FO Friday :)

Happy Friday! I've had another little flurry of finishes that I need to discuss. Or blather on about. Take your pick.....

Messed Up Moss (link to Project Page)

Pattern: Messed Up Moss by Renee Anne (yes, that's me!)

Time Frame: started January 4, 2017; finished May17, 2017

Yarn: Loops & Threads Woolzee in Crimson (~1.5 skeins; ~110 yds)


Needles: US #10.5 (6.5 mm)

Size: To fit Little Man


Modification(s): None. As I'm in the process of making this into a more cohesive pattern, I needed to reknit it so I can figure out yardage and sizing. So, the scarf is about 60" long and used about 110 yds of bulky yarn so I can adjust and estimate from there.


Thoughts: There's no reason other than laziness for the amount of time it took me to knit this scarf. It's bulky yarn on big needles and the pattern is easy to memorize. I hope I don't have to make it again for awhile, though :)

Vanilla Socks (link to Project Page)

Pattern: None but there are elements of the Vanilla Latte socks and I used the Double Gusset Heel Decreases and the Modified Eye of Partridge heel flap....


Time Frame: started March 30, 2017; finished June 8, 2017


Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug in Teals (more than 318 yds...but I'm not sure how much exactly)

Needles: US #1 (2.25 mm)


Size: 64 sts - to fit me :)

Modification(s): There's not really a pattern so there aren't any modifications to be had.

Thoughts: I learned a valuable lesson with these socks: longer than usual socks + less skein yardage = I needed to break into the second skein (which I luckily already had). I usually have a good sized min-skein leftover when I knit socks so I thought I'd chance making them a bit longer...neglecting to account for the yarn I was using having almost 100 yds less than a "normal" skein of sock yarn. Oops. Luckily, I had a second skein of this yarn. I now have enough left for ankle socks (I think).

Stormageddon's Vest (link to Project Page)

Pattern: George's Vest by Crystal Erb Junkins


Time Frame: started October 17, 2017; finished June 9, 2017

Yarn: YOTH Little Brother in Caviar (less than 435 yds)

Needles: US #4 (3.5 mm); US #6 (4 mm) and US J (6 mm) crochet hook


Size: 4t-6t


Modification(s): I left the buttons off the front. I may still add them but I don't think they're needed and they serve no functional purpose.

Thoughts: This is a well written and well thought out pattern. The only thing I really was not a fan of: the single crochet around the neckband. I thought it should have had an inch or so of the twisted ribbing like the armholes and the bottom ribbing. Also, it was a pain in the ass for me to do. I wound up having to go to a J hook because the first two times I did it, it wound up not being able to fit over Stormageddon's head. I know I have tension issues with crochet but it shouldn't have been that bad! Clearly I have more issues than I thought. I made the largest size on purpose and it should fit Stormageddon in the fall/winter. It's a bit long on him right now. Little Man said he looked like he was wearing a dress....oops. He'll grow. The pattern is "unavailable" but if you go to the wayback machine, you can find it (and I think the link on the pattern page takes you to the archived version). Aside from that, I don't know if it's because of the yarn used in the original, but I feel like I didn't need even close to the same amount of yarn. The yarn used comes in 385 yds/skein and for the largest size, you need two skeins...so I'm guessing you just barely get into the second skein because I used less than one skein of the yarn I had (which comes in 435 yd skeins). So, I have a bunch of extra yarn (oh darn).




Anyway, that's all I have for FO Friday :) I should be back tomorrow with my latest stash enhancements. And then again on Sunday for my Year of Projects update :)

FO Friday!

Happy, happy, happy Friday! In the fibery world, it means it's time for another FO Friday and I have something to show off (for the second week in a row). Please, be amazed. Or not. Whatever. It's totally up to you!

