Y4: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #16

Hello! Happy Sunday!

Let's just get going because we all (should) know why we're here :)

Finished Objects (FOs):  
1. Elefante: started December 19, 2014; finished December 28, 2014  
2. Hat #1 - FoH: started December 31, 2014; finished January 1, 2015
3. Hat #2 - FoH: started January 1, 2015; finished January 4, 2015
4. Hat #3 - FoH: started January 7, 2015; finished January 10, 2015
5. Hat #4 - Stitch's Rock Hat: started January 16, 2015; finished January 24, 2015
6. Vanilla Fingerless Mitts: started January 23, 2015; finished February 3, 2015
7. Paradiddle Hat: started January 24, 2015; finished February 7, 2015
8. Stitch's Rock Collection (of Hats) - Variegated: started February 22, 2015; finished February 24, 2015
9. Sorin Fingerless Mitts: started March 8, 2015; finished March 31, 2015
10.Stitch's Rock Collection (of Hats) - Variegated: started February 27, 2015; finished April 1, 2015
11. Stitch's Rock Collection (of Hats) Pattern Test: started sometime in February, 2015; finished April 18, 2015
12. Sooooooooper Secret Pattern Writing (project #2): started sometime in February; finished April 15, 2015

I finished up the hat pattern test this week. To be fair, I could probably have used a couple more testers, especially on the larger sizes...but I'll go with what I have and call it good. I need to do a little editing to the pattern (or, rather, have someone else doing some editing), then it'll be all good to go. I hope to have it live by May 1st :)

I also finished up my Soooooooooper Secret Pattern Writing project. The pattern is written and is off to the tech editor, the FO is in the mail, and now I just get to wait until October when all can be revealed :)


Works-In-Progress (WIPs): - carried over from 2014...and maybe earlier...*shifty eyes*
1. Dragon's Egg Socks: started September 2, 2013
2. Pacific Shawl: started June 8, 2014
3. Snape's Stockings: started August 20, 2014
4. Traveling Socks: started December 23, 2014
5. Wink: started January 5, 2015
6. Fire & Ice (Fire) Socks: started April 15, 2015

Now that I've got some pattern writing out of the way, I can get back to some of these other WIPs, right? Yeah...about that....okay, I did work on the second of my Traveling Socks. I've finished the ribbing so now I'm on an endless-stockinette quest until I get to the heel. Nothing exciting.

I also started a new pair of socks..........my own design. It took me a little bit to work out on paper but now that it's worked out on paper, I just get to knit the damn socks :) These are actually going to be part of a two-sock set....maybe four. But definitely two at this point. In fact, I think I'll keep this set at two pairs. It's going to take me awhile anyway. We all know how long it takes me to knit socks...

And I plan to keep these Sooooooper Seeeeecret, also. So, you may get a shot of the ribbing and that's it for a good, long while :) We'll see how things go.

In other words, I've not really worked on much this week...oops.


In my "OMG what are you thinking, crazy lady?!" lists...

Children's Items
1. George's Vest (for Stormageddon - sock/fingering; solid or semi-solid)
2. Nottingham (for Little Man - worsted; solid or semi-solid)
3. Nottingham (for Stormageddon - worsted; solid or semi-solid)
4. Alvin (for Little Man - worsted; solid or semi-solid)
5. Alvin (for Stormageddon - worsted; solid or semi-solid)
6. Harry Potter Blanket (for The Family - worsted; solid) - from various Harry Potter inspired square blocks
7. Albert the Absent-Minded (for Stormageddon - any weight; self-stripe, variegated, solid, or semi-solid)  *need pattern*
8. Mirkwood (for Stormageddon - bulky; solid or semi-solid)
9. Smaug (for Little Man - worsted; solid or semi-solid)
10. Dandy Sir Cephalopod (for Little Man - any weight; self-stripe, variegated, solid, or semi-solid)  *need pattern*
11. Moe the Mustache Monster (for...someone - worsted; self-stripe, variegated, solid, or semi-solid)

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting, FTW!)
1. Vanilla Socks (using one of my Harry Potter yarns)
2. Drip Drip Drop Socks (using either a solid or semi-solid sock yarn that I haven't decided on yet)
3. Hermione Hearts Ron (sport; solid or semi-solid)
4. Ginny's Cardigan (DK; solid or semi-solid)

