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)?