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!

FO Friday

Happy Friday!

Things have been a bit crazy in our house due to the illness that swept through and the endless amounts of paperwork for our realtor, the bank, our other realtor (back in Wisconsin), the title company (back in Wisconsin)...it just never seems to end!

The upside is that it's Friday, and most of that paperwork is figured out :)

Oh, and it means it's time for a FO Friday because I've owed you one for a few weeks now...

San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts (project page)

Pattern: Vancouver Fog Fingerless Mitts by Jen Balfour
Time Frame: started January 2, 2013; finished January 10, 2013
Yarn: Cascade 220 Wool in Regal
Needles: US #7/4.5mm
Size: Original size (woman's medium, I believe)
Modifications: None that were crazy though I did to the M1 as a pickup a backward loop from the row below and Ktbl and I did the CO 1 (after setting the thumb stitches aside) as a YO and cinched up the thumbs later.
Thoughts: Had I know this pattern was going to go as quickly as it did, I would have saved it for later! The only trouble I had was with the ability to read my knitting. Basically, you're working some sort of cable on every other row and on the off row, you're supposed to read your knitting so that you knit your knit stitches and purl your purl stitches. I can read my knitting but it was easier (and significantly faster) for me to just write out the off rows so I wouldn't have to sit there and think about it. The only other thing I may have considered changing was using smaller needles for the ribbing sections (except on the thumb). Otherwise, they fit perfectly! I've worn them several times, something I wasn't sure I'd be doing.

Close-up of the cable section (which also shows a more accurate depiction of the color)

That's all I have for you this lovely Friday from California :) Oh, and I should be linking up with Tami at some point!

Year Two: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #2

Happy Sunday :)

It's time for my Self-Imposed Year of Projects update :) This is the beginning of my second week and I think I've pretty much hit the ground running :)

Finished Objects (FOs)

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

Hey look! I already have a Finished Object for the year! Go me! I'll have to give them a wash and a proper photo shoot (hopefully where they look more like the dark purple they actually are as opposed to a pinkish purple)...which means I owe you a FO Friday :) Hopefully I'll get that done this week among the other things I have planned..*ahem,* more on that tomorrow :)

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010
2. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012
3. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012

I've spent quite a bit of time with my socks (and fingerless mitts, obviously) this week and haven't spent any time with my shawl. I think my Icarus Shawl is getting jealous. I'm going to have to spend more time with my shawl.

I'm past the gusset decreases on my Vanilla Socks (the first one) and am working on the gusset decreases on my Eat Your Monkey Socks (again, the first one).

Unfortunately, I've got Startitis again and I want to start everything. I'm thinking I'll start something off the Children's Items list next, or perhaps try to work out one of my designs. I might even start it this week :) If I had known how fast the fingerless mitts were going to go, I would have saved them for later. But, that's okay because I have ideas running through my head for my own fingerless mitts :)

Anyway, the remaining lists are as follows:

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks (need to purchase)
2. Garter Stripe Baby Socks
3. Baby Surprise Jacket
4. Toddler Socks
5. Alvin Sweater
6. A New Sock Monkey
7. Vested Baby Boy
8. Stig (need to purchase)
9. Greyson (need to purchase)

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)

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

Household Items

1. Halloween Creepy Cloths (1) (need to purchase)
2. Halloween Creepy Cloths (2) (need to purchase)
3. Assorted Harry Potter Cloths
4. Assorted Doctor Who Cloths
5. Grrlfriend Market Bag
6. Petal Dishcloth

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 for sure, maybe adult-sized as well)
6. Pinwheel Market Bag
7. Anything else that comes along (I have a notebook somewhere with potential designs somewhere)




Anyway, in life events/news, our New Year's Cruise was fabulous! Well, mostly fabulous. Little Man did not want to participate in Camp Carnival under any circumstances. So, we didn't really get much time to ourselves. Other than that, though, it was great!

This fits me, right Mama?

We did a family shore excursion while we were in Puerto Vallarta. It involved getting on a ferry-type boat to go kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, whale & dolphin watching, and to a beach only accessible via boat. Unfortunately, this mama got motion sickness and wound up spending some time sitting on the floor of the boat with a little plastic baggie doing unmentionable things. And then Little Man joined in. ::sigh:: Little Man and I weren't going snorkeling, kayaking, or scuba diving, thankfully. With both of us doing unmentionable things, though, Husband didn't get to go snorkeling either. Little Man tried on the equipment though...and seemed to enjoy it.

Once we got on the beach, both of us were fine. 

Mama, I make sandcastles!