Anyway, here we have my latest FO :)

Done done done done done....... (project page here)

Pattern: None. These are basic stockinette socks with a heel flap and gusset heel decreases.
Time Frame: started June 29, 2012; finished May 24, 2013
Yarn: Sock Yarn from htNEVELE (Etsy shop)
Needles: US #1 (2.25 mm) - I used two 32" circulars
Size: To fit me
Modifications: None - it's a pattern from my own little head
Thoughts: The yarn is somewhat self-striping but after I did the decreases, the stripes got all messed up. I suppose I should have expected it. I was hoping it would continue a little but it just didn't happen. I think if I make socks like this again, and I can almost guarantee that I will, I will remember to CO onto two needles and maybe make the cuff a little longer.

Anyway, here are some more shots of my socks :)

For more FO Friday fun, visit Tami :) (I'll be visiting as soon as I wake up...and as soon as she posts so I can linky)

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #20

Hooooooooooooray for Sunday! Things have been happening this week but we'll talk about that in a moment :) Right now, we're going to talk about my Self-Imposed Year of Projects. I'm heading into my twentieth week and, honestly, not much has happened...as you'll soon see.

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

No. I haven't finished anything. ::sigh:: I wish I could say I had something going on but I don't.

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012
2. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012
3. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013

I'm still plugging away on my Vanilla Socks and my Monkey Socks. My Freeport Vest isn't on time out on purpose...but I just haven't felt like working on it. Perhaps it's because I'm so so so close to finishing my Vanilla Socks or that I'm finally working on the gusset decreases on my Monkey Socks. Either way, I haven't touched it. I also tried to start one of my designs this week but it just wasn't working. I CO on US #0 (2 mm). Because I was using smaller than normal needles (for me), I CO more stitches...and it wound up being way way way too big. I think once I finish my Vanilla Socks, I'll try again with a more normal number of stitches...or something. I don't know. It's going to be a prototype anyway so I suppose it doesn't matter. However, if I'm going to put that much work into something, I want to be able to use it! So, we'll see.

I've also, of course, been dreaming of my next project. I found out another friend is pregnant. So, I have two friends that are pregnant right now (one with her first, the other with her third - we're all really hoping for a girl on that one)...and I feel like I should make something for both of them. But nothing on my lists are standing out so I've been in search of something else. We'll see.

My lists, for now, still look like this (they might not next week):

Children's Items 

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

8. Vested Baby Boy

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) (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 or two or seventeen somewhere with potential designs)

In "real" life, this has been happening....(okay, some of the photos aren't from this past week but, you know)

Helllllllllo Mama!

Is my "cheese" face getting better?

My boys hanging out on the couch.

Snotty dog (he's not really, just enjoying the breeze)

Our little froggy friend

Little Man and I discovered this wee little frog the other day. He hides between the deck and the side of the house. He's maybe the size of a quarter...maybe. Little Man squealed with delight and ran off the day we found him. 

Portraits of a Young Artist Hard At Work. I brought his easel outside and he loved it!

I'm on a boat!

No, really, I'm on a BOAT!

The pool is up, filled, and a bit chilly...but Little Man *loves* it. He's been in there a couple days this past week. We had to do some engineering to the ladder because Husband and I are not tiny people. The ladder is supposed to be able to hold us but, well, it doesn't. We have the end in the pool weighted down with about 100 lbs of extra weight (sand bags and some PVC pipes filled with sand). We also replaced part of the support structure (from plastic to metal). It holds much better now. 

