Final 2013 Yarn Report

I finished Poema! Got it done just in time to post it before Nerd Wars Tournament 9 ended. That was a relief! It hasn't been blocked yet in the photos. The seven skeins used -- there was only about six inches left over -- will help my yarn report, but I'll still finish the year in the red. I don't mind, though, because my next two projects will use yarn that I've already bought and counted.

I've started on Alexis' blanket. When they were here over Christmas, she approved the lighter weight yarn and the color scheme. Maybe next week I'll have enough done to post a picture.

Vera Sanon sent the first installment of the Mystery KAL, so I need to swatch and get started on that.

I also need to finish Sawtelle, and do it soon! It was 19 degrees today, and I kept wishing I'd finished that nice wool cardigan. One sleeve is almost done, so there's not that much more to do. Just have to get busy!

Used this Week: 7 skeins
Used since mid-August: 16.4 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 21 skeins
Net Used since mid-August: 4.6 skeins

Yarn Report

Well, I just bought a bunch of yarn, so my yarn report total is going to go from black to red this week. At least I'll get to start over in the new year!

All of the new yarn does have a purpose, though. My 10-year-old granddaughter asked me to make her a new blanket, since her old one has developed a huge hole, so I bought 8 skeins of Bernat's Cotton-ish for that. The colors are Royal Denim, Seersucker, and Cotton Field. I'm going to crochet the blanket, alternating rows of single crochet and linked double crochet. I'm beginning to think that I should have chosen a worsted weight yarn instead of a dk, though; the blanket will be awfully lightweight. If we weren't currently getting freezing rain that's supposed to be followed later today by snow, I would go look for different yarn. Oh, well.

The other yarn purchase was 6 skeins of Berroco Vintage in the ruby color, for the Vera Sanon Mystery KAL that will start in January. The color is actually more red and less pink than it shows in the picture. I've never used Vintage before, but it has good reviews on Ravelry and Vera herself recommended it, so I'm expecting to like it. I was a little surprised when I received the yarn and saw that I only had 6 skeins; I thought I had ordered 7. Six will leave me about 45 yards short of what the pattern calls for, but I can probably make that up easily by shortening the length of the cardigan if I have to.

Used this Week: 0 skeins
Used since mid-August: 9.4 skeins
Added this Week: 14 skeins
Added since mid-August: 21 skeins
Net Used since mid-August: 11.6 skeins

On the Needles

I'm still working on Poema. Since this picture was taken, I've finished the neckline and part of one sleeve. It is taking sooooo long to finish this! I just can't seem to settle down and work on it for any length of time.

Yarn Report

I got busy and didn't post last week, so this yarn report will cover two weeks.

I'm still plugging away on Poema, but it sure seems like slow going. I need to get it finished, though, so that I can get full points for Nerd Wars, and also because I've signed up for Vera Sanon's Mystery Cardigan KAL, which will start in the new year. Not to mention that it's cold, and I'd like to wear this sweater!

Meanwhile, Roger wanted a new hat and scarf. I bought two skeins of Loops & Threads Cozy Wool and used the Thorpe pattern to make him a hat. The pattern is written for worsted weight yarn and size 9 needles, but I used super bulky yarn and size 10.5 needles. I followed the instructions for a medium size hat to get a size large.

With the leftover yarn I used the garter stitch pattern from the hat and made him a cowl. Since cold air often triggers asthma-like symptoms for him, he wanted something that he could pull up to filter the air when he's outside. I knit it in the round, casting on 55 stitches with size 15 needles.

After wearing it a few times, though, he said that the cowl stretched out and isn't working as well as he had hoped, so I'm going to redo it. I think I'll make it in a ribbing stitch this time, and use smaller needles. Hmmmm....if I use the same skein twice, do I get to count it twice in the yarn report??

Used this Week: 2 skeins
Used since mid-August: 9.4 skeins
Added this Week: 2 skeins
Added since mid-August: 7 skeins
Net Used since mid-August: 2.4 skeins

Yarn Report

Nothing added, nothing used this week. I have been working on Poema, but will not count any of the yarn until it's finished.

Used this Week: 0 skeins
Used since mid-August: 7.4 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 5 skeins
Net Used since mid-August: 2.4 skeins

Yarn Report

This week I crocheted the Elegant Hat by Kim Guzman, which is a free download on Ravelry.

My grandson wanted to see it when I finished, so when he put it on I snapped a picture of him. I made it for myself, but neither of my two teenage grandchildren liked it on me; they said it was too old lady-ish, and I should wait a couple of decades before wearing it. I think the real problem is that I just don't look good in hats. :/

I really need to concentrate now on finishing Poema and Sawtelle, because Vera Sanon has a KAL starting in January that I want to join. Of course, I don't have enough yardage on anything in my stash, so I'll have to order yarn (or buy it locally).

Used this Week: .7 skein
Used since mid-August: 7.4 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 5 skeins
Net Used since mid-August: 2.4 skeins

Yarn Report

I made another baby hat this week. This one and the one from last week will go to a couple from church who are expecting boy/girl twins. The pattern is Newborn Side-to-Side Hat; it's a free download on Ravelry.

