The Hairy Knitter
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thehairyknitter.bsky.social
The Hairy Knitter
@thehairyknitter.bsky.social
920 followers 250 following 1.1K posts
Knitting designer.
Yarn craft. It keeps us from screaming.

https://linktr.ee/jamiemccanless
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Knitting on the ferry today closely followed a couple of recent events.

We’ve had dense fog recently. One day it lasted all day, and I reveled in its atmosphere of secrecy, mystery, and possibility. Shades of Brigadoon and Avalon.
October 8, 2026 at 4:44 AM
thehairyknitter.bsky.social
The strap sleeve is only an inch longer than yesterday, but this is bag I'm knitting it for.

In the mid-90s, the bag was made by Tony Badame (?), owner of Sacred Feather on State St in Madison WI. He meant it to be a book bag, but it was perfect for my Apple PowerBook 180c. Unfortunately, when the
Worn reddish-brown messenger bag that I'm knitting a new strap sleeve for. The old tan and muted red I knit is on the strap now. Metal (brass?) hooked latch of my worn reddish-brown messenger bag.
October 5, 2026 at 1:24 AM
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The strap sleeve is 15 inches long today — more than a third of its eventual length. 😬
I didn't think it would stand upright this time! 😋

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#StrapSleeve #MiniatureHerringbone #DoubleStockinette #HelicalKnitting #KnitLearnLove
Fifteen inches of my messenger bag strap sleeve loosely coiled, knit in a herringbone stitch and alternating rounds of bright blue and olive green. Fifteen inches of my messenger bag strap sleeve, standing unsupported on the working end with double-pointed needles, knit in a herringbone stitch and alternating rounds of bright blue and olive green.
October 4, 2026 at 12:00 AM
thehairyknitter.bsky.social
The fun part of this Snappy Sock sample.

Helically knitting two different strands that look made to be side by side. This time the left sloping pattern integrates beautifully into the overall look.

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#SnappySocks #RealMenKnit #GayKnitter #MenWhoKnit #KnitLearnLove
October 2, 2026 at 10:47 PM
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Am I dangling the cuff of my smallest Snappy Sock in slow motion?
Yes, I am.

I have a bit of charting to do before getting to the fun part.

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#SnappySocks #RealMenKnit #GayKnitter #MenWhoKnit #KnitLearnLove
September 30, 2026 at 11:27 PM
thehairyknitter.bsky.social
Our rainy island day was good for knitting with minimal concentration. This is what 8-1/2 inches (of strap sleeve) looks like. The wrong/private side of the miniature herringbone stitch is moderately interesting, but I don't think I'd make it the outside of anything.
Eight and one-half inches of my messenger bag strap sleeve, standing unsupported on the cast-on end with double-pointed needles ranged around the working end at the top. Leaning, slightly curved 8-1/2 inches of my messenger bag strap sleeve, one end propped up on the double-pointed needles at the working end. End of my messenger bag strap sleeve turned inside out to show the wrong/private side of the miniature herringbone stitch.
September 30, 2026 at 2:46 AM
thehairyknitter.bsky.social
You send a design out into the world with a virtual little pat pat pat, and out of the incredible volume of patterns, a knitter chooses yours. How heartwarming it is to read about the time that @manwithbeardknits was occupied by the knitting of it. May your #HallgrimScarf always bring smiles and
A finished Hallgrim Scarf knit by a customer in The Croft Shetland Aran yarn from West Yorkshire Spinners, colorway 397 Huxter (more blue than it looks in the photo)
September 29, 2026 at 2:43 AM
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Knitting my messenger bag strap sleeve at a blistering pace of one-half inch per hour. 😜 Each stitch is worked twice so it's also something of a yarn gobbler, but the result will be worth it!

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#StrapSleeve #MiniatureHerringbone #DoubleStockinette #HelicalKnitting #KnitLearnLove
Sleeve being made for the leather strap of my messenger bag, knit in a miniature herringbone pattern of alternating rounds of bright blue and olive green.
September 28, 2026 at 2:47 AM
thehairyknitter.bsky.social
Knitting my messenger bag strap sleeve at a blistering pace of one-half inch per hour. 😜 Each stitch is worked twice so it's also something of a yarn gobbler, but the result will be worth it!

