FO Friday

Happy Friday!

It's been awhile but I actually finished something and I'm allowed to show it to you! So, it's a Happy FO Friday! Hooooooray!

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I decided I didn't have enough projects on my Self-Imposed Year of Projects list and decided to delve into the Free Pattern Testers group on Ravelry. Mostly, I just like to look and see what lovely patterns will be forthcoming. I have done some testing before. In fact, I've done quite a bit of testing. But, that's not the point. The point is that I usually go in to window shop, so to speak.

Not that day.

On Monday, September 10th, 2012, I found a request for a blanket...but it could be as small as a doily to as large as a king size bed (or however large you wanted to make it). I said that if I could make a small one, I would be willing to test it. My fingers did the typing before my brain fully registered what the hell I was doing.

Oops.

Anyway, I received the pattern, pulled some yarn out of my stash.....and then realized I didn't have needles in the appropriate size. I mean, I had US #8 DPNs and a US #8 16" circular...but I was going to need something much larger than a 16" circular. So, I had to buy needles (oh damn, that was so upsetting /sarcasm).

Okay, okay...enough with the damn story...let's see it already!

Ruffled Feathers Pinwheel Blanket

Pattern: Ruffled Feathers Pinwheel Blanket by Astrante (Alexandra)
Time frame: started September 12, 2012; finished September 24, 2012
Yarn: Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme in Ecru and Purple (about a half-skein of each - a total of about 180 yds)
Needles: US #8 - I used 2 32" circulars
Size: 18" diameter (the purple is about 14" across)
Modifications: I added two rounds of plain knitting between the end of the pinwheel potion and the ruffled edging
General notes: The pattern is well-written and has a formula to figure out how much yarn you need to make whatever size you want (which is extremely helpful if you have a limited supply or are out looking at yarn). I was a bit anal-retentive when I made this. The ruffled section starts out with 10 stitches so in order to make things balanced and right with the world (in my own little head), I worked until I had 20 stitches in each pinwheel section before starting the ruffles. However, you don't have to do that because the whole blanket is a based on 10 (you'll notice there are 10 pinwheel sections). Anyway, it's easily adapted to any weight yarn and can be made any size. The only thing I had trouble with was the particular cast on so you can cinch up the hole in the middle. I just couldn't get it. So I tightened it up when I was finished.

Extreme Close-Up! Whoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

It's really about time I finished something, don't you agree? For more FO Friday fun, visit Tami :)

Self-Imposed Year of Projects: Update #38

After thirty-seven weeks of this, you'd think I wouldn't want to keep changing my plans...but I seem to have that nasty illness that has been going around all the knitters and crocheters that I know (and even the ones I don't know but would love to know): Startitis.

But, we'll get to that in a moment...maybe.

First of all, let's visit my (current) lists...

FINISHED OBJECTS
1. Claudia: started January 3, 2012; finished January 10, 2012
2. Mama's Simple Skyp Socks: started May 22, 2011; finished January 9, 2012
3. Little Man's Cobblestone Baby Blanket: started July 2010; finished February 2, 2012
4. Dalek Dishcloth: started February 6, 2012; finished February 8, 2012
5. Baby Traveling Vines Socks: started September 18, 2010; finished February 17, 2012
6. Snail Hat: started February 18, 2012; finished February 19, 2012
7. Lothlorien Hat: started January 25, 2012; finished March 5, 2012
8. Habitat Hat: started April 10, 2012; finished May 8, 2012
9. Mini Sweet Girl's Pumpkin Hat: started May 31, 2012; finished June 4, 2012
10. Pine Forest Baby Blanket: started February 21, 2012; finished August 4, 2012
11. Sassy Girl's Simple Baby Cap #1: started August 4, 2012; finished August 5, 2012
12. Double Bump Dishcloth: started August 9, 2012; finished August 11, 2012
13. Go Pack, Go!: started August 18, 2012; finished August 22, 2012
14. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started August 25, 2012; finished August 26, 2012
15. Little Granite Dishcloth: started August 27, 2012; finished August 28, 2012
16. Alternate Andalusian Dishcloth: started August 29, 2012; finished August 29, 2012
17. Not-Too-Scruby Dishcloth: started September 7, 2012; finished September 14, 2012

WORKS-IN-PROGRESS
1. Little Man's Giraffe: started May 11, 2011
2. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010
3. Hermione's Everyday Socks: started March 6, 2012
4. Sweet Girl's Hippo: started May 10, 2012
5. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012
6. Ruffled Feathers Pinwheel Blanket: (test knit) started September 12, 2012 

You'll notice that I've added a project to my WIP list that was never on any list in the first place. Remember how I mentioned that I had Startitis.....well, this kind of took care of some of that issue. I was browsing through the Free Pattern Testers group on Ravelry the other day and came across a request for knitters to test a pinwheel blanket. She said it didn't have to be full size. We could make something as small as a doily or as large as a king sized blanket. So...I have Startitis and I wanted to work on something new and different. Against my better judgement, I asked if I could be a test knitter. So, now I'm working on a blanket that I'm not sure I'll finish the way I want to. It might only end up being a small blanket or, perhaps, a table doily thing. I would hate to call it a doily but since it has a better chance of sitting on the table than on a bed at this point.....yeah. I'm working on it. I had yarn in my stash that needed a use and this looked like a good one. 

