• @amanda_lino88 wanted a collar, in black, for her birthday, and so she gets one! This knitted up very fast considering the intricacy of the lacework. I really enjoyed it!

Pattern: "Leafy Collar" by @_strikkelisa_ 
Yarn: @cascadeyarns 220 in Black
See my #Ravelry for more info.

#knitting #collar #cowl #cascadeyarns #leaves #friendshipismagic #birthday #gift
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    @amanda_lino88 wanted a collar, in black, for her birthday, and so she gets one! This knitted up very fast considering the intricacy of the lacework. I really enjoyed it! Pattern: "Leafy Collar" by @_strikkelisa_ Yarn: @cascadeyarns 220 in Black See my #Ravelry for more info. #knitting #collar #cowl #cascadeyarns #leaves #friendshipismagic #birthday #gift
  • More thrummed mittens, this time for ME!

Back in 2019, I made a pair each for my best friends. I resolved to complete our trio, and now I have! These are not only the warmest mittens I've made but probably the *easiest*. Yes, you have to make thrums. Other than that, however, it's just stockinette stitch, so it knits up fast!

As with the other pairs, I improvised this pattern based on the guidance provided by @kateatherleyknits in her book Knit Mitts. Math doesn't steer you wrong!

The yarn is @cascadeyarns 220 Heathers in "Blue Teal."

#knitting #mittens #Thrumming #thrummed #thrummedmittens #knitwear #cascadeyarns #tweetphoto
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    More thrummed mittens, this time for ME! Back in 2019, I made a pair each for my best friends. I resolved to complete our trio, and now I have! These are not only the warmest mittens I've made but probably the *easiest*. Yes, you have to make thrums. Other than that, however, it's just stockinette stitch, so it knits up fast! As with the other pairs, I improvised this pattern based on the guidance provided by @kateatherleyknits in her book Knit Mitts. Math doesn't steer you wrong! The yarn is @cascadeyarns 220 Heathers in "Blue Teal." #knitting #mittens #Thrumming #thrummed #thrummedmittens #knitwear #cascadeyarns #tweetphoto
  • This shawl is for a former colleague in the UK!

The garter stitch body was somewhat boring, as is often the case, but I can't deny that the edging was a really fun, relaxing pattern. Once I had the hang of it I just wanted to keep knitting for hours over the holidays! I've never done a shawl with a border edge like this, so it was a fun new construction technique.

Pattern: "Metallurgy" by @verybusymonkey 
Yarn: @naturalewe Sustainable Merino Fingering
See my #Ravelry for more info.

#knitting #shawl #knitwear #lacework #naturalewe #merino
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    This shawl is for a former colleague in the UK! The garter stitch body was somewhat boring, as is often the case, but I can't deny that the edging was a really fun, relaxing pattern. Once I had the hang of it I just wanted to keep knitting for hours over the holidays! I've never done a shawl with a border edge like this, so it was a fun new construction technique. Pattern: "Metallurgy" by @verybusymonkey Yarn: @naturalewe Sustainable Merino Fingering See my #Ravelry for more info. #knitting #shawl #knitwear #lacework #naturalewe #merino
  • You've seen these before; you know the drill. If you're my friend and you ask *really* nicely or get really lucky, I will make you comfy slippers! These particular ones now live on the feet of @amanda_lino88.
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Pattern: "Malabrigo Loafers" by @cocoknits
Yarn: @minevillewoolproject #3006
See my #Ravelry for more info.
#knitting #slippers #minevillewoolproject  #friendshipismagic
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    You've seen these before; you know the drill. If you're my friend and you ask *really* nicely or get really lucky, I will make you comfy slippers! These particular ones now live on the feet of @amanda_lino88. . Pattern: "Malabrigo Loafers" by @cocoknits Yarn: @minevillewoolproject #3006 See my #Ravelry for more info. #knitting #slippers #minevillewoolproject #friendshipismagic
  • My first knitted skirt! 😍 Those of you who are following @transkara can check out that account for more glamour shots. 😉
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The weaving-like effect is created using a technique called entrelac. Like many things in knitting, it *looks* really hard, and it can take some time to learn, but once you know it, it's actually quite lovely to knit.
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I found this pattern shortly after realizing, back in February, that as a consequence of my transition and my new clothing style, I could knit myself skirts. 😊 I loved the pattern so much I ordered its book IN NORWEGIAN and used Google Translate—which actually did a decent job! Ironically, the English version of the book was published like a month after I ordered my Norwegian copy 😅 Anyway, it has a ton of entrelac patterns I'm excited to knit in the coming years.

