TWELFTH Self-Imposed Year of Projects - I know we need the rain but..... (Update #25)

Hello. Happy Sunday. I am your most humble and honorable hostess, Renee Anne. Today, we delve into the depths of my knitting. Or lack thereof. We'll see how things pan out. 

Let's get started.

 

FOs (Finished Objects)
1. Josh's Winter Hat: started 20 December 2022; finished 2 January 2022
2. NEYCO Hat: started 31 December 2022; finished 20 January 2022
3. Hat: started 15 February 2023; finished 25 February 2023
4. Linen Stitch Scarf: started 2 June 2020; finished 12 April 2023

Nope. Keep on moving along, kids. 

 

WIPs (Works-in-Progress) These are carried over year after year, if 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. Sand Drift Blanket: started 17 January 2021
9. Dishcloth: started 25 February 2022
10. Mixed BFL (Annie): started 18 March 2022
11. Lakeline Tank: started 18 March 2022
12. Socks: started 28 September 2022
13. Bonbon 2: started 15 October 2022
14. Smile & Wave: started 15 November 2022
15. Kitty at Christmas: started 28 January 2023
16. Wasabi for Mr. K: started 10 March 2023
17. Star Stitch Shawl: started 8 June 2023 (link to the kit)

I would love to tell you that the last week was filled with tons of knitting. Unfortunately, I didn't do a whole lot. I did do some....but not a lot. I made some progress on my Smile & Wave fingerless mitts. I'm almost finished with the cuff of the second mitt, which means I'll need to look at the directions for the thumb increases soon enough. 

In addition to that, I made some forwards and some backwards progress on my Star Stitch Shawl. I've finished up a few pattern repeats...and then I managed to wind up one stitch off on one side and I wasn't able to find it so I'm going to have to tink back. I've already tinked back one row but I need to do another. I think that should solve the issue. 

Also, there was no mistake in the pattern. I just lack the capability to read properly, it seems. Like I didn't know that already ::eyeroll::

I'm using Malabrigo Sock in Indiacita, which I apparently have an affinity for as I'm also using another skein in the same colorway it to make socks for Little Man. I think I have the same colorway in different bases, as well. Maybe. 

I didn't do any other knitting, though. It's okay. I'll get there. 

OMGLSFWTFBBQ

Items for ME (FTW!)
1. Nottingham (worsted weight, ~1200 yds; Cascade 220 Heathers)
2. Ishbel (fingering weight, ~610 yds; Happy Hands Yarn)
3. NIN Hat (worsted weight, 2 colors, ~220 yds + scraps; partials bin)
4. Boneyard Shawl (fingering weight, ~750 yds; KP Hawthorne Fingering)
5. Wilf's Hat (worsted weight, ~240 yds; Psych Ward Yarns)
6. Skoufaki (DK weight, ~175 yds; handspun)
7. Kaweah Hat (DK weight, ~240 yds; Houndstooth DK)
8. Chunkeanie (bulky weight, ~160 yds; madelinetosh Chunky)
9. Sockhead (fingering weight, ~400 yds; so many choices)
10. Stranger Things Hat (worsted weight, ~200 yds; Malabrigo Rios)
11. Huj Tub (laceweight, ~900 yds; Laceweight Cashmere)
12. Rose City Rollers (fingering weight, ~250 yds; so many choices)

Children's Items/Knitting for others
1. Flax for Little Man (worsted weight; Baah Yarns Shasta)
2. Honey Badger: (worsted weight - black & white acrylic I have banging around the stash)*
3. The Mandolorian (sport weight, ~165 yds; need grey/black, white, and green...which I might have)*
4. Zelda Beanie (worsted weight, unknown yardage; black/grey and yellow)
5. Bugle for Miss E (worsted weight, ~150 yds; htNEVELE worsted)
6. Baby Bear for Mr. T (fingering weight, ~220 yds; anything will work)
7. Pig for Earle & Duane (worsted weight, ~300 yds; need pink, of course)
8. Hippo for Sweet Girl (fingering weight, ~400 yds total; purple & pink)
9. Elefante for Sassy Girl (worsted weight, ~250 yds; maybe if I can find the original...otherwise, something new/different)...but she's requested a cow as a replacement so we'll see what I can find.

