Y5: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #46

Happy Sunday :) Let's get to it!

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

40. Fall in San Francisco (Prototype 1): started September 18, 2016; finished September 21, 2016
41. Fall in San Francisco (Prototype 2): started September 28, 2016; finished October 2, 2016
42. Design Proposal: started September 26, 2016; finished October 3, 2016
43. Caffe Macchiato Socks: started May 7, 2016; finished October 16, 2016
44. Corgi Hill Polwarth/Tussah blend (spinning): started July 21, 2016; finished November 1, 2016
45. Unknown grey wool (spinning): started October 7, 2016; finished November 1, 2016
46. Inventory of circular needles: done...no dates, but it's done.
47. Inventory of crochet hooks: done...no dates, but it's done.

No new FOs but I did post an FO Friday for my latest spinning projects and my Caffe Macchiato socks. You can see it here.


WIPs (Works-In-Progress) - carried over year-to-year
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
5. Smooth Operator Socks: started October 13, 2016
6. Stormageddon's Vest: started October 17, 2016

I didn't do a whole lot of knitting this week, to be honest. What little knitting I did was on Stormageddon's Vest. I've got about 3.5" left before I split for the arm holes and fronts and backs and all of that. So, I suppose you could say it's coming along. But, you know, not really.

In my "WTFCRAZYLADYOMGLSGBBQ" lists:

Children's Items

1. House Hat (one each for Stormageddon and Little Man - worsted, two contrasting colors)

2. Arthur the Alien (for Little Man - worsted; any colors)

3. Holiday Countdown Stockings (for the family - Aran/worsted; four colors)

4. 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.) *started*

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 (well, goals, anyway because I'll probably still spin)...Viktor needs a tune-up anyway. I might even get around to doing it.

Other (for things that are fibery/crafty in nature but not specific to knitting or spinning)

1. Organize my handmade stitch markers *mostly done?*

2. Make more stitch markers (to sell? donate? hoard?) *started...never-ending?*

3. Organize my books/magazines/loose patterns. *started*

4. Toss the stash (fiber & yarn). *started*

5. Inventory of straight needles.
6. Inventory of interchangeable circulars (cord lengths, stoppers, keys, etc.)




So, California life.....(warning: Election Day Rant ahead)

Let's just say that this week has been rather.....well, it's been pretty scary, really. Tuesday was Election Day, the day in which the country gets together, goes to the polls, and votes whether Giant Douche or Turd Sandwich should be the next president, in addition to other more local things. Except it has never worked out that way. Seriously. Never once have all eligible voters actually voted. This year was no different. I generally do not get political on my blog (that's what Facebook is for)......but the outcome of this election has me scared. In case you've been living under a rock, Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, won the election. It was not a landslide by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, by popular vote, his opponent, Hillary Clinton, is ahead by at least 1.8 million votes (votes are still being counted here in California, for instance)...but it's not the popular vote we use here. We use something called the Electoral College. It's not necessarily a "bad" system but when outcomes are so close, the "losing" side kind of wants to throw it completely out the window in favor of the popular vote. The good thing about the electoral college is that it tries to balance out how the population votes by state, giving more populated states more votes but it's based on popular vote by state. So, for example, Ohio (which is called a Swing State because we're never sure which way it's going to go), is allotted 18 Electoral Votes (California has 55, Wisconsin has 10, Hawaii has 4, for reference). This time around, Ohio went Republican red, which meant 18 Electoral Votes went to Trump. California is almost always Democratic blue (meaning 55 votes), Wisconsin is usually blue...but went red this year. It's not usually a Swing State. Swing States can screw up elections and this year was a mess. States that usually go Republican continued to do so but many of the common Swing States also went Republican. In order to clinch the election, a candidate needs 271 Electoral Votes (out of 538 total). This year, Trump had 279 Electoral Votes. 

But, let's talk actual numbers. Out of all eligible voters in the United States, only about half voted and about half of that voted toward each candidate (translation: 55% of eligible voters didn't vote, 26.8% voted for Clinton, and 26.3% voted for Trump - there's that popular vote thing). It's not perfect math because there were third-party candidates that stole some numbers and you can't have half of a person voting. 

So, our President-Elect was elected based on about 25% of the total eligible voter population. Let that sink in for a minute. Twenty-five percent. 

If that's not scary enough, a lot of Trump's rhetoric is.......well, it's not pleasant unless you're a straight, white, Christian male. He wants to take care of what he deems illegal immigrants. There's nothing illegal about them. Undocumented, yes. But calling them illegal makes it sound like they shouldn't exist in the first place. He wants to build a wall between the US/Mexico boarder (paid for and built by Mexicans, because obviously!). He has called people from Mexico all sorts of things, including rapists. He has eluded to sexual assault of women being okay because he's such a star (BLECH!). He has said that all Muslims are terrorists and should not be allowed into the country. I could go on but, really, I'm so sickened by his rhetoric that I can't right now.

I know several people that voted for Trump. I've known many of them my entire life. They're not evil people that believe all this garbage...but the fact that they voted for it means they're complacent with it, which doesn't sit well with me. Unfortunately, many people that have voted for him (or their children) have started the war at home. There were children, middle schoolers, I believe, chanting something like, "build a wall" to a group of Hispanic students. Black students are being called all sorts of things. Women wearing hijabs are having them pulled off. All sorts of racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, homophobic.....whatever, things are happening that should not be happening.

So, this week has been hell, really. Protests have begun, riots have happened, violence is happening......and it's because people are scared. When GW Bush was elected, Democrats weren't happy but they also weren't worried that he was going to incite violence against marginalized people in this country. When Obama was elected, Republicans threw tantrums left and right for EIGHT YEARS, calling his birth certificate into question, questioning everything he wanted to do, fighting tooth and nail to make nothing happen. Do Nothing Congress. But with the election of Trump, people are scared, violence is erupting, and it's suddenly okay to be shitty to each other because our President-Elect has said as much.


It means that not much happened this week. Little Man had school, we went to the gym, Husband was sick...and not a lot of photos were taken, really.

Oh, wait, wait wait WAIT.......Little Man had a birthday this week. He turned SIX years old on me. We didn't do anything special, really. I sent out an email to the parents of his classmates and a few other friends that basically said, "hey, after pickup on Wednesday, and lunch, we're heading over to this place to let the kids play because it's Little Man's birthday. If you're available, join us!" We had a few over there and they had fun. When we got home, we had cake and when Husband got home, we opened presents. Lego Dimensions, more Legos (Star Wars), a remote control helicopter, a couple coloring books (Doctor Who), and a t-shirt. Not a bad deal.

I'm hoping I can get back to some semblance of normal this next week but we'll see.

Here are a few photos from this week...I also have a video but I can't get it to post properly. We went to a birthday party yesterday and Little Man climbed up the rock climbing wall. He couldn't do it last year and this year, he climbed (almost) to the top.

Stormageddon loved the slides in this place. Well, he loved the place in general. It's basically an indoor bouncy house heaven.

Also, I took these this week...

And lastly, I acquired a (new) niece. She arrived late Saturday (of last week, not last night). She looks like her grandmother (my ex-stepmother) and she's a little peanut. Because I don't have permission from my sister-in-law or brother, I'm not posting her photo. But she's sweet. Someday, I'll met her. I hope.

Anyway, here's to hoping this week will be better :)