Y5: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #52 Let's Wrap It Up Already!

Happy Christmas! Happy Sunday! Happy happy........HAPPY LAST UPDATE of 2016. The "wrap up" post, which is probably fitting since today is Christmas.

I'm going to do things in a weird round-about type of way today. Let's start with the lists of things I didn't even get around to:

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


Okay, to be fair, when I make my lists, I list way more than I know I can knit in a year's time. I've discovered over the last five years that while I need to focus, I still need some flexibility and choice. Of course, I add things as I go along (like test knits and design work and whatever else comes along)...and oftentimes, I remove things from the list.

So, this year, while it looks like I have a ton left on my "to do" lists, I actually still accomplished a lot. Let's have a look :)


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.
48.  Trusty: started December 16, 2016; finished December 23, 2016

Forty-eight things were finished this year. That's quite a lot, really. Let's break it down:

1. Inventory of my circular needles &; crochet hooks: 2 entries

2. Spinning: 16 projects (there are 17 listed but the first of these wound up being part of one of the later projects so I'm not going to count it twice)

3. Socks: 5 pairs (plus a design proposal & pattern release)

4. Hats: 11 projects (including test knits and design prototypes)

5. Cowls: 2 projects

6. Sweaters: 2 projects

7. Frogging: 1 (Freeport Vest)

8. Toys: 2 toys

9. Dishcloths: 2 cloths

10. Design Proposals (not already accounted for elsewhere): 1

11. Swatch for Stitches West class: 1

It appears that most of the FOs for this year came in the form of spinning, which isn't a lie. Sixteen spinning projects, almost all of which were completed during Tour de Fleece (in July). The rest is a smattering of things and a few things go together (like hat designs and design proposals and such). 

I don't necessarily think that's too bad for a year's worth of work and knitting and spinning and designing and blogging. The nice part is that I got my longest-running WIP finished (my Dragon's Egg Socks), I did some design work, and I attempted to make a dent in my stash. We can talk about my stash at a later date (maybe on Saturday)

Now, normally, I'd go about uploading photos of everything but, honestly, if you want to take a look at all the things I accomplished, you can just click on the links and it'll take you to the project page (or pattern page)...if there is one. Some things just don't need one, other things are connected to multiple projects (design proposals, for instance). Or, if you're feeling really super crazy adventuresome, you can click on the "Self-Imposed Year of Projects" tag and read through each post over the last year. 

If you've been playing along week after week, you'll notice that I have a new FO on the list. I finished up the first version of the Trusty Hat in Cascade 220. I hope to have an FO Friday before the end of the year...I hope....we'll see how things go. It's currently hanging out, drying flat, because that's what you do when you have no good way to dry hats. With Little Man on break, I might be able to convince him to take some proper photos this week.

Forty-eight projects. At the end of it all, that's pretty good. However.....that doesn't mean there weren't things left at the end of the year. 

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
8. Trusty (v2): started December 22, 2016

My new longest-running WIP is still hanging about: my Wink sweater. I haven't even split for the arms yet...two years later and I've not done that. ::sigh::  It just takes a bit to work on because of the charts and multiple pages that I need to look at and it's not child-friendly. It's not an excuse; it's just the way it is. I don't expect this to be finished for awhile. It's okay, though. I have a bunch of "longer term" projects going right now anyway. Some people can knit socks quickly. I am not one of those people. Socks take me awhile to work on. And sweaters, obviously. How I managed to finish two child-sized ones last year is beyond me. Probably because they were small. 

Other things were started, as well, obviously, as the list has eight items. The shawl was started in August during Ravellenics. As it sits right now, I have about 70 rows left to knit (before the bind off) and several are short rows...but several also add stitches. Sooooo, who knows how much is going on there. I keep wondering how it's going to turn out because in my head, it's just not wide enough or something is wrong and, of course, I can't tell. We'll see. The worst thing that happens is that I hate it and I frog it. Boo frickin' hoo. 

