Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #52

UPDATE #52!

Did you read that? Today marks the last update of my Second Self-Imposed Year of Projects! So, because it's the last update for the year, this is going to be an extremely photo-heavy and link-heavy post...

It's the wrap-up for the year, what did you expect?!

Soooooo...

Here was the first post regarding my Second Self-Imposed Year of Projects. Bless me, I was so innocent back then. I had a lot of wiggle room though because there were some items I had listed as "assorted" or multiple projects came with one pattern. 

This is what I wound up with at the end of it all:

Finished Objects (FOs)

1. San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts: started January 2, 2013; finished January 10, 2013
2. Don't Blink: started January 16, 2013; finished January 16, 2013  (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
3. Dalek Dishcloth: started January 16, 2013; finished January 21, 2013 (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
4. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started February 8, 2013; finished February 11, 2013
5. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010; finished February 14, 2013
6. Little Granite Dishcloth: started February 16, 2013; finished March 2, 2013
7. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started March 4, 2013; finished March 27, 2013
8. Garter Stripe Baby Socks: started March 3, 2013; finished April 4, 2013
9. Petal Dishcloth: started May 21, 2013; finished May 22, 2013
10. Petal Dishcloth: started May 22, 2013; finished May 23, 2013
11. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012; finished May 24, 2013 
12. Petal Dishcloth: started May 26, 2013; finished May 29, 2013
13. Mini Petal Dishcloth: started June 6, 2013; finished June 10, 2013
14. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012; finished June 15, 2013
15. Sand Stitch Dishcloth: started June 18, 2013; finished June 20, 2013
16. Roman Stitch (Variation) Dishcloth: started June 21, 2013; finished June 23, 2013
17. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started June 28, 2013; finished July 25, 2013
18. Choose Your Own Adventure Dishcloth: started July 26, 2013; finished August 4, 2013
19. Greyson: started July 5, 2013; finished August 27, 2013
20. Pumpkin Cloth: started September 1, 2013; finished September 1, 2013
21. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started September 19, 2013; finished September 22, 2013
22. Grave Cloth: started September 22, 2013; finished September 22, 2013
23. Franken Cloth: started September 22, 2013; finished September 23, 2013
24. Witch Cloth: started September 23, 2013; finished September 27, 2013
25. Rose's Wrist Warmers: started September 4, 2013; finished October 3, 2013
26. Susan's Hat (V2): started October 14, 2013; finished October 18, 2013
27. Little Man's Pumpkin Hat: started October 20, 2013; finished October 23, 2013
28. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013; finished October 30, 2013
29. Susan's Hat (V2): started November 3, 2013; finished November 10, 2013

I started out my year with four WIPs, which were all finished during the course of this past year:

#5: Icarus Shawl

#11: Mama's Vanilla Socks (V2)

#14: Eat Your Monkey Socks

#1: San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts

That's pretty good: my long-outstanding WIP (the Icarus Shawl) was finished, and I finished up some other WIPs. 

Then I went on a dishcloth kick for awhile because this happened:

At the end of February, we moved into our new house. Hence the dishcloth kick...I didn't want to start anything new and huge and exciting because I had no idea how long it would take for me to find what I was looking for. 

Once the majority of our unpacking was finished, I was back to business as usual...and I finished up the Icarus Shawl. And made more dishcloths...

About mid-summer, I decided I wanted to knit Little Man a sweater. I had purchased some yarn (on sale - shop going out of business) and Greyson happened. 

#19: Greyson Sweater

I also completed another pair of fingerless mitts...but these went away in a swap.I may make myself a pair someday...they were a fun knit.

#25: Rose's Wrist Warmers

I also managed to start and finish a pretty large project this year. That's kind of a big deal for me because it generally takes me For.Ev.Er. to finish anything, especially big somethings.

#28: Freeport Vest

I finally got it on the blocking mats towels. Please ignore the not-woven-in ends. I needed to make sure it would block well before deciding whether I needed to rip out the button band and reknit it. It looks like it's going to work, though. 



Overall, I think I did pretty well for 2013. I finished 29 projects (granted 18 of them were dishcloths), I started an additional five that didn't make it for this year and carried four over from last year (which were all finished). I also frogged a project that I had started. It just wasn't working out so I think I'm going to find a better use for that yarn. I think that means I'm even...or something. I don't know.

Speaking of those remaining four projects...

