Episode 5: Hats, mittens, and gloves

Episode 5: Hats, mittens, and gloves

You can find me on:
Ravelry: Humerusknits
Instagram: april.k.smith

Finished Objects: 

Brambles Hat for Franchesca
Pattern: Brambles Beret by Amanda Muscha
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solids, Heathers, and Twists
Colorway: Black

Kitchen Towel
Pattern: Chili Pepper Red Kitchen Towel by Janet Carlow
Yarn: Lily Sugar'n Cream Solids & Denims
Colorway: Jute

Three Leaf Mittens for Mom
Pattern: Three Leaf Mittens
Yarn: Stitch Nation by Debbie Stoller Full o'Sheep
Colorway: Passionfruit

Fisherman's Hat for Dad
Pattern: Basic Beanie (unreleased)
Yarn: Lion Brand Heartland
Colorway: Olympic

Fishermans' Hat for Greg
Pattern: Basic Beanie (unreleased)
Yarn: Lion Brand Heartland
Colorway: Great Smoky Mountains

Sparkly Gloves for Tiffany
Pattern: Sporty Ribbed Gloves (unreleased)
Yarn: Premier Yarns Isaac Mizrahi Craft Broadway
Colorway: Palace

Bat Hat for Chip
Pattern: Bat Hat by Joanna Rankin
Yarn: Big Twist Yarns Chunky Solids
Colorway: Chunky Black

Seahawks Gloves for David
Pattern: Sporty Ribbed Gloves (unreleased)
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Solids
Colorways: Country Blue and Gray Heathered
Yarn: Loops and Threads Soft and Shiny Solids
Colorway: ? Green

Waffle Hat for Janice's Birthday
Pattern: Waffle Hat by Gail Bable
Yarn: Red Heart Soft Prints
Colorway: Icy Pond

Works in Progress: 

Panther Gloves for Alan
Pattern: Sporty Ribbed Gloves (unreleased)
Yarn: Knit Picks Mighty Stitch
Colorways: Black and Gulf Stream

Cat Coasters for Michelle
Pattern: Cat Coaster by Kraft Croch Pattern
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Solids
Colorway: Black, White

Cat Butt Coasters for Alan
Pattern: Dog or Cat Butt Coasters by Sally L.M.
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft Solids
Colorway: Black
Yarn: Jo-Ann Sensations Cuddle
Colorway: Pink

Emilien
Pattern: Emilien by Ariane Caron-Lacoste
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Worsted
Colorway: Wallaby

Huntress Cowl Rawr!
Pattern: Huntress Cowl Capelet Scarf by KYSAA
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick Solids
Colorway: Charcoal Gray

Stash Additions: 

Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick and Quick
Colorway: Charcoal Gray
Yards In: 106

Loops and Threads Facets
Colorway: Tanzanite
Yards In: 120

Red Heart Soft Prints
Colorway: Icy Pond
Yards In: 204

Caron Simply Soft Paints
Colorway: Oceana
Yards In: 200

Year In Review

Knitting Projects Completed: 

Gloves (7): 
Vancouver Fog
UGA Mitts #1
Red and Black Mitts
Three Leaf Mittens
Seahawks Gloves
Sparkly Mitts
Panther Gloves

Hats (10): 
Solitare
Pinch Hat
Owl Hat
Baby Berry Hat
Brambles Beret #1
Brambles Beret for Franchesca
Fisherman's Hats (2)
Waffle Hat
Bat Hat

Shawls (2): 
Yule
Outlander-esque Shawl

Socks (2): 
Cadence Socks
Dad's Socks

Cowls (2): 
Skully Cowl
Huntress Cowl Rawr!

Sweaters/Cardigans (1):
Cromarty

Other (4): 
Pillows
Michelle's Coasters
Kitchen Towel
Cat Coasters

Total Projects Completed: 28!

Goals for Next Year: 

12 Projects, 12 Months!

January - Cladonia

February - Iona

March - Pumpkin Pie

April - Delphine

May - Palladium

June - Erquy

July - Nadine

August - Silverleaf

September - Chelsea Skirt

October - Slinky Ribs

November - Hampton Cardigan

December - Gifts/Something TBD!

Knit Picks Haul September 2016

Hi everyone! I ordered a few things from Knit Picks to ready myself for the upcoming Yule/Christmas knitting for my family and friends.