Utilitarian/Household Items
1. Garter Chevron Blanket (worsted weight; KP Mighty Stitch - may need to get some more black or white)
2. Diagonal Knit Dishcloths (any weight; cotton of some sort, possibly a cotton/bamboo blend, depending on use)
3. Reusable Produce Bag (worsted weight; cotton or acrylic)
4. Harry Potter Blanket (worsted weight; superwash or acrylic - based on several dishcloth patterns to make blocks)
5. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth (any weight; cotton or a cotton/bamboo blend, again based on use)
6. Pop Blanket (worsted weight; superwash - a little of this and that?)
7. Holiday Countdown Stockings (worsted weight; various colors from partials bin)
8. Cat Butts (worsted weight; "cat" colors and pink for the butthole)
9. Yer Mom Licks Cat Butts (worsted weight; "cat" colors and pink for the butthole)

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

 

So. Let's talk about the next few things that are coming. Husband has conscripted me to make a few things. I'm not thrilled about being conscripted but two of the three items are going to Little Man and Stormageddon and they're the same item, just making them twice. Husband has printed out rupees from the Legend of Zelda and they're rather large so the boys have requested bags to put them in. Now, to stay true to the game(s), they will need to be brown drawstring bags with a rupee on the front. I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to do the rupee on the front part but I'll figure it out. I suspect that I'm actually going to make it out felt and sew it on but that's a project for another day. Right now, I need to find some brown yarn and start knitting. 

Also, because why not, I've been further conscripted to make another baby blanket. Luckily the pattern is straight forward (because I wrote it) and I have the yarn. I just need to sit and make it. Well, I need to dig the yarn out first but I know where it is. 

Now, let's get on to the regular life things. It's been stupid hot here and we're basically in the midst of a drought. My grass out front is brown. The weeds and grasses around the creek are fine and there is water flowing. But, we're still in a drought. We had rain overnight and earlier today but it's not enough. We probably need a good couple of days where it just rains and rains...but, it doesn't look like today is that day. Again. 

The tiles on the basketball court are gone. We sold them. $500 for a 20ish year old basketball court. To be fair, to buy it all new would be in the neighborhood of $1500-$2500. They came yesterday and picked it up. They brought pallets over and put sections of the tile on the top (like 4'x6' sections) and then Husband moved the pallets to their truck with the tractor. It actually worked out pretty well. 

They had two kids, probably 6 and 9 years old, who were very interested in the cranes in the yard. They were fine at first, watching from the top of where our garden was but then the younger one decided he wanted to get closer so he went barreling down the hill toward them, and they were not happy. He stopped about 50' away but they were squawking at him and flapping their wings. I had said there was likely a nest nearby and they were protecting babies. 

Turns out, I was right. This morning, as I was getting ready to go on an adventure, I saw both adult cranes and two fluffy tennis balls running around after them. They're kind of difficult to see in the photo. But there's one slightly to the left of the bird on the right, and the other baby is under the other one's body. They were so wee and orange and fluffy. I got a bit of side eye when I opened up the door to go outside to take a photo but not squawking at me once they realized I wasn't coming toward them. 

 

I was just thinking it was about time to see babies but up until yesterday, I had only seen one of them at a time. I was worried that someone was lonely but they were not. And now there are babies. And they're so fluffy and cute and running around after mama and dadddy. 

In addition to that, Husband, the boys, two of his college friends, and his dad did a charter fishing trip on Lake Michigan, out of Milwaukee. They caught a HUGE pile of fish. Husband caught an 11+ lbs king salmon, in addition to other fish including trout and steelheads. 

After all this, I have a lot of fish in my freezer. They got back at like 11:30pm...and then Husband asked me to rinse the fish and clean out the coolers so I wound up going to bed very late that night. 

However, their fishing adventures gave me a chance to have a go on the TV for once and I wound up binge watching Wednesday. I think Little Man would like it if he'd actually sit down and watch it. He disagrees but what does he know. He's currently standing behind me and telling me that the answer is no. ::sigh:: Damn kids. 

I would love to say that things are afoot.....and there are some things afoot, but really, not much has been happening around here as of late. We are having Little Man's bestie come out from California with his older sister again. That's still a few weeks out, however. So, time to plan and all that. 

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