Wow it looks like so much more when I finally write it all out in one place!

*to read more about the boys, and the new little bee, check out the new spin off of my knitting blog with more posts about personal life. Click on the link "...of one kind and another" below the main header!

Oh my

Has it really been over a month since my last post?! Not to worry, I've been busy, and I have lots of changes to post about soon!

It's done! It's done!

My first pattern is finally published and up for sale!

Look for the "buy it now" button in the left hand column to purchase your very own Making Mischief Vest pattern.

It's written for sizes 3m-6, in DK or worsted weight yarn. I have also included custom calculations so that you can knit with any weight yarn to make a vest in any size!

This pattern is for personal use only, if you are interested in a lifetime license for $25, please contact me at makingmischiefstore@yahoo.com

blog fail

I feel like I have been slacking with the posting this week, but in my defense it has been one crazy week! I've still been knitting, though not as much with ballet rehearsals and a funeral for a close friend's dad. But I promise I'll have some new pictures up soon!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

26

ETA I wrote this yesterday when it actually WAS my 26th birthday, and then I forget to publish it. oops.

honor of my 26th birthday, 26 things about me

1. I love my birthday, I mean *really* love my birthday. I don't even care if anything all that special happens on the day (though bonus points to anyone who makes it awesome!) it's just amazing that I have a day, and it's mine!

2. I have an obsession with children's games, music, playgrounds...even before I had kids. Nathan and Noah just give me an excuse to indulge. Anthony and I actually purchased Candy Land to play when I was pregnant with Nathan. He beat me.

3. I love to knit. Sometimes I wish I could knit two things at once because I love knitting so much. There are too many things to knit, and too little time.

4. If I could pick any place in the world to live other than where I am now, it would be just about anywhere in North Carolina. I love the beach, I love the mountains.

5. My very favorite food is pickles. I don't think it is possible to eat too many pickles.

6. I really like to make lists. I don't always follow through and do everything on the list though.

7. I am very organized in my head...this does not translate to real life as well as I would like it too. See 6.

8. I believe that nothing is to be treasured more than a true friend. I'm lucky to have a few who will be around for life.

9. I have an amazing memory. I can play back specific things like a movie in my mind.

10. I love to dance, almost nothing can put me in a better mood.

11. This year the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus falls on my birthday :-)

12. My dream car is a 2002-2005 Ford Thunderbird 2011 Ford Thunderbird. Wow are those pretty!

13. I watch entirely too much T.V./movies, but I enjoy having background noise, it helps me focus.

14. If I could make one wish, it would be that our condo would sell and we could move into our new big house. (Must remember to bury that St. Joesph statue!)

15. I'm running my first 5k tomorrow. I will die.

16. I am lost without LOST.

17. I actually miss college classes, and I can't wait to start working on my masters.

18. I love the smell of fresh flowers, I am going to plant tons at the new house so I can cut them and bring them inside.

19. My faith defines much of who I am. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

20. I love to cook and bake.

21. I wish there were more hours in the day.

22. I have a love/hate relationship with the sun. I love the sun, the sun DOES NOT love me or my pale freckled skin.

23. I love Pepsi, I mean really love Pepsi. I gave it up for lent and it almost killed me, though I did feel a lot healthier for those 6 weeks.

24. I have purple sunglasses.

25. One day I would like to visit Paris and live on only bread, cheese and wine for a while.

26. I love my family.

Just in Thyme

If you know me well, you know I am a procrastinator. It's not that I am lazy, or avoid doing things, but that rush of HAVING to get something done really pushes me to do it faster, and most of the time better than if I were taking my time and allowing myself to be distracted bu other things.

This vest is a prime example of waiting until the last minute.

I knit it for a fundraiser for an online friend who lost her daughter to Leukemia. The fundraiser started yesterday, and I finished and got pictures taken Tuesday afternoon! Talk about the last minute.

The name of the colorway from Madelinetosh is "Thyme", so I thought "Just in Thyme" was a fitting name for this project.

Last I checked there were still no bids, so get over there and grab it for a steal!Bella Bean's Knits & Things

Odds and Ends

I have three totally unrelated things to post about (well mostly unrelated, they all involve yarn!), but instead of 3 short posts, you get one post about all 3!

1. I'm working on a new pair of socks for Laura with some yarn that she dyed. After stacking like crazy with the pattern as written, I think I finally have them under control

The pattern is Duckies and it's hard to see in this picture, but the lace should open up beautifully when worn.

