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Mama, wife, knitter, blogger, spinner, wannabe something or other. That's enough, right?

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Year SIX: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #16

Happy Sunday, happy Easter, happy whatever and ever amen.

Now that that's out of the way.....year of projects update :)

Finished Objects (FOs):
1. Pussy Hat: started January 10, 2017; finished January 16, 2017
2. Hermione's Everyday Socks (v2): started November 14, 2016; finished January 28, 2017
3. Frene Creek Farm Corriedale (spinning): started October 12, 2016; finished January 16, 2017
4. Pikachu Hat: started February 3, 2017; finished February 10, 2017
5. Trusty (v2): started December 22, 2016; finished February 24, 2017
6. Pussy Hat: started February 13, 2017; finished February 27, 2017
7. Pussy Hat: started March 2, 2017; finished March 8, 2017
8. Pussy Hat: started March 9, 2017; finished March 21, 2017
9. Pussy Hat: started March 21, 2017; finished March 30, 2017
10. FlockSock Yarn #1: started April 5, 2017; finished April 5, 2017
11. FlockSock Yarn #2: started April 5, 2017; finished April 5, 2017
12. #initiateknitdesign challenge from ArohaKnits: started April 3, 2017; finished April 11, 2017
13. Knit Picks Bare Palette Fingering: started April 9, 2017; finished April 9, 2017
14. Malabrigo Rios: started April 9, 2017; finished April 9, 2017
15. Nashua Creative Focus Superwash: started April 9, 2017; finished April 9, 2017

I started and finished three dyeing projects last Sunday afternoon. I'll probably do a write up of some sort later this week but if you want to go peek now, just click on the links. Also, if you're interested, my yarn dyeing adventures with the FlockSock can be found here.

I also finished the #initiateknitdesign challenge. I was again reminded how much I hate swatching and how much swatches lie. ::sigh:: Oh well.



Works-in-Progress (WIPs):
1. Wink: started January 5, 2015
2. Oh, She IS a Bad Nut: started August 11, 2016
3. Fall in San Francisco (prototype 3): started October 4, 2016
4. Smooth Operator Socks: started October 13, 2016
5. Stormageddon's Vest: started October 17, 2016
6. Morvarch Aardvark: started January 1, 2017
7. Messed Up Moss: started January 4, 2017
8. Stomping Grounds collection: started February 26, 2017 (no project page)
9. Hat Design: started March 20, 2017
10. BMFA Handpainted Roving: started March 23, 2017
11. Vanilla Socks: started March 30, 2017
12. Pussy Hat: started April 13, 2017

I feel like I didn't do anything this week but I know that isn't true.

I pulled out Stormageddon's Vest this week. It's been awhile since I worked on it. All I had left to do on it was to start and finish the armholes, do the single crochet chain around the neck, and weave in the ends. Wellllllll......the armholes were finished pretty quickly. I picked up stitches along both armholes at the same time so I had the same number of stitches on both armholes. And then came the single crochet stitch around the neck....which is finished. However, I haven't had Stormageddon try it on yet. I'm worried that it's too tight. It didn't fit over Little Man's head. So, I have a feeling that I'm going to be ripping that out and doing something else. It does need something and a single crochet chain is probably the way to go but I need to do a looser version. We'll see once I try it on the appropriate child.

In addition to that, I started my fifth Pussy Hat. I'm doing a 1x3 rib instead of the 3x1 that I did for the last one. I'm still working on the brim. I'm kind of sad, though. My needle broke so I had to find a new/different one. It was wood and something leaned on it and it snapped.

The only other thing I did this week was I did the cast on row for the second of the Vanilla Socks. I haven't even put it onto two needles. I did that in the car last night on our way to Ikea.



17 UFOs in 2017
1. Wink: started January 5, 2015
2. Oh, She IS a Bad Nut: started August 11, 2016
3. Fall in San Francisco (prototype 3): started October 4, 2016
4. Frene Creek Farm Corriedale (spinning): started October 12, 2016; finished January 16, 2017 **DONE**
5. Smooth Operator Socks: started October 13, 2016
6. Stormageddon's Vest: started October 17, 2016
7. Hermione's Everyday Socks (v2): started November 14, 2016; finished January 28, 2017 **DONE**
8. Trusty (v2): started December 22, 2016 **DONE**
9. Design: Susan's Hat
10. Design: Little Man's Baby Blanket
11. Design: Paradiddle Socks (aka Little Drummer Girl)
12. Design: Pacific Waves Hat
13. Design: Fall in San Francisco Hat
14. Stash Inventory (photos, in Rav database) **DONE**
15. Dystopian Novel
16. Doctor Who blanket (1)
17. Doctor Who blanket (2)



And in my "OMGLSGWTFBBQ" lists...