Knit
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Love

#StrapSleeve #MiniatureHerringbone #DoubleStockinette #HelicalKnitting #KnitLearnLove
Sleeve being made for the leather strap of my messenger bag, knit in a miniature herringbone pattern of alternating rounds of bright blue and olive green.
September 28, 2026 at 2:44 AM
thehairyknitter.bsky.social
I didn't get any farther than choosing yarn for the fourth size sample of my Snappy Socks, but first things first. I'm going for softer, more natural colors this time. The bottom two skeins will be the helically-knit patterned ankle and foot. The marled tan above them will be cuff, heel, and toe.
Yarn chosen for the fourth size sample of my Snappy Socks - an off white and variegated brown for ankle and foot, and a marled tan for cuff, heel, toe. Partial ankles of the three completed size samples are shown for comparison. Samples of the first three sizes of my Snappy Socks, showing part of the cuff, and ankle of each.
September 27, 2026 at 2:38 AM
thehairyknitter.bsky.social
Puckles in a week. 🥒
Follow @joreytessier
(31 Aug 26 this recipe)
I should buy more cucumbers.

#Pickles #CucumberPickles #HomemadePickles
Glass jar of cucumbers and brine that will be pickles in a week.
September 26, 2026 at 9:21 PM
thehairyknitter.bsky.social
Before knitting more tiny hats for Phil Angie, my posable skeleton, I put together a compilation of the seven from last year.

• 1898 Hat
• Santa hat
• Käänteinen ribbed cap
• Wizard's hat
• Musselburgh Hat
• Tricorn hat with cockade
• Royal crown
September 26, 2026 at 1:46 AM
thehairyknitter.bsky.social
As long as your knitting comes along, you never ever have to be bored 😜
I'm impressed that Tara is knitting a #HallgrimScarf in her car, even if it is parked! 😋

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(continued)
eatsshootsknits chose to work on a Hallgrim Scarf knit in soft blue yarn while sitting in her car. The scarf-in-progress is shown here resting against a black steering wheel
September 24, 2026 at 9:07 PM
thehairyknitter.bsky.social
I thought this would just be a swatch of Barbara Walker’s miniature herringbone stitch in the round, but it’s going so well that I’m going to forge ahead. It fits the strap of my messenger bag perfectly.
Sample of the miniature herringbone stitch from Barbara Walker's second treasury, knit in the round in alternating stripes of bright blue and olive green. Miniature herringbone stitch sample knit in the round in alternating rounds of bright blue and green, fitted over the end of the strap of my leather messenger bag.
September 24, 2026 at 12:20 AM
thehairyknitter.bsky.social
Around this time last year, I brought home a small posable skeleton and had far too much fun knitting little hats for it. This year, I'm thinking about knitting a peaked hood, aviator cap, jester's hat, and some kind of horns on a strap. Those are all early in the planning state.
September 23, 2026 at 5:09 AM
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Ferry knitting is such a good way to let pleasant autumn days soak into my bones before chill, gray weather arrives on San Juan Island. Here is a baker's dozen of photos and clips from the day.

Smallest of four islands served by the interisland ferry, Shaw Island's landing is suitably low key.
September 22, 2026 at 4:32 AM
thehairyknitter.bsky.social
Ages ago, I knit a length of the "Double Stockinette, or Miniature Herringbone" stitch from Barbara Walker's second treasury. I inexpertly seamed it together for a sleeve on the strap of my messenger bag, and it's been a serviceable solution for many years.

