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Sunday, September 25, 2016

Y5: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #39

Hello and happy Sunday :) Thirteen more weeks (after today) and it'll be a new year.....but, for here and now, this week's update.

FOs (Finished Objects)
1. Fire Socks: started April 15, 2015; finished January 6, 2016
2. Nottingham for Stormageddon: started January 12, 2016; finished January 14, 2016
3. Design proposal for Fire Socks: started January 13, 2016; finished January 18, 2016
4. Purple merino/silk spinning (singles): started toward the end of Tour de Fleece (July 4-26, 2015); finished January 29, 2016
5. Nottingham for Little Man: started January 17, 2016; finished February 1, 2016
6. Swirl Hat: started December 16, 2015; finished February 4, 2016
7. Swatch for Marly Bird class at Stitches West: started January 8, 2016; finished February 7, 2016 (no project page)
8. Fire Socks design (the actual pattern writing & photography part): started February 6, 2016; finished February 12, 2016 (link to the preview; pattern went live on Saturday, April 2nd)
9. Mountains Beanie: started February 9, 2016; finished February 17, 2016
10. Rathmore: started February 25, 2016; finished March 4, 2016
11. Dragon's Egg Socks: started September 2, 2013; finished March 9, 2016
12. Creeper for Little Man: started March 4, 2016; finished March 10, 2016
13. Mother Bear Project #1: started February 22, 2016; finished March 12, 2016
14. Asshole Corriedale (spinning project): started March 23, 2016; finished March 24, 2016
15. Pacific Waves: started March 9, 2016; finished March 25, 2016
16. Freeport Vest Frogging: started March 29, 2016; finished March 29, 2016
17. Pacific Waves: started March 31, 2106; finished April 2, 2016
18. Vanilla Latte Socks: started November 19, 2015; finished April 6, 2016
19. Snape's Stockings: started August 20, 2014; finished April 11, 2016
20. Pacific Waves: started April 3, 2016; finished April 15, 2016
21. Creeper Hat: started April 28, 2016; finished May 4, 2016
22: Finn & Suffolk blend (spinning): started April 1, 2016; singles finished May 27, 2016; plied May 31, 2016
23. Gex for Little Man: started April 8, 2016; finished June 5, 2016
24. Bridal Shower Lace Cloth: started June 20, 2016; finished June 27, 2016
25. TdF 1: 25%/25%/50% purple merino/silk & white merino (~ 540 yds; ~ 8 oz; DK/lt. worsted): started during TdF last year and finished the purple singles January 29, 2016; started the white last weekend, plied them on July 4, 2016
26. TdF 2: 25%/25%/50% leftover purple merino/silk & leftover kelly green merino (~ 20 yds; unknown weight; DK/lt. worsted): leftover bits that were plied on July 4, 2016
27. TdF 3: 100% merino, 50% hot pink, 50% grey (~ 50 yds; ~ 1 oz; DK/lt. worsted): started & finished on July 5, 2016
28: TdF 4: 100% merino, 50% rose pink, 50% navy blue (~ 50 yds; ~ 1 oz; DK/lt. worsted): started & finished on July 5, 2016
29. TdF 5: 25%/25%/50% leftover purple merino/silk & leftover hot pink merino (~ 10 yds; unknown weight; DK/lt. worsted): the purple was started during TdF last year and finished January 29, 2016; the hot pink was spun on July 5, 2016; they were plied on July 5, 2016
30. TdF 6: 100% merino, 50% leftover hot pink, 50% leftover navy blue (~ 10 yds; unknown weight; DK/lt. worsted): started & finished on July 5, 2016
31. TdF 7: 100% merino, rainbow gradient (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, and white) (~ 220 yds; ~ 4 oz; worsted): started July 5, 2016; finished July 6, 2016
32: TdF 8: 50/50 merino/tencel, Fat Cat Fibers in Razzmatazz (three different skeins: two skeins are three-ply, one is around 245 yds of worsted and the other is around 120 yds, also worsted; one skein is chain plied, probably also a worsted weight, about 25 yds): started July 8, 2016; finished July 12, 2016
33. TdF 9: 100% white merino (~ 446 yds two-ply, probably sport weight; ~ 15 yds Andean Ply, also around a sport weight): started July 15, 2016; finished July 18, 2016
34. TdF 10: Superwash Merino/Bamboo/Nylon from Happy Hands Hand Dyed (~ 166 yds two-ply, probably Aran weight; ~ 14 yds Andean Plied, also Aran weight): started July 15, 2016; finished July 19, 2016
35. TdF 11: 60% BFL/40% Bombyx (Mulberry Silk) from Corgi Hill (~ 298 yds two-ply, probably DK/lt. worsted; ~ 25 yds Andean Plied, also DK/lt. worsted): started July 18, 2016; finished July 20, 2016
36: TdF 12: Unknown BFL, possibly from Yarn Hollow (~ 144 yds two-ply, probably Aran weight): started July 21, 2016; finished July 23, 2016
37. Rainbow Gradient Cowl: started August 5, 2016; finished August 6, 2016
38. Gex for Niece: started June 28, 2016; finished August 19, 2016
39. Diagonal Owl Dishcloth: started September 1, 2016; finished September 2, 2016
40. 18 Rounds Hat: started September 18, 2016; finished September 21, 2016

