Year Eight: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Just keep swimming, just keep swimming... (Update #32)

Happy Sunday! Let's get going and all the usual hubub or something. Blah blah blah. That's kind of how I feel right now...


FO's (Finished Objects): 
1. Age of Brass & Steam: started 10 August 2018; finished 7 January 2019
2. Sockhead for Little Man: started 29 November 2018; finished 25 January 2019
3. Cowl for Miss Sylvie: started 18 January 2019; finished 9 April 2019
4. Vanilla Fingerless Mitts: started 16 May 2019; finished 24 June 2019
5. Dishcloth: started 9 July 2019; finished 16 July 2019
6. Clapotis: started 29 June 2018; frogged 16 July 2019

Nooooope. Nothing to see here. Keep 'er mooooovin'. 

WIPs (Works-in-Progress) (These are carried over year to year)
1. Wink: started 5 January 2015
2. Shetland Neck Wool (support spindle): started 8 September 2017
3. Returning: started 14 January 2018
4. Faerie Mountain Fibers Crazy Batt (EEW Mini Spinner): started 13 April 2018
5. Granny Square Blanket: started 28 April 201

6. University of Wisconsin Ski Hat: started 28 July 2018 

7. Abracadabra Socks: started 7 August 2018

8. Purl & Loop Weaving Project: started 28 August 2018

9. Campfire Socks: started 17 October 2018

10. Herbivore: started 15 November 2018
11. Ewetopia Stripey Socks: started 15 November 2018
12. Multi-Colored Merino Top (Viktor): stared 16 January 2019

13. Prototype Something Something Raindrops: started 11 April 2019
14. Dishcloth: started 16 July 2019
15. Hufflepuff Hat: started 31 July 2019

I honestly didn't work on a lot this week. I'm still on the ribbing section of the Hufflepuff Hat. I'm almost ready to start working on the colorwork section. Because I'm not 100% sold on my redesign of the chart, I may put in a lifeline before I actually start the colorwork so if I hate it, I can pull it back to the lifeline and have a do-over. 

I also worked on my Ewetopia Stripey Socks. I actually finished the first sock this week. I haven't woven in any ends yet but the knitting is finished. I've started working on the second one but let's not talk about that. 

Honestly, that's it. No joke.



Design WIPs  (New section, specifically for design WIPs):
1. Messed Up Moss: started March 2009 - write pattern as PDF (iterations: first, second)
2. Susan's Hat: started 31 August 2010 - need new prototypes & write the pattern (iterations: first, second, third, mini, fifth, sixth)
3. Little Man's Baby Blanket: started July 2010 - need new prototype & write pattern (iteration: here)
4. Chunky Scarf: started 6 October 2012 - need new prototype & write pattern (iteration: here)
5. Pacific Waves Hat: started 9 March 2016 - need new prototype & write the pattern (iterations: first, second, third)
6. Fall in San Francisco: started 18 September 2016 - need new prototype & write pattern (iterations: first, second)
7. Stomping Grounds Collection: started 26 February 2017 - need prototypes & write patterns 
8. Unnamed Hat Design: started 14 August 2017 - need various weight yarn prototypes & write pattern (iterations: first, second)
9. Rastarmulke: started 20 November 2017 - write pattern (iterations: first, second)
10. Paradiddle Socks: started 19 October 2017 - write pattern (iteration: here)


Move along now, Sir.



OMGLSGWTFBBQ Lists

Challenges (this is new for 2019)

1. Knit 1 granny square a month (average) until I'm out of yarn (for the Granny Square Blanket in my WIP list above): It's the middle of August and I guess I'm doing okay with this. Really, as long as I make progress, that's good, right?
2. Submit and/or publish 2 designs this year. I'm not having high hopes for this but we'll see what happens.

Children's Items

1. Oliver for Stormageddon (worsted weight - Stunning String Studio from Stitches West 2018)

2. Minecraft Socks for Little Man (fingering weight - Tosh Sock in Plaid Blanket?)

3. Mittens for Stormageddon (probably worsted weight of some sort)
4. Tardis Beanie (worsted weight - Cascade Yarns Venezia in Blue Velvet & Grey)

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)

1. Fornicating Deer Hat / Basic Lined Hat (worsted weight - Barrett Wool Co. Worsted Weight in Huron & Stationery from Stitches West 2018)

2. Brickless (worsted weight - Miss Babs Yowza in Celebration)

3. Nightlock (fingering weight - Sun Valley Fibers Merino/Nylon Fingering in Onyx & Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock in May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor)

4. Honey Badger (fingering weight - one of the BMFA STR that I got from Carrie)

5. Park Slope (fingering weight - Mountain Fibers Crazyfoot in Shamrock)

6. Flax (worsted weight - Misty Alpaca in the Harry Potter colors)

7. Xandu Snowflake Cowl (as a hat; fingering weight - G. Sheller Merino/Silk Fingering in Natural & YOTH Little Brother in Caviar)