2. A note to myself: Do not leave yarn sitting out where children can get to it while they are left unattended.
In preparation to knit Laura's second pair of socks (hey this is somewhat related since it involves Laura again), I had her MM Copper Patina sitting out next to the tv. Anthony and I were putting away some laundry, it it got WAY too quiet downstairs. I rushed down and this is what I found

Not the sort of thing you want to see with any yarn, much less fingering. Luckily for me it was still tied in two places, so it only took me an hour and a half to wind...it could have been so much worse.

3. I won the Mosaic Moon colorway contest for June!! I never win ANYTHING so I was so excited that my idea is being made into so pretty yarn. I decided to call it "Gold Coast" since it looks sort of beachy to me and my sister spent a few months living on the Gold Coast in Australia.
Here are a few borrowed pictures of what it looks like. I can't wait for it to arrive in the mail!

Weaving in ends

While I was in a finishing up sort of mood, I also FINALLY wove in the ends to a pair of "manpris" that I knit for Noah about a month ago. Here is my cute model playing the piano

and saying "cheese!"

Finishing things up

As I've said before, I go through phases of starting projects and then finishing them. I just completed a "finishing" phase, so here are some finished pairs of socks!

First up, Dashing Dachs "Dandelion Chain"

Next, Comfort Wool Co. "Jules". I just love this colorway so much! It's so rich.

Now it's time to go and cast on some more!

Saint-Chapelle socks

I gave the Stained Glass socks a new name, and thought I would write out the pattern in case anyone was interested in using it!

Yarn: Any DK weight will work, superwash is best for socks
Materials: size 5 DPN's, embroidery needle

CO 48sts
Knit twisted rib(k tbl 1, p1) for 5 rows

Begin knitting in pattern
Repeat rows 1-16 3 times

Pattern
R1(and all odd rows except 15): K all
R2: *LT, k4, RT*
R4: *k1, LT, k2, RT, k1*
R6: *k2, LT, RT, k2*
R8: *k3, RT, k3*
R10: *k2, RT, LT, k2*
R12: *k1, RT, k2, LT, k1*
R14: *RT, k4, LT*
R15: k all until 1 st remains, LT this stitch with the first stitch of the next row
R16: *k6,LT* (will end row with k7, the 7th stitch being the first half of the LT from row 15)  
Right Twist (RT): Knit 2-together, then knit again into the first stitch on the left needle before withdrawing left needle
Left Twist (LT): Slip 2 as if to knit, return to left needle, Knit 1-back into 2nd stitch from end of left needle, then Knit 2-together through back loops before withdrawing left needle.

Heel flap
R1:Sl1, k23, turn
R2: Sl1, p to end, turn
repeat R1 and 2 9 more times

Turning the heel
Sl1, k14, ssk, k1, turn
Sl1, p7, p2tog, p1, turn
Sl1, k until the gap, ssk to close, k1, turn
Sl1, p until the gap, p2tog to close, p1, turn

Continue closing the gaps until you have 16 sts remaining.

Gusset
R1:Pick up 11 slipped sts on the side of the heel flap, and 1 st between the gusset and the heel flap and the top of the foot
K across the top of the foot
Pick up 1 st between the top of the foot and the heel flap, and 11 slipped sts
K 8

You should now have 20 sts for each gusset (needles 1 and 3), and 24 for the front of the foot (needle 2), the middle of the heel is the end of your row

R2: k until 2 stitches remain on needle 1, k2tog
top of foot: k in R2 of pattern
ssk, k until end of row

R3: k all sts

Continue repeating rows 2 and 3 until you have 12 sts on needles 1 and 3, you should still have 24 on needle 2

Continue knitting in pattern until the sock (while on your foot) measures 1 1/2" less than the desired length

Toe
R1: k all sts
R2:
Needle 1: k until 3 sts remain on needle 1, k2tog, k1
Needle 2: k1, ssk, k until 3 sts remain on needle 2, k2tog, k1
Needle 3: k1, ssk, k to the end of the row

Repeat rows 1 and 2 until 16 sts remain (4 on needle1, 8 on needle 2, 4 on needle 3)
K the sts on needle 1 onto needle 3

Kitchener the toe together and weave in ends!