Secret Sock Club Bags (Pick a bag at random)
1. Scotch and Soda Scarf (using Briar Rose Fibers Wistful - leftover from my Icarus Shawl)
2. CashSilk Fern Scarf (using a skein of Online Supersocke 100)
3. Jabberwonky (using KP Felici in Abracadabra)
4. If You Know Where To Go (in KP Felici in Green Veggies)
5. Gardener's Socks (using Malabrigo Sock)
6. Paradiddle Socks - my own design (using Malabrigo Sock)

Because I love Husband
1. The Dude

New Techniques (one of the following stranded/multi-yarn kits)
1. University of Wisconsin Ski Hat
2. University of Wisconsin Christmas Stocking
3. University of Wisconsin Button Beanie

Christmas Presents
I have absolutely no idea what's going to end up here, if anything. I suspect something will end up here and I might pull it from other lists but we shall see. Maybe I won't do any Christmas knitting. Maybe all I'll wind up doing is Christmas knitting. I suppose this is a wait-and-see section :)

Designs
1. Susan's Hat
2. Traveling Vines Socks
3. Little Man's Baby Blanket
4. Paradiddle Socks (see Secret Sock Club Bag section)
5. Stitch's Rock Collection (of Hats) (see FOs #4 & #8 above)
6. Paradiddle Collection of Hats



Yeah, I'm a little nuts.



Stormageddon is attempting to crawl at every turn. He's 7.5 months old and has figured out how to get up onto his hands and knees and rock. He's also figured out how to scoot backwards around the house on his belly.

I took this video the other day. He does this on the floor, as well. And yet, he refuses to learn to sit up. I don't know what I'm going to do with him sometimes. ::sigh::

We went to the park a couple different days this past week. Little Man loves the park but I usually have to drag him out the door to get him to go. I don't know what his issue is with that but we did make it a couple times, at least.

What else happened this week....oh, Husband's company has a box at AT&T Park, where the San Francisco Giants play baseball, and an email was sent out to his division saying, "hey, we have open spots in the box for the game on Thursday." Husband hopped right on that so the four of us went to watch the Giants lose to the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was my, Little Man's, and Stormageddon's first professional any game. So, we all got certificates saying that it was our first game at AT&T Park and we sat in the box, ate food, the usual. Unfortunately, getting to the game wasn't so fun. Apparently there were some protests going on in Santa Clara, which is just north of San Jose, and someone got hit by one of the CalTrains...which mucked up the trains from San Jose to San Francisco (basically, the entire length of CalTrain). Our train was an hour and fifteen minutes late. It wasn't exactly cold, either. So, we were waiting on the train platform for about an hour and a half, maybe closer to two hours. After the game, we got to deal with drunks on a train. We thought a fight was about to erupt on the train car. A couple guys were thrown off about 2 stops down and the third guy would not shut up. I was ready to go back there myself. ::sigh::

Anyway, here are some photos from this past week :)

I'm still cute when I refuse my naps.

Day at the park

Day at the park

Watching cartoons

I like the park, too!

Today also marks what would be my grandfather's 92nd birthday :)

Hopefully I'll be back with photos of, you know, knitting next weekend...we'll see how things go :) I need to find the card reader for the camera first.

I hope you're having a lovely week and weekend!

FO Friday: Another two-fer :)

It appears to be time for another installment of FO Friday as I now have a working laptop and my iPhone takes okay photos (okay for this purpose, anyway)....

So, on to a two-fer FO Friday!

Stitch's Rock Collection - Variegated (link to Project Page)

Pattern: Stitch's Rock Collection (of Hats) by ME (yes, this is my pattern!)

Time Frame: started February 27, 2015; finished April 1, 2015

Yarn: Springvale Worsted by Three Irish Girls in Captain Rogers, dyed exclusively for StevenBe in Minneapolis (acquired at Stitches West 2015) - approximately 120 yds (not sure, haven't actually weighed it but based on the fact that I got almost two hats from the one skein, I'm guessing it's slightly more than a half-skein of the yarn)

Needles: US #5 (3.75 mm) and US #8 (5 mm) 16" circulars and US #8 (5 mm) DPNs

Size: Teen/Small Adult

Modification(s): None. It's my pattern. I was testing it for fit and yardage (which I've not officially done yet).

