Y5: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #35

Hello, it's me!

Okay, I'm not Adele. Whatever. It's Sunday and we're here for my Self-Imposed Year of Projects update....and if that's not why you're here, then, well, I don't know...read and enjoy or wander off. Whatever flips your bippy.

Let's get going :)

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

Wow, this list is getting long to copy & paste. I've not finished up anything new, which isn't surprising, really. Gex has been washed and buttons have been acquired. I need to get that done and shipped soon, though. I need to get an FO Friday in there, too. I might have Stormageddon try it on for FO Friday photos. It's the 1-2 year size so it should still fit him. Actually, I know it fits him as I tried it on him quickly while I was still knitting it. So either it's a bit bigger than I anticipated or Stormageddon isn't as big as I thought he was. I'll know the answer to that in about 9-10 days when he has his 2 year appointment.


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

Because my WIP list is on the short side, I've made some strides with both my Caffe Macchiato socks and my Bad Nut shawl.

For those of you that are kind of clueless about socks, I've finished up the heel (the yellow & orange part on the left), turned the heel (the little bit of red on the bottom), picked up the gusset stitches (where the red meets the orange & yellow in the middle of the photo), and I've finished the gusset decreases (which you can't see in the above photo) and I'm working my way down the foot. This photo is to show off my super sexy stitch pick-ups. Okay, they're good on this side...no holes. The other side, however, has a hole at the top and the bottom where things weren't picked up very well. Oh well. That's pretty common for me, actually. And, of course, I can't tell until I'm a couple rounds in and by then, I don't want to tink back or (Bob forbid!) rip back to fix it. Sooooo, holes I have. But this side is good.

I've also finished up the first section on the Bad Nut shawl. It has five sections, total, so I'm only 20% finished (in theory - the row counts are different for some of the sections). I threw a lifeline in for the last round of the first section, just in case I drop something. I wouldn't put it past me. Honestly, I'm about halfway through the second section, too.


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
2. Make more stitch markers (to sell? donate? hoard?)
3. Organize my books/magazines/loose patterns. *started*
4. Toss the stash (fiber & yarn). *started*



"The time has come," the Walrus said, "to talk of other things!"

But, really, I need to sit down and figure out what my next project is going to be. I did some stash tossing recently and wanted to dive into a few different piles. I have this vision of a smooshy hat. No idea why. No idea what yarn. Also, I'm pondering a matching hat to the Gex sweater, which is a separate issue that I should probably look into soon.

Sooooooon.



In the real world of other things, otherwise known as California, things have been.....well, we've been busy but not busy. I don't know how to explain it. Little Man goes to school for four hours every day so Stormageddon and I walk to and from the school twice a day, often stopping because I have Pokémon Go playing (I'm hatching eggs and visiting the PokéStop at the school - don't judge!) and because we stop to see all the kitties and puppies we find along the way (more kitties than puppies, but that's fine, even if I am allergic to them). We run errands while he's at school, because it's much easier with one little monkey than both of them. We watch movies. We play outside. We go to the gym. We do the chores around the house. Okay, I do the chores around the house (laundry, dishes, general cleaning, etc.).

But, we did do some things this week that were out of the ordinary.

Last Sunday, the four of us went down to Hollister (yes, there is an actual city in California called Hollister; it's not just a clothing brand). A friend of Husband's from college lives there, with his wife, and their 18-month old daughter. We had lunch, we brought them homemade beer and Wisconsin cheese, the kids played in the sprinklers, and fun was had by all.

And yes, that is Stormageddon trying to climb into their water table (teaching their daughter all sorts of bad habits along the way).

I also have a video of them playing on the piano. If their daughter hadn't been in it, I would have posted it because it is adorable. All three of them were playing (banging?) on the keys. I do have this photo of the boys, though.

I did a bunch of knitting in the car on the way down there and back (heel flap & turn...I would have kept going at that point but I only had one stitch marker in the bag ).

On Monday, I went to the PTA meeting. Yeah. I don't know what I was thinking either but it was actually interesting. Because Little Man goes to a magnet/charter school, it's classified as a non-profit, has some tax exempt status, and so on. The school gets most of their funding via donation and all families are required to do volunteer work for the school (yeah, don't even get me started on the semantics of all that). The PTA meeting actually counted for two hours. Each family is required thirty hours total and between this PTA meeting and the initial PTA meeting that happened the day before school, I've already got 10% of our hours done. And then, because I don't know who the hell I am anymore, I volunteered to join the auction committee. There are two big fundraising events that happen at Little Man's school. The biggest is the direction donation campaign, which is going on right now. The second biggest is the auction, which happens in the spring. Now, some of you may remember that this past spring, I bid on something (and won) in the auction (professional organizer). So, this would be doing things for that event. I don't know who the hell I am anymore!

On Tuesday, I made a bunch of stitch markers for prizes for my Ravellenics team (Team BBMF2016 - which stands for Bok Bok Motherfu*ker).

So, I made 10 sets and I'm only giving up five of them (the winners can pick - I also have a few other sets made to chose from). I think I'm going to have to open up an Etsy shop officially to sell some of these, mostly just to recoup my cost and make more. I'm classy like that. We'll see how things go, though.

I also found out that my college town is underwater from a deluge of rain this past week. I can't seem to find proper photos online (via Google) but there was a really revealing one that was an aerial photograph of most of the city. The college is mostly unscathed, as it sits atop the bluffs and hills that surround the Upper Iowa River. The soccer fields are completely flooded, the softball & baseball fields are mostly flooded, the lower parking lot (the Regent's lot) is mostly flooded. In fact, most of the lower campus was either flooded or partially flooded, as were any wide, flat areas on campus (like the library lawn, which led to some problems in the library). Move in is, I believe, this weekend...so, that will be interesting.

By the time Friday rolled around, I was ready for the weekend. Husband took Little Man camping this weekend so I've been flying solo with Stormageddon since Friday afternoon. They're not too far away; they went to a KOA campground south of here with a few friends (and children of one of them). It meant packing up stuff because Husband was at work, which wasn't a big deal. Little Man even helped.

Saturday, I went garage sale-ing with one of my Mama friends. The original idea is that we were going to get breakfast and then go shopping but my Mama friend pointed out something important: sluggishness after eating. So, we got coffee instead and then went off to the races. In my true enabler fashion, I talked her into a few things (she didn't need much of a push, to be fair)...I came home with far too many items for the boys (toys and clothes - toys for Stormageddon and clothes for Little Man, though I did find a bunch of play-dough toys for Little Man), and a couple things for me. So, not a total fail.

Stormageddon, unfortunately, refused to nap when we got home after our garage sale-ing extravaganza. I put him down for a nap and went in about 40 minutes later to find him on top of his changing table as he had climbed out of his crib and onto the changing table next to the crib. It's not like he monkeyed up the dresser...but still, I found him on his changing table. ::sigh::

And that brings us up to today.....

Today is the last day Purlescence Yarns will be open and I'm sad. I want to go down there but I have no idea what time the boys are getting home and I don't know that I could foist Stormageddon onto Husband, in addition to Little Man, and unpacking and all that. Sooooo, there's that. We'll see what happens.



I hope you're having a lovely Sunday :)