Practically Handspun - Finished!

I finished the knitting this past Saturday, and did the bind off and blocking Sunday morning.  I still have some of the purple and the orange left over.  The lighter purple that forms the main body is all used up.  The length came out perfect - it just comes down to my knees.  I am delighted with it, my first garment out of handspun yarn.  It wasn’t super consistent yarn either, but it wasn’t bad.  The knitting looks good.

I like the way the color blocking worked.  Please pardon the hall-way selfie, it is too hot to model this outdoors.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich

Yarn:  Handspun Merino Top

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)

Practically Handspun - Six Skeins Done!

My Practically Handspun keeps growing.  When I’m working on it and dealing with the bulk of the knitting that is completed I start to have second thoughts about my plans, but then I try it on or put it on my dress make dummy for a photo and think that it is going to work out the way I imagine it.  I think it will look great with black leggings, a black turtleneck and boots, and then I can add a dramatic necklace.  I am on the last set of skeins - Purple Haze - and they are a pretty nice set of skeins, which keeps tempting me to go do something else with them.  But I do think I should stay the course on this one.

I am doing increases on the sides every 10 rows to give it an A-line shape.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich 

Yarn:  Handspun Merino Top from The Woolery

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)

Practically Handspun - Three Skeins Done!

Another skein knitted up.  I’m in the mindless part, just increases every 10 rows to give a slight A-line silhouette, which is a modification to the pattern that I made at some point.  I was thinking about making two of these vests out of these sets of my handspun, but have now decided that I’m just going to keep knitting on this one until all the yarn is gone, using it from thickest (mostly) to thinnest.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich

Yarn:  Handspun

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)

Practically Handspun - 2 Skeins Done!

I finished up Skein 11d, and started working with Skein 12b.  The transition between Skein 11d and Skein 12b worked out perfectly at the end of a row.  If I had been thinking things through a little more I might have started with Skein 12b, and then worked either Skein 11d or Skein 12c.  That would have me working from the thickest yarn to the thinnest.  But that is not what I did, and I think it looks just fine as it is.  At this point I had finished Skein 12b, and have cast off the stitches for the sleeve caps.  I am now working with Skein 12c, then I’ll use Skein 12a.  If I still need more length I’ll use Skein 11c.  I am enjoying the knitting.  There is something extra special about working with your handspun, imperfect though it may be.

This is a nice shot of the yoke that I forgot to post.  I like the garter stitch bands.

I have enough yarn that I can make a second vest using up Skein 11 and all of Skein 13.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich 

Yarn:  Handspun Merino Top

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)

Practically Handspun - Cast On!

Having used up Skeins 7 and 10 of my handspun yarns I looked to the next set of skeins that I had spun:    Skein 11.  Skein 11 is actually 4 skeins, spun from 250 grams of Rosie’s Multicolor Merino Top in the colorway Cornucopia bought from The Woolery.

The four skeins are, from left to right:

Skein 11a - 26 grams, 49 yards or 1.88 yd/g

Skein11b - 44 grams, 76 yards or 1.73 yd/g

Skein 11c - 89 grams, 145 yards or 1.62 yd/g

Skein 11d - 89 grams, 130 yards or 1.46 yd/g

As you can see from the numbers, my singles and my finished yarn were getting thicker as I spun this top up and settled into a good single thickness.  I have been trying to decided for some time now what to make out of this yarn, along with the other three of the Rosie’s tops that I had spun up.  I had pretty much settled on a vest based upon the yardage, but I still couldn’t settle on a design that would maximize the usage and minimize the work of figuring out how to use it.  Yesterday I decided that I was just overthinking the whole thing and so I cast on another Practically vest by Kelly Herdrich, my 12th time making this pattern.  What can I say?  It is an easy knit, looks great on, and is a great way to use up those precious skeins.  I pulled out Skein 11d and caked it up yesterday and cast on.  When I use up that skein I will actually switch to Skein 12, which is really 3 skeins, and is also from 250 grams of Rosie’s Multicolor Merino Top, in colorway Valentine.

For this spin I was focusing on consistency, and having settled into that slightly thicker single on Skein 11d, they all have a similar thickness to that skein.  From left to right:

Skein 12a - 79 grams, 115 yards or 1.46 yd/g

Skein 12b - 79.6 grams, 111 yards or 1.4 yd/g

Skein 12c - 84.3 grams, 121 yards or 1.44 yd/g

If I still need more length I will grab Skein 11c to finish, although I would kind of like to do something else with Skeins 11b and 11c.  Skein 11d I am thinking of weaving up on my Zoom Loom.  I think the colors would like nice with the plum squares that I wove up from Skein 10.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich

Yarn:  Handspun Rosie’s Multicolor Merino Top

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)

Nature’s Cathedral Vest - Finished!