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. Baby Surprise Jacket (using....htNEVELE something something)

These are the only ones that are currently set up. I have plans to make a few more but we'll see how things go. With all the WIPs and such I have going, this may not be a good idea at this point. Or maybe I'll pull things from the lists below and put them into bags. I don't know.


Stranded Knitting
1. University of Wisconsin Ski Hat (kit)
2. University of Wisconsin Christmas Stocking (kit)
3. University of Wisconsin Button Beanie (kit)
4. Xanadu Snowflake Cowl
5. Unknown Christmas Stocking for Little Man (see also: Designs)
6. Unknown Christmas Stocking for Stormageddon (see also: Designs)
7. Unknown Christmas Stocking for Husband (see also: Designs)


Children's Items:
1. Stuffed toy for Miss C (SIL's foster child)
2. Stuffed toy for Mr. K (SIL's foster child)
3. Stuffed toy for Miss E (SIL's adopted daughter)
4. Stuffed toy for TAZ (brother's daughter)
5. Undetermined hat for Little Man
6. Undetermined hat for Stormageddon
7. Mittens for Little Man
8. Mittens for Stormageddon


Items for ME (selfish knitting FTW!):
1. Park Slope (fingering, specifically Mountain Colors Crazy Foot)
2. Worsted weight house socks (worsted, of course - maybe something like Lumberjack)
3. Classic Silk Mayfaire Camisole (Miss Babs Northumbria with modifications)
4. Evangeline (worsted; solid or semi-solid)
5. Lichen (Aran or Sport/DK; solid or semi-solid)
6. Moyen Age (fingering; one of my Vice Yarns? Zen Yarn Garden Serenity 20?)
7. Ginny's Cardigan (DK; solid or semi-solid)
8. Drip Drip Drop (sock; solid or semi-solid)
9. Celtic Myths (worsted; solid)
10. Jag in Garter Stitch (DK; 2 colors)
11. Cobh (fingering; 2 colors)
12. Offhand Lace (bulky; solid or semi-solid)
13. Whitman (DK; any color)
14. Flax (worsted; any color - Misti Alpaca Harry Potter-esque one?)
15. Hoar Frost (Wollmeise that's wound in the bag)


Christmas/Charity Bin:
1. 198 Yds of Heaven (worsted; solid)
2. Comfort Food (Aran; solid)
3. Tombreck (worsted; solid or semi-solid)
4. Premie Spiral Hat (DK; any color)
5. Pumpkins & a Pattern (any weight, any color - gauge doesn't matter)


Designs:
1. Susan's Hat *started* - need new prototype & write pattern
2. Little Man's Baby Blanket *started* - write pattern
3. Paradiddle Socks - need prototype & write pattern
4. Pacific Waves Hat *started* - need another prototype & write pattern
5. Fall in San Francisco *started* - need another prototype & write pattern
6. Stormageddon's Baby Blanket - need prototype & write pattern
7. Cabled pullover (grey look-alike sweater) - need sketch, grading, swatch, prototype, & write pattern
8. Christmas stocking for Little Man - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)
9. Christmas stocking for Stormageddon - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)
10. Christmas stocking for Husband - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)
11. Stomping Grounds collection (everything: charts, prototypes, swatches, etc.) *started*


Spinning:
1. Miss Babs BFL
2. Sandy's Palette Merino/Silk (1)
3. Sandy's Palette Merino/Silk (2)
4. Faerie Mountain Fibers Crazy Batt
5. Wash & start processing Alpaca fleece from Lambtown
6. Wash & start processing Merino fleece from Lambtown


Other:
1. Stitch markers
2. Make sure my vintage patterns are in Ravelry (Workbasket magazines, leaflets, etc.)