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Baby Surprise Jacket: started May 27, 2013
2. Traveling Vines Socks (Adult): started May 31, 2013
3. Dragon's Egg Socks: started September 2, 2013
4. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts: started November 23, 2013
5. Milo: started December 25, 2013

I'm close to being finished with three of these projects. My Baby Surprise Jacket has maybe 15 rows left plus seaming. I'm working on the foot of the second Traveling Vines Sock, and I'm working on the second of my Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts. I expect these projects to be finished rather quickly. My Dragon's Egg Socks...well....I'm working on them. I'm going to make at least one big change, which should reduce my time spent working on these. But it's not because I want to finish these in a hurry...it's a function of whether the socks will fit if I don't make this change. So, I'm going to have to make some changes. Oh well. Finishing them sooner is just a bonus :) Also, I couldn't resist starting a new project...I decided it was time to start Milo late on Christmas Day. So, I dug out some yarn (Tasmania by Artfibers), the proper needles and just started. Now, whether I have gauge or not is another story. I think I do but we'll see :)



Anyway, I expect some (more) changes to be coming to the blog within the next year including (but not limited to) changing how I do book and yarn reviews. I tried to make a schedule and it just didn't work for me. I also tried to do one of each every month which also did not work for me. Life just gets in the way sometimes. So, I'm going to do them whenever the hell I want and as I see fit. I have no schedule in mind but I do have some ideas for review :) I'd also like to participate more in things like WIP Wednesday/FO Friday (of course, I have to finish things to blog about them) but that's going to mean some buckling down and photographing things and blogging instead of knitting. We'll see how that works. Also, more photos...of course :)




Whew. That was a bit random and end-of-the-year-ish. 

Next week will see the beginning of my Third Self-Imposed Year of Projects...and my birthday...and so many other things. Woo-hoo for a new year!

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #39

Happy, happy Sunday, everyone!

Welcome to update #39 of my Second Annual Self-Imposed Year of Projects. I'm your host, Renee Anne, and I am a bit peculiar at times. 

Today being one of them, apparently. 

Anyway, it's Sunday and we're here for an update or something like that :)

Let's start with the list of FOs (that's "Finished Objects," if you're clueless...and if you are, I might wonder what brought you here).

Finished Objects (FOs)

1. San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts: started January 2, 2013; finished January 10, 2013
2. Don't Blink: started January 16, 2013; finished January 16, 2013  (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
3. Dalek Dishcloth: started January 16, 2013; finished January 21, 2013 (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
4. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started February 8, 2013; finished February 11, 2013
5. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010; finished February 14, 2013
6. Little Granite Dishcloth: started February 16, 2013; finished March 2, 2013
7. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started March 4, 2013; finished March 27, 2013
8. Garter Stripe Baby Socks: started March 3, 2013; finished April 4, 2013
9. Petal Dishcloth: started May 21, 2013; finished May 22, 2013
10. Petal Dishcloth: started May 22, 2013; finished May 23, 2013
11. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012; finished May 24, 2013 
12. Petal Dishcloth: started May 26, 2013; finished May 29, 2013
13. Mini Petal Dishcloth: started June 6, 2013; finished June 10, 2013
14. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012; finished June 15, 2013
15. Sand Stitch Dishcloth: started June 18, 2013; finished June 20, 2013
16. Roman Stitch (Variation) Dishcloth: started June 21, 2013; finished June 23, 2013
17. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started June 28, 2013; finished July 25, 2013
18. Choose Your Own Adventure Dishcloth: started July 26, 2013; finished August 4, 2013 
19. Greyson: started July 5, 2013; finished August 27, 2013
20. Pumpkin Cloth: started September 1, 2013; finished September 1, 2013
21. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started September 19, 2013; finished September 22, 2013
22. Grave Cloth: started September 22, 2013; finished September 22, 2013
23. Franken Cloth: started September 22, 2013; finished September 23, 2013
24. Witch Cloth: started September 23, 2013; finished September 27, 2013

I've added FOUR more FOs to my list since last week. Granted, all of them are dishcloths but three of them were on my list (Halloween Creepy Cloths I). I did a full review for two of them on Friday so there's not much else to say about those. The Witch Cloth will probably be on this coming Friday's FO post (because I finished it late Friday night). The other one is just a generic dishcloth. I didn't even bother making a project page for it. I did use the same yarn that I used for the Franken Cloth, however. 

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013
2. Baby Surprise Jacket: started May 27, 2013
3. Traveling Vines Socks (Adult): started May 31, 2013
4. Dragon's Egg Socks: started September 2, 2013
5. Soooper Seeekrit Swap Project: started September 4, 2013

Aside from the dishcloths, I haven't worked on much else this week. With Husband being home all week and unable to do quite a bit, I've had full responsibility for Little Man, Puppy, and Husband. It's been rather tiring. Also, I haven't been sleeping all that great because, well, Husband wakes up in the middle of the night from pain and wants his meds or he needs help getting out of bed so he can go to the bathroom or whatever. It's getting better but it's definitely rough. He worked from home on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. He went in on Friday but I drove him to the CalTrain station and he took the train into work...and then I had to drive into the city to pick him up. I can't blame him, though. He's not quite ready to drive yet. Maybe later next week. We'll see. 

Sooooo, not a whole lot of knitting this week. Oh well.