My sister Liz’s birthday was last month, and I wanted to make her something.  We don’t usually do much for birthdays in my family, but I wanted to this year.  I had this yarn in my stash and had been thinking of making her a vest for a while.  Like me she gets cold easily.  So I cast this on last month and finished it up last weekend.  I would have finished it sooner but I had to finish up a test knit.  Now I just need to box it up and get it in the mail to her.

The yarn is Vega by SpaceCadet and the colorway is Nature’s Cathedral from the Space Monster Club.  I really like how this one blocked, the fabric is very soft and drapes nicely.  I have now made 10 of these vests.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich

Yarn:  Vega by SpaceCadet Yarns

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)  

Crocus Vest - Finished!

 

I finished this up last weekend.  It made for some good knitting while watching play off games.  Now I need to get it boxed up and sent on its way to its new home.  I do hope it fits Carol.  I texted her for her “over arm measurement” and she asked if I was knitting her a straight jacket.  She got excited when I told her it was for a vest and when I sent her a picture of the yarn, her reaction was “yum”.  When I was working this I caked up all four of my skeins and ordered them from darkest to lightest.  I ended up using 379 grams of yarn, so I have 85 grams of my fourth skein that I can use for something for myself, which makes me happy as this is a lovely colorway.  I will hold onto that fourth skein until I know that it fits her, just in case I have to make adjustments.

Pattern:  Practically Vest by Kelly Herdrich

Yarn:  Dream in Color City

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)

Crocus Vest - Sleeves Done

 

I quickly made it to the point where you bind off the sleeve caps and cast on for the underarm.  This photo was taken right after casting on for the underarms.  I ended up having to rip back and redo this part because I had somehow captured one of my stitch markers and didn’t notice it until I had knit a couple of rows.  But it was an easy fix and I’m way past this point now.  In fact I’ve started the third skein.

Pattern:  Practically Vest by Kelly Herdrich

Yarn:  Dream in Color City

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)

Crocus Vest - Cast On

 

I can’t very well send something knitted to my sister Virginia without also sending something to her business partner (and our adopted sister) Carol, so I grabbed this yarn out of my stash and cast on a Practically Vest.  I’ve been wanting to make one for her for a while.  I love the colors of this yarn.  It is one of The Loopy Ewe exclusive Dream In Color colorways - Crocus Hocus Pocus.  I’m sorry that I don’t have more as it really is luscious.  I do have a skein of the colorway in the fingering weight, but I would love a vest of my own in this colorway.

This is also great mindless knitting for reading or watching TV and will knit up fast so I can get it on its way to its new home.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich

Yarn:  Dream in Color City

Needle:  US 6 (4.0 mm)

Mirror, Mirror - Finished!

I didn’t have far to go on this project, so I decided to finish it up this weekend.  It is all blocked, so now I just have to package it up and send it off to my sister.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich

Yarn:  SpaceCadet Yarns Cressida, color is Mirror, Mirror from the SpaceMonster Club

Needle:  US 6 (4 mm)

Mirror, Mirror Vest - One Skein Done

I’ve mostly been working on this vest last week, and I’m actually almost half way through skein 2.  It makes good work knitting as it is pretty mindless.  I do love the colors, but they are definitely my sister Virginia’s colors, so this will go to her when I’m done.  I won’t make her birthday, which is tomorrow, but I will get it to her soon after.  So, a belated birthday present.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich

Yarn:  SpaceCadet Yarns Cressida, color is Mirror, Mirror from the SpaceMonster Club

Needle:  US 6 (4 mm)

Mirror, Mirror Vest - Cast On

Once I finished up my Walk on the Moon I needed another easy project for knitting while working.  I’ve had these skeins caked up for a while, so it was easy to just grab them and cast on.  The project is one I’ve done a number of times before so it is all set up in knitCompanion.  The yarn is one of the SpaceMonster shipments, complimentary colorway to Take a Bite.  It is called Mirror, Mirror and is just gorgeous.  My sister Virginia covets the color and I was thinking I would make it into a vest for her, but I’m going to have a hard time parting with it.  We’ll see what happens when I’m done.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich
Yarn:  SpaceCadet Yarns Cressida, color is Mirror, Mirror from the SpaceMonster Club
Needle:  US 6 (4 mm)

Take a Bite Vest - Finished!

