ELEVENTH Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Who reordered winter? I want spring back! (Update #13)

Based on the weather the past few days, I think someone reordered winter. It's cold and I don't like it. For now, let's discuss....

FOs (Finished Objects)

Nope. Do swatches count? I finished a few of those...

WIPs (Works-in-Progress) *These are carried over year after year, as needed*
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): started 13 April 2018
5. Granny Square Blanket: started 28 April 2018
6. UW Ski Hat: started 11 July 2018
7. Purl & Loop Weaving Project: started 28 August 2018
8. Herbivore: started 15 November 2018
9. Linen Stitch Scarf: started 2 June 2020
10. Vanilla Socks: started 9 August 2020
11. Sand Drift Blanket: started 17 January 2021
12. Vanilla Socks: started 12 December 2021
13. Dishcloth: started 25 February 2022
14. Mixed BFL (Annie): started 18 March 2022
15. Lakeline Tank: started 18 March 2022

I swatched for the Lakeline Tank, which I mentioned last week. I did what the pattern said and swatched using US7 (4.5 mm) needles. I measured my gauge before blocking and after blocking. The pattern gauge is 18 sts x 23 rows in stockinette. Okay, fine....let's measure. On the US7 needles, my gauge was 22 sts x 30 rows, unblocked...and 22 sts x 28 rows, blocked.

Dammit. 

Ripped out the swatch and grabbed US8 (5 mm) needles and redid my swatch. I didn't measure unblocked gauge because I was reusing the yarn so it was all funky. My blocked gauge was.............

18 sts x 26 rows in stockinette. I can work with that. 

So it looks like I'm going to be using US8 needles instead of US7, which makes sense since the yarn is worsted instead of Aran. It should be fine. I haven't actually cast on yet but I'm ready to go, which is always a good place to be.

In addition to that, I counted my finished granny squares that are in the Sexy Irishmen bag in my craft room.

This count has me at 30 squares. I have another completed one in the WIP bag so I actually have 31 squares. I also started another one this week. I think if I wind up with 35, that should be fine and I can make the blanket 5x7 squares and figure out how to attach them and it'll be lovely. Or something. I still need to find yarn to attach them. I'm thinking either plain white or plain black. I think white will hide my imperfections better. Either way, I'll need to make a trip to Joann's or Michael's for acrylic yarn. 

Aside from that, I worked a few rounds on the second listed pair of Vanilla Socks. I'm just working down the foot. I counted rows and I was somewhere in the mid-30s so I'm about halfway through the foot...ish. 

I think I also worked a bit on the UW Ski Hat but I might just be mixing up my weeks again. I know I pulled the project out of the bag yesterday but I thought I worked on it earlier in the week. ::shrug::

I also photographed my acquisitions from the Knit In but that will be another post, likely on Saturday.

OMGLSGWTFBBQ

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. Paradiddle Socks: started 19 October 2017 - write pattern (iteration: here)

 

Design Ideas:
1. Christmas Stocking for Husband
2. Christmas Stocking for Little Man
3. Christmas Stocking for Stormageddon
4. Baby Blanket
5. Stomping Grounds Collection

 

Items for ME (Selfish Knitting FTW!):
1. Park Slope (fingering weight - Mountain Fibers Crazyfoot in Shamrock)
2. Flax (worsted weight - Misty Alpaca in the Harry Potter colors)
3. Musselburgh (any weight - likely DK or worsted)*
4. 3 Color Cashmere Cowl (fingering weight, 3 colors)
5. Gradient Band Cowl (fingering weight - Safronie Fairy Tales gradient and a solid)*
6. Fine Tune (fingering weight - uses minis so maybe a rainbow type one with the Canon Hand Dyes?)
7. Stashbusting Helix Hats (worsted weight - bits and bobs of worsted)
8. Lakeline Tank (Aran weight - I have yarn for this somewhere...like I bought it specifically for this but I can't remember what it is)
9. Hüj Tüb (laceweight - maybe that 100% lace cashmere I've had forever?)
10. Undone (bulky - maybe the reclaimed Freeport Vest yarn?)