My remaining lists look like this:

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Alvin Sweater
3. Milo

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)
1. Rose's Wrist Warmers
2. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts

Household Items 
1. Halloween Creepy Cloths (2)
2. Assorted Harry Potter Cloths
3. Assorted Doctor Who Cloths

Designs (which may or may not be sooper seekrit)
1. Little Man's Baby Blanket
2. Susan's Hat (4 versions)
3. Assorted dishcloths (set of 12?)
4. Traveling Vines Scarf
5. Traveling Vines Socks (baby and adult-sized as well) - yes, this is a WIP...still working on it...
6. Pinwheel Market Bag
7. Anything else that comes along (I have a notebook or two or seventeen somewhere with potential designs and random ideas)

I'm debating what project I want to start next. I have this weird need to make baby things again but I don't know where they'll go when I finish. Perhaps to my Etsy shop (if I ever get going on it). Or one of my friends that's having a baby. Or something. I don't know. I'm also eying my stash and thinking of my third year of projects list(s). While I love picking specific patterns, I just don't get around to all of them and I don't always have the yarn on hand...so I'm going to have to rethink how I do things. 

I did, however, do some stash enhancement on Friday. I figured after all the craziness that has been going on around here, I deserved some yarn. I'll have to have a proper photography session because what I picked up is lovely and so not me :)

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

FO Friday: The Dishcloth Edition

Happy Friday!

I have two FOs for you today, though they're not really anything special...but they were on my Self-Imposed Year of Projects and they're finished :)

Grave Cloth (link to project page)

Pattern: Grave Cloth from Halloween Creepy Cloths by Kris Knits
Time Frame: started September 22, 2013; finished September 22, 2013
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Snow
Needles: US #8 (5 mm)
Size: Whatever size it came out
Modifications: None, other than using larger needles than indicated in the pattern
Thoughts: Like the Pumpkin Cloth, I think the fabric is too loose so if/when I make this again, I'll go down a needle size or two and compensate with more border stitches. Other than that, it's a quick, easy knit that makes the perfect gift :)

Franken Cloth (link to project page)

Pattern: Franken Cloth from Halloween Creepy Cloths by Kris Knits
Time Frame: started September 22, 2013; finished September 23, 2013
Yarn: Pisgah Yarns Peaches & Creme Ombres in "Shades of Green"
Needles: US #8 (5 mm)
Size: Whatever size it came out
Modifications: Due to getting extremely low on yarn, I left out a couple of pattern rows (where there were two rows of the same) and at least one border row. I also used larger needles than what's called for in the pattern.
Thoughts: I don't know what crack (caffeine high? FO high?) I was on when I decided that this pattern would be a good idea with variegated yarn but, you know...it turned out like crap. And then throw in the fact that I was running low on yarn and, well.......it's a dishcloth and it will serve it's purpose. In the meantime, I'll have to try this one again with a solid or semisolid yarn. At least the yarn behaved a bit better (my stitches weren't as loose this time around - different yarn and all).


Anyway, that's all I have for you this week :) I hope you're all having a lovely Friday. I'll link up with Tami as soon as I can.

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #38

Happy Sunday :)

It's been a pretty busy last few days around here with Husband's surgery and my MIL being in town and Little Man being a pill and so on and so forth. I haven't had much time for anything, to be honest...though I have tried to make time. 

Finished Objects (FOs)

1. San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts: started January 2, 2013; finished January 10, 2013

2. Don't Blink: started January 16, 2013; finished January 16, 2013  (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
3. Dalek Dishcloth: started January 16, 2013; finished January 21, 2013 (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
4. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started February 8, 2013; finished February 11, 2013
5. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010; finished February 14, 2013
6. Little Granite Dishcloth: started February 16, 2013; finished March 2, 2013
7. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started March 4, 2013; finished March 27, 2013
8. Garter Stripe Baby Socks: started March 3, 2013; finished April 4, 2013
9. Petal Dishcloth: started May 21, 2013; finished May 22, 2013

10. Petal Dishcloth: started May 22, 2013; finished May 23, 2013
11. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012; finished May 24, 2013 
12. Petal Dishcloth: started May 26, 2013; finished May 29, 2013
13. Mini Petal Dishcloth: started June 6, 2013; finished June 10, 2013
14. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012; finished June 15, 2013
15. Sand Stitch Dishcloth: started June 18, 2013; finished June 20, 2013
16. Roman Stitch (Variation) Dishcloth: started June 21, 2013; finished June 23, 2013
17. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started June 28, 2013; finished July 25, 2013
18. Choose Your Own Adventure Dishcloth: started July 26, 2013; finished August 4, 2013   
19. Greyson: started July 5, 2013; finished August 27, 2013   
20. Pumpkin Cloth: started September 1, 2013; finished September 1, 2013

I haven't finished anything, which is probably understandable. I don't know if I'll finish anything for awhile...

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013
2. Baby Surprise Jacket: started May 27, 2013
3. Traveling Vines Socks (Adult): started May 31, 2013   
4. Dragon's Egg Socks: started September 2, 2013   
5. Soooper Seeekrit Swap Project: started September 4, 2013
6. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started September 19. 2013

On the WIP side of things, I started another project without finishing anything new. It's not a big deal and I'm perfectly okay with it.

