The Librarian's Stashbusting Mini-Jacket

I've discovered the knitting book section at the local library. Quite a satisfying collection. It's also nice to see some of the favorites from my personal library represented.

This pattern is Mini-Jacket from Knitting Simple Jackets by Marilyn Saitz Cohen. The book is full of easy, quick knits, but I've always had a soft spot for close-fitting, cropped jackets.

I had to cast on right away. Stashbuster, anyone?

The pattern called for three strands held together on Size US 17 needles.

I did a gauge swatch (go me!) with three strands on Size US 15 needles.

It came out about 3.5 inches wide by 3 inches tall, so I ripped it out and tried four strands.

Three Strands

Four Strands

Perfect.

I've been having a love/hate relationship with long-tail cast on lately, so I decided to use a simple cable cast on. It made the bottom of the body a bit smaller than the pattern called for, but I'm also shortening it, so I am proceeding, hoping that it gives the body some shaping and snugs it in around my ribs. I will only be knitting the body pieces to 10 inches instead of 14. Here's hoping it works out!

I'm really liking how the colors from my stash are playing together. The balance of the colors was a little better in the three-strand swatch, but hey, still happy.

Looking forward to wearing this.

Size US 15 needles. Starting with 10 skeins of Mirasol Yarn Sulka (55 yards per) in colorway 204 Cocao, 2 skeins of Cascade Yarns Lana Bambu (196 yards per) on colorway 12 Mystique, and 2 skeins from Winterberry Farm in colorway Goldenrod from a sheep festival (105 grams ), for a total of AT LEAST 1000 yards (that's really just for the yarn I have the totals for).

Yarn held with four strands, two Sulka, one Lana Bambu, and one Winterberry Farm.

Sulka and Winterberry Farm

Lana Bambu

Budget Earrings

I've branched out a little bit.

My mother is an avid bead collector and makes quirky earrings, so I've been staying away from the realm of beading since I was a kid. Didn't want to step on her toes, and all that.

But I got a craving, so I went to the local craft store and dropped too much money, and obsessively made earrings for a little bit.

I don't think they turned out too bad!

It took a couple of pairs to get the technique back, again, but it turned out to be a little bit like bike riding. Once I started, it all came back.

Enjoy!

I ran out of ear wires part way in, so some of them are still lacking those, but I'm quite proud of the results. I see more beading in my future.

Purple Little Valentine's Heart

Valentine's Day! Hallmark Day! Single's Awareness Day!

Whatever you want to call it, I had someone special to share it with this year!

I got him a nice card, spared him the big "L" word (it's way too soon), and made us a lovely steak dinner. He devoured it, and it's always nice to see someone enjoy your cooking.

We kept it low-key, though. He got me a tiny chocolate, and I crafted him a little heart pillow.

Pattern: Little Hearts by Teresa Fox

It is the smallest thing I have ever made, and I did it on double-pointed needles, my greatest fear!

It used a figure-eight cast on (I had no problem with that), shaped the body of the heart with simple increases, and then, well, I forgot to do a plain knit round before starting the decreases to shape the two tops, so when I stuffed it and sewed it up, it looked more like a little purple puff than a heart.

He appreciated it, though, and really seemed to like it.

I used yarn from my stash. I think the pattern called for worsted, but the only double pointed needles I could find were Size US 4, so when I tried the first increase with a nice, stash-found, dark dark purple-brown chenille, the yarn broke.

Back to the stash bin...

I found a forlorn ball of purple and pink variegated sock yarn, and that did the trick.

But between US 4s instead of 9s, and sock instead of worsted, I dare say my heart was likely half the size of the spec.

I also did a three needle bind off for the crowns of the heart instead of kitchener stitch (I'm lazy), and did a horrible job seaming it up (I did it in a rush), so..... this project was full of troubles.

Still, the recipient liked it, and that's what matters!

Hope you had a lovely hearts day, no matter how, where, or with who you celebrated!

Enjoy the pics!

Size US 4 double-pointed needles, a minuscule amount of leftover pink and purple variegated sock yarn, poly-fill.