Here are the yummy yarns I got:

Mighty Stitch
Colorway: Black
Yards In: 208

Mighty Stitch
Colorway: Gulfstream
Yards In: 208

Swish DK
Colorway: Dove Heather
Yards In: 492

CotLin
Colorway: Sagebrush
Yards In: 492

Brava Worsted
Colorway: Red
Yards In: 437

Brava Worsted
Colorway: Canary
Yards In: 437

Brava Worsted
Colorway: Orange
Yards In: 437

Episode 4: A Long Overdue Update

Episode 4: A Long Over Due Update

You can find me on:
Ravelry: Humerusknits
Instagram: april.k.smith

Finished Objects: 

Socks for Dad (August 3, 2016)
Pattern: Easy Peasy Socks for First Timers by Stacy Trock
Yarn: Lion Brand Heartland
Coloway: King's Canyon

Michelle's Coasters (August 21, 2016)
Pattern: Noro Mitered Coaster by Ratchadwan Chambers
Yarn: Premier Yarns Isaac Mizrahi Sutton
Colorway: Amsterdam 

Works in Progress: 

Franchesca Hat
Pattern: Franchesca Hat by April Smith
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Rios
Colorway: Purpuras

Brambles Beret (April 3, 2016)
Pattern: Brambles Beret by Amanda Muscha
Yarn: Lion Brand Vanna's Choice Solids, Heathers and Twists
Colorway: Black

Delphine
Pattern: Delphine by Kristeen Griffin-Grimes
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport
Colorway: Green Apple

Iona
Pattern: Iona by Heather Dixon
Yarn: Elann Lara
Colorway: Natural

Sporty Ribbed Gloves #2
Pattern: Sporty Ribbed Gloves by April Smith
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Colorways: Grey Heathered and Country Blue
Yarn: Loops and Threads Soft and Shiny Solids
Colorway; Green?

Ann's Go To Socks
Pattern: Ann's Go To Socks by Ann Budd
Yarn: Loops and Threads Woolike
Colorway: Mauve

Emilien
Pattern: Emilien by Ariane Caron-Lacoste
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Worsted
Colorway: Wallaby

Kitchen Towel
Pattern: Red Chili Pepper Kitchen Towel by Janet Carlow
Yarn: Lily Sugar'n Cream Solids and Denim
Colorway: Jute

Stash Additions:

Cascade Yarns Venezia Sport
Colorway: 160 Ginger
Yards In: 614

Cascade Yarns Ultra Pima
Colorway: 3740 Sprout
Yards In: 220

Cascade 220 Superwash Worsted
Colorway: 900 Charcoal
Yards In: 220

Lion Brand Wool-Ease Solids, Heathers, and Twists
Colorway: Mustard
Yards In: 788

Premier Yarns Isaac Mizrahi Craft Sutton
Colorway: Amsterdam
Yards In: 68

Knit Picks Simply Cotton Sport
Colorway: Golden Heather
Yards In: 328

Big Twist Yarns Chunky
Colorway: Black
Yards In: 195

Total Yards In: 2,443 yards

Sewing Projects Complete: 

Small Drawstring Bag

Large Drawstring Bag

Simplicity 1589 Top

Simplicity 1363 Top

Up Next: 

New Look 6217

Oven Mitts

Pot Holders

Episode 3!

Episode 3 of my podcast is up and running!

You can find me on:
Ravelry: Humerusknits
Instagram: april.k.smith

Finished Objects: 

Candence Socks (February 6, 2016)
Pattern: Cadence Socks by verybusymonkey
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll
Colorway: Cork

Berry Baby Hat (February 10, 2016)
Pattern: Berry Baby Hat by Michele Sabatier
Yarn: Jo- Ann Sensations Cuddle
Colorway: Pink
Yarn: Elann Sonata Soft
Colorway: 5382 Green

Cromarty (March 30, 2016)
Pattern: Cromarty by Heather Dixon
Yarn: Knit Picks Simply Cotton Sport
Colorway: Golden Heather

Brambles Beret (April 3, 2016)
Pattern: Brambles Beret by Amanda Muscha
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran
Colorway: Amber

Skully Cowl (April 13, 2016)
Pattern: Ossuary Chart by Kristi Hallamaa/ own cowl pattern
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Colorways: Black and White

Red and Black Mitts (May 10, 2016)
Pattern: Sporty Ribbed Gloves by April Smith
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Colorway: Black
Yarn: Bernat Satin?
Colorway: Red?