I finished up this vest yesterday morning.  My sister Virginia covets the companion colorway to this one, so I will make a vest for her out of that yarn, but then I’m thinking of taking a break from the vests and try designing a shrug.  I’m going to start with the February 2020 Space Monster club yarns and see what I can do with 6 skeins - 3 skeins of each color.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich

Yarn:  SpaceCadet Yarns Cressida, color is Take a Bite from the Space Monster Club

Needle:  US 6 (4 mm)

Take a Bite Vest - Two Skeins Done

My Take a Bite Vest is good telecon knitting, so I’ve been making progress this week.  I’ve just added in the last skein.  I should get about another 50 rows.  I have sets of yarn for several more.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich

Yarn:  SpaceCadet Yarns Cressida, color is Take a Bite from the Space Monster Club

Needle:  US 6 (4 mm)

Take a Bite Vest - Cast On

For my trip to the West Coast I wanted some easy knitting so I cast on another Practically Vest in the Space Monster club color Take a Bite.  I do love the way the colors in this skein are coming out.  The picture doesn’t quite do them justice, but they are just luscious.  The yarn is Cressida and it has great stitch definition.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich
Yarn:  SpaceCadet Yarns Cressida, color is Take a Bite from the Space Monster Club
Needle:  US 6 (4 mm)

Bootes Void Vest - Finished!

I finished up the Bootes Vest almost a week ago (February 6).  I've sent pictures to my sister Virginia and she loves it, so it is packed up and ready to mail off to her today.  I thought of her when I saw this colorway and am delighted that she likes the shape.  I love these vests.  This is the sixth one that I've made.  I did add some A-line shaping to the body to make it hang a little better.  When I sent her pictures of this vest I also sent pictures of some other Worsted Weight yarn that I have and she covets another color, so I'll be making another vest for her.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich
Yarn:  Dream in Color City in Bootes Void
Needle:  US 6

Bootes Void Vest - Cast On

This yarn I also picked up from The Loopy Ewe last summer during Camp Loopy.  It is one of their exclusive Dream in Color colors inspired by space - Bootes Void.  I got enough to do another Practically vest, but I knew that the colors were more my sister Virginia's than mine.  Given that I'm finishing up a shawl for her I decided to go ahead and get this vest knitted up for her as well so I could send them together.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich
Yarn:  Dream in Color City in Bootes Void
Needle:  US 6

Desert City Wattage - Finished!

After blocking my Perfect Blend I focused on my third Camp Loopy 2019 project and finished it up on Friday.  This is the fifth time I've made this pattern and I just love the bright colors in this one.

I have another set of the same base in colors that I think might suit my sister Virginia.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich
Yarn:  Dream in Color City in Desert City Wattage
Needle:  US 6 (4 mm)

Desert City Wattage - Cast On

Of course, with the coming of August, comes the third Camp Loopy project.  This one was easy, just pick your favorite yarn.  One of my favorite yarns is Dream in Color.  I love color.  For this project I picked a color with a lot of life.  The colorway is Desert City Wattage and the picture does not do it justice.  It doesn't help that it is pretty jumbled up on the needles.  For the pattern I picked one of my favorites for showing off beautiful yarns, Practically by Kelly Herdrich.  This is my fourth time knitting the pattern, and won't be the last.  Oddly enough I couldn't find my marked up printed pattern so I pulled it into knitCompanion.  I had figured out the increases for the yoke, but figured them out again and even tweaked them a little to try to make them a little more symmetric.

Here is another photo after I've bound off the cropped sleeves and started working the body.  I'm almost through the second skein.  This is nice relaxing knitting that I can read while working on.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich
Yarn:  Dream in Color City in Desert City Wattage
Needle:  US 6 (4 mm)

Winter Wonderland Vest - Finished!

I finished this up last Sunday, reading and knitting and listening to the rain fall on the roof.  A perfect morning.  It took a while to dry and then it took a while to get a reasonable picture.  I had to find another easy project to put in my work bag, so I pulled out a sock project that I started just over two years ago.  One of these days I may actually finish them, although I don't get much time for knitting at work any more.  I received a promotion two weeks ago, I am now the Chief Engineer for the Engagement Systems Safety Branch, which has been keeping me super busy.  Maybe when I have a document to review I'll be able to pull them out.  In the meantime, I've been digging through my stash, planning more projects, and working on my latest test knit.  The first chart has been taking forever.  I even did videos of the tricky stitch, called a "bunny ear decrease".  It is a way to decrease 3 stitches into 2 stitches symmetrically.  It is not so hard when done from the knit side, but when done from the purl side it is pretty fiddly.  Thankfully I am almost done.

Pattern:  Practically by Kelly Herdrich
Yarn:  The Unique Sheep Super Wool Worsted in Winter Wonderland
Needle:  US 7 (4.5 mm)