Thoughts: Aside from running out of yarn with 8 decrease rounds to go and having to call StevenBe in Minneapolis and (1) inquire if they had another skein and (2) pending the "yes" answer of #1, have them ship me a skein of said yarn, this was a fairly quick project. I would have been done much sooner if I didn't have to order the second skein. I may be able to make a matching pair of fingerless mitts or something to go along with it. I have enough yarn :) I used slightly more than a half-skein so, there's that. It's a lovely pattern and I'm not just saying that because I'm the designer. It's versatile, unisex, and seriously...seven sizes! SEVEN! You could make one for every member of your family....

Or, you could if it wasn't still in the testing phase. I hope to have it up and ready by the end of the month :)

Anyway, moving along to the second FO in our two-fer FO Friday :)

Sorin Fingerless Mitts (link to Project Page)

Pattern: Sorin Fingerless Gloves by Carrie Sullivan (IrishGirlieKnits)

Time Frame: started March 8, 2015; finished March 31, 2015

Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash in Celery (less than a half-skein) - which is not conveyed properly by these photos. They are significantly less blue and more of a light green.

Needles: US #6 (4 mm) DPNs

Size: Worsted (as opposed to the sport weight version)

Modification(s): I split up the thumb gusset increases by putting one on the row before the "official" increase. It made more sense for me to do it that way because of how they landed on the DPNs for the left one (which I did first).

Thoughts: These were a fairly quick knit, regardless what my time frame actually says. However, I think if/when I make them again, I'm going to use the stitch counts for the sport weight size with worsted yarn. They were a little tight. They're not for me so it's not an issue this time around...but when I make them for myself, I'm going to need a little more room. I'll probably keep the thumb the same (for the number of stitches I pick up). Other than that, woo. Love it.




Anyway, I hope you're all having a lovely Friday :) I should be back on Sunday with my Year of Projects update!

Y4: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #9

Hello and happy Sunday :)


Finished Objects (FOs):
1. Elefante: started December 19, 2014; finished December 28, 2014
2. Hat #1 - FoH: started December 31, 2014; finished January 1, 2015
3. Hat #2 - FoH: started January 1, 2015; finished January 4, 2015
4. Hat #3 - FoH: started January 7, 2015; finished January 10, 2015
5. Hat #4 - Stitch's Rock Hat: started January 16, 2015; finished January 24, 2015
6. Vanilla Fingerless Mitts: started January 23, 2015; finished February 3, 2015
7. Paradiddle Hat: started January 24, 2015; finished February 7, 2015
8. Stitch's Rock Collection (of Hats) - Variegated: started February 22, 2015; finished February 24, 2015

I finished up a hat this past week using yarn I bought at Stitches West. It's for Little Man and the yarn was purchased with a project for him in mind (he loves super heroes and the color was aptly named "Captain Rogers"). I'll do an FO Friday when the pattern goes live.....which I've not planned yet but the pattern is written, I've taken some photos, the math is correct, it's color-coded. In short, it's pretty much ready to go. I just need to have a tech editor go over it and make it pretty. So, once that happens, all will be well :) I also wanted to test it in a variegated yarn and while I'm not 100% sold on the idea of using a variegated yarn for this project, the pattern isn't totally lost. 


Works-In-Progress (WIPs): - carried over from 2014...and maybe earlier...
1. Dragon's Egg Socks: started September 2, 2013
2. Pacific Shawl: started June 8, 2014
3. Snape's Stockings: started August 20, 2014
4. Traveling Socks: started December 23, 2014
5. Wink: started January 5, 2015
6. Stitch's Rock Collection (of Hats) - Variegated: started February 27, 2014

Upon finishing the Stitch's Rock Collection (of Hats) for Little Man, I had about 2/3 of the skein of yarn left so I started a larger size of the same hat. I'm hoping I don't run out of yarn but if I do, I'll frog it, make another hat for Little Man, and a smaller hat for Stormageddon...or just another hat for Little Man. But, for right now, this one should fit me...not that it's necessarily for me but, you know...

I also spent some time with my Traveling Socks this week. I'm just working my way down to the toe at this point. I added a couple decreases on the foot to make it fit a little better but that was it. 

Snape's Stockings are done with the gusset decreases so I'm also just working toward the toe on that one. 

Wink has temporarily stalled. I need to cut the yarn, unpick my provisional cast-on and pick up the stitches to continue with the left collar. It's not terribly difficult or anything but I just haven't done it. 

Everything else is in hibernation at this point (or in another knitting bag - which is more likely). 


