theraineysisters knitting and so much more

I finished up a languishing project that is one of those that makes your ask yourself, why?  I think it’s cute and liked the pictures in the magazine…but, why?

The project is Cape Neddick by Martha Wissing for Vogue Knitting, Winter 2020-2021.  I used the yarn called for, Tahki Dakota, color Pinecone, and it took much less than expected.  I have enough left over to make another!!  My yarn is on Ravelry for sale for $20, plus shipping!!

From Vogue

I was thinking this would be a cute layer when it’s cold and snowy…finished just in time for Spring!!  😎

In my chain mail!!

Hi, All!  Are you surviving the winter doldrums, the COVID isolation, the endless “Groundhog Day” movie reel??  I am on the tortuously slow knitting journey on a coat-like cardigan, called Mulled Cider.

I started this a while ago.  I selected yarn that I had used previously and LOVED: Harrisville WaterSHED (for my beloved Roosevelt Cardigan).  I had color cards, so felt confident about my color choice.  But, alas, the yarn is not the same as it used to be.  It is bigger, rougher, not as easy or fun to knit.  Though disappointed, I just couldn’t bear continuing my search, so I kept the yarn.  It does make the knitting slower because it just isn’t that enjoyable.

I am making major changes to this pattern, which also slowed me down.  I don’t really like set-in sleeves for a layering cardigan — doesn’t seem roomy enough.  So I am dropping the shoulder and adding short rows for shoulder shaping…when I get there!  It also bugs me when ribbing doesn’t flow into the pattern:

It was a very simple fix!  I also made the front motif match the back.  Would you like some cheese and crackers with that whine!  Anyway, I hope to get this done before the August thaw!! 😉

Yay, it’s Surly’s birthday!!  There will be merriment and cake involved, I’m sure!

Surly is my peepiest knitting peep and biggest supporter.  I know she would face the threats of COVID (i.e., fly here!) if I needed her.  She is always in my corner and has my back.  Plus, she makes me laugh!  Happy Birthday to the surliest sister ever!!

Remember in Bridget Jones’s Diary when Bridget’s mother starts selling cheap costume jewelry?  And how she and her orange boyfriend tout certain pieces as being “all rounders”?  (Excuse me while I briefly fantasize about Colin Firth.  Ok.  Done.)

I recently finished an all rounder sweater that checked all the boxes. The pattern is Beyul designed by Justyna Lorkowska.  A simple knit with some nice stylish details.  Interesting top down construction.  Casual, comfortable, and wearable.  In fact, I’m wearing it right now! Let me stress the wearable part.  Sometimes I knit things that are so interesting or complicated that I never wear them.  I love the sweater but can’t find things to go with it or don’t feel comfortable in it or it’s too dressy for my so called lifestyle.

Bonus:  I used stash yarn.  I knit it out of Miss Babs Yowza in a bright (for me) purple called Tulipa.  The yarn has been languishing aging since Susan and I went to Rhinebeck years ago.  The pattern was clear and well written and the yarn was really nice to work with.

The photos are not great.  This is one of those sweaters that looks better on a human than a mannequin.  Sure, I could have asked my husband to take photos of me in it, but his poor photography skills are legendary.  If only he were home — he could model it!  Sigh.

Surprise!  I slipped in a selfie.

Susan mentioned showed off some yarn she’d bought for a Pink Fizz, a future project.  As usual, it’s monkey see monkey do.  In fact, I think I was the first monkey in this scenario!  Here’s a photo of the yarn I bought:  La Bien Aimée Cashmerino in Highland and Mohair Silk in Sansa.

Startitis is a common problem for knitters and usually results in quite a few WIPs and few FOs!!!  I have about 4-6 projects on my needles right now and a new project waiting for spring.

So, I’m not going to bother listing all my projects just yet, but want to share a gorgeous WIP for the future: Pink Fizz!

It is a new Andrea Mowry design knit in La Bien Aimee yarns.  Surly gave me an outrageous gift certificate to La Bien Aimee so I could buy the color of my dreams, which I did: Anemone.

The real color is somewhere between my photo and these from the La Bien Aimee site (bottom two pics).  Hubby saw it on the table and thought it was stunning!  I plan on re-engineering the pattern slightly to suit my “style” 🙂 🙂 🙂  You hold the two yarns together.  It looks like heaven!!

So, my 2021 goals are to survive and thrive!  Get vaccinated ASAP!!  Get back to my friends and family.