It appears that I've started and finished a project this week. To be fair, it was just a hat and nothing too horribly difficult...but it's another finished object. 



This is my awful, late-night photo of the finished hat. It's not been washed or blocked but it's already been worn out and about twice...but only in the mornings when I have wet hair and it's a little chilly.

But nothing else has been finished, I swear!


WIPs (Works-In-Progress) - carried over year-to-year
1. Wink: started January 5, 2015
2. Caffe Macchiato Socks: started May 7, 2016
3. Corgi Hill Polwarth/Tussah blend (spinning): started July 21, 2016
4. Oh, She IS a Bad Nut: started August 11, 2016

In addition to the hat above, I spent some time working on the shawl...just a couple rows but it was still progress. I also worked on the Caffe Macchiato socks a little bit here and there. I haven't had a lot of time to knit, really. But there was some progress to be had :) And, of course, I didn't really photograph any of it. ::sigh::


In my "WTFCRAZYLADYOMGLSGBBQ" lists:

Children's Items
1. George's Vest (for Stormageddon - probably the largest size; YOTH Little Brother from Stitches)
2. House Hat (one each for Stormageddon and Little Man - worsted, two contrasting colors)
3. Arthur the Alien (for Little Man - worsted; any colors)
4. Holiday Countdown Stockings (for the family - Aran/worsted; four colors)
5. Mirkwood (for Little Man - worsted or bulky; any colors)

Items for ME (selfish knitting, FTW!!)
1. Vanillaish Socks (using one of my Harry Potter Yarns)
2. Paradiddle Socks (using a solid or semi-solid sock yarn)
3. Hermione Hearts Ron (sport weight; solid or semi-solid - Plucky Primo in Petunia?)
4. Hermione Hearts Ron Fingerless Mitts (sport weight; solid or semi-solid - Plucky Primo in Petunia?)
5. Classic Silk Mayfaire Camisole (Miss Babs from Stitches Midwest)
6. Stormont (worsted; solid or semi-solid)
7. Sockhead Hat (sock; any colors)
8. Moab Shawl (sock; any colors)
9. Prowl (DK; solid or semi-solid) *need pattern*

Secret Sock Club Bags - Pick a bag at random; do pattern with yarn
1. Scotch & Soda Scarf (using Briar Rose Fibers Wistful, leftover from my Icarus Shawl)
2. Jabberwonky (using KP Felici in Abracadabra)
3. If You Know Where To Go (using KP Felici in Green Veggies)
4. Gardener's Socks (using Malabrigo Sock in Indiacita)

Stranded Knitting
1. University of Wisconsin Ski Hat
2. University of Wisconsin Christmas Stocking
3. University of Wisconsin Button Beanie
4. Xanadu Snowflake Cowl