The prototype hat.....oh that hat is giving me fits and it has been on time out for awhile. I need to sit down with the math again one of these days. I feel like I'm making it harder than it needs to be. I'm also sidetracked with other things because, you know, new and shiny. 

My Frene Creek spinning project is just hanging out. With it being winter and washing my hands more often and going to the gym and all that...my hands are dry and splitty again. My fiber just sticks to every dry bit my hands have to offer. ::sigh:: When my hands aren't so crabby again, I'll get back around to spinning...and maybe I'll give Viktor a tune-up as well. He's in need.

My Smooth Operator Socks were going along so well....and then I decided I hated the stitch pattern I was using and I frogged it back to the cuff. And in favor of other projects, these have kind of been shunted to the side. I should pick them back up soon. They're not a difficult ribbing...just kind of boring.

Stormageddon's Vest is in hibernation for the moment. The yarn likes to stick to my dry hands, even though it's quite lovely to work with. I'll get back around to it. I'm making something that's a couple sizes too large anyway because things take me forever, my boys will grow and fit into it eventually, and did I mention how things take awhile? So, it's supposed to be the 4T size but he'll probably be wearing it in a year (if I finish the damn thing). 

The project that's seen the most action recently: Hermione's Everyday Socks. I'm working on the gusset decreases right now.....on both socks because I'm knitting them two-at-a-time (on two different sets of needles). So, that's been helpful. It's a good "waiting around" kind of knitting because I can do it in the car while waiting or at swimming lessons or while watching TV. I don't have to pay attention too much but it's still interesting enough that I don't lose interest. 

My last project, which is also my most recent, and will probably be my first FO of 2017 is the second incursion of the Trusty hat. I'm doing this one out of DK weight with more stitches and I'm going to do a slouch version. The original pattern is written for worsted weight so I'm putzing around with things. We'll see how it goes. It turns out a lovely reversible hat, which I'm all about. 



So, all-in-all, 2016 wasn't a bad year for knitting and spinning and all of that. 



What else happened this last week? Well, Little Man was off school all week and the boys were driving me nuts. On top of that, Husband got strep. AGAIN. It was just.....this week was a long, exhausting week. 

Because Husband was sick at the beginning of the week, I made the one thing I knew he'd be able to eat: French onion soup. We do the America's Test Kitchen version, which is basically this recipe (this isn't the actual one I use - I can't find the website I use). Our oven is a bit wonky so I have to reduce cooking time to accommodate, but that's not an issue, really. I made a HUGE pot of it and we ate it for a couple days. Well, he did. I could eat whatever but I felt bad eating things he couldn't eat, even if he wanted to.

While out on one of our adventures on Monday, Stormageddon fell asleep in his carseat. Again. I let him sleep because he needed the nap.

And Stormageddon was a booger the other morning. He decided that he only needed to wear one sock and put both feet in it. Luckily, he didn't try to walk this way.

Time with Daddy is boring. I took Little Man to swimming lessons on Thursday and when we got home, Stormageddon was laying like this in the middle of the living room floor, snoring. Husband has video, actually.

On Friday, I took the boys to an indoor gym type place (different from the one we usually go to). The place was a frickin' zoo. Absolutely insane. With all the kids off school for the holidays and the rain....when our friends arrived, they were put on a waiting list for a good 10-15 minutes. But, the boys got a lot of energy out, which they needed to do by Friday.

And apparently today is the "Stormageddon" show in photos. I seriously took no photos of Little Man this week. He was far too busy with his Lego Dimensions and playing in his room and....well, just not holding still long enough to have photos. 

I did manage to get this one yesterday after the boys and I finished frosting the gingerbread cookies. 

And, I found the ever-elusive Santa-hatted Pikachu this week.

So, Happy Christmas, happy last update.....happy happy whatever. I'll be back next Sunday with a shiny new YEAR SIX post. I might be back before then with a last Stash Enhancement update and maybe an FO Friday. We'll see how things go. 

Hope you're having a lovely day. I'm 100% late to the party this week. Oops. I suppose that's what happens with holidays and such.