Year Eight: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Let's Reassess Things (Update #26)

Hello, happy Sunday, happy last day of June, and happy halfway point on my Self-Imposed Year of Projects :)



FO's (Finished Objects): 
1. Age of Brass & Steam: started 10 August 2018; finished 7 January 2019
2. Sockhead for Little Man: started 29 November 2018; finished 25 January 2019
3. Cowl for Miss Sylvie: started 18 January 2019; finished 9 April 2019
4. Vanilla Fingerless Mitts: started 16 May 2019; finished 24 June 2019

It's true! I finished something! Who knew that if you actually worked on a project, you'd make progress?! Well, apparently that's true as I finished up the Fingerless Mitts this past week. I think I knit the second mitt in less than two days, because I just sat and worked on it. 

This is the "just finished" photo. The ends were woven in but it hadn't been washed or blocked or anything like that....not that they really needed blocking. They did need a good soak to get my stitches to even out. I don't know what it is about this specific pattern but I've knit these a couple of times and each time, I wind up with ladders where I switch DPNs. I don't have this issue on anything else I knit in DPNs...just this specific pattern. Now that they've been washed, the laddering is better (not completely gone but better). They're going to my bestie as soon as she decides whether she wants them for her birthday in December or before then. \

But that's it, I swear!

WIPs (Works-in-Progress) (These are carried over year to year)
1. Wink: started 5 January 2015
2. Shetland Neck Wool (support spindle): started 8 September 2017
3. Returning: started 14 January 2018
4. Faerie Mountain Fibers Crazy Batt (EEW Mini Spinner): started 13 April 2018
5. Granny Square Blanket: started 28 April 201

6. Clapotis: started 29 June 2018

7. University of Wisconsin Ski Hat: started 28 July 2018 

8. Abracadabra Socks: started 7 August 2018

9. Purl & Loop Weaving Project: started 28 August 2018

10. Campfire Socks: started 17 October 2018

11. Herbivore: started 15 November 2018
12. Ewetopia Stripey Socks: started 15 November 2018

13. Multi-Colored Merino Top (Viktor): stared 16 January 2019
14. Prototype Something Something Raindrops: started 11 April 2019

With the finish above, it means my WIP list is down to a much more manageable fourteen WIPs.... 🙄 

I worked a couple rounds on the Prototype Something Something Raindrops cowl during Stormageddon's swimming lesson this week. I didn't make a lot of progress but progress is progress. 

I also pulled out the granny square I've been working on for awhile (April, maybe). I only did a couple rounds but again, progress is progress. I don't know that I'm going to finish up this 9th square before the end of the day but we'll see...not that it matters because I'm that far behind but whatever. 



Design WIPs  (New section, specifically for design WIPs):
1. Messed Up Moss: started March 2009 - write pattern as PDF (iterations: first, second)
2. Susan's Hat: started 31 August 2010 - need new prototypes & write the pattern (iterations: first, second, third, mini, fifth, sixth)
3. Little Man's Baby Blanket: started July 2010 - need new prototype & write pattern (iteration: here)
4. Chunky Scarf: started 6 October 2012 - need new prototype & write pattern (iteration: here)
5. Pacific Waves Hat: started 9 March 2016 - need new prototype & write the pattern (iterations: first, second, third)
6. Fall in San Francisco: started 18 September 2016 - need new prototype & write pattern (iterations: first, second)
7. Stomping Grounds Collection: started 26 February 2017 - need prototypes & write patterns 
8. Unnamed Hat Design: started 14 August 2017 - need various weight yarn prototypes & write pattern (iterations: first, second)
9. Rastarmulke: started 20 November 2017 - write pattern (iterations: first, second)
10. Paradiddle Socks: started 19 October 2017 - write pattern (iteration: here)

I think this is mostly just here for my record at this point. I've been lollygagging on actual pattern writing for awhile. Someday I'll get back around to it. It's fine. I'm not fussed about this section, really.

OMGLSGWTFBBQ Lists

Now, we need to have a little chat about my lists here.....we're at the midway point for the year and, let's face it, I've not been doing well. I only have four FOs and fourteen WIPs, none of which are looking to be finished anytime soon. It's time to reassess what I want to work on. 

Sooooo......I'm making some changes. 