8. Pop Blanket (worsted weight - box of Knit Picks...may need to order more)

9. Tombreck (Aran weight - hand-dyed Malabrigo Twist or handspun Purple BFL)

10. Stormont (worsted weight - MadTosh 80/10/10 in Molly Ringwald)

11. Rose's Wrist Warmers (DK weight - using Aran instead; hand-dyed Malabrigo Twist?)
12. Northeasterly (Sock or DK weight - but really, I can use whatever as long as I have enough)* 

Designs

1. Stormageddon's Baby Blanket - need prototype & write pattern

2. Cabled pullover (grey look-alike sweater - Old Navy hooded sweater with cable) - need sketch, grading, swatch, prototype, & write pattern

3. Christmas stocking for Little Man - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)

4. Christmas stocking for Stormageddon - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)
5. Christmas stocking for Husband - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)

Spinning

1. AVFKW Merino Silk

2. Abstract Fiber Merino Tencel

3. Allons-Y Fiber Arts 18.5 Micron Merino

4. Allons-Y Fiber Arts Merino, Trilobal Nylon, Silk

5. Alpaca (from Lambtown 2014)

6. Ambrosia & Bliss Rambouillet Top

7. Anne's Fiber Expressions

8. Ashland Bay Fiber Merino Top
9. BMFA Handpainted Roving

10. Bramble Wool Farm Shetland Wool

Dyeing

1. Sock Blanks (10) from Vice Yarns

2. Anything else I find in the stash...or pick up along the way....

Other Fibery Endeavors
1. Stitch markers and/or stitch marker kits
2. Vintage patterns into Rav database & my Rav Library

3. Update inventory of loose patterns & books (spreadsheet & Rav Library)

4. Update inventory of PDF patterns (Rav Library)

5. Update yarn inventory (make sure it's up-to-date)/destash
6. Inventory project bags (Erin Lane, I'm looking at you)

7. Get the Etsy Shop up and running with all the things! Or something. Maybe not an Etsy shop...

This week has been a week. I'm mostly okay from my surgery. I'm still on a lifting restriction, obviously, but I can pretty much get back to most of my regular life....except things like going in the hot tub or lifting weights. I don't really want to lift weights right now anyway, but the hot tub would be nice. I'm going to start walking on the treadmill this coming week, I hope. With school starting, I can get back to a consistent schedule, which is helpful in my life. 

And yes, school starts on Tuesday! I'm not sure the boys are excited about it but I certainly am! I may change my mind but I doubt it.

On Monday, Little Man went to the Tech Museum (now called Tech Interactive) in San Jose with friends. I had one child off my hands. He had an awesome time. 

This last photo is honestly just proof that my child does, in fact, like some veggies. I'm good with that. 

While Little Man was out with his friends, Stormageddon and I ran some errands (my first time driving after my surgery). We went to Target....because why not?

We also went to the soft opening of the cafe across the street from Little Man's school on Tuesday. It's under new ownership. It's a husband/wife couple and a friend of theirs. She was actually Little Man's preschool teacher but went on maternity leave that year and didn't come back. Her son will now be starting at the same preschool where she was teaching at the school. So, full circle. 

Some things are definitely different but some things stayed the same. I'm a fan of the addition of gelato. So, that's delightful. We just needed to get out of the house. 

Husband spent this last week home sick. I wish I were kidding. But it's like clockwork. He goes to Wisconsin every August for the Great Taste of the Midwest and every year, he gets sick right around the same time. This past week, he was miserable. He went to the doctor on Tuesday and acquired a Z-pack, which helped immensely. He left on Thursday afternoon.

Friday, Little Man had an invite to go to a volleyball day camp with a friend from his class so Stormageddon and I went to the San Francisco Zoo. 

This is near the meerkats and prairie dogs. It was just a really cute photo. He loves some of the climbing areas around there. This is meant to be climbed in, just an FYI. We also visited all the docents we saw around the zoo. Most of them are high school students. There's an area where there are about a dozen in a row and they all have different animals. I learned that both ferrets and hedgehogs are illegal to own as pets in California. I have friends in the Midwest that have both as pets...but you can't here. 

Also, Stormageddon got to feed a giraffe. 

I think he would have done it several more times if I could have let him. His face is priceless! He was so proud of himself afterwards.

We also rode the little steam train....because why not?! It takes us around parts of the zoo. We got to see the black bear come out while we were riding, which is nice because by the time we got over there, he had climbed up into his hammock and was asleep!

And, lastly, on our way out, we rode the carousel. We had coupons for that so I didn't feel bad about doing it. Also, when did my little baby boy start looking like a grown up kid?!

That leads us to yesterday....Little Man and Stormageddon went to one of those indoor trampoline places for a back-to-school party and then we ate ice cream for dinner. I was not a good parent yesterday. I swear all they ate yesterday was sugar. Okay, Little Man did have pizza at the trampoline place. Stormageddon did not. He flatly refused. ::sigh::

I thought we could have a trunk picnic...but they just wanted cookies and milk from Starbucks. ::sigh:: It was just one of those days. 

Husband gets back later today, tomorrow is orientation for Stormageddon and the ice cream social for Little Man, I start work again tomorrow, and then Tuesday is the first day of school! When did it get to be fall again?! 

I hope you've had a lovely week and weekend. Let's see how the new schedule messes with my knitting!