During Husband's surgery, I needed some relatively mindless projects. I started out working on the Baby Surprise Jacket. I'm at the point where I start working the middle "body" stitches for 20 rows (or something)...so I stopped there. My ball was getting smaller and I didn't want to have to stop in the middle of that to change balls (because I don't have any more wound yet). So, I worked almost 20 rows on that before stopping. 

I worked on my Soooper Seeekrit Swap Project. I've past the halfway point but I didn't work on it much. My head just wasn't in it for that, I guess. 

So, that's when I started the new dishcloth. Prior to leaving, I dug out some cotton from my stash (in this instance, it's Peaches & Creme Ombres from Pisgah Yarns in "Shades of Green") and tossed it in my knitting bag. I figured, if nothing else, I could work on a dishcloth...which I did. 

Otherwise, during the week, I worked a couple rows on my Freeport Vest, I've finished the first chart of the first of my Dragon's Egg Socks, and I'm still working on my Traveling Vines socks...but it's been a long week and I don't remember what all I've worked on. Oh well.

 

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Alvin Sweater
3. Milo

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)
1. Rose's Wrist Warmers
2. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts

Household Items
1. Halloween Creepy Cloths (1)
2. Halloween Creepy Cloths (2)
3. Assorted Harry Potter Cloths
4. Assorted Doctor Who Cloths

Designs (which may or may not be sooper seekrit - obviously the sooper seekrit ones aren't listed)
1. Little Man's Baby Blanket
2. Susan's Hat (4 versions)
3. Assorted dishcloths (set of 12?)
4. Traveling Vines Scarf
5. Traveling Vines Socks (baby and adult-sized as well) - yes, this is a WIP...still working on it...
6. Pinwheel Market Bag
7. Anything else that comes along (I have a notebook or two or seventeen somewhere with potential designs and random ideas)

I've still got quite a bit left on my list(s). Oh well.



Anyway, I'm going to keep this short because there's so much going on. I hope you've all had a lovely week and weekend and so on :)

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #32

Happy Sunday!

It's time for another installment of my Self-Imposed Year of Projects. Today marks my thirty-second update for this year. Sadly, not much has happened, is new, or anything of the like...but I'll do what I can to keep it entertaining :)

Finished Objects (FOs)

1. San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts: started January 2, 2013; finished January 10, 2013

2. Don't Blink: started January 16, 2013; finished January 16, 2013  (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
3. Dalek Dishcloth: started January 16, 2013; finished January 21, 2013 (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
4. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started February 8, 2013; finished February 11, 2013
5. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010; finished February 14, 2013
6. Little Granite Dishcloth: started February 16, 2013; finished March 2, 2013
7. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started March 4, 2013; finished March 27, 2013
8. Garter Stripe Baby Socks: started March 3, 2013; finished April 4, 2013
9. Petal Dishcloth: started May 21, 2013; finished May 22, 2013

10. Petal Dishcloth: started May 22, 2013; finished May 23, 2013
11. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012; finished May 24, 2013 
12. Petal Dishcloth: started May 26, 2013; finished May 29, 2013
13. Mini Petal Dishcloth: started June 6, 2013; finished June 10, 2013
14. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012; finished June 15, 2013
15. Sand Stitch Dishcloth: started June 18, 2013; finished June 20, 2013
16. Roman Stitch (Variation) Dishcloth: started June 21, 2013; finished June 23, 2013
17. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started June 28, 2013; finished July 25, 2013
18. Choose Your Own Adventure Dishcloth: started July 26, 2013; finished August 4, 2013

I did finish up the latest dishcloth. I haven't photographed it yet but it's not quite how I imagined it. I think I need to think about it a bit more. It looks like a new knitter got her hands on some kitchen cotton and forgot what she was doing and threw in other stitches...it's a bit haphazard. I'm sure we'll use it so I'm not worried about that part. But I think it needs some minor modifications to the idea in my head. Maybe something a little more...planned. But that's not the point! ::sigh:: I'll have to think on it for awhile.

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013
2. Baby Surprise Jacket: started May 27, 2013
3. Traveling Vines Socks (Adult): started May 31, 2013
4. Greyson: started July 5, 2013

That means my WIP list is back down to four. I expect that I may wind up starting another project soon but we'll see how things play out over this next week. 

I did spend some time on Greyson this past week. All I have left is the neckband. I'm a little worried about it because I'm not good with picking up stitches...and these directions are pretty specific (pick up and knit 3 for every 4 stitches). I also need to make sure my final product is divisible by 4 so I can keep with my 2x2 ribbing...::sigh:: Once it's done, it should be perfect for Little Man (in about 6-12 months)...I know it's big on him now but it hasn't been washed or anything so we're treating it like a delicate piece of glass right now. I expect after it's fully finished that I'll have a better idea of how big it actually is. I also worked on my BSJ this week. I'll have to wind a second hank of yarn soon enough. I really am not looking forward to that, however. My ball winder is.....well, it's a pile and I think it's time to look for a new (really nice) one. I've been eying this one from Strauch Fiber Equipment but I've also been eying this one from Nancy's Knit Knacks. But, back to the BSJ...I'm at the point where you knit three rows plain without increasing or decreasing (right before you start the increases). Or, at least, that's where I was when I wrote this post on Wednesday...I might be a little further along than that but, perhaps not. 

