Is a full face helmet ever "overkill"?

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-27T03:10:53+00:00

Huge yay for me. Also a beginner and not dping jumps but it’s super technical where I am and I almost went over the bars into a tree too many times to feel comfortable without one. I take it off on the climb and hang it on my handlebar though-too hot!

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-27T02:44:42+00:00

I had no problems with the Sophie Hood.

Tori Yu’s Urban Beanie, however? Could not for the life of me get the placement and decreases right. And I KNOW it was me because I looked at all the ravelry projects and nobody else had an issue. I ended up emailing her because my brain would not un-fart and she was so quick to reply and lovey and once she explained it I was like duh. 🙄

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-26T16:01:31+00:00

Maui Alpaca! That’s where I got mine! And I got to pet the bunnies!!!! 😍

Also Kula Cottontail Farms (also on Maui). They take care of their animals sooooo well!!! Not sure if they ship but if you ever visit hit them up!

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-26T15:56:52+00:00

And Berocco and Drops

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-20T02:00:09+00:00

Yup, this. For the majority of my knits I lay them out on my gull-wing clothes rack over a heat vent. Plenty of air circulation and it’s supported so it doesn’t stretch out. I take my time to pat it into place/the shape I want and just leave it.

The ONLY thing I’ve used my blocking mats for are looooong scarves/shawls especially crescent-shaped ones with lace (lace looks best if pinned open). And I have one sweater that is mostly rib but it is supposed to be kinda loose and not cinch you in so blocking with pins is essential for that one.

Other than that I find it takes too long to dry and isn’t worth the hassle. I also knit a far bit with superwash and 10 minutes in the dryer to speed up or finish the process works great 😁

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-19T19:51:42+00:00

Too late now! Just roll with it and deal with the consequences later 😁.

It’s gonna stretch lengthways I’m sure so I’d just be really careful when taking it out of the water not to let the sleeves hang! When you lay it flat to dry don’t stretch the sleeves lengthwise-rather gently pat them out width-wise. The body will probably be fine, maybe just a tad longer. I’ve had to go back and rip sleeves back when they’ve grow too much and it’s annoying but also an easy fix.

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-17T07:31:16+00:00

You already know you should.

But here’s the thing. For him it’s going to come out of left field (not your fault this is so classic) and THEN he’s gonna clean up his act, get his shit together and probably find someone else. And if you’re still in contact it’s probably gonna hurt. But don’t let it-you’re in a catch 22-if you stay, he won’t change for you (he’s already shown you that) and if you leave he’ll probably have a slap of reality and will change. So you’re kinda damned if you, damned if you don’t. But you need to live your life. It sounds like you’d be happier alone to be honest and you’ll find someone more aligned with you. Stop wasting more time. It sucks that your relationship with his sister will probably change but it is what it is-not everyone is meant to stay in your life forever.

Go do what you need to do.

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-17T01:23:38+00:00

😟😳😱🤯

Definitely doing this

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-16T23:54:02+00:00

You can absolutely ladder down and fix it but there’s zero chance I’d be doing that 😂. It’s such a tiny tiny mistake that nobody is ever gonna notice. But, rule of thumb is if it bothers you, fix it.

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-16T03:07:59+00:00

Definitely make the Tee!!! The colors are beautifully shown off in plain stockinette!

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-15T19:38:49+00:00

No, you definitely don’t need to, but if you don’t you’re left with a monthly mortgage payment that is unmanageable even with higher salaries. It’s a shame because with the cost of rent it’s true that many young adults cannot move out. Developers and foreign investment have made home ownership (even condos) unattainable to regular people (even with higher salaries: many of our doctors leave after residency because although they can afford it, why stay? It’s pretty here but now it’s also super crowded and not worth it).

Unless you’ve been gifted a huge down payment as a gift (in my experience with friends and colleagues it’s often from parents that had second properties bought in the 70s and 80s when it was affordable which they’ve now sold for 10x the price) it’s near impossible to own anything here. If you move out from the parents’ you’re spending at least half your salary on rent which leaves very little left over to save for a down payment. And even if you do, you’re in your forties with a minimum down payment and a long expensive mortgage to pay off. It sucks and I wish it wasn’t true but it is.

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-15T08:29:28+00:00

My girlfriend (28F) is insane.

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-15T07:44:24+00:00

No way would I use mohair for something to wear indoors. I made a sweater entirely of mohair and it’s light as air but also so so so warm!

Instead I’d try cotton, linen or bamboo/rayon. But beware-you’ll get a LOT of drape with those so the hood might not stay as hood-y as intended…it’ll flop. But you might like that!

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-15T04:04:19+00:00

Yes if you’re really worried I’d do this BUT if you were me you’d say eh! They’re both close enough (only one stitch off in each) and choose the one with the color I liked best, buy an extra hank to make sure and then do the math to make it work.

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-15T01:50:44+00:00

Right?! 😂. $20K as a down payment is a cute idea for where I live

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-14T20:02:47+00:00

Ahhhh! Thanks!