Used this Week: .3 skein
Used since mid-August: 6.7 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 5 skeins
Net Used since mid-August: 1.7 skeins

Yarn Report

Several people at church are expecting babies, so this week I bought four skeins of yarn to make baby hats. I got one hat finished, and also knitted some more on Poema. I wish I could knit faster.




Used this Week: .3 skein
Used since mid-August: 6.4 skeins
Added this Week: 4 skeins
Added since mid-August: 5 skeins
Net Used since mid-August: 1.4 skeins

Yarn Report

I did a few rows on Poema, and a few rows on Sawtelle (pictured above), but nothing changed on my yarn report this week.

Used this Week: 0 skeins
Used since mid-August: 6.1 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 1 skein
Net Used since mid-August: 5.1 skeins

Sweetie Pie

I finished my Sweetie Pie quilt. It's lap size -- 54" x 66". This was the first time I sewed the binding on the machine instead of by hand. It looks fine on the front, but on the back of the quilt the seam looks a little wobbly in places. Nevertheless, I'm going to continue machine-sewing the binding for most of my quilts, because it's so much faster than hand-sewing.

Yarn Report

This week I used some more of my decades-old stash of acrylic yarn to make these slippers. Now my feet will be toasty during the cold weather. Even though I hate working with this old squeaky acrylic, it does make me feel slightly virtuous by using it up instead of buying new. :)  Now I really need to get back to working on the two sweaters I have in progress.

Used this Week: 1 skein
Used since mid-August: 6.1 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 1 skein
Net Used since mid-August: 5.1 skeins

Yarn Report

I managed to resist the urge to order yarn last week, and I think doing the yarn report was a major reason. I want my totals to stay in the black! :)

My husband had been wanting some arm-warmers to use when the house is cool in the winter and to cushion his arms when he uses his computer. This gave me the opportunity to use up some of the decades-old acrylic yarn in my stash, since it can be machine washed and dried, and he actually thinks this stuff is soft.

The pattern, All Season Wristers, gives instructions for two sizes, but it calls for fingering yarn and an F hook, so I had to make some adjustments to fit my worsted weight yarn and H hook. I started by following the instructions for the smaller size, except I did sc in the back loop for 4 inches (instead of 2), and went for a total of 6 inches before starting the gusset. I increased to a total of 36 st (instead of 48), then for the thumb opening I sc 14, skipped 8, sc 14. The completed arm-warmers were 11 inches long, and I did not crochet around the thumb opening as called for in the pattern. DH says that they are a perfect fit!

Used this Week: .9 skein
Used since mid-August: 5.1 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 1 skein
Net Used since mid-August: 4.1 skeins

Yarn Report

I took some time off from sweater knitting this week to make the Baby Amanda Hat  for a baby shower.

The yarn was stash yarn that I've had for years (decades?); I don’t even remember how long it’s been since Target sold yarn, especially for $.79 a skein. In spite of its age, though, the yarn was soft and fluffy, and unlike most acrylics, it was not harsh on my hands, even after hours of knitting. 

So far, I'm doing pretty well about using from stash and not buying yarn. I may *have* to buy some today, though. After all, it's I Love Yarn day, and Jo-Ann's has Patons Classic Wool DK Superwash on sale for $2.99. I've been wanting to try it, and I could get a sweater quantity for $30. If they weren't out of the color I really want, I wouldn't even be arguing with myself about it. :)

Used this Week: .6 skeins
Used since mid-August: 4.2 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 1 skeins
Net Used since mid-August: 3.2 skeins

Yarn Report

After spending several frustrating days shopping for sport weight yarn both in town and online, I decided to forget about Pretty Mallory for now. My taste in yarn and my budget just weren't working and playing well together. Instead, I'm going to make Poema. It's a similar design, and I already had yarn in my stash that will work for it, a pretty red-purple Elsebeth Lavold Silky Tweed. So, in spite of my best efforts, nothing was added or used this week.

Used this Week: 0 skeins
Used since mid-August: 3.6 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 1 skeins
Net Used since mid-August: 2.6 skeins

Yarn Report

This week I received my prize yarn from Team Pineapple for Nerd Wars Tournament 8. It's a lovely blue/green sock yarn from Fishknits Shop.

Since the 30-Day Sweater Challenge and Nerd Wars Tournament 9 both start October 1, I've been planning my next project, instead of finishing WIPs or making baby items for the upcoming showers at church. I've finally decided on Pretty Mallory by Vera Sanon for both the Challenge and my Nerd Wars dissertation. It calls for either a sock yarn or sport weight. I've swatched a sock yarn, but the gauge was too far off, and I didn't want to go up a needle size. Next, I swatched a dk weight, but that was just a bit too far off the other way. There is one sport weight in my stash with enough yardage, but I'd really like something that is machine washable. I may be yarn shopping this week.