Admittedly, I haven't touched my Freeport Vest or my socks. ::sigh:: It's not that either of them are on time out or anything...I've just been concentrating on other things. 

Anyway, that means my remaining lists look like this:

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Alvin Sweater  
3. Milo 

 

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)

1. Rose's Wrist Warmers
2. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts

Household Items

1. Halloween Creepy Cloths (1)
2. Halloween Creepy Cloths (2)
3. Assorted Harry Potter Cloths
4. Assorted Doctor Who Cloths
 
Designs (which may or may not be sooper seekrit - obviously the sooper seekrit ones aren't listed)
1. Little Man's Baby Blanket
2. Susan's Hat (4 versions)
3. Assorted dishcloths (set of 12?)
4. Traveling Vines Scarf
5. Traveling Vines Socks (baby and adult-sized as well) - yes, this is a WIP...still working on it...
6. Pinwheel Market Bag
7. Anything else that comes along (I have a notebook or two or seventeen somewhere with potential designs and random ideas)

I know I'm not going to get through everything...oh well. I don't mind much right now :)


Here are some photos throughout the last week or so......

New chair, same three hogging it....

"Mama, I paint!"

Let us in, let us in!

I hope you're all having a lovely weekend!

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #31

I'm running a little late this weekend. We've been doing random things, running around, and because Husband has been working from home, my days are all messed up. I started watching Monsters Vs. Aliens with Little Man before I realized it was Sunday and I hadn't written my post. ::sigh::

So, I'm running late. Sue me. Story of my life. I still haven't done July's yarn review yet....

Finished Objects (FOs)

1. San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts: started January 2, 2013; finished January 10, 2013

2. Don't Blink: started January 16, 2013; finished January 16, 2013  (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
3. Dalek Dishcloth: started January 16, 2013; finished January 21, 2013 (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
4. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started February 8, 2013; finished February 11, 2013
5. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010; finished February 14, 2013
6. Little Granite Dishcloth: started February 16, 2013; finished March 2, 2013
7. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started March 4, 2013; finished March 27, 2013
8. Garter Stripe Baby Socks: started March 3, 2013; finished April 4, 2013
9. Petal Dishcloth: started May 21, 2013; finished May 22, 2013

10. Petal Dishcloth: started May 22, 2013; finished May 23, 2013
11. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012; finished May 24, 2013 
12. Petal Dishcloth: started May 26, 2013; finished May 29, 2013
13. Mini Petal Dishcloth: started June 6, 2013; finished June 10, 2013
14. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012; finished June 15, 2013
15. Sand Stitch Dishcloth: started June 18, 2013; finished June 20, 2013
16. Roman Stitch (Variation) Dishcloth: started June 21, 2013; finished June 23, 2013 17. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started June 28, 2013; finished July 25, 2013

Nothing new here. Yet. I imagine that next week I'll have finished something. I hope...

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013
2. Baby Surprise Jacket: started May 27, 2013
3. Traveling Vines Socks (Adult): started May 31, 2013
4. Greyson: started July 5, 2013 5. Choose Your Own Adventure Dishcloth: started July 26, 2013

I have just a few scant rows left on the dishcloth, I think. I'm not really paying attention (the beauty of this project)...but I think I'm about ready to do the border rows and bind off. So, that should be finished soon. 

I finished the first sleeve on my Greyson sweater this week. It's looking pretty good...except where I need to fix the underarm hole. I don't know why but I can never seem to do it correctly and I always wind up with holes. It happens with socks, underarms, and anywhere else I need to pick up stitches and knit to close a hole. I expect the same thing will happen when I do the other sleeve. And maybe with the neck cuff. We'll see. 

I'm pondering my next pattern, of course...and it's not been helped by an Unofficial Harry Potter KAL thread and Secret Sock Club thread, both from the same group on Ravelry (warning, it's LSG and if you're not familiar with it, it's not family-friendly and there is a lot of copious cursing, among other things). My Unofficial Harry Potter Knits arrived in the mail on Saturday...and there are a couple patterns that are calling me and I might have to add them to the list. ::sigh::

Anyway, my remaining lists look like this (for now)....