Other than the pinwheel blanket, I've really only worked on the dishcloth that I finished and my Icarus shawl (which I haven't finished). I'm just over halfway finished with the second chart on my shawl. I'm hoping to have this shawl finished by December for a friend's wedding so I need to keep working on it. I'd also like to have the Hippo done by Christmas but I'm not sure that's in the cards right now. We'll see. 

Anyway, on to my plans.........and this is where we have to face the facts. Currently, my lists look like this: 

PLANNED HATS (at least five more - 12 total)
1. Hermione Hearts Ron
2. Ogre Babies!
3. NIN Hat
4. Godric's Hollow Hat
5. Raglan Hat
6. Bergen Street Tuque
7. Nolan
8. Candy Cane  

OTHER PLANNED PROJECTS
1. Shaun (as in Shaun the Sheep)
2. Curly Snake 

3. Adipose

It's not that I'm opposed to any of these projects and I'll probably still make all of them at some point but the reality is that I'm never going to be able to make three stuffed toys and at least five more hats in three and a half months. It's just not going to happen. I could maybe swing the Snake because I can make it any size I want...but I know I won't. I've had Little Man's Giraffe on needles for almost a year and a half and Sweet Girl's Hippo has been going for four months. I just don't make them toys quickly. So, as much as it pains me, I'm going to completely cut all the stuffed toys from my list. That leaves me with a list of hats (of which I plan to choose at least five to make an even twelve for the year - which is also a challenge for the 12 Hats in 2012 group on Ravelry). I should be able to do that but we'll see. 

In the meantime, I've been pondering my Second Self-Imposed Year of Projects (which  may or may not have contributed to both my Startitis and my sudden need to design all the things; I'll never tell!). Since I know I probably won't have all my current WIPs finished, I'll keep those going, obviously. There will probably be another 12 hat challenge...which I may or may not participate in (I haven't decided). I'm thinking of a 12 dishcloth challenge...they're nice to have for emergency gifts, swaps, and Christmas...and Bob knows that I have more kitchen cotton in my stash than should be allowed for any normal sane person. 

I've set it up a little differently, though, and I may or may not get through everything. Currently, I have it sectioned out: Current WIPs, Children's Items, Items for Me (Selfish Knitting, for the win!), Household Items, and Designs (mine that either need to be re-knit, tested, written, or some combination thereof). I may or may not add a 12 dishcloth challenge or a 12 hat challenge. I have enough dishcloths in my tentative list that I could do the 12 dishcloth challenge without issue (which would be housed under Household Items). In fact, I may be able to do it a couple times over. Hats, however, my pose a challenge...I don't have any hats in my tentative list except for ones that I've designed. Of course, that kind of depends on WIPs and if I finish this year's hat challenge. There are a couple hats that I'm going to make, regardless so it depends on if I get them done in the next few months. 

This tentative list includes 20 pairs of socks (granted 18 pairs of those are for infants/children but that's not the point - I didn't even include the ones of my own design and, so far, there's only one of my own design), one stuffed toy, four sweaters/vests (three are for infants/children), two pairs of fingerless mitts, two bags, and a buttload of dishcloths (I didn't even list them all separately - I just wrote general categories and I know where they are in my queue). It's a big list. It's a little scary. And it will most likely change a few times over. I'm okay with all this; that's why it's called a tentative list. If we look back at my original Self-Imposed Year of Projects list, it was similar...and things were removed and it was okay. The list is kind of fluid in that it can change with the ebb and flow of life. My list had to go through some pretty drastic changes when we moved because, suddenly, the need for heavy winter hats was gone. My Second Self-Imposed Year of Projects tentative list was done on the basis that (1) we don't live in winter hell anymore, (2) we have nieces that need baby/kid things like socks, (3) Little Man has no handknit items from Mama except for a smattering of hats, and (4) I need emergency gifts (like dishcloths and market bags). So.........hence the tentative list. 

In other random "life" news, everyone has been calling me about something this week. My car, Little Man's special formula, our house and condo in Wisconsin (which leads to a whole other list of people like the landscaping company and floor cleaning company), and other random things. It's been nuts. My car is going to Volkswagon of Oakland tomorrow morning for an estimate on damages (since the adjuster that our insurance company contracted out to cannot be bothered to actually call me - instead, he just says he's called and left voicemails which he has not done). I'm not sure how long the actual repair is going to take or when to expect to get it done. Hrm. It's all aggravating and I want to curl up into a ball until it's all over. 

Instead, I'll leave you with some Yarn P0rn!

Trekking XXL

Happy Fuzzy Yarn

Currently being made into my Icarus Shawl

The Wall O Cascade at my old LYS :(