PS to Kathy: I have just too many other projects going right now, but it is going to happen!!

PS2 to Pru: Your yarn sounds lovely!  I probably have some of the mohair in stash, but my stash rarely is what I want! 🙁  Keep us informed on The Rainey Sisters Ravelry Group!!

Whew!  Got through the holidays!  I had one last gift to make and finally finished:

An adaptation of Plinth Mitts in Ella Rae Classic Wool, color Lunar Green.  Hubby also received his Cobblestone Pullover.  It was a little skimpy 🙁 so I tried reblocking it.  For some reason, Shelter just does not budge with reblocking!  I got a little more but not quite enough.  It does fit okay, though:

He is wearing it as we speak!  Yay!!  I call that a win!

These are two quick knits to enhance your holiday gifting.  I used both as gift card holders/ornaments. — both are free patterns!!

The first is called Santa Knit Gift Card Holder.  A very quick knit — add a hanging loop and it can also also work as an ornament.

The other is a mitten ornament designed by Jared Flood.  I blocked mine big enough to hold a gift card.

Just wanted to share!! 🙂

PS to Michele: The knitted chicken in my picture is a pattern designed by Susan B. Anderson called Three French Hens.  Very cute!  I made a matching one for Surly, the other Rainey Sister.

Yep, that’s me!  Working on a goal of 500 hats.  Or, at least that’s how it feels!!  My latest hats…

The first is a Christmas gift for DD’s BF.  I cannot post it on Instagram since she follows me!  I had hoped for a super slouchy, cool vibe because BF is very cool.  It didn’t quite make it.  The hat is soft and warm, so it definitely has something to offer!  I bought the yarn at The Yarnery: Holst Cielo, in Ash (charcoal) and Chanterelle (gold).  I opted for brioche because I love a dark color as the main color and a hot color as the CC.  I didn’t use a pattern, but included my notes on my project page.  I knit the yarn down quite a bit.  It is 18 inches around, because I did not want it to stretch out before he started wearing it.

Here is a picture with the MC on the outside:

Turned inside out:

I kind of like it better wrong side out, so I wove in the final ends invisibly so it is reversible!  I used my “work both the MC and CC rnds at the same time” throughout.  This short video demonstrates.  When I pasted it into the post it was HUGE!!

The next hat pattern was a gift from the Minnesota Knitters Guild to its members: the MinneSNOWta Hat!  Designed by Kathy Lewinski, guild Prez, who must spend 43 hours a week on guild activities!!  I had Jamieson Spindrift in stash, so I dove right in.  I did make some changes to “Minnesota,” the crown, and the crown shaping.  Here is a link that shows the original design.  It is not as slouchy as I prefer (even after adding some rounds), but it fits hubby perfectly and he LOVES it!

So, there you go!  I am off to knit more hats! 😉

PS to Gretchen:  the Minnesota hat could be adapted to all trees. The MinneSNOWta motif is the same number of sts.  The guild is planning on releasing the pattern later for non-members as a fundraising activity.

Yes, it’s that time of year again…when I release a free Hostess Hat pattern!!  Second annual!!  This year it is The Holly Hostess Hat.  It’s the sister to last year’s The Hostess Hat.

Not sure if there will be one next year, but stay tuned!! 🙂

The spirit of Christmas has landed at the Rainey abode!  I started knitting this fun Santa Pillow and became very excited for the holidays!  Kathy Lewinski, president of the Minnesota Knitters Guild, designed it for KnitPicks.  I used yarn in stash: Cascade 220.  The face required a purchase.  I bought a skein of Malabrigo Rios, color Melon.  For the eyes and “nose” I used #2 seed beads from Fire Mountain Gems in black and Ruby.

I think it’s festive and fun…but, it was a lot of work!!  I used my woolyboard to block it to the designated size of 20 x 20 inches.  I thought that sounded HUGE, but it really isn’t.

The work will be worth it when I pull it out every year!

PS to Gretchen re: the cushion: I thought I would save a few bucks, so I bought a $4 pillow at Target, sized 20×28 inches.  The size I needed was 20×20.  I have done this before…cut down a full sized pillow.  When I cut the end off I discovered that the pillow was actually a flat batting, like you would use in a quilt, rolled up into a pillow shape!  I trimmed the outer fabric to size and then cut through the roll.  Somehow it worked but was more difficult than I anticipated!