 

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Alvin Sweater  
3. Milo 

 

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)

1. Rose's Wrist Warmers  
2. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts

Household Items

1. Halloween Creepy Cloths (1)
2. Halloween Creepy Cloths (2)
3. Assorted Harry Potter Cloths
4. Assorted Doctor Who Cloths
 
Designs (which may or may not be sooper seekrit - obviously the sooper seekrit ones aren't listed)
1. Little Man's Baby Blanket
2. Susan's Hat (4 versions)
3. Assorted dishcloths (set of 12?)
4. Traveling Vines Scarf
5. Traveling Vines Socks (baby and adult-sized as well) - yes, this is a WIP...still working on it...
6. Pinwheel Market Bag
7. Anything else that comes along (I have a notebook or two or seventeen somewhere with potential designs and random ideas)


In other news, I finally got the photos from Monterey off of Husband's camera. I'll share a few with you, all from the Monterey Bay Aquarium :) 

  

Touch tank with starfish and other small saltwater life

"Daddy, penguins?" Nope, Puffins...

Heading out to go to lunch

I hope you're all having a lovely week :) I should get that yarn review done...but we'll see how things go this week!

WIP Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday! In the fibery world, Wednesdays are the day we all get together and show off our WIPs (that's works-in-progress, for those of you that are clueless - and that's actually probably not any of you, really).

Anyway, WIP Wednesday...what do I have going on?

Choose Your Own Adventure Dishcloth (links to Project Page)

First up is what I have dubbed the Choose Your Own Adventure Dishcloth. It's nothing fancy and there's no pattern; I'm making things up as I go. I'm using US #8 (5 mm) needles and some unknown cotton, most likely Lion Brand Kitchen Cotton. I've had it quite awhile...from when I first attempted knitting almost a decade ago. It's been sitting around ever since. I've slowly been working my way through it...and I think it's all been dishcloths. Oh well. That's what I like to use cotton for :)

Baby Surprise Jacket (links to Project Page)

Next up is my Baby Surprise Jacket. I'm using Araucania Ruca Solid in Periwinkle. It's 100% plant fiber, specifically sugarcane. I'm still working on the decreases that are in the beginning so I've got quite a bit to go but it's coming along...I should probably spend some time working on it again soon. I'm using US #6 circulars (4 mm), by the way. I'm not making this for anyone in particular so I'm in no rush to finish it.

Greyson Sweater (links to Project Page)

Lastly, for this post, we have the Greyson Sweater. I'm currently in a state of....pause. I've finished the body (and the color looks much closer to reality in this photo than from the last WIP Wednesday I participated in). It's still coming out too orange but it's better. Anyway, I'm at the point where I pick up and knit the sleeves. I have a pair of DPNs on loan from Angela (of KnitLuck) because I didn't have the right size for some reason...so I should get going on this soon. It probably won't take me that long to do the sleeves but we'll see. I tried this on Little Man, in this current state, and it came down almost to his knees. I suppose that's good since I'm making the 4T size and he's wearing anything from 18M-3T (depends on the company). The yarn is Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran and I'm using US #7 (4.5 mm) and US #5 (3.75 mm) needles. The body is done with the #7s and the ribbing is done with the #5s.

That's all I have as far as WIPs go. I wanted to photograph and show you my Traveling Vines Socks but, you know, I'm still working on the design process...and if I want to publish them somewhere, I may get in trouble for showing you. ::sigh::

I'm linking up with Tami :) 

I have a few more posts that should come up this week...if I can get them together (like my yarn review, photos from Monterey Bay, and maybe something else I'll sneak in).

I hope you're all having a lovely day :)

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #26 (Halfway)

Happy Sunday! Today marks the beginning of my twenty-sixth week of my Second Self-Imposed Year of Projects...which means we're at the halfway point. Time to really look at my lists and see what can be done about them. I really should plan better but I get so excited at the beginning of the year...

Anyway, let's get going...

Finished Objects (FOs)

1. San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts: started January 2, 2013; finished January 10, 2013
2. Don't Blink: started January 16, 2013; finished January 16, 2013  (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
3. Dalek Dishcloth: started January 16, 2013; finished January 21, 2013 (links to one I made last year using the same yarn)
4. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started February 8, 2013; finished February 11, 2013
5. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010; finished February 14, 2013
6. Little Granite Dishcloth: started February 16, 2013; finished March 2, 2013
7. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started March 4, 2013; finished March 27, 2013
8. Garter Stripe Baby Socks: started March 3, 2013; finished April 4, 2013 
9. Petal Dishcloth: started May 21, 2013; finished May 22, 2013

10. Petal Dishcloth: started May 22, 2013; finished May 23, 2013
11. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012; finished May 24, 2013 
12. Petal Dishcloth: started May 26, 2013; finished May 29, 2013 13. Mini Petal Dishcloth: started June 6, 2013; finished June 10, 2013
14. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012; finished June 15, 2013 15. Sand Stitch Dishcloth: started June 18, 2013; finished June 20, 2013
16. Roman Stitch (Variation) Dishcloth: started June 21, 2013; finished June 23, 2013

I finished another dishcloth. It wasn't particularly difficult or anything but I wanted something small and mindless again. 

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013
2. Baby Surprise Jacket: started May 27, 2013
3. Traveling Vines Socks (Adult): started May 31, 2013
4. Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth: started June 28, 2013

I started another dishcloth. I haven't bothered to make a project page for it but it's the same as the Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth listed in the FO list. I might not even finish it. I wanted something small to work on that wasn't complicated...it's been so hot that I want to knit but I don't want to work on things that I have to really think about and, let's face it, wool isn't fun when it's hot. 

