Nuclear Knits: Where knitting is the bomb!

We love doing an advent calendar in our house. After our house fire the wooden one we had died. My hubby wanted a bigger advent calendar as well... So I decided to make 25 mittens. Now they aren't real sized (they are a little small). But they are mittens none the less. I've finished 6 mittens and am working on 7. I hope to have these done before I loose steam! Happy New Year Eve!!

Santa officially loves me. I got this tea sock yarn club. Now I want to drink tea and knit!!!

Project Details: Started on December 19 and finished tonight December 24th. A little Christmas Eve knitting! I used 2 skeins of Rowan Handknit Cotton with size 8 needles. The cool thing with this pattern is that there is space in the back side for a diaper.

We had a snow day today. I thought it might be nice to get a little bit more spinning done this year. Here is my latest! 202 yards of Worsted nearly Aran weight. 4 oz in colorway chocolate rainbow. This fiber is 70% alpaca and 30% silk. Hand dyed by Abstract Fibers. It cost $28 but I think it was so worth it!

This little stuffed animal came as a kit. Here is what all the pieces looked like. It was a whole day to assemble this bad boy. Project Details: Kit from KnitWhits. I used nearly all the yarn that was provided. I started on December 17th and finished on December 18th. A full day of putting the whole thing together. I thought this might come out smaller - but it was a larger than I figured from the photos. I used size 8 needles. The only thing I didn't do was to put the ears on (I thought it was pretty cute without them). This is currently stuffed into our little girls stocking.

Let no WIP go untouched. I don't feel like working on this pair of socks - will be finished one way or another!!

I'll try to get some better photos - but the light and the "helper" cat seem to not want to work. Project Details: A free Debbie Bliss pattern . Started on December 2nd and finished on December 10th this was a fast little knit. It uses an aran weight yarn (which I think helps). It is knit flat from the bottom up and then just seamed under the arms and down the sides (which was pretty cool). I used Universal Yarn (which is machine washable and feels amazing). Here are my notes from Ravelry and what I learned with this pattern (could be my poor reading of the pattern or a bug): "Once you cast off the stitches for the neck you continue for the arms (I did both arms at the same time by using two skeins of yarn). The pattern says Shape Sleeve (this is where the issue was for me). It says to cast off 4 times. This cast off should be done near the edge of the sleeve (wrist edge) - I got this messed up. Next you are suppose to do 34 rows over the 16 sts. These 34 ro

We are having a holiday White Elephant exchange at knit and bitch. I decided to make these quilted mug rugs!

In the middle of holiday baking I decided to make a baby quilt. Project Details: I bought the monkey panel a long time ago. I've never used a panel before and had no idea how to work with it. I found a pattern I liked. But then once I read it I decided I didn't want to make it. I finally picked some Dr. Seuss fabric for the edge and some soft fleece for the back. I decided to only quilt the edge fabric (as I didn't want to mess up the cool panel). I picked a variegated thread that was silk. All of these decisions (plus wanting to do a rolled binding) bit me in the butt! The thread kept breaking. The backing wanted to bunch and the binding was a massive pain. My hubby says the kids will pee, pooh and vomit on it - so he isn't worried. But I'm using it as a quilt learning experience. Things I won't do again!!

Project Details: Started yesterday and finished today. Fast, easy, love it! I used yarn that Anne gave me a while ago. The colors and style reminds me of Strawberry Shortcake. Size 3 dpns were used and no other changes made! The hat is called Knotted Newborn.

Project Details: Another pair of holiday gift mitts. I used Elsebeth Lavold Angora and started them on November 27th - finishing today December first. I know, getting close to the holidays. Size 6 needles and a little fun color for trim. I really do love this pattern!

Project Details: I'm trying to get a little non-baby knitting done. I figured I'd make a quick set of mitts. Using size 6 needles and one skein of Elsebeth Lavold Angora. I started on November 25 and finished today November 26. Super fast and really cute!

I didn't get much knitting done over Thanksgiving break. But I did get these little guys done. Project Details: Started on November 22 and finished on November 24. Super fast knit and free pattern on Ravelry. I used the same yarn as the little leg warmers. I might have to make some more.

Project Detail: Started on November 17 and finished today November 21. I used Online self striping yarn with size one needles. Socks are to come next! Small projects like these are just so darn fast!

Project Details: I used sock yarn to make this sock monkey. Started on November 12th and finished on November 20th. I re-worked the increases to be more like how you do toe up socks and I put buttons as the eyes. I hope little baby likes it!

Project Details: Started on November 5th and finished on November 12. The buttons were the last and we were just waiting for the news on boy/girl. The buttons Mike got me in Japan! I used Rowan Cotton Glacé and it took 2.5 skeins on size 4 needles. The pattern is free on Ravelry and is called Garter Yoke Sweater.

Well next on my list is this fun little guy. I pulled out fingering yarn and then saw the pattern was rewritten for DK. I was pretty worried, but after talking to one of the best knitters I know, she assured me that a little stuffed animal wouldn't notice the difference (and she was correct). So far I've finished two legs and a tail!

Last race of the year and I'm getting some good work done! Almost finished with this fun kids sweater!