Challenges (this is new for 2019)

1. Knit 2 granny squares a month (average) until I'm out of yarn (for the Granny Square Blanket in my WIP list above - I started with four cakes, I've finished two and started the third...I bought a fifth, though, for more choices): We are at the end of June...I'm on my 9th square. Soooo, that means I'm very behind, which isn't surprising. For June, that means I needed to finish the 9th, and start and finish the 10th, 11th, and 12th square. But July is tomorrow, which adds another two squares....so I'm now six squares behind, plus the couple of rounds left on the one I've got going. I think this challenge is a decent one but I may drop it to one square a month and if I do more, bonus!

2. Knit 1 dishcloth a month (average): I think I'm going to let this challenge go and just hope I make a few here and there. 

3. Submit and/or publish 4 designs this year. I think I'm going to drop this down to two and call it good. 

Children's Items

1. Oliver for Stormageddon (worsted weight - Stunning String Studio from Stitches West 2018)

2. Minecraft Socks for Little Man (fingering weight - Tosh Sock in Plaid Blanket?)

3. Mittens for Stormageddon (probably worsted weight of some sort)

4. Tardis Beanie (worsted weight - Cascade Yarns Venezia in Blue Velvet & Grey)

5. Holiday Countdown Stockings (worsted weight - might need to buy yarn for this one...) x2 sets (because 2 children)

6. Smaug Hat (worsted weight - Malabrigo Rios in Archangel)

7. Mirkwood (bulky weight - MadTosh Chunky in either Charcoal or Lowland)

I'm removing a couple items from this list. Not because I don't want to knit them but because I feel like the others are more useful to us right now. 

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)

1. Fornicating Deer Hat / Basic Lined Hat (worsted weight - Barrett Wool Co. Worsted Weight in Huron & Stationery from Stitches West 2018)

2. Pembroke Scarf (fingering weight - pick anything 400+ yds, it should work)

3. Brickless (worsted weight - Miss Babs Yowza in Celebration)

4. Nightlock (fingering weight - Sun Valley Fibers Merino/Nylon Fingering in Onyx & Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock in May the Odds Be Ever in Your Favor)

5. Honey Badger (fingering weight - one of the BMFA STR that I got from Carrie)

6. Park Slope (fingering weight - Mountain Fibers Crazyfoot in Shamrock)

7. Irisa Cowl (aran weight - pick something 200+ yds and it'll be fine)

8. Flax (worsted weight - Misty Alpaca in the Harry Potter colors)

9. Xandu Snowflake Cowl (as a hat; fingering weight - G. Sheller Merino/Silk Fingering in Natural & YOTH Little Brother in Caviar)

10. Spider Slouch (worsted weight - Plucky Scholar in One Hit Wonder)*

11. Moyen Age (fingering weight - Vice Yarns special order)

12. Pop Blanket (worsted weight - box of Knit Picks...may need to order more)

13. University of Wisconsin Button Beanie (came as a kit)

14. University of Wisconsin Christmas Stocking (came as a kit)

15. Morvarch (fingering weight - Wollmeise that I used the first time)

16. Down the Rabbit Hole (self-stripe fingering weight - White Birch Fiber Arts Merino/Nylon Self-Stripe in Rainbow Ash)

17. Tombreck (Aran weight - hand-dyed Malabrigo Twist or handspun Purple BFL)

18. Stormont (worsted weight - MadTosh 80/10/10 in Molly Ringwald)

19. Rose's Wrist Warmers (DK weight - using Aran instead; hand-dyed Malabrigo Twist?)

20. Northeasterly (Sock or DK weight - but really, I can use whatever as long as I have enough)* 

I'm dropping from 20 down to 12, which still isn't doable in six months but I feel better about it.

Dishcloth Patterns (for Challenges - these are just ideas!)

1. Grandmother's Waffle Washcloth

2. Kitchen Towel (as a washcloth - leave off the top/mirror bottom)

3. Tribble

4. Variation on a Theme

5. Checker-Square Garter Dishcloth

6. Seamless Circular & Hexagonal Cloths

7. Honeycomb Dishcloth

8. Almost Lost Washcloth

9. Leafy Washcloth

10. Sunburst Dishcloth

11. Starfish Cloth

12. Roll Out the Barrels 

I'm just going to remove this section entirely since I'm removing the dishcloth challenge. 

Designs

1. Stormageddon's Baby Blanket - need prototype & write pattern

2. Cabled pullover (grey look-alike sweater - Old Navy hooded sweater with cable) - need sketch, grading, swatch, prototype, & write pattern

3. Christmas stocking for Little Man - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)

4. Christmas stocking for Stormageddon - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)
5. Christmas stocking for Husband - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)

This section I can leave alone because these are just ideas rolling around in my head. 

