Knit Lace Wedge Yoke Sweater

After working on my dad's crazy size 1 needle socks, I needed something chunky that was going to work up quickly. Cue the Lace Wedge Yoke Sweater!

Yarn: Cascade Eco + in Sapphire
Pattern: Lace Wedge Yoke Sweater designed by Eunny Jang for Choose Your Own Sweater Adventure Craftsy class

A Chunky Knit Cowl for Keshia

Let the Christmas gifts continue! I knit this chunky cowl for my sister-in-law, Keshia. It's straight out of my book, Chunky Knits, and it was designed by Brenda Lavell.

I made my chunky cowl slightly smaller than the one Brenda designed by changing up the yarn just a bit. I love how it turned out. The open stitches create instant buttonholes, so you can move the placement of the buttons wherever you want depending on how tight or loose you want the cowl to fit.

 

Pattern: Goldenrod Cowl from Chunky Knits by Brenda Lavell

Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick in Glacier

Hand Knit Christmas Socks for Dad

My dad is finally getting a mention on the blog! I'm ashamed to say this was the first Christmas I'd ever given him something handmade.

Dad isn't the type of guy to wear gloves, hats, scarves, or any other accessory for that matter. So this year I thought I'd do a little experiment and see how he does with a pair of knitted socks!

I used the For My Man Socks pattern from Craftsy (note that I used an affiliate link there), and I was knitting right up until December 22nd. The pattern took a while to memorize, but once I got the hang of it, I moved along much faster.

Pattern: For My Man Socks by Laura Nelkin
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine

Download a FREE eGuide for Knitting Sweaters

Happy sweater knitting season! You're probably already planning your sweater knitting for the cold, yucky days of January. (I'm starting as soon as I get all these holiday knitting projects off my needles!)

To celebrate sweater knitting, Craftsy just released a FREE eGuide to sweater knitting, featuring some of my posts.

Download your free eGuide here!

(Note that this is an affiliate link, and I will be compensated if you download the free eGuide.)

The eGuide includes everything from sweater yoke ideas to different construction methods for sweaters. It's great for every level of knitter -- yes, you CAN knit a sweater if you're a beginner! -- so don't be intimidated.

What to Do If You Run Outta Yarn at the End of a Knitting Project

The Imposter Shawl I showed you a few weeks ago certainly wasn't perfect. Why? I ran out of yarn with about eight stitches left to bind off.

I didn't have any more of the Malabrigo Purple Majesty yarn, so instead I dug through my stash to find a similar color. The yarn I found was not the same weight, nor was it really the same color. But it worked.

You can't really tell unless you look at it up close -- which almost no one ever does. (I'm letting you look up close because I know you won't judge me.)

For those of you who want to make sure this doesn't happen to you, Knit Oasis just blogged this awesome tip for estimating yarn for binding off.

Next time you run out of yarn and you're at the very end of a project, don't go out and buy a whole other skein. Improvise. I promise no one will notice -- and if they do, stick your tongue out at them!

Ta Da! Finished Imposter Shawl from Creativebug

I'm notorious for starting knitting projects and never finishing them (the wrap sweater that's been sitting in my stash for ten years, for example). But I spotted the Imposter Shawl and something hit me.

I finished it in less than two weeks.

Pattern: Imposter's Shawl from Fancy Tiger Crafts and Creativebug

Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Purple Mystery

(Note that the Creativebug links are affiliate links. I will be compensated if you click through and sign up.)

Last-Minute Pumpkin Carving Ideas

Happy Halloween! If you wait until the last minute to decorate like I did, you might get some inspiration from the pumpkin carvings that are hanging out on our front porch.

 

My friend Stephanie of Darned Ideas carved this feather design free-hand. She thinned out the pumpkin walls with a scooper so the light would shine through even more.

 

 

I carved this yarn and knitting needle design with help from this Craftsy carving tutorial. There's a template you can download, too!

 

 

Alex said he hadn't carved a pumpkin since he was a kid. He used this bass stencil to carve his pumpkin. Some of the parts fell off -- hee hee -- so we just T-pinned them back with the pins we used to poke the design.

 

Since Stephanie lives in an apartment building, she let us keep her pumpkin at our place. Here's a shot of all our happy pumpkins, plus our other fall decor. Our dog keeps watch over everything to make sure no one messes with our stuff!

Happy Halloween! Did you carve a pumpkin this year?