Apparently this part of the Pacific Ocean (about 30 miles northwest of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) is dotted with these little islands, most of which don't show up on maps. They're collectively classified as the Marieta Islands and no one is legally allowed to set foot on them. However, the beaches are not part of the islands and can, therefore, be visited. At high tide, all of the sand on this particular island is covered.

You can see the mainland way in the background and one of the other islands. We had a very nice day for the beach.

There we are. All of us. Little Man had lost his swimming trunks by that point (they were too big and kept falling down so I just took them off). Husband spent some time in the ocean and the photographer was worried that someone was going to have to go save him. He was able to get back to shore just fine...but he was tired afterwards.

The boat ride back to Puerto Vallarta was much better. Little Man fell asleep. I spent the entire trip on the floor and didn't do unmentionable things. In fact, I was able to eat a little bit.

Aside from our day in Puerto Vallarta, we also had two days in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. While we were there, Husband went parasailing. I'm not sure you could get me to do that as I'm scared of heights but, you know, you're attached to a huge parachute so it can't be too bad. But I'm scared of heights.

Oh, and I haven't taken a photo of the item that was purchased. Maybe sometime this week. We'll see.

How can you not love that little face?!

Anyway, I hope you have a lovely week! Come back tomorrow for something completely different :)

WIP Wednesday

Happy Wednesday :)

We are back from our cruise, I turned thirty-three on Monday, and today is the first WIP Wednesday of 2013 that I get to participate in (as we were on a cruise ship with no free Wi-Fi for the first WIP Wednesday of 2013).

Anyway, it's Wednesday and that means I get to show you some WIPs. If you look back to my first update of my Second Self-Imposed Year of Projects, you'll see that I had at least three, probably four WIPs going on. In truth, I had four but when I wrote the post (before we left), I only had three and I suspected that I would have started a fourth but I didn't know which one...well, I did know which one but I didn't want to make it definitive and then not start it. So, I started it and I knew which one I was going to do and I'll write it down for next week's update, yeah?

Moving on...my WIPs.

First up, we have Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2). I am past the heel gusset decreases and am working on the foot. Nothing exciting. I did an Eye of Partridge heel flap (the kind used in Hermione's Everyday Socks), a half-handkerchief heel flap (or V-heel), and the Double Gusset Heel (after picking up 21 sts. on each side). It's kind of boring right now. I should, perhaps, share something that happened while knitting along, though. While we were on our way to Los Angeles for our cruise, I was working along on these socks, pulling yarn out of the project bag every so often...and then I heard it, the dreaded sound: snap.

Oh. Hell.

My yarn broke while I was pulling it out of the project bag. I had to wait until we got to our hotel outside of LA to do a Russian join and continue along. I was very unhappy about that. It doesn't look like it did too much to the stripes, certainly nothing worse than what turning the heel did. Oh well. I think it'll hold and be okay...

Here's a close-up of the heel, just to keep moving along...

You can see the two "V" shapes on the heel. That's the Double Gusset Heel decrease. It gives your heel a little hug and helps socks stay where they should. I don't know why no one did this before Cristi. Seriously. Friggin' genius!

My Eat Your Monkey Socks are in the midst of their fifth repeat (in this photo) and I stopped after five repeats so they don't get too tight and weird at the top. I worked one full repeat of this while we were on our way to Los Angeles for our cruise.

I'm currently working on an Eye of Partridge heel flap (which may or may not be finished soon), the heel turn as written, and then the Double Gusset Heel but it depends on how many stitches I have. I may not have enough to do a proper Double Gusset Heel, in which case I'll just do the single one. We'll see.

And the project that I knew was going to be my first "new" project for 2013, even though I didn't want to fully admit it because, you know, what if I didn't start it when I said I did and then what would happen and......

Anyway, here it is :)

Okay, so this kind of really looks like an FO...but it's not because there are supposed to be two and I only have one and the ends aren't woven in (in the photo - that's been fixed) and there are some other things I need to do to this yet. Anyway, the pattern I'm using is the Vancouver Fog Fingerless Mitts but I've named mine the San Francisco Fog Fingerless Mitts because, well, we live in San Francisco now :)

It only took me a couple days to knit the first one and I suspect that once I start the second one, it'll go just as quickly. I've woven in the ends and did some cinching around the thumb of the first one and aside from a good soak, it's finished. I think I started these on January 2, 2013 but I'm not 100% sure about that. I know I started them in 2013 but I'm just not positive which day. January 2, 2013 sounds like a good day and I know it was after the new year.


And yes, I realize that I have four WIPs and I've only shown three. No, I haven't finished my Icarus Shawl yet. Patience, Grasshopper. It just hasn't changed much and I'm so close to the end that I don't want to spoil it :)

Anyway, for more WIP Wednesday fun, visit Tami :)