I'm in the middle of the second pattern repeat on my Traveling Vines Socks and I expect that it will wind up being 6 repeats before I start the heel. We'll see how it goes. 

Otherwise, most other knitting has been neglected this week. I did, however, start spinning some French blue corriedale that I've had for at least a year. It's rather.......well, let's be honest. This corriedale is a pain in the ass to spin. It's extremely sticky so it's coming out way more thick-n-thin than I'd like...but it's not for me so we'll see what happens. 

Now, let's take a look at the rest of my lists.....you'll notice some changes (translation: things I'm deleting for this year).

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Toddler Socks
3. Alvin Sweater
4. A New Sock Monkey
5. Stig
6. Greyson
7. Vested Baby Boy

8. Milo

  

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)

1. Rose's Wrist Warmers
2. Viking Bag
3. Campfire Socks
4. Red Dwarf Socks
5. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts
6. Ardys
 

Household Items

1. Halloween Creepy Cloths (1)
2. Halloween Creepy Cloths (2)
3. Assorted Harry Potter Cloths
4. Assorted Doctor Who Cloths
5. Grrlfriend Market Bag

Designs (which may or may not be sooper seekrit - obviously the sooper seekrit ones aren't listed)
1. Little Man's Baby Blanket
2. Susan's Hat (4 versions)
3. Assorted dishcloths (set of 12?)
4. Traveling Vines Scarf
5. Traveling Vines Socks (baby and adult-sized as well) - yes, this is a WIP...still working on it...
6. Pinwheel Market Bag
7. Anything else that comes along (I have a notebook or two or seventeen somewhere with potential designs and random ideas)


I think my lists look significantly more manageable. I still don't expect to finish everything but I feel a little more organized and realistic about it. Also, the items listed under "Household Items" are not set in concrete. I might make all of them or I might only make a couple. It's kind of ambiguous. I thought about getting rid of one of the sets but I realized that I don't really have to because there's not a specific number there anyway. So, next week my lists will denote the changes officially (there won't be things crossed off - just missing entirely). 



In other news, it's been rather warm here in the San Francisco Bay Area. In Wisconsin, we would have the air conditioning on...but no one really has air conditioning where we live. We have our little window unit on in the back room and we've spent a lot of time there these past few days (and will continue to do so into this week). ::sigh:: I miss central air sometimes. Most of the time, we don't need it...but this week, we need it. 

Anyway, I hope you're having a lovely Sunday :)

FO Friday :)

Happy Friday :)

I have several things to show off this week as I've been busy, apparently. Remember a couple of weeks ago when I teased you with a post but didn't show you any photos? I've decided that it's okay to show off my FOs, even if they're intended to be Christmas presents unless I am close to certain that they read the blog. In this case, the intended recipient probably doesn't read the blog so it's safe to post photos.

And if they read the blog, oh well :)

So, back to the previously linked post...

Go Pack, Go!

Pattern: Brandon Ribbed Beanie Hat by Mindy Vasil
Time frame: started August 18, 2012; finished August 22, 2012
Yarn: madelinetosh DK in Moorland (green) and Candlewick (yellow) - not even a half-skein of each
Needles: US #7 (4.5mm) 16" circular and US #6 (4mm) DPNs
Size: medium/large (see modifications) - it fits me and I'm an adult :)
Modifications:
* I CO for the medium size (70 sts) using a smaller needle than called for in the pattern
* Did "version 3" of the pattern - but instead of doing the two different stripes from that version, I only did the first kind twice
* Added one more row of MC between the stripes
* Made the large size in length (and I'm glad I did)
* Used even smaller needles for the crown decrease (which was more of a matter of not being able to find my US #7 DPNs than aesthetics...)

I literally copied/pasted that from the original post. Sorry. I didn't feel like typing it all out again.

Anyway....onward :)

Nolan Hat

Pattern: Nolan by Kelly Herdrich
Time frame: started September 28, 2012; finished October 1, 2012
Yarn: madelinetosh DK in Moorland (green) and Candlewick (yellow) (the same as the other hat) - not even a half-skein of each (seriously, I have a bunch of the yellow left and a good amount of green...maybe not enough to make another adult sized hat but maybe an infant hat)
Needles: US #6 (4 mm) 16" circular and US #5 (3.75mm) DPNs
Size: Um......see the modifications section. It's for an adult but that's not the point.
Modifications:
* I CO for the infant size on US #6 instead of US #4 (which change my gauge considerably...which was the point)
* I worked the brim for 6 rows, yarn held double before dropping the green and working with the yellow
* I added the crown decreases for the child size because I thought 14 stitches was too much to just cinch together
* Obviously this was made for an adult so my gauge is way off (as it should be) and I had to make it longer in order to fit an adult (I tried it on Husband and it fits him, if only a little short - it's perfect for me)
Thoughts: Another basic beanie, of sorts. It's a little different in that it's a garter stitch rib instead of a stockinette rib. I like that it's adaptable by changing needles or yarn and can wind up being any size from preemie to adults with fat large heads. Of course, any pattern will allow for that but it seems pretty intuitive with this pattern as long as you have a basic understanding of gauge.