Now, though, I'd like something longer
My worn leather messenger bag with the tan herringbone strap sleep I knit long ago for it and today's gauge swatch, also the miniature herringbone stitch in a bright tonal blue yarn. Gauge swatch of the knitted miniature herringbone stitch in a bright tonal blue yarn.
September 21, 2026 at 2:01 AM
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My fourth short sock knit from one ball of Universal Yarn's Filly in colorway 101 Bloom. I suspected I wouldn't have enough yarn. I was certain, actually. The first three weigh 25 grams each, and the remaining yarn weighed 24 grams. I'll have more than 9 feet left over. Yay for margins of error 🤪
Short sock knit in bright tropical blue, red, yellow, and purple colors, complete except for grafting the toe stitches together, photographed on an oak table.
September 19, 2026 at 12:27 AM
thehairyknitter.bsky.social
At last. A completed sample of my Snappy Socks' third largest or second smallest size. Yes, the toes haven't been grafted. I'll wait until I know that they fit actual human feet.

One more size, the smallest, to go!

#SnappySocks #ScrappySocks #RealMenKnit #GayKnitter #MenWhoKnit
Sample of the next to smallest size of my Snappy Sock design. Cuff, heel, and toe of this sample are a marled medium blue. Ankle and foot are striped gray and white with a sloped slipped stitch design. Photo grid of a Snappy Sock design sample at various points of knitting.
September 16, 2026 at 5:07 AM
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🤩 I’m thrilled by everything about Johanna's project, from choosing my design to knit for a friend, to her expert knitting and beautiful photography, to recommending it for autumn. ☺️

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Get @reshare_app • @johannaknits (IG) Another Hallgrim scarf made for a friend, Anna 💛

(continued)
My cabled Hallgrim Scarf design, knit by @johannaknits in a light colorway of Universal Yarns' Fibra Natura Sensational yarn. My cabled Hallgrim Scarf design, knit by @johannaknits in a light colorway of Universal Yarns' Fibra Natura Sensational yarn. My cabled Hallgrim Scarf design, knit by @johannaknits in a heathered charcoal grey yarn. My cabled Hallgrim Scarf design, knit by @johannaknits in a heathered charcoal grey yarn.
September 14, 2026 at 12:13 AM
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The highlight of this knitting designer's day?
Working the last decrease of my Snappy Sock sample's gusset.
Woo hoo!

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#SnappySocks #ScrappySocks #RealMenKnit #GayKnitter #MenWhoKnit
Closeup of my Snappy Sock sample's gusset, helically knit in dark gray and white.
September 8, 2026 at 11:27 PM
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My Monday miscellany of recent photos

I'm working my way down the gusset of this #SnappySocks size sample.

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I picked the last ripe blackberries. Not that many, but I'm impressed that there are any in September.
September 8, 2026 at 3:36 AM
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This afternoon was leisurely, a good time to finish the gusset of this short sock. If it looks familiar, that might be because it's the fourth sock I'm knitting from Universal Yarn's Filly in colorway 101 Bloom.

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#SockKnitting #MenWhoKnit #GayKnitter #RealMenKnit #KnitLearnLove
Newly completed gusset of the short sock I'm knitting in colorful speckled blue, pink, orange, yellow, and purple colors. The four short socks I'm knitting in colorful speckled blue, pink, orange, yellow, and purple colors. Three are already completed.
September 7, 2026 at 1:14 AM
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Ferry Knitting

Six shots to see September in. I have yet to tire of these views of sky and islands and water. They're never quite the same one time to the next.

Each island's ferry landing has its iconic view of human habitation. At Orcas Island, the Orcas Hotel has perched above the ferry landing
September 3, 2026 at 11:35 PM
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Does this count as another houseplant?

I only have maybe 105 now. They're sneaky, though. The number changes every time I count.

And… knitting! How did that get there? 😉

It's the start of my fourth and final short sock from one ball of Universal Yarn Filly in colorway 101 Bloom.
A little creamy off-white fungi in a pot of light green 'Neon Pothos' The start of my fourth and final short knitted sock from one ball of Universal Yarn Filly in colorway 101 Bloom. Just a few rounds of ribbing so far. The second time that fungi has made an appearance at the same exact spot in this pot of 'Neon Pothos' Unless my eyes deceive me, a third fungi is growing out of the base of the second.
August 30, 2026 at 11:40 PM