Works in Progress: 

Iona
Pattern: Iona by Heather Dixon
Yarn: Elann Lara
Colorway: Natural

Sporty Ribbed Gloves #2
Pattern: Sporty Ribbed Gloves by April Smith
Yarn: Caron Simply Soft
Colorways: Grey Heathered and Country Blue
Yarn: Loops and Threads Soft and Shiny Solids
Colorway; Green?

Ann's Go To Socks
Pattern: Ann's Go To Socks by Ann Budd
Yarn: Loops and Threads Woolike
Colorway: Mauve

Emilien
Pattern: Emilien by Ariane Caron-Lacoste
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Worsted
Colorway: Wallaby

Kitchen Towel
Pattern: Red Chili Pepper Kitchen Towel by Janet Carlow
Yarn: Lily Sugar'n Cream Solids and Denim
Colorway: Jute

Casting on SOON: 

Socks for Dad
Pattern: Easy Peasy Socks for First Timers by Stacy Trock
Yarn: Lion Brand Heartland
Coloway: King's Canyon

Stash Additions: 

Knit Picks Hand Painted Stroll
Colorway: Make Believe
Yards In: 462

Premier Yarns Isaac Mizrahi Broadway
Colorways: Various
Yards In: 1,968

Premier Yarns Isaac Mizrahi Central Park
Colorways: Various
Yards In: 165

Premier Yarns Isaac Mizrahi Skyscraper
Colorways: Various
Yards In: 830

Lily Sugar'n Cream Solid and Denim
Colorways: Red
Yards In: 120

Lion Brand Woolspun
Colorways: Various
Yards In: 762

Total Yards In:
4,307

2015 Year in Review

So, this year was definitely a knitting year. I managed to finish:

17 hats
7 scarves/cowls
2 blankets
1 rug
2 cardigans/sweaters
1 pair of socks
1 dishcloth
2 gloves
1 cami (technically, I made 3 of these, but only one was actually right!)
1 shawl

with a total of 10,772.5 yards knitted!

My stash also grew A WHOLE LOT this year, mainly because of getting some hand-me-down yarn from my aunt, along with just buying a bunch more than I usually do. Yesterday, I brought home my last yarn haul for the year - 4,846 yards of acrylic/cotton yarn from Michaels that were on sale. I was really excited about getting some more Lion Brand Heartland:



This stuff is REALLY nice for acrylic yarn -- and really beautiful colors too! I bought 4 skeins of it!

I also got some really inexpensive fingering weight yarn for making more socks:



I also bought some Lily Sugar and Cream  yarn to see how they compared to Knit Picks Dishie. In my house, we really need a few more kitchen cloths and potholders, so I'll probably be making a few of those in the future. The rest of the yarn I got was for a charity project I'm planning on doing for the Annual Meeting for the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. A nice skully - themed cowl using the Ossuary Chart!

Also, my mom got me a $75 Knit Picks gift card, and so I'm waiting on yet another large package of yarn! I got enough yarn for a bulky weight sweater, some socks, some dishcloths, and a pair of gloves! So, first thing for the new year -- go on a yarn diet, or really, a buying anything diet.

Also, here are a few more goals for next year:

1. Start a podcast - Obviously I'm not really great at writing on a blog, and considering how visual knitting is for those who are interested, making a video diary to share would probably simplify the process. Maybe.

2. Etsy - this will happen this year!

3. Socks - make more socks, a lot more! Goal: 5 pairs

4. Sweaters/Cardigans - I have lots of yarn I've already designated for sweaters and cardigans, so lets try to make 3 this year, minimum!

5. Stashdown - I signed up this quarter for the stashdown challenge, and failed miserably -- like 7,000 + yards miserably, so my goal for 2016 will be to end up with a negative yardage balance for the year. Also, I'll track my yardage in, yardage out, and how much I'm paying for crafting stuff, becuase I would really like to know what I'm spending on this! That can't be that hard, can it???

Happy New Year, everybody!

So, I've decided...

I hate this color.

Baby blue. Dull baby blue. And I have 11 skeins of this.

So, what is a girl to do?

Dye this crap. Dyyyyeeee it.

So, into the pot it went. I decided to try my hand at kettle dying, since literally anything would be an improvement upon this color. Anything. My test swatch came out this beautiful royal-purple color: 

But the final product (with Kroger brand food coloring), came out a little bit lighter and more variegated: 

I love it! This is such an improvement. It is now in my queue to be made into a beautiful henley-type shirt. Now to get to swatching....