Y5: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #37

Happy Sunday!

Today's post is brought to you by Hangover. Hangover: it's what happens when you're out too late drinking with other moms whose children go to school with yours.

Anyway, it's Sunday and that means it's time for my Year of Projects update.

Also, I'm not hungover. I just thought it would be funny for a hot minute.

::sigh:: Nevermind. Let's just 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
39. Diagonal Owl Dishcloth: started September 1, 2016; finished September 2, 2016

Nothing new was finished this week, which isn't all that surprising. However, I finally got around to an FO Friday for both the Gex sweaters (only one of which was on a model and it wasn't the original). You can see that post here.


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 some surprising news, I pulled out Wink and worked a couple rows. It's been awhile since I posted a photo so here's the most recent one, taken earlier this week.

It's just continuing to grow, at this point. I'm supposed to do 8 repeats of a section and then repeat a few more rows...and I'm in the middle of the third repeat. So, I've got a bit to go. Oh well. It's not horrible to work on but I do have papers all over with charts and notes (you can see it under the sweater - part of the chart, my yellow post-it for the chart and the blue post-it with my directions for this section)...it's not kid-friendly knitting.

My Caffe Macchiato socks, however, are kid-friendly.

Based on how I did the first sock, I should be able to start the heel when I get back around to the orange (maybe a few rounds into that...we'll see how much difference there is in the leg when I get there). This has been my purse knitting. I worked on it at the parent volunteer meeting on Wednesday night, I worked on it in the car before a doctor appointment on Thursday morning, I worked on it during swimming lessons on Thursday night, and I may have even pulled it out last night during Mama Martini Night. So, it's growing and that's grand.

Oh, and even better...I pulled Viktor down and we had a little chat, but no upgrades. I was going to try to Andean ply some old singles I found (from a spinning class I took from Luci Williams)...

Photo from the Knitch Archives for October 13, 2011 (I'm in the foreground in blue with my carders and coffee and fluff)

Anyway, I found the singles while going through bins and I got everything onto my hand for Andean plying and then things just didn't go well.......

Turns out I'm an idiot at 11pm and tried to ply while spinning the wheel the wrong direction and couldn't understand why everything was getting so twisted/knotted. In a fit of "screw this," I threw it all in the garbage. It was really overspun and kind of felt like rope more than anything so I'm not too upset about it.

After that, I pulled out the Powarth/Tussah and started spinning the second half of that. I'm about halfway through it and I might finish it sooner rather than later. We'll see. No photos of that, though.


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*


I'm pondering going through my yarn and queue and trying to match things up again but the last time I tried that, I failed horribly. Sooooo, maybe not. But the Star Tits is still strong.



In other random California events, otherwise known as life....um......

Well, Stormageddon's armoire is put together. Sunday was a shittastic day. I tried to put that damn thing together and, apparently, I'm too stupid to put Ikea furniture together. I wound up breaking a section and it's not horrible but it's always going to be there and that sucks. ::sigh:: Husband wound up doing a bunch of it because I was a crying horrible mess. It was awful. But, it's done.

Monday was Labor Day here in the US, which means we were all at home. Nothing exciting happened, other than knitting, which is only exciting for me.

Tuesday, Stormageddon had his 2 year appointment with his pediatrician. He has a 19" head and weighed 27 lbs, 4.5 oz, both of which put him smack in the middle for his age. His height was 37.75"......and that was in the 75th percentile, meaning he's tall for his age. No surprise. He's perfectly fine and lovely and still adorable.

The rest of the week was kind of a mess all around. On Tuesday, our washing machine started acting up and our friend came over on Wednesday and we pulled it out, changed out the hoses, and found plumber's putty was in the line and clogging up the incoming water. So, we cleared that out, I did a clean cycle on the washer and now it's fine.

Wednesday night, I noticed that our hot water seemed to be....lacking. We still had lukewarm water but it didn't appear to be getting hot.

Cue Thursday's adventure: getting the water heater fixed. Our entire pilot light system was borked and needed replacement. And because California has a bunch of weird laws and codes, we also had to have a release valve put in because our water heater was out of code. So, that was $600. At least they're both fixed but it's not been a fun week.

On Friday, Husband and Little Man went camping up toward Napa/Sonoma with our friend (after I got Little Man from school) so I was flying solo with Stormageddon. We didn't do a whole lot. I got Taco Bell for dinner on Friday (and McDonald's for Stormageddon)....and Stormageddon fell asleep in the car. I stayed up late watching the first two Underworld movies, pondering my stupidity with Viktor (my wheel, not the elder vampire in Underworld), and eventually going to sleep around 2am.

Saturday, Stormageddon and I went to the grocery store for some supplies, and I did some laundry and other cleaning while Stormageddon watched movies. Seriously, we watched the Angry Birds movie THREE times...and Despicable Me...and Despicable Me 2...and the Minions movie.....it was fine. Neither of us were feeling much else.

In addition to that, this happened:

Homemade peanut butter (top) so I could make a peanut butter pie (bottom). The recipe(s) come from here (and they're Alton Brown so, you know, they're good ones!). They will be consumed today, after Husband and Little Man get home from camping.

And then Mama Martini Night, hence the hangover comment at the beginning.


Here are a few other photos from this week:

Auction Committee meeting selfie

Spider I found in the bathroom (he was unceremoniously flushed)

Sitting on the Pokéball

Selfie at the doctor's office

Stormageddon rides his trusty steed, Puppy!

No idea...something about "good" and "bad" discs for Baymax

I hope you've had a lovely weekend :) I hope to be back at some point this week but we'll see how things go.