 

Children's Items/Knitting for others
1. Flax for Little Man (worsted weight - likely Baah Yarns Shasta in London Blue)
2. Honey Badger: (worsted weight - black & white acrylic I have banging around the stash)*
3. The Mandolorian (sport weight - need grey, white, and green...which I might have)*
4. Zelda Beanie (worsted weight - black or grey and yellow, which I'm sure I have)
5. Wasabi for Mr. K (worsted weight - Cascade 220 in Moss Agate if possible)
6. Bugle for Miss E (worsted weight - multicolor; htNEVELE in Reverie if possible)
7. Bonbon for Miss C (worsted weight - Cascade 220 in Vinci if possible)
8. Baby Bear for Mr. T (fingering weight - anything will work)
9. Pig for Earle & Duane (worsted weight - need pink, of course...maybe a good use for the one skein of Molly Ringwald I have?)

 

Utilitarian/Household Items
1. On-Trend Chair Socks (worsted weight bits and bobs) - I have a lot of chairs that could use these
2. Garter Chevron Blanket (KP Mighty Stitch - may need to get some more black or white)
3. Diagonal Knit Dishcloths (cotton of some sort, possibly a cotton/bamboo blend, depending on use)
4. Reusable Produce Bag (cotton or acrylic of some sort - worsted)
5. Harry Potter Blanket (worsted weight - based on several dishcloth patterns to make blocks)
6. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth (cotton or a cotton/bamboo blend, again based on use)
7. Pop Blanket (worsted weight - a little of this and that?)
8. Holiday Countdown Stockings (worsted weight - various colors)

 

Spinning:
1. Wonderland Dyeworks BFL in Stream Bed
2. Wonderland Dyeworks BFL in Winter Night
3. Timber Ridge Farm Alpaca Roving
4. Ashland Bay Fiber 100% Merino Top in English Garden
5. Anne's Fiber Expressions Elynenium

 

Dyeing:
1. Sock Blanks (I think I have 5 left)
2. Random worsted/sport skeins (I have maybe 2-3 left)
3. Anything else I find along the way (I don't think there's anything else, but maybe?)

 

Other Fibery Endeavors:
1. Stash Fit
2. Create a project bag inventory
3. Update library inventory (on Ravelry)
4. Update stash inventory (on Ravelry) and reorganize yarn
5. Stitch markers: make kits and individual for Etsy shop
6. Destash as necessary/needed

 

This week's weather has been cold and crappy. We've had snow here and there, rain, wind, the whole thing. Stupid spring weather not being spring-like. ::sigh::

I think this was either Thursday or Friday afternoon. Lots of snow...which thankfully didn't stick. But it was crazy.

 

I'd like spring back please.

When the weather was nice early in the week, the boys painted the bottom two boxes for the beehives. So, we're going to start with two hives and each hive will start with a box and as it gets filled, you add a box. The boys each painted two bottom boxes.

We still have more boxes to paint but they can wait until it's a bit warmer and after we have the bees, which will likely be at the end of April or the beginning of May. 

We've had sandhill cranes visiting our yard recently. I found them in the driveway and in our back marsh area. I've only seen them in pairs but that doesn't mean much.

Yesterday, we drove down to see Husband's college advisor and his wife for some socialization and so Little Man could have a guitar lesson. Stormageddon played with the kitties. Initially, he didn't want to go and then I asked if he wanted to play with the kitties and he dropped what he was doing to get ready to go. 

He's allergic but he doesn't care. 

Little Man also likes the kitties. Obviously.

That's about all that's been going on around here. The boys are on spring break this week since Easter is so late this year. I have no idea what we're going to do all week but we'll figure something out. I anticipate a trip to the Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison, maybe the Madison Children's Museum, maybe a trip up to Wisconsin Dells, maybe Shedd Aquarium in Chicago....no idea. 

I hope you've had a lovely week and weekend!