The roving. Superwash Merino from a club I was in 2 years ago. Singles. Project Details: I'm still not in love with superwash but this one was okay (didn't get too puffy when I washed it). This was from Christina Marie Potter's fiber club (which I was in a few years ago). The colorway is Cotton Candy (and I think that is pretty fitting). I split the roving to try and get the longest possible stripes I could get (which I think worked well). 4oz which gave me 326 yards of Sport/DK (almost DK but just a little shy). I'm thinking about making mitts for my baby sister with it! Maybe I'll get another few yards done before the end of the year!

Project Details: This is for my Sole Sisters swap buddy. I started it on October 22 and finished it on November 4th. I used Mirasol Yarn Nuna (which is a blend of silk, wool and bamboo). My buddy wanted something fun and fashionable (so I hope this fits the bill). I blocked it on a dinner plate (which worked perfect). I only used 191 yards for this hat (which means I have a whole skein left - what to do with it now??). About to cast on some new and fun projects!

I've been working on this for what seems like forever. I had to frog it once because the needle size I picked was too small. But once I got rolling it didn't take too long. Project Details: I used left over gray and white wool no-name yarn. Took just shy of 400 yards. I used size 9 needles. Started on August 17 and finished on October 30. This is the simple Noro Striped Scarf. I cast on 30 stitches.

I'm in an exchange and for winter we are doing hats. I finally found yarn, pattern, and gauge. It has taken me a while. The pattern came out of a cable set of patterns on Ravelry and I'm excited to do most of the patterns!

I have a few things on the needles that really should be finished up. This has been waiting for me to work on it. I'm going to try to finish it by next Monday.

Project Details: Started on September 20th and finished on October 16. Longer than I would have thought but so worth it. Size 5 needles and cheap lion brand acrylic yarn (figure machine washing is in order). I made the smallest size and I think this will fit a 2 year old.

I'm trying to get a bit more spinning done. I've decided to sell one wheel and just use my old faithful travel wheel. 2 oz done and I'll try to get the last bit done tomorrow! This fiber is loud and fun. I think will make a perfect set of fingerless mitts and hat for a holiday gift!

Well first things first - Mike and I are expecting. I've waiting a while to tell you lovely readers, I hope you understand. We don't know the sex yet so I've decided to start working on projects that are gender neutral. Project Details: Ruby Sweater (free off ravelry), it is my own yarn Serenity Stitches Sunspots dyed in a fall color called Pumpkin Patch. Dk weight yarn on size 7 needles (took about 230 yards) this top down sweater was SUPER fast and easy. I started on September 27 and finished on October 6th. I made the sweater for 6-12 months since the kid is due in April and I figure it should be at least sort of warm by then.

I figured out that all my runners and table clothes were destroyed in the house fire. So I needed something for Halloween! Quick and fits perfect!

Project Details: Well I finished another sport weight yarn. I now have a total of 1044 yards of this yarn. I'm very close to to being able to knit up the sweater I want with this yarn. I might start and see if I need more yarn or not (since I still have another 4 oz left). Thanks Anne for selling me more of this - I so love it!!! Were you wondering if there was any spinning happening out here?

Yep. FINALLY FINISHED. Blocked and with buttons. Project Details: 8 skeins of Berroco Peruvia (which the pattern called for) on size 9 needles. If you remember gauge was hard for me to get on this project. I got the fabulous buttons at Village Wools in ABQ (for anyone that is local). I started on August 19 and finished on September 19th. Not bad for a sweater I thought was going to take me forever. Things I changed in the pattern: I lengthened the sleeves (I have long arms). My row gauge wasn't the same as the pattern so I stopped 10 rows short of what the pattern called for because my measurement was what I wanted. I picked up more stitches around the neck because I wanted something less tight (I hate stuff squeezing my neck). I think it doesn't look too bad and it stays away from my neck the way I wanted it to. Overall a fun knit with interesting construction. I'd highly recommend it!

After a hard weekend push I'm almost done with the Tilted Duster. I just need to weave in loose ends and block it!

Race weekends normally mean a lot of knitting progress. I'll say this and please understand that right now I'm just feeling it - THIS FUCKING SWEATER .... So what do I mean? Well I'm half way through the bottom of this sweater and for every decrease I increase one extra. It is really taking forever. I feel like I'll never be done!

Well all I had to finish on this fall quilt was the binding. I decided to buckle down and knock it out (fall really is on the way). It ended up being a big king and screams of all things bright in fall!

I swear I'm working! Really. I've started the skirt on the Duster Sweater and I'm working on a pair of socks!

This has been an interesting knit so far. Lots of pieces that get attached (after being blocked). I hope to have the sleeves done this week! Front is done, back is done and the sleeves are left before picking up a whole mess of stitches for the skirt!

I had a customer ask for some yarn that is Tiffany Blue. It took me nearly a hour to get the perfect color.

Guess what I finished - yep - the top of the Leafy Quilt. It took me most of the weekend to assemble but I'm in love with how it finished. I started it in 2002 and finished it in 2011 (how crazy is that?) I could have finished it much faster if I only made an effort to do it. It came out Queen size and will be just the perfect gift once it is finished. This will go to the quilters in a few weeks and then I'll just have to do the binding!