ELEVENTH Self-Imposed Year of Projects - What is that white crap?! (Update #46)

Happy Sunday! We had white crap outside yesterday. The snow kind. But not the sticking kind. But it definitely was snowing yesterday. I was less than pleased. 

Anyway, let's get going!

 

FOs (Finished Objects)
1. Baby Blanket: started 22 April 2022; finished 4 June 2022
2. Herbivore: started 15 November 2018; finished June 2022
3. Baby Blanket: started 4 June 2022; finished 25 August 2022
4. Venskab (test knit): started 12 September 2022; finished 16 September 2022
5. Vanilla Socks: started 12 December 2021; finished 17 September 2022
6. Baby Blanket: started 4 September 2022; finished 25 September 2022
7. Pattern for Baby Blanket: started 25 September 2022; finished 26 September 2022
8. Colorfun Hat: started 7 October 2022; finished 1 November 2022
9. Vanilla Socks: started 9 August 2020; finished 12 November 2022

I'm on a roll. But not really. I finished up the Vanilla Socks that I've had going for....[mumblemumble] over two years. 

To be fair, they're too small for me so I lost interest in them for a bit....but now I know where they're going so I decided to finish them up and gift them, along with the other pair of Vanilla Socks. The intent is to ship them off before December but we'll see how that goes. I have several other items that need to go into that box.

I don't have any photos of them because they're currently drying...but that means that I've washed them and I wove in ends!

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. Linen Stitch Scarf: started 2 June 2020
9. Sand Drift Blanket: started 17 January 2021
10. Dishcloth: started 25 February 2022
11. Mixed BFL (Annie): started 18 March 2022
12. Lakeline Tank: started 18 March 2022
13. Socks: started 28 September 2022
14. Bonbon 2: started 15 October 2022

I mentioned last week that I had dug deep into the WIPs and pulled out the Returning Shawl. I continued to work on that, using my list of stitch counts to figure out where I am. I've done an additional half-dozenish rows at this point. And I think I'm going to do the lace all in a contrast and call it good. It's going to be beautiful when I'm finished but I need to get it there first. 

Aside from finishing the socks and working on the shawl, I think I worked a few rounds on the other pair of socks. I was a bit busy so there wasn't a lot of time for knitting this week.

 

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. Hüj Tüb (laceweight - maybe that 100% lace cashmere I've had forever?)
9. 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. Baby Bear for Mr. T (fingering weight - anything will work)
8. Pig for Earle & Duane (worsted weight - need pink, of course)

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 have a small bin with all my "stuff to dye" in it)

 

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

 

I'm still miffed about the flurry white crap yesterday. 

This weekend has been somewhat busy. So I'll start with today and go backwards? I guess that works. 

 

Today we had people over, which is a delightful time. It's like we finally have the space to do that so we do it as often as we can. We spent the morning cleaning, Husband brewed beer, the usual things one does on a Sunday. 

Yesterday, we moved my beehives. So, I suppose that means it's time for a bee update. A few weeks ago I mentioned that we were going to be moving my hives once it got cold (because they're less likely to come out into the cold). I got the space all set up and then we just needed to wait for a cold day. Well, yesterday qualified so we went to move the hives. I was in my full gear because I didn't know what my girls were going to do. 

The first hive was.......empty. Totally empty. Very few dead bees on the bottom. So, it's likely that they swarmed within the last few weeks or lost their queen and moved in next door. Regardless, that hive was easy to move. We loaded the two boxes, and the topper pieces onto the tractor's bucket, and Husband drove them down to the new space and I put them down. Easy peasy.

The second hive was.........very very very full of pissed of ladies. First of all, they didn't want to be open because it was cold, and they didn't want to move because it was cold, and they didn't want to bounce around because no......and then the hive box fell off the bucket just as Husband got over the bridge and they started to attack. So, Husband backed away quickly and I had to move them the rest of the way, all while they were pissed off. This is why I had my gear on. 

But, they're into their new space and we'll see how things go. 

Unfortunately, I did get stung, even with all my gear on. The helmet has mesh across the front and sides so you can see, theoretically without getting stung. Well, with everything having been in storage, the mesh was bending inwards toward my face and when the girls attacked me, one was able to sting my left ear through the mesh. ::sigh:: So, my ear is swollen and itchy, and it's along the side of my face and down my neck a bit as well. No epipen needed but my head is grumpy and somewhat lopsided. 

The rest of yesterday was spent doing laundry, cleaning, and we watched Enola Holmes, which is a really cute movie. 

Friday was a federal holiday in the US - Veteran's Day. Not everyone has this holiday off. All federal government entities had Friday off, many state agencies, but privet sector jobs can choose. Husband had Friday off as it was one of those random Fridays that they have off. I had off because I work for the federal government. The boys had to go to school, though, so I was still awake early to get them rolling. Husband and I spent Friday running some errands, including picking up his car. Exciting times.

 

Thursday was kind of a hot mess of days. I had turned off my alarms the day before (as I had woken up early) and forgot to turn them back on. I woke up at 6:44am. I generally leave for work at 6:50am and the boys head out to the bus at 7am. So, it was a mess of a morning but everyone got to where they needed to be, when they needed to be there. Stormageddon didn't get a shower in but that was fine. I took a 3 minute shower, threw on clothes, and bolted. So much hassle. We also had Stormageddon's conferences for school, which went well. 

Wednesday, Little Man turned 12 years old. TWELVE! How did that even happen?!

We had a birthday party at a local arcade, pizza & cake from Costco, and called it good. The kids had tons of fun playing video games and running around. But seriously, how did Little Man go from this:

To this:

Twelve years old! I just.....I don't even know what to think right now. But my baby is old enough to ride in the front seat of the car and I am not okay!

Both Monday and Tuesday, I had errands to run after work, which is never a fun time. I was home later than I wanted to be both days but it is what it is. At least the errands were done? 

 

This week looks to be a fairly benign week. I have to go to work, the boys have to go to school (they have early release tomorrow), and that's just how it's going to roll apparently. 

 

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