Also, this isn't listed as a WIP but I've got two patterns I'm writing. Well, to be fair, one is finished (mentioned above) but it needs to be made pretty. I submitted both of them to separate publications. I heard back from the first one and it was rejected, which wasn't unexpected but that doesn't mean I can't publish it anyway. So, that's what I'm doing. I've not heard back on the second one yet but I suppose I should get going on the actual pattern writing part of it. So, those are non-knitting WIPs. But they're still fiber-related. 


And now for my "You've got to be kidding me" lists...

Children's Items
1. George's Vest (for Stormageddon - sock/fingering; solid or semi-solid)
2. Nottingham (for Little Man - worsted; solid or semi-solid)
3. Nottingham (for Stormageddon - worsted; solid or semi-solid)
4. Alvin (for Little Man - worsted; solid or semi-solid)
5. Alvin (for Stormageddon - worsted; solid or semi-solid)
6. Harry Potter Blanket (for The Family - worsted; solid) - from various Harry Potter inspired square blocks
7. Albert the Absent-Minded (for Stormageddon - any weight; self-stripe, variegated, solid, or semi-solid)  *need pattern*
8. Mirkwood (for Stormageddon - bulky; solid or semi-solid)
9. Smaug (for Little Man - worsted; solid or semi-solid)
10. Dandy Sir Cephalopod (for Little Man - any weight; self-stripe, variegated, solid, or semi-solid)  *need pattern*
11. Moe the Mustache Monster (for...someone - worsted; self-stripe, variegated, solid, or semi-solid)

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting, FTW!)
1. Vanilla Socks (using one of my Harry Potter yarns)
2. Drip Drip Drop Socks (using either a solid or semi-solid sock yarn that I haven't decided on yet)
3. Hermione Hearts Ron (sport; solid or semi-solid)
4. Ginny's Cardigan (DK; solid or semi-solid)

Secret Sock Club Bags (Pick a bag at random)
1. Scotch and Soda Scarf (using Briar Rose Fibers Wistful - leftover from my Icarus Shawl)
2. CashSilk Fern Scarf (using a skein of Online Supersocke 100)
3. Jabberwonky (using KP Felici in Abracadabra)
4. If You Know Where To Go (in KP Felici in Green Veggies)
5. Gardener's Socks (using Malabrigo Sock)
6. Paradiddle Socks - my own design (using Malabrigo Sock)

Because I love Husband
1. The Dude

New Techniques (one of the following stranded/multi-yarn kits)
1. University of Wisconsin Ski Hat
2. University of Wisconsin Christmas Stocking
3. University of Wisconsin Button Beanie

Christmas Presents
I have absolutely no idea what's going to end up here, if anything. I suspect something will end up here and I might pull it from other lists but we shall see. Maybe I won't do any Christmas knitting. Maybe all I'll wind up doing is Christmas knitting. I suppose this is a wait-and-see section :)

Designs
1. Susan's Hat
2. Traveling Vines Socks
3. Little Man's Baby Blanket
4. Paradiddle Socks (see Secret Sock Club Bag section)
5. Stitch's Rock Collection (of Hats) (see FOs #4 & #8 above)
6. Paradiddle Collection of Hats






The itch to cast on something new is quite great right now....but I'm not sure what I want to start. I want something quick but at the same time, I want something I can work on for awhile. Sooooo, I don't know what's going on with that, other than I'm undecided and up and down and all around...I need something new and shiny to work on, dammit!


Thoughts?




In "real life" news, there's not been a ton going on this past week. My car is back in working order, for the most part...I still have a cylinder mis-firing so it sputters if I gun it but otherwise, it's fine. The illness has pretty much left the building and we all appear to be healthy, little bouts of coughing here and there, some sneezing, but that's about it. No fevers, no chills, no nothing weird. For now.


We went to the park several times this past week, just to get out of the house. Stormageddon hangs out in his stroller/car seat and Little Man runs amok.

We also worked on some hat modeling this week.

Stormageddon was not very cooperative. These were the two best photos from his session. To be fair, he was in his jumper...but then photos like this happened:

I think I may include this one at the end of the pattern because I think it's hilarious!


Little Man was a much better behaved model.

::sigh:: I hope this next week is better. Stormageddon has his six month appointment on Thursday and I start physical therapy (finally) for my back. Woo-hoo!


I hope you've all had a lovely week and fabulous weekend! Also, happy March :)