Used this Week: 0 skeins
Used since mid-August: 3.6 skeins
Added this Week: 1 skeins
Added since mid-August: 1 skeins
Net Used since mid-August : 2.6 skeins

Nerd Wars Team Pineapple Swap

The package arrived from my swap partner... all the way from Alaska!  It contained lots of goodies!!

The first picture shows the entire contents of the box.

There was a box of assorted flavors of white tea. I've never tasted white tea before, and am looking forward to trying it! The Sassy Bear spiced black tea smells like heaven! When I opened the box, that wonderful smell scented the whole room. :-) And there's also a honey stirrer to sweeten the brew. When I want a change, I can make some cocoa. And the little chocolate candies taste like chocolate covered cherries with a crunchy shell -- yummy!!

There was a book -- Shades of Earl Grey -- that is exactly the type of mystery novel that I like to read! The soft, soft green scarf will be greatly appreciated this winter (did I say it is really soft?). The pattern for a wall hanging not only evokes images of what I imagine Alaska to look like, but it also will challenge me to learn a new quilting technique (applique). Fun!

Finally, these lovely knitted mitts completed the package. Both the color and the fit are absolutely perfect! The eyelet pattern and gathers on the side make them look very elegant! The color is actually more green than the picture shows.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, JBartRedHawk!! This package was definitely worth waiting for!

Yarn Report

Nothing used or added this week.

Used this Week: 0 skeins
Used since mid-August: 3.6 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 0 skeins
Net Used since mid-August : 3.6 skeins

Yarn Report

The Top-Down Raglan Summer Cardigan is finally finished. WooHoo! I used 3.6 skeins of Bernat Cotton-ish yarn in the color Cotton Gin.

Used this Week: 3.6 skeins
Used since mid-August: 3.6 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 0 skeins
Net Used since mid-August : 3.6 skeins

Yarn Report

I just finished re-doing the button band on my Top-Down Summer Lace Cardigan, and I'm still not satisfied. I think I need to pick up more stitches from the point of the v-neck up to the back of the neckline. Sigh. I am soooo ready to be done with this sweater! Maybe the third try will be the charm.

Used this Week: 0 skeins
Used since mid-August: 0 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 0 skeins
Net Used since mid-August : 0 skeins

Yarn Report

I finished the sweater...but...I decided that I didn't like the way the front band looked, so I ripped it out and started over, picking up more stitches this time. It should be finished in time for me to count the yarn used next week.

Used this Week: 0 skeins
Used since mid-August: 0 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 0 skeins
Net Used since mid-August : 0 skeins

Yarn Report

I'm making good progress on my Top-Down Raglan Summer Cardigan, and should finish this week. I bought two skeins of Ironstone Yarns' Stained Glass, but it's a gift for my Team Pineapple swap partner, so it doesn't add to my stash. The stash report hasn't changed.

Used this Week: 0 skeins
Used since mid-August: 0 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 0 skeins
Net Used since mid-August : 0 skeins

Yarn Report

Used this Week: 0 skeins
Used since mid-August: 0 skeins
Added this Week: 0 skeins
Added since mid-August: 0 skeins
Net Used since mid-August : 0 skeins

I'm still working on my Top-Down Raglan Summer Lace Cardigan. I've made a little more progress since the picture was taken -- there are now only 14 rows to go before starting the bottom ribbing.

Top-Down Raglan Summer Lace Cardigan

I'm making this sweater as my dissertation for Nerd Wars Tournament 8 on Ravelry. I'm about halfway finished. The yarn is a new one from Bernat called Cotton-ish. It's a DK weight cotton/acrylic blend. I really like it; it's easy to work with, and the weight is perfect for our Kansas summers. My granddaughter picked out the color for me.

Charts for Top-Down Raglan Summer Cardigan

I hope this helps:

Front increases on each side up to raglan stitch. Stop increasing every odd row after row 17; then increase only on rows 25, 31, 37, 43, 49, and 55 (your rows might be different, depending on the size).  This is not meant to be an accurate stitch count, but a pattern showing how to do the increases at the beginning and end of the rows.

Raglan Stitches

Edge Stitches

Slip Stitch = /

Slip Slip Knit = >

Knit 2 Together = <

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Beginning of Row

For row 19 on the front, you would sl, k1, k2tog, yo, k2…etc. Rows 21 and 23 would start off sl, k1…etc. On row 25 you make another increase at the front edge, so rows 27 and 29 would start sl, k2, lace pattern…. You increase again on row 31, so rows 33 and 35 would start sl, k3, lace pattern…. (I hope the bold number for row 19 is correct; just make sure it matches up with your established pattern and go from there).

On the yo, ssk rows, the second stitch of the ssk will be the yo from the previous odd row. On the k2tog, yo rows, the first stitch of the k2tog will be the yo from the previous odd row. Once I figured this out, it’s been a lot easier to do the pattern.

Sleeve and back increases between raglan stitches. First and last stitches are raglan stitches, second and next-to-last stitches are raglan increases. This is not an accurate stitch count, but a pattern showing how to do the increases at the beginning and end of each sleeve and back section. Continue in this pattern until row 63.

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