Y5: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #47

Happy Sunday :) We all know why we're here (and if you've wandered in on accident, you can find more information about the Year of Projects here)...let's get mooooooving!


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 finishes, which isn't surprising.

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
7. Hermione's Everyday Socks (v2): started November 14, 2016

Because it appears I don't have enough going on, I started another pair of socks. Yes, I've made Hermione's Everyday Socks before (you can find them here) but the pattern is easily memorized, easy to read, and I can do it while I'm out and about (because it's easy to memorize and read). I've already done a few things differently from my first pair. I changed the ribbing to a 3x1, I didn't do any of the knit stitches through the back loop, and I've done 25 rounds of ribbing instead of 20. It wasn't so cumbersome this time, probably because I'm using two circulars. Actually, I'm using FOUR circulars because I've had this somewhat genius idea to do both socks at once (on two different sets of circulars, having already unintentionally split the skein in half....ish). So far, I've got the cuff and five pattern repeats finished on the first sock and I've got the cuff finished on the second sock and I'm working on catching up to the first sock. Then I'll go back to the first sock and do a few more pattern repeats, wash, rinse, repeat, and Bob's your uncle (supposedly). I'm hoping to combat Second Sock Syndrome, which I don't normally have but also to make sure I match my socks (same techniques used for the cast on, for instance). So, there's that. 

I've not done much knitting otherwise, 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.)




In California life, we've had company. A friend of mine from college flew out on Monday so we've been doing random things here and there. Monday was kind of a crapshoot. Her flight left late so she arrived late. Little Man had his Wee Theater performance at school that afternoon. He was so adorable. I still need to get the video. I wasn't able to get it because I was holding a somewhat uncooperative Stormageddon but I know several of the other parents have it. 

Tuesday afternoon, the boys, my friend, and I went to the mall. We found this lovely little number:

My mind, of course, went straight to the gutter. But, upon further review (and turning them sideways from this position), I noted that they are, in fact, red shoes. We still had a good laugh about it.

Thursday was World Pancreatic Cancer Day. I don't know that I personally know anyone that has had pancreatic cancer but I do know several people that have lost loved ones from it. As a result, Little Man and I wore purple.

This also happened on Thursday morning:

On Friday, the boys, my friend, and I went to Fisherman's Wharf and the Aquarium of the Bay. We left after picking up Little Man from school and spent the afternoon there. We had lunch at Boudin (and took a quick "tour" in the museum),

we walked around Pier 39, stopped here and there, took photos of the sea lions (the few that were around),

and then we went to the aquarium.

That was a very LSG starfish...all spread-eagled and just hanging about...

So this guy.....he was all curled up in his shell when we came into the room. I pointed him out to Stormageddon and told him that this guy was going to be our dinner later this weekend (tonight, if the weather behaves). I swear the crab herad me because he got up, struck this stance, his little mouth just quivering as if to say, "aw hell naw, come at me bro!" It was pretty funny, actually. He didn't settle down until we had walked away.

Stormageddon is learning how to look at the camera and smile. He's working on it...

Little Man likes touching the starfish in the touch tanks. He didn't get to touch the sting ray (it's quick and he kept pulling his hand out before it would get there - I did get to touch it).

And the two otters having a little nap. There are actually three but one was off-site for the day. The other two were snuggling. The last time we were here, they were playing catch with rocks. Oh well.

Yesterday was quite a day, actually. We went to the Russian River Brewery in Santa Rosa. The idea is that we were going to eat some lunch and then pick up a few things, head home, blah blah blah. It didn't go well. Firstly, it was raining. Now, it's just rain...but it was a bit chilly. And then we were in line for 45 minutes, only to get inside to find out that it would be another hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half before we could eat. So, we pondered and looked at the menu and decided that there was no way we were going to be doing that. We were expecting something like good bar food (burgers, fries, etc.).....yeah, about that....nooooope. So, we went a couple blocks away to a lovely Puerto Rican place. After that, we visited some friends that have their weekend house (just a quick drop-in). I wound up driving about half the drive home as Husband was having some lingering pain issues (from a surgery that happened a few years ago)...in the rain at night. ::sigh::

So, that about sums up life around here.

Today, I think we're going to Half Moon Bay to pick up live crab and we'll do a crab boil for dinner. Tomorrow, I take my friend to the airport, and that's about it. Exciting times.

I hope you've all had a lovely weekend!