Raglan Hat

Pattern: Raglan Hat by Jennifer Fleury
Time frame: started September 28, 2012; finished September 29, 2012
Yarn: Cotton Supreme by Universal Yarns in Purple and Ecru (leftover from the Ruffled Feathers Pinwheel Blanket - and I still have some left of both)
Needles: US #7 (4.5 mm) 16" circular and US #5 (3.75mm) DPNs
Size: Adult
Modifications:
* I CO 76 sts instead of 88, which meant I had to some fancy work at the crown decreases (the math didn't elude me!)
* Knit til hat was approximately 7.5" long from CO
* At crown decreases: {K8, double decrease, K8, k18} twice to get set up properly, then began decreases at round 5 and continued as written
Thoughts: I really like this hat pattern. I think if I had used smaller needles to begin with, I wouldn't have had to alter the stitch count and the decreases would have come down further like they were supposed to. I also wouldn't have had to do math. But it was fine. I think I'd make this hat again and again...maybe not this second but I do envision that I'll make it again.

Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth

Pattern: Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth
Time frame: Um.....a couple of days? I didn't make a project page or keep track.
Yarn: the Unknown kitchen cotton that I've been trying to use up
Needles: US #7 (4.5 mm)
Size: I went until I had 50 sts on the needle...it's the size that a dishcloth should be
Modifications:
* I added two rows where I did the following: [K1, K2tog, YO, K to the end of the row] (to keep the rows the same length to kind of round out those edges - it's something that's always bothered me with this pattern)
Thoughts: It's a dishcloth and the one that everyone seems to love and no one seems to ever want to make. It's not hard, honestly...perhaps a bit boring but sometimes, boring is good.

Not-too-Scrubby Dishcloth

Extreme Close-Up! WHOAAAAAAAAA!

Pattern: Not-too-Scruby Dishcloth by ME :)
Time frame: started September 7, 2012; finished September 14, 2012
Yarn: the Unknown kitchen cotton, again
Needles: US #7 (4.5 mm)
Size: Dishcloth sized
Modifications: None. It's my pattern.
Thoughts: It didn't occur to me until after I had been working on it for a few rows that I had inadvertently borrowed the stitch pattern from Hermione's Everyday Socks (which is a free pattern so I don't feel bad). I even managed to convert it from being knit round to flat...without really thinking about it. Oh well.


Anyway, I'd say that's a pretty full FO Friday for you :) For more FO Friday fun, Tami has the linky thingy :)



In other random life events, I got my car back on Tuesday :) It's all pretty and fixed and shiny and detailed. I'm so glad to have my car back. I missed it and I think Little Man missed it, too. After we picked up my car on Tuesday (and had the smog test done, which I passed with flying colors, by the way), Little Man and I went to a new (to us) yarn shop in Oakland. I had been meaning to go and we were close and we had time so we went. Oh, you want to know which one? Okay, okay.....we went to Piedmont Yarn & Apparel, which is right on Piedmont, not far from Broadway or I-580. It's quite a full shop and I can get fiber for spinning, as well. I don't know how it happened but three skeins of yarn just jumped into my hands and insisted that they were going home with me. I'll have to post photos of them later. In my defense, they're non-commercial yarn. I guess you'd call it Indie in that it's dyed locally, in small batches. I don't know. But they insisted they were coming home with me. Who was I to argue?

Puppy is still wearing his Cone of Shame. He got his stitches out on Tuesday (before we dealt with the car business) but the area is still scabby and kind of icky so rather than let him get right to licking the scabs, we're keeping the cone on him until it heals up a bit more. We should be able to take it off by Monday.

Also, we had a lovely (/sarcasm) heat spell earlier this week, specifically Monday and Tuesday but Wednesday wasn't grand either. Little Man and I wound up driving to San Leandro to buy some box fans on Monday because our apartment doesn't have air conditioning and it was pushing 90°F outside (it was almost 80 in the apartment). The fans helped but they didn't take care of everything. Basically, we just had to wait it out. It could have been a lot worse but this only happens for a couple days out of the year.

Wednesday afternoon, after a morning of laundry, Little Man refused to take a nap, which resulted in him crashing on the couch about 6:30pm  (right around when the Presidential Debate started). Poor kid was so tired that he cried when I woke him up to move him to his bed so I changed him, gave him his milk, and put him to bed around 7:30pm and he slept clear til 5:30am yesterday morning. He then had some more milk and went back to sleep for another 2.5 hours. He almost didn't take a nap yesterday but I fixed that by making him take his nap with me. Oh well.

I'll be back on Sunday for my usual Self-Imposed Year of Projects update so come back and visit me then :)