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