Alex's New Knit Socks

Spring weather doesn't stop me from knitting socks. I just finished this pair with some yarn I picked up at Purl's Yarn Emporium last year. (I can't tell you how proud I am to be finishing projects with yarn I bought just last year. Progress!)

Pattern: my own cuff-down pattern (64-stitch cast on) with purling on the front, knitting on the back

Yarn: Neighborhood Fiber Company Studio Sock in Fells Point

The Knitorious RBG Sweater Test Knit

In November and December, I committed my knitting to this AMAZING test knit for Park Williams celebrating Ruth Bader Ginsburg. And since today is RBG's birthday, I thought it would be a great time to share it.

There were some adventures along the way. I decided to make the full-length version instead of the cropped version, and I couldn't find the yarn at any of my LYSs, so I had to order it online. It took foreverrrrr to get here, which isn't ideal when you're under a test knit deadline!

Pattern: The Knitorious RBG by Park Williams

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Pitch Black and Natural

Arbor Vitae Sweater and Saying Hi to Stephen West

Hey, it's my birthday sweater! Every December, Sami and I (practically birthday twins, just a day apart) go to Black Mountain Yarn Shop to buy yarn for a birthday sweater. This was my pick for 2018.

Pattern: Arbor Vitae by Joji Locatelli from Pom Pom Quarterly Issue 27

Yarn: House of a la Mode House Fingering Single Ply in Antique

Lots of Thrummed Mittens

As it goes with knitting sometimes, you knit something and get lots of requests for more. That's for sure what happened when I posted a photo of my first attempt at thrumming mittens.

This all started when I saw a couple of people at Echoview Fiber Mill making thrummed slippers. Not long after, Echoview had a big sale where they were getting rid of some gorgeous colors of roving. I needed no other signs! I bought up what I thought was a lot of roving. Good thing I did, because I used all of it.

By the way, if you're interested in thrumming, Echoview has an awesome thrumming tutorial.

Pattern: Chop Wood Carry Water by Jill Draper (pattern free with Creativebug class)
Yarn: Columbia Minerva Knitting Worsted in Turquoise (I inherited this yarn and had it in my stash for maybe even a decade)
Roving: from Echoview Fiber Mill

Trying Sock Blank Knit Socks

I wanted to try knitting from a sock blank for so long, and then last year my friend Liz gifted me a pretty sock blank for my birthday. Yay!

This is a great example of how sometimes the process means just as much as the finished product. I love trying new yarn, tools, and techniques -- even if they don't always turn out the way I want. I think this experiment went pretty well.

Pattern: Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder (Free pattern)

Yarn: Purl's Yarn Emporium Hippie Hippie Sock, Platinum Sock Blank #49170

Beaucoup de Baby Hats

It seems like everyone I know had a baby around the same time. I got behind on gifts really quickly. I intended on knitting something for each baby, but I got overwhelmed with the sheer number of babies so I decided to make multiple jersey hats on my serger instead.

Pattern: Top Knot Baby Hat by Pretty Prudent (Free Pattern)

Fabric: Scraps from many of my Moneta dresses

Katina's Flip Flop Crochet Slippers

A few years ago, my cousin Katina posted a pair of flip-flop sole crochet shoes to my Facebook wall, saying that she was sure I'd get her name for our family Christmas drawing. (Hint, hint.) She was so sure that she even gave me her shoe size.

I didn't get her name that year, but I did get it two years later, and I somehow remembered her posting that. I went on the hunt for a pattern, and I made these cool shoes for her. I hope they fit!

Pattern: Lightweight Slippers with Flip Flop Soles by Make & Do Crew (free pattern on Ravelry)

Yarn: Cloudborn Pima Cotton DK in Lavender