Christmas/Charity Bin
1. 198 yds. of Heaven (worsted; any colors)
2. Phillip and Mr. Grum (sock yarn; any colors)
3. Comfort Food (Aran; solid)
4. Fine Fella (worsted; solid or semi-solid)
5. November Leaves (Shelter from stash) *need pattern*
6. Skinner Hat (sock; solid or semi-solid) *need pattern*
7. The Shoemaker's Hat (bulky; solid or semi-solid) *need pattern*
8. Roll Out The Barrels (cotton; any colors)
9. Sweeny Todd Scarf (worsted; any colors)
10. The Snowmen Cometh (worsted; any colors)
11. Sunburst Dishcloth (cotton; any colors)
12. Starfish Cloth (cotton; any colors)
13. Seamless Circular Cloth (cotton; any colors)
14. Tombreck (Aran/worsted; solid or semi-solid)
15. Premie Spiral Hat (for hospital donations - sport or DK; any colors)

Designs
1. Ice Somethingsomething (knit prototype and pattern for submission)
2. Susan's Hat (make proper - photos, pattern, etc.; knit new prototype from Babs K2 from Stitches)
3. Little Man's Baby Blanket (make proper - photos, pattern, etc.)
4. Paradiddle Socks (knit prototype - see "Items for ME")
5. Pacific Waves Hat (knit prototypes in various weights/sizes, pattern for submission? self-publish?) *started*
6. Stormageddon's Baby Blanket (design process, knit prototype, etc.)

Spinning
1. Given that TdF happened and I SPUN ALL THE YARNS, I think I'm going to take a break from spinning for a bit...Viktor needs a tune-up anyway. At least my parts have arrived.

Other (for things that are fibery/crafty in nature but not specific to knitting or spinning)
1. Organize my handmade stitch markers *started*
2. Make more stitch markers (to sell? donate? hoard?) *started*
3. Organize my books/magazines/loose patterns. *started*
4. Toss the stash (fiber & yarn). *started*

It appears that there's no way all this is going to be accomplished over the next thirteen weeks...which is perfectly fine, really. I didn't come into this year thinking I would finish everything. Because, really, no...just no. I don't have time for all that. But I need some wiggle room. Sooooooo, a bunch is left on the list and I'm okay with it. 



In the Bay Area, let's talk about the weather. It's been hot, really hot, chilly, and hot...all within this past week. It's so bizarre...oh, and I forgot we had an odd occurrence of rain this week. Okay, it sprinkled for all of two minutes the other morning. Whatever. It was still rain. I spent a few days with the room air conditioners running, I had another night where I had to close all the windows because it was so windy and cold......yeah. It's been wonky. I'm ready for fall now. 

Husband was gone most of this week. He got home around 9:45pm on Thursday. In the middle of all this, our washing machine decided it wanted to crap out. It's still not fixed and it's been a week and a half. It actually started acting up before Husband even left. The first error code was for the water intake valve....which did need replacing (I saw the old one). We got that working and then the new error code was for the soap dispenser system (where the water is delegated into the drum and mixes with the soap along the way)...so the guy was back out, found that the motor wasn't stopping when/where it should. So, that was replaced and less than a half-hour later, the original error code came back up. ::sigh:: The motherboard is being replaced tomorrow and if that doesn't fix it, we're getting a new machine. We're already $300 into this...the motherboard is going to be another $150ish. The cost of a new one is about $900. So, there's that. With all that going on, my laundry was just piling up because I kept having high hopes to get things washed...and it didn't happen. Buuuuuut, one of my Mama friends here is a saint. She let me do a couple loads at her house on Thursday night (clothes) and that made life a bit better. It means I didn't have to go sit in a laundromat all afternoon...and the boys got to play with friends. 

Aside from that, I've still been working with middle schoolers twice a week. A classroom of mixed-age middle schoolers, some with experience, others with absolutely none........working on learning how to play the flute. The idea was that it was going to be a one or two session endeavor until the flute teacher's paperwork went through. Well...two weeks finished and a third will probably happen this week....yeah. The teacher's paperwork is done but we're waiting on the fingerprints. That takes a lot out of me, honestly. On Mondays, Little Man has Wee Theater so I don't have him with me but I still have Stormageddon, who is not content to sit and color. He wants to explore and play with things and be part of all the business. But, hopefully I'm done with that after tomorrow. In fact, as of right now, I'm not 100% sure I am going in tomorrow...but I've planned for it so we should be good to go. 