This week it was back to business as usual. Sort of. I haven't gotten back into my gym routine. I really screwed up my left elbow pulling weeds a few weeks ago. I still can't grip with that hand without pain, nor can I pick anything up with that arm. It's awful. I don't want to go to the doctor because there's really nothing that can be done. I don't think I have a stress fracture based on the location but there's a good possibility that I tore something pretty major. Fortunately, this happened to my non-dominant arm, which is my left arm. Unfortunately, it turns out I use my left arm a lot. So, there's that. 

Husband went back to work this week. So, kind of back to a normal routine. Stormageddon had a doctor appointment. One more ear infection before September and he's probably getting ear tubes as well. Is it wrong that I'm kind of just hoping he gets one so we can get it out of the way? Or that I also want it done now because we've hit our out-of-pocket limit for our health insurance? Yeah.....

After we got home from that doctor appointment, we saw this little guy hanging around. I'm pretty sure it's a bluejay of some sort. He's hard to see. He's right in front of the bush. 




Also, it occurs to me that I took no photos of Little Man this week. All my photos are of Stormageddon. He makes it so easy, though!






Why yes, he is my child; why ever would you ask?! He's also a fan of selfies...lots of selfies. And apparently sticking his toes in front of the camera.



I finally caught his "angry" face properly. He truly can grump but it lasts about three seconds and then he starts smiling.



Once upon a time, Little Man received this Ultron costume (from Avengers: Age of Ultron). He wears it now and then. Stormageddon likes to get into Little Man's room and he put on the costume. It's about five sizes too big for him but he's cute so it's okay. 

The only other thing we did this week was a park date on Friday afternoon with a few of the kids from Little Man's class. We did a picnic lunch and the kids ran around and burned off tons of energy.









I have photos of Stormageddon because I have to keep an eye on him, as evidenced by the first photo. He keeps trying to climb the dome and I have to keep dragging him off. He also had his first go on a swing, sitting properly. I was across the playground, watching him swing on the seat by leaning over it. There was a girl being pushed by her dad in the next swing. He thought it looked fun and instead of coming back to me, he went over to the dad and raised his arms up and started babbling at him. By that point, I was already on my way over. Little stinker. But he loved it. He kept giggling and saying, "wheeee!" I have video but it doesn't want to load properly today. Oh well.



Did I mention he likes the selfie mode on my phone? He has a hard time just letting me take a photo without him seeing it. ::sigh:: Booger.

Yesterday, Little Man and I went to the cafe across from his school for an activity. For the school auction, we have something called "count me in" parties where some sort of activity is set up with a set number of people and you sign up for it and the money goes to the school. I signed Little Man up for an art project at the cafe. The owner donated lunch (sandwiches, juice, and cookies) and the space, a couple of the parents lead the activity. Little Man was the youngest and only Kinder and the oldest was a 7th grader. They did some block printing. 


The theme was either owls or an underwater theme. He obviously chose the underwater theme. Jellyfish, shells, fish, seahorses, and baby jellyfish....yeah, his favorite things. They made two prints. One stays at the cafe over the summer (she decorates the cafe with projects from the kids at the school and in the summer, she has nothing....so, that's why they stay) and the other one came home. 

Once that was over, we took a trip to Home Depot and then to Sears. Husband got a bug in his pants to take care of our disaster of a garage. The first step was to get a proper tool box (Craftsman, almost as tall as I am). We started working yesterday afternoon and we'll do more of it later today. We also went to Ikea to get another shelving unit (which is being returned today in favor of something else that we found after we got home). 

It was all very exciting. My eyes are still itchy and crying. ::sigh::

Anyway, that's about all that's been happening. I hope you're having a lovely weekend and holiday (if that's your jam). Hopefully I'll be back this week with dyeing projects. Maybe even an FO Friday...we'll see. 

4 comments:

  1. I love Little Man's underwater print. It came out so cool. The little one is a riot as always.

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  2. Love Little Man's selfies! I am glad your hubby is back to work, and I hope there isn't anymore ear infections (unless of course you want that so the tubes can go in). You reminded me I have dyeing to do too. I bought the dye last week but that is as far as I got. Have a good week.

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  3. aw, selfies!! That is so freaking cute!! Lila likes snapchat on my phone, we don't ever use it for anything but putting the funny filters on our faces. And Little Man's block printing is amazing! An excellent jellyfish.

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  4. Well, that costume makes Storm look a few years older all of a sudden. What fun that must be to put on. ;) I hope your arm heals up quickly!

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