Grumble grumble grumble. FINE. The increases really do look better if the stitch on top of them is twisted. Which of course I didn't realize until I was three or four rows in. Which of course means I get to rip those stitches out and do a bit of surgery to close it all back up. Fine fine fine. I'll be happier with it when it's done if I go ahead and fix it.  But I'm totally going to grumble while I do it. So much better.  Totally worth it.  But yes I did mutter and sputter and fume the [...]

With the hat sorted (and due out on Tuesday, if nothing untoward happens in the meantime), clearly mitts are the next thing that need to happen. Because hats by themselves are just not nearly as much fun as hats and mitts together.  That's my theory and I'm sticking to it!

If I could wave a magic wand and grant you a knitting super power it would be blocking.  Blocking your knits makes them So Damn Much Better it's basically a magic trick.  I know some people fight it (not sure why mind you...but the evidence sure suggests that some of you do), but I will never stop encouraging you to do it. Blocking is how you go from this: To this: And from this: To this: I've written about how I block and what I use for it before, so you can go read all about it if you're so [...]

Somehow, and I am not at all sure how so please don't ask, it's basically September.  It's basically September, and it's actually starting to be cool at night.  I am completely torn between 'wait, slow down, we didn't actually get a summer what with all the staying home so as to not kill ourselves or our loved ones' and 'anything we can do to bring this hell year to an end is great, so bring on fall.'  But since my opinions on the matter won't actually change the weather, I think I'll just revel in the cool weather. Revel, and [...]

Look, this year is a dumpster fire.  It just is.  But for the love of wool, I am taking any tiny bit of joy I can find and clinging to it like a needy little barnacle. And these silly little things?  Well they bring me joy. They seem to do the same for quite a few of you too.  And I'm taking what I can get these days. I hope you'll do the same. (Yes it will be a pattern, probably in October, I'll talk more about what's inside them and how they go together as we get closer to [...]

You know me by now.  You know I have an unspeakable fondness for sets. So you knew there were going to be mitts to go with the hat.  They're called Portend, they're out now on ravelry and payhip, and if you're fast, you can take 10% off in either place with the code SIGNIFY. Look, I suspect you are far more fashionable than I am.  My favorite thing about winter is that I can more easily get away with wearing my pajamas to the grocery store (I mean...you know...back when we went inside grocery stores instead of just doing curbside [...]

So I cheat. If I have something like this, that is mostly purls and a few knits, I knit the thing inside out (so I'm knitting more than I'm purling). Then, when I get to the part with less purling and more knitting, I flip it back right side out again and carry on my merry way. ⁠⠀ ⁠Is it necessary? Nope. Does it amuse me? Yup. Do I think you should do it? Up to you, you are the boss of your knitting. But it keeps me happy so I have no complaints!

I mean, you knew it was going to happen. I am apparently unable to actually knit actual useful stuff for too long before I get distracted and have to knit tiny absurd things. And I would apologize for that, but I'm not actually sorry. And from what I can tell, I'm also not the only one who has a fondness for tiny absurd things! So...let's go for it. This should be fun!  

Here's the point where I might be tempted to write a whole lecture on how casting on over two needles is fine so long as you know what it's doing and do it intentionally. But luckily, I've already written that, so I can just point you at it.  Because it is.  It's fine.  I promise.  I've checked!