Pattern: "Silja" by @pinnedans
Yarn: @cascadeyarns 220 Superwash in Ruby
See my #Ravelry for more info.

#knitting #knitwear #skirt #entrelac #pencilskirt #transknitters #cascadeyarns #tweetphoto
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    My first knitted skirt! 😍 Those of you who are following @transkara can check out that account for more glamour shots. 😉 . The weaving-like effect is created using a technique called entrelac. Like many things in knitting, it *looks* really hard, and it can take some time to learn, but once you know it, it's actually quite lovely to knit. . I found this pattern shortly after realizing, back in February, that as a consequence of my transition and my new clothing style, I could knit myself skirts. 😊 I loved the pattern so much I ordered its book IN NORWEGIAN and used Google Translate—which actually did a decent job! Ironically, the English version of the book was published like a month after I ordered my Norwegian copy 😅 Anyway, it has a ton of entrelac patterns I'm excited to knit in the coming years. Pattern: "Silja" by @pinnedans Yarn: @cascadeyarns 220 Superwash in Ruby See my #Ravelry for more info. #knitting #knitwear #skirt #entrelac #pencilskirt #transknitters #cascadeyarns #tweetphoto
  • Girls gotta have shawls!
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My knitting over the summer was lacklustre. Partly I didn't seem to be in the mood. Partly, I think I picked the wrong project. I started this shawl to use up some of my stash yarn. The end result is *beautiful*, and I decided to keep it for myself—my very first handknit shawl!
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But I didn't enjoy making it. And that's ok.
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Sometimes you'll pick patterns that don't excite you. It's not the pattern's fault. Sometimes you'll be knitting a shawl during a pandemic, and instead of feeling productive you'll just feel ... sad. I can't say for certain that if I'd been knitting a more enjoyable project I would have made more progress. All I know is that I was avoiding knitting instead of yearning for it, and that felt so weird.
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The act of knitting has always brought me joy and comfort, and so when it failed to do so for a few months this year, I didn't know what to do. I worried perhaps this feeling would be permanent. It seems silly to say that, but it's something I struggled with.
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I started this account to promote positivity with my knitting pics—to give you something good in your feed. Sometimes, though, it's worth acknowledging that even those of us with an abundance of positivity don't always have enough to go around.
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I have turned the corner. I have skirt pics coming your way soon, and many a project planned after that! But if the pandemic, or your patterns, have quashed the joy of knitting for you, for a time, it's ok. You're not alone.