Let's see....what else what else what else......honestly, not a whole lot has gone on around here. I've been flying solo with the boys, it's been too hot to do anything but watch movies, the house is a mess....yeah, nothing. Okay, not entirely true. I did do a bunch of cleaning yesterday, which made my allergies act up, of course. I pulled out the couches and swept and cleaned under them, took the big rug outside for a good shake, and discovered so many toys...but it was gross and nasty work. It needed to be done, though. I also picked up a bit, did some vacuuming, the usual.

Anyway, photos...those are important :) Not too many this week...too many other things going on, I suppose.



Do you see this smug little face?! He is such a little booger. He wanted to take a selfie for his daddy so we did.



And Little Man...what can I say about this goofy kid? I don't even know what's going on here. Oh well.



I finished up some stitch markers this week. Seven sets here, three are Hallowe'en themed. I'm going to have to get them in the shop soon. Maybe I should add that to my list for the week...



This happened this week. Earlier this week...maybe last week...whatever, I bought new shoes because the treads on mine were wearing out. I swear I just bought those shoes. Anyway, I went to Lady Footlocker at the mall and picked up some new Asics. But wait, you're saying, those aren't Asics. You're right, they are not. So, I took the shoes home, wore them to take Little Man to school...got home and my right foot was so sore from the shoes that I couldn't stand it. I tried to wear them again when I picked him back up. And while we were out running errands. This was going to be an ongoing problem. Sooooo, I did an exchange and got these, which are Adidas. So much better.

I hope you're having a lovely weekend :) I might be back with another WIP Wednesday or maybe an FO Friday or.....I don't know. Don't count on it but we can all dream, right?

16 comments:

  1. Hats are great for quick projects. Hope your weather cools downs so it's not too hot to do stuff.

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  2. LOVE this pic of the little one; what a ham he is. Cool, new kicks. I totally need some new running shoes. What a pain about the washing machine. When we moved in here we had to get ours looked at twice because it took a bit for the dude to figure out what was really going on w/it. This weather is driving me nuts. We are holed up today.

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    Replies
    1. All the ACs are running, and it's too frickin' hot here.

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    2. Yay for cooler air yeah? And hell yeah I'd help you plan your upcoming la hanau!

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  3. The hat may not be much, but it is progress AND an FO! You are one busy woman. I am impressed that you get any down time to knit. The boys' pictures cracked me up.

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  4. Love the hat...those are Chicago Bear colors and I am a long time fan...don't ask why as they keep losing. My dryer "mother board" went out on my Whirlpool front loader and they said it would cost $400 to replace it and this is Arkansas not CA which should be cheaper. I think someone was trying to rip me off. I told them no thanks but still had to pay them $70 for showing up. So glad to hear $150! I think I'll call Lowes and see what they charge. Also, too bad about the Asics as that is all I wear and I love mine but glad you found a pair you liked better. The kids are so cute and I love your stitch markers/progress keepers...I've been meaning to make some myself. It's been the same here this week...a little on my shawl, a few rows on the socks but overall not a great amount of progress but it has cooled off here too so now it is outside to do all those things I put off when it was too hot! LOL! Take care and I hope you have a great week!

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    Replies
    1. I think I'm getting $50 toward the motherboard because we replaced a part that probably didn't need replacing. So, there's that.

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  5. Great post - and I understand most of this WTFCRAZYLADYOMGLSGBBQ except the GLS part. do tell?

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    Replies
    1. So, it basically says: WTF crazy lady OMG LSG BBQ

      WTF is, well...yeah. I bet you can guess. OMG, again you probably guess. BBQ is BBQ because it's funny. LSG is a group on Ravelry that stands for "Lazy, Stupid, and Godless." Really, it's an excuse for me to act normal and curse like I don't on this blog (often).

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    2. Aha! Thanks for the answer - now I know ;)

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  6. I think your hat is a great finish. I'm always impressed with all that you accomplish.

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  7. That hat is so cool. I love the dark stripe and the zig zags in the stitch pattern.

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  8. That is a fabulous beanie hat, and a great design.
    Your two boys crack me up with their goofing around and adorable photos.

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