Pattern
R1(and all odd rows except 15): K all
R2: *LT, k4, RT*
R4: *k1, LT, k2, RT, k1*
R6: *k2, LT, RT, k2*
R8: *k3, RT, k3*
R10: *k2, RT, LT, k2*
R12: *k1, RT, k2, LT, k1*
R14: *RT, k4, LT*
R15: k all until 1 st remains, LT this stitch with the first stitch of the next row
R16: *k6,LT* (will end row with k7, the 7th stitch being the first half of the LT from row 15)

Socks, socks, socks

I've been knitting lots of socks lately. I think I will need to take a break after I finish these last 2 pairs I am working on and do something quick with worsted, or better yet bulky for some quick satisfaction and a break from size 1 needles!

Here is the first of Tammy's "Jules" socks finished, the second is on the needles, but I'm only a few inches into the cuff, so not much to look at yet.

I'm also working on a pair of Dashing Dach's "Dandelion Chain" socks for Amy. As soon as I get some new batteries for my camera, I'll add a picture of the first in that pair of socks as well!

Finished Stained Glass socks

I love the way this yarn worked up, it was absolutely perfect for socks, and it was a nice change of pace to knit socks with a pattern. It seems the last few pairs I have done have all been ribbed or plain.

Once again it was raining all day long, so my pictures don't show off just how beautiful this colorway really is, but they are off to their owner now, so no chance for better pictures.

Stained Glass socks

The sun keeps going behind the clouds, so here is a very dark WIP picture of some special socks I am working on. The customer wanted something different and unique, so I used a knit lattice pattern (that I loved so much inspired the vest in the previous post!) over the whole sock. It needed something not too busy with all of the wonderful colors in the colorway, and I think pattern is just right! The lattice also reminded me of stained glass, which is the name of this colorway.

Thorny Rose Vest

It's finished! I loved knitting this vest, even if it required a bit of extra thinking to remember where I was in the pattern after the decreases! It will be stocking here on Friday!

Some knitting updates

First up, the Emerald Isle socks are done! And I even now have some sock blockers big enough to block them! They are on their way to their new home

Next, the "Stained Glass" socks from CWC's Stocking. The costumer wanted something special, so I added a knit basket weave pattern that reminded me of stained glass.

And, last but not least I am working up a girly vest for "Teenie Knits" grand opening next week. It's a twist on my new vest pattern!

{this moment}

{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

I should probably weed my patio...

But then my boys wouldn't have any "flowers" to pick!

An Exciting Day

It was an exciting day for Making Mischief, I sent out my very first pattern for testing today! It's been months in the making, but I finally did all of the work and wrote it all out for different sizes. I'm hoping to be able to release it for sale sometime this summer if all testing goes well!
Here's a sneak peak

Aside from all of that fun, Aunt Marian stopped by and took us to the park! Something we really miss doing since the car bit the dust. I'll be back with pictures from that later.

Works in Progress

I finished the first of the Emerald Isle socks, and it looks like I need some bigger sock blockers! Hopefully by the time the second sock is finished they will be here and I can block them properly!

Next up, Tammy's "Jules" socks, just started today, so not a whole lot to show, but I really like this colorway!

And not a WIP, but this beautiful yarn arrived in the mail and I couldn't help but share with all of you! It's Sticky Peas "Jolly Brown" colorway on Cashmere/Merino/Nylon sock yarn! I can't wait to knit it up when I get a free minute!

Emerald Isle Socks

This yarn just wanted to be a pair of socks, and I know that sounds silly since fingering weight typically means socks, but I've had some yarn before that just doesn't want to behave! It's nice to work with something that just works up so perfectly.

These are for Shannon, and are going to be 11 inches long when all is said and done! Almost finished with the first sock

It's so rainy and cloudy here today, so I had to use the flash. This picture really doesn't do the yarn justice!

A new pattern?

Sunday is my personal knitting day, I really don't get much done for me and the boys if I don't force myself to put down my other projects, no matter how pretty they are turning out! (more pictures on that later!)

None of my yarn that I already have plans for was screaming at me to be knit right now. So I decided to come up with something new. I'm not ready to reveal what it is yet, but here are some hints.
1. An article of clothing my boys wear often
2. There are only a couple of patterns even similar to this on Ravelry
3. Something that can be worn by boys, or girls (and I plan on doing a girly option later in my writing.
It doesn't look like much yet, but Sunday is over for the week, so here is this weeks progress picture

Wordless Wednesday

A HUGE custom finished :-)

I've been working on a big custom for Lauren, and it's finally finished!
Yarn Noodles "Cookie Box" shorties

WSK "Blue Rainbow" shorties with a twisted cable

MM Lochness handspun shorties

Nurturing Threads "Rusted Rainbow" socks

and everything all together!