Spinning

1. AVFKW Merino Silk

2. Abstract Fiber Merino Tencel

3. Allons-Y Fiber Arts 18.5 Micron Merino

4. Allons-Y Fiber Arts Merino, Trilobal Nylon, Silk

5. Alpaca (from Lambtown 2014)

6. Ambrosia & Bliss Rambouillet Top

7. Anne's Fiber Expressions

8. Ashland Bay Fiber Merino Top

9. BMFA Handpainted Roving

10. Bramble Wool Farm Shetland Wool

I'm going to leave the spinning section alone, also. Tour de Fleece is coming up and I'm sure I'll find some time to spin. 

Dyeing
1. Sock Blanks (10) from Vice Yarns
2. Anything else I find in the stash...or pick up along the way....

Leaving this alone, also. I'll dye when I get around to it.

Other Fibery Endeavors
1. Stitch markers and/or stitch marker kits
2. Vintage patterns into Rav database & my Rav Library

3. Update inventory of loose patterns & books (spreadsheet & Rav Library)

4. Update inventory of PDF patterns (Rav Library)

5. Update yarn inventory (make sure it's up-to-date)/destash

6. Inventory project bags (Erin Lane, I'm looking at you)

7. Get the Etsy Shop up and running with all the things! Or something. Maybe not an Etsy shop...

This section I'll leave alone, as well. 

Now, with all that said, we all know I'm still living in the clouds. We all know I won't make a dent in these lists, even though I removed a bunch of stuff. It's just how it is. But I don't think I'll look at the modified lists next week and feel as overwhelmed as I've been feeling, if that makes any sense.

On to California life :)

Earlier in the week, we went out for ice cream. Let's be honest: it was Monday, Husband wanted me to take his laptop to the Apple Store, and we were early...and the ice cream place is literally next door. So, we had ice cream.

I think they were pleased. They also enjoyed messing around on new iPhones for a half-hour while the employee and I tried to sort out Husband's laptop. 

It's hard to tell since you can't see the entire room but Little Man's bedroom was cleaned. We went through papers, books, toys...almost the whole shebang. We didn't go through his clothes. That still needs to happen but we got through everything else. It was needed. So, he had time to play on the iPad. 

Speaking of bedrooms.....Stormageddon got his big boy bed. This isn't the final product (we have it now). This was before the frame arrived but we had the box spring and the mattress. Now, if we could convince him to sleep there all night, we'd be in good shape...but he's still getting up and coming into our bed at night. ::sigh:: 

That means I spent some time this week going through things in his room. I got rid of open packages of diapers and pull-ups as well as some of the boys' outgrown clothing. I also have some of the baby accoutrements up for sale in the Facebook Marketplace (jumper, Boppy, crib sets, etc.). We'll see if I can get them out of my hair. 

Our roommate took these photos the other day. The boys were outside playing together (nicely, I might add). 

Said roommate and Little Man. They're goofy. That was on Friday afternoon. We'd had a long week (all of us)......I think we started day drinking around 2:30pm. Oops. Well, he and I did...the boys obviously don't drink. 

Yesterday, the boys wanted time out on their two-wheeled items. Stormageddon has inherited Little Man's scooter. 

Little Man took a few spins on his bike. We don't live in the most bike-friendly neighborhood to begin with and there has been an unusual amount of traffic/parked cars due to a death in our neighbor's family. They're from one of the Pacific Island nations (Tonga, Samoa, Fiji...not sure which one) and the mourning period is two weeks....and the family gathers. So, our neighbor's house is the gathering spot. So. Many. Cars. They've actually taken to using our end of the street as a parking lot (yes, the local PD has been notified because no, you cannot just use the area as a parking lot). Regardless, we took the boys out for some spins yesterday. All was well.

Aside from that, I was notified on Monday that my contract job was ending. It was nothing I did and I was aware that there was a possibility that this could happen from the beginning. There's a possibility they may contact me and bring me back on but I'm not going to hold my breath. So....I'm back to unemployment, which is fine. It wasn't a make-or-break-us type of job, which is good. But still, I'm disappointed...extra money to throw at bills is nice. Oh well.

I hope you've had a lovely week and weekend! We're heading up to Santa Rosa this week for the 4th of July, as we do every year. Maybe I'll get some actual knitting done! Haha! 

Have a good day!