Pattern: "Akemi" by Isabell Kraemer
Yarn: Regia in white, and James C. Brett Moonlight Sonata
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    Girls gotta have shawls! . My knitting over the summer was lacklustre. Partly I didn't seem to be in the mood. Partly, I think I picked the wrong project. I started this shawl to use up some of my stash yarn. The end result is *beautiful*, and I decided to keep it for myself—my very first handknit shawl! . But I didn't enjoy making it. And that's ok. . Sometimes you'll pick patterns that don't excite you. It's not the pattern's fault. Sometimes you'll be knitting a shawl during a pandemic, and instead of feeling productive you'll just feel ... sad. I can't say for certain that if I'd been knitting a more enjoyable project I would have made more progress. All I know is that I was avoiding knitting instead of yearning for it, and that felt so weird. . The act of knitting has always brought me joy and comfort, and so when it failed to do so for a few months this year, I didn't know what to do. I worried perhaps this feeling would be permanent. It seems silly to say that, but it's something I struggled with. . I started this account to promote positivity with my knitting pics—to give you something good in your feed. Sometimes, though, it's worth acknowledging that even those of us with an abundance of positivity don't always have enough to go around. . I have turned the corner. I have skirt pics coming your way soon, and many a project planned after that! But if the pandemic, or your patterns, have quashed the joy of knitting for you, for a time, it's ok. You're not alone. Pattern: "Akemi" by Isabell Kraemer Yarn: Regia in white, and James C. Brett Moonlight Sonata
  • It's been a while since I posted, I know! I dragged my heels over the summer when it came to knitting ... I made a shawl (you'll see it soon!) but wasn't enthusiastic about the project.
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I actually finished this cozy and coaster back in MAY, but I was too lazy to block the coaster until now. 😑
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The yarn is handspun by my friend Carly—her *first* completed handspun ball! I posted a photo of it before! It's in the ace pride colours, and I've turned it into a cozy and a double-sided coaster.
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The cozy pattern is "Red hot coffee cozy" by @kikuknits. See my Ravelry for more info.
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I'm currently making a skirt for myself and then have many interesting projects in the queue, so look forward to many more photos as we head into winter!
#knitting #cozy #teapotcozy #acepride #asexualpride
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    It's been a while since I posted, I know! I dragged my heels over the summer when it came to knitting ... I made a shawl (you'll see it soon!) but wasn't enthusiastic about the project. . I actually finished this cozy and coaster back in MAY, but I was too lazy to block the coaster until now. 😑 . The yarn is handspun by my friend Carly—her *first* completed handspun ball! I posted a photo of it before! It's in the ace pride colours, and I've turned it into a cozy and a double-sided coaster. . The cozy pattern is "Red hot coffee cozy" by @kikuknits. See my Ravelry for more info. . I'm currently making a skirt for myself and then have many interesting projects in the queue, so look forward to many more photos as we head into winter! #knitting #cozy #teapotcozy #acepride #asexualpride
  • Many of you know I write book reviews. In fact, I review every book I read and have done so for 12 years. Today I'm launching my own, personal book review site to make it easier for y'all to find, read, and share my reviews.
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➡️ Go to kara.reviews (no .com, no .ca) ⬅️ to see my site! My first newsletter issue will go out tomorrow evening, so subscribe to my newsletter now!
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➡️ Go to karababcock.ca ⬅️ to read my blog announcement with more details!
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    Many of you know I write book reviews. In fact, I review every book I read and have done so for 12 years. Today I'm launching my own, personal book review site to make it easier for y'all to find, read, and share my reviews. . ➡️ Go to kara.reviews (no .com, no .ca) ⬅️ to see my site! My first newsletter issue will go out tomorrow evening, so subscribe to my newsletter now! . ➡️ Go to karababcock.ca ⬅️ to read my blog announcement with more details!
  • @shippykel asked me to make a spider toy similar to a character from a show her daughter loves! I really enjoy making stuffed animals. I particularly like stuffed animal patterns from @noknitsherlock because her patterns are so clear and usually let me knit on legs, which I'm all in favour of!
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Pattern: "Eeek! the Spider" by Susan Claudino-Aguilar
Yarn: @briggslittle Heritage in Pink, Purple, and Gold colourways
See my Ravelry for more details!
#knitting #amigurumi #stuffedanimals #spiders #tweetphoto #briggsandlittle
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    @shippykel asked me to make a spider toy similar to a character from a show her daughter loves! I really enjoy making stuffed animals. I particularly like stuffed animal patterns from @noknitsherlock because her patterns are so clear and usually let me knit on legs, which I'm all in favour of! . Pattern: "Eeek! the Spider" by Susan Claudino-Aguilar Yarn: @briggslittle Heritage in Pink, Purple, and Gold colourways See my Ravelry for more details! #knitting #amigurumi #stuffedanimals #spiders #tweetphoto #briggsandlittle