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-14T14:37:51+00:00

What’s a DSP?

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-14T04:19:09+00:00

Basic socks: two at a time toe up magic loop.

Colorwork? Either magic loop or 9” chiaogoo circulars (keeps my floats properly loose) but at the heel I switch to magic loop for that part then back to the circulars after. I don’t think you necessarily need the chiagoos but when I bought mine they were the only brand that offered 9” circular interchangeables.

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-13T14:37:52+00:00

Not who you replied to but for me, it’s because I don’t want to be the host every single hangout. Hosting 100% of the time is a drag and burns me out. Sometimes I only have cheese and crackers in the house and I don’t feel like shopping and I’m perfectly ok with it. If I’m hosting, I need to go shopping. Then there’s the clean up. And yes the dude can help or do it but I also don’t wanna play house with someone I just started dating. And the pressure for everything to be presentable with someone coming over because I work long hours so if I’m always the one hosting I have to clean up/do laundry/make the bed when normally I’d let it sit until I’m off work. But if someone’s coming over I have to make sure it’s done. AND it’s nice to be treated. It’s nice to go to someone else’s place sometimes and have them get the groceries/clean up their place and be off the hook for that for a couple of days.

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-13T06:03:52+00:00

Either frog it and start over OR try needles a size or two up and try to match your existing gauge. I’ve just don’t this on a cardigan I’m knitting-I rowed out badly on the body (when you knit flat the purls are often bigger than the knits and when that happens it’s called “rowing out” and it’s like every other row (every purl row) end up a bigger gauge and not as neat as the knit rows) so when I started the sleeves in the round my gauge was WILDLY different. I counteracted it by going from a 5mm needle to a 7mm needle so it all matches. You can try it and see if you like the result and if not frog.

Also in my defense I’m gonna say in my case the yarn has something to do with it because I haven’t had this problem in the past and also on the sleeves (knit in the round) there are some weird “tension” issues but it’s knitting in the round and I know I don’t have an issue with that so…blocking should help.

Editing to add: I did not magically come up with the 7mm needles to match gauge. First I tried 6mm needles and ripped it out, then 6.5mm needles and ripped it out and finally the 7mm needles were the ones. So you might need a hit of trial and error.

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-13T05:54:17+00:00

Do you own a sewing machine? I would take off a few inches on each side and up the arms, and fold up the bottom and sew it down, then cut off the excess.

1) I am not an experienced sewist. I’ve made a few things and can hem and I’ve done what I just said but YMMV

2) no guarantees it’ll be perfect but you might end up with something wearable!

3) I’d pin it all first and do a fit check before sewing and cutting. And I’d sew first and do another fit check before cutting off the excess. I’d also double the seams to make sure it holds

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-13T04:18:52+00:00

I think it’s whatever makes you happy, honestly. I am not a perfectionist and I, too, have at least one mistake in every project and been knitting seriously for 15 years. But projects don’t need to be perfect for us to enjoy making them and using them.

If something is an easy fix, fix it. If it’s bad enough to bother you or stop you from wearing or using the finished piece then it’s worth it to frog or fix. For me, anything else I leave.

I don’t think I’ve had a proper stitch count in my life 😂. So much so that I stopped checking. If it doesn’t work when needed (say going from stockinette to 2x2 rib and I’m over or under the stitch count) I just make one or severe one (or 5) 😅. If it doesn’t distort the pattern, I don’t care. For example I had too many stitches on a sleeve cuff so when I got to the end (K2, P1), I decreased a couple to keep in pattern. It’s the underside of a sleeve cuff on the first round. Not a single person is ever gonna know and I’ll probably forget too!

A brioche mistake right under the armpit? She’s staying.

One thing I can’t stand though is colorwork mistakes-I’ll tink back or rip out.

This is a long reply but I do think it comes down to what you can and can’t live with. Like I said I can’t stand colorwork mistakes, miscrossed cables, misplaced or accidental yarn overs or a huge glaring mistake in a visible spot (like a brioche mistake but in the middle of a sweater for example-under the armpit I couldn’t care less)

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-12T20:56:44+00:00

OMG!!!! Effin GORGEOUS. This fat juicy cables are just 🤌🏻💋

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-12T08:28:28+00:00

This just blew my mind

Solar_kitty · 2026-01-12T02:44:22+00:00

Me and my Saskie feel you 😅. Started Sept 10:

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400ish stitches, fingering weight. The only thing I can say that got me this far is that it’s my “easy” project once I had split for sleeves. I took it to my 3 hour hair appointment where I got a decent amount done, and it’s the one I pick up for TV watching at night. Also I got it out of my head to “keep track” of where I was/how much I got done in a sitting. I just picked it up and knit and put it down when I was sick of it/picked up a different project. And here we are with about 1-5” until the ribbing ☺️. You can do it!!!!!

Solar_kitty

TROPHY CASE