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Sunday, February 10, 2013

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #6

Happy Sunday! 

Life is starting to get...well, it's getting a bit crazy, to tell you the truth. Packing has sort of started. Little Man's room is mostly packed. The few things that are still out are things we're still using or can't be easily packed (and will probably need to go into the moving van "as is"). The rooms that really need packing are rooms that we still need to use a lot (kitchen and bathrooms). I'm hoping to go through the kitchen and pack up things that we don't need and get them out of the way. We'll see how that goes. 

Aside from packing, we've been signing asinine amounts of paperwork. It seems like every other day we have at least two forms to sign. Now that the loan paperwork is done, this should be reduced significantly. I've also had paperwork coming in for my properties in Wisconsin. The closing date on the house is next Friday (hooooooray!) and the closing date on the condo is in five weeks, also a Friday. 

Also, I've stopped giving Little Man naps. It's not worth the hassle of getting him down to sleep. The downside to this is that around 6pm he starts getting really cranky. The upside is that he goes to bed somewhere around 8pm (8:30pm at the latest)...oh, and he still sleeps until 7am most days. It's working out pretty well, to be honest. 

But, that's not why we're here.....we're here because it's Sunday and it's time for my sixth installment of my Self-Imposed Year of Projects update (meaning it's the beginning of my sixth week). So, let's get to it :)


Finished Objects (FOs)
1. San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts: started January 2, 2013; finished January 10, 2013
2. Don't Blink: started January 16, 2013; finished January 16, 2013  (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
3. Dalek Dishcloth: started January 16, 2013; finished January 21, 2013 (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)

 
I'm able to reveal what I made for the Doctor Who swap finally. I've made both dishcloths before and they're good patterns. The only problem I had was with the Don't Blink Dishcloth...I ran out of yarn during the bind off and wound up finishing the bind off with the yarn I used for the Dalek Dishcloth. So, aside from revealing what I made, I haven't finished anything else. 


Works-in-Progress (WIPs)
1. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010
2. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012
3. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012
4. Little Man's Vest: started January 16, 2013 

5. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started February 8, 2013

I spent some time on all my projects this week, which is a lovely, lovely thing. I also started a new one (to try to keep the Startitis at bay...didn't work).

The Woven Rib Dishcloth is a dishcloth I designed (with the help of a stitch dictionary). The first version was made out of the variegated blue kitchen cotton that I long ago lost the band for. This one is out of a solid color. It's a quick knit and it's one of my designs so I guess I'm kind of crossing something off the design list...

My Vanilla Socks are over half finished. I'm probably halfway through the leg of the second sock. I'm hoping to take less than six months to finish the second sock but we'll see how that plays out. My Eat Your Monkey Socks are also over half finished. I'm only a repeat or two into the leg of the second sock but it's on the second sock :) And the first sock took me only a couple months...

Little Man's Vest is....well, I'm not sure. I measured the width and the back side is about 15" and that means that it would be approximately 30" around once I get to the point of seaming. With that said, it means that (1) it's going to be way too big for him (which is perfectly fine) and (2) I need to figure out how big I need to make it so that it's not too short. Based on the Craft Yarn Council's Child/Youth Size Chart, 30" around would be a size 12...or Youth Medium. The total length (from the collar to the waist) should be about 15". The pattern says the armholes should be approximately 6" but that's for a 28" size (which they say is for 24 months but, again, looking at the chart, that would be a Youth Small or youth size 10). Sooooo...I'm thinking that lengthening the armhole to ~ 6.5" should be enough. Worst case scenario is that it's too short and I send it to Sassy Girl (or Sweet Girl) and they can wear it short over a button-down shirt. Or something. I'm just worried that it's going to be short and wide. I also have to remember that it's going to go over a shirt of some sort so it's okay if it's a little big...but I don't want it to be too short. I'm just not quite sure what to do here. Anyone have any ideas?

I also spent some time with my Icarus Shawl this week. I only have a couple rows left on the last chart and the edging rows and it'll be bound off and ready for blocking. Unfortunately, I'm at the point where each row takes about 20-30 minutes (depending on how complicated it is). It's not too bad if I've got an episode of Doctor Who or Red Dwarf on as background. I can get a couple rows done during an episode of Doctor Who and at least one row done during an episode of Red Dwarf. I'm looking forward to this one being finished...maybe not necessarily blocked but finished. If I'm really lucky, I can have it bound off before we move. 

I'm not going to hold my breath, though. 


Children's Items 
1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Garter Stripe Baby Socks
3. Baby Surprise Jacket
4. Toddler Socks
5. Alvin Sweater
6. A New Sock Monkey
7. Stig
8. Greyson (need to purchase)


Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)
1. Rose's Wrist Warmers
2. Viking Bag
3. Campfire Socks
4. Red Dwarf Socks
5. Freeport Vest
6. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts
7. Ardys


Household Items
1. Halloween Creepy Cloths (1) (need to purchase)
2. Halloween Creepy Cloths (2) (need to purchase)
3. Assorted Harry Potter Cloths
4. Assorted Doctor Who Cloths
5. Grrlfriend Market Bag
6. Petal Dishcloth

Designs (which may or may not be sooper seekrit - obviously the sooper seekrit ones aren't listed)
1. Little Man's Baby Blanket
2. Susan's Hat (4 versions)
3. Assorted dishcloths (set of 12?)
4. Traveling Vines Scarf
5. Traveling Vines Socks (baby for sure, maybe adult-sized as well)
6. Pinwheel Market Bag
7. Anything else that comes along (I have a notebook somewhere with potential designs somewhere)
 

I'm stuck on where to go next...I was gifted a couple patterns (Stig and the Little 16 Newborn Socks) but I'm not sure I want to start them yet. Part of me wants to start another "big" project like the Freeport Vest or Ardys but the little voice in my head is telling me that I shouldn't start one of those until I finish up my shawl. Sooooo, I'm still wanting to start something new. I'm kind of tossed about the Viking Bag or the Petal Dishcloth. I'm thinking that if I make the bag, I'm going to have to line it somehow and my sewing skills are nil. I mean, I get the general idea but I suck at it...and I don't have a sewing machine. I may buy one eventually and I think having a sewing machine would make lining the bag much easier. Also, I have to find appropriate yarn. Cotton is totally out on this one. It stretches and doesn't bounce back into shape. I think I'm probably going to go with Cascade 220 for it...if that's the one I decide to make. I just don't know. ::sigh::

Anyway, that's about all I have for the update this week. I hope you all have a lovely week!


I'm cute :)

I see you!

These photos were taken by one of the other Knitting Mamas while we were on our retreat and she shared them with us. How did I end up with such a photogenic little boy who loves having his photo taken (and loves taking photos)?

15 comments:

  1. Adorable photos of little man. It's hard to know what to cast on when everything around you is in tumult. When we bought the house the last weeks before moving was all paperwork and the first several after moving in was all cash out the door getting utilities set up and the house organized. And then all of a sudden one day you're settled :)

    Go with your whims and let whatever happens, happen :)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I think the reason I have such a bad case of Startitis stems from the chaos surrounding me (with the packing and all). I'm trying to make some sense of life right now. It's not happening :)

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  2. Good luck on the move...it must be chaos at your house!!!! I'm surprised you're getting anything done...

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    1. It's chaotic here. But in spurts. The day-to-day stuff isn't so bad but when someone's napping or Husband's home, the packing happens. There are packed boxes everywhere right now!

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  3. Don't know how you're managing to get any knitting done with all the work you've to do with the packing and moving. Lots of luck on all fronts.

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  4. Wait! You are in the middle of moving, with a small one under foot, and you are knitting and concerned with making progress and/or setting finishing goals (ie: the shawl!). You are amazing! Oh, and yes, he is adorable--and such an impish little smile. :)
    *smiles*
    ps: I just put those newborn socks in my favorites on Rav--because I don't have nearly enough favorites marked!

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    1. Yeah. I need something to bring sanity to my world because of all the chaos going on and knitting seems to be it :)

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  5. Wow. Good luck with the move. Such a busy week!! The shawl will always keep until after you move, but I understand you wanting to finish it first :)

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    1. I'm actually worried that when my knitting bag gets moved that the shawl will come out and my needles will break and I'll have a HUGE mess. I know, it's totally silly but it's my biggest fear right now :(

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  6. Little man is so cute! Glad the paperwork is coming to an end and now you can finish sorting out your packing, how exciting the next few months are going to be, I can't believe your still finding time to knit with all that going on and making progress to, way to go you :)

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  7. Cute little guy! Do you have a vest or a piece of clothing you can measure in the size you want the vest you are knitting to be?

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  8. Moving..big stresser..remember to stop and breathe..I do agree..your son is extremely photogenic...perhaps you could look into starting him young..send his pics to an agent and put that boy to work..

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  9. It's so amazing how Little Man has grown! I feel like I've been reading your world forever. He is so handsome and love his hair.
    You are so busy and always keep sane. Very cool!

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  10. Such cute pictures! And I guessed right then about what you made for the doctor who swap, I remembered them from last year :P I hope the packing is going well, and moving won't be too stressful.

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