And finally, on Friday, Little Man and I had an adventure. I am not a fan of driving in heavy traffic, especially in unfamiliar places like, say, downtown San Francisco. But, on Friday, Little Man and I drove down to Fisherman's Wharf for a lunch date. See, since I started this blog in 2009, I've gained a small cult following and most of my readers are other knitters/crafters. I also read a bunch of other knitting/crafting blogs (and other types of blogs, too). One of the blogs I read belongs to Tink (you can find it right here). She lives across the land *and* the pond...all the way over in England. Last weekend, she got married and this week, they're on their honeymoon. First stop? San Francisco! So, Little Man and I drove down to the Wharf for a lunch date with Tink and her lovely husband, Jamie. We had lunch at Boudin, which guards it's sourdough recipe (and it's 400+ year old yeast culture) very carefully. It supplies all the sourdough bread in the Bay Area...and beyond. After lunch, we walked the Wharf. We stopped at Pier 39 to admire all the sea lions. Little Man had never seen anything like them really (he saw a couple while we were on our cruise this past winter but he doesn't remember them). I think if I would have let him, he would have climbed over the wall and into the water to hang out with them. We also walked through the shopping area (where you can get swords, socks, magnets, and stuff from Ireland...weird place). In the middle, there's a double-decker carousel. 

Mama, Ima ride the bunny!

When do we go?

It's not done yet, is it?

And pics because it totally happened.....

Tink rode the horse!

We survived the drive home and all was well.

Yesterday, I put together yet another bookshelf. You would think that six would be enough but, apparently, that's just not true. ::sigh:: It also means I spent some time unpacking. I'm down to three rubbermaid bins and four boxes that need unpacking. I'm hoping I can knock it out later today but we'll see.

Anyway, it was a busy, though fabulous week. I hope this week is even better! Yours, too :)

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #19

Happy Sunday! 

It's been a rather pleasant week around this part of "Northern" California. I still don't quite understand how this can be considered "Northern" when it's in the middle of the coast...but, nevermind that. We're here to talk about my nineteenth installment of my Second Self-Imposed Year of Projects :)

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

 

Sadly, I haven't finished anything but the dishcloth that I didn't even bother to put on the list. I feel like I should be getting close to finishing something but we'll see how that goes :)

 

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012
2. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012
3. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013

 

And, sadly (or maybe not so sadly), I still only have the three WIPs. I haven't touched the vest in awhile. It had been too hot and then I was focusing on socks and I just haven't pulled it out. Plus, it's a rather large project. It doesn't necessarily require a lot of focus (except for the decrease rows) but it's heavy to take anywhere. So, I've been working on my Vanilla Socks (and finishing up the dishcloth). I'm past all the gusset decreases...but I was past those last week. I'm almost to the point where I can start my toe decreases. I have maybe another 3/4" before that (which is maybe 10 rows, if that) so I should, hopefully, be finishing those up soon. I haven't, sadly, touched my Monkey Socks. I think once I get to the toe decreases on my Vanilla Socks, I'll start picking up the Monkey Socks a bit more. We'll see. And then I'll have to find a new project! I can't just have one WIP...that's insane and unheard of in my world! Or not. I don't know, I've never done it...

 

So, that means my lists still look like this:

 

Children's Items 

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

8. Vested Baby Boy

 

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) (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 or two or seventeen somewhere with potential designs)

 

 

 

In other goings-ons, it's Mother's Day here in the United States. That means a day all about mom.....or something. I bought myself a Mother's Day present (okay, there were five presents, actually) on Friday. As of this writing, I have no idea what Husband and Little Man have in store for me, if anything. We'll see. But, I bought myself something...five skeins of Plucky Knitter. Nine Rubies is one of the few shops where Plucky is sold and they had posted on their website about getting their order in. ::sigh:: I went to the shop and picked up four skeins of Plucky Primo Sport (two in a deep purple and two in an oatmeal color), and one skein of Primo Fingering. Little Man picked out the color for the Primo Fingering....it's basically fire engine red. He likes red, apparently. So, we'll see what it becomes. It hasn't talked to me much yet. The other four are screaming to be made into a two-color shawl of my own design. Yeah. We'll see how that goes. I'm not even sure how shawl construction works...though I had a dream about it on Friday night and I may have sort of figured it out. We'll see. I'll have to swatch the idea first, to see if it makes sense. So, five skeins of Plucky came into my house...but I've gotten rid of a bunch of yarn this week so it's okay if five go in when I've had something like 13 go out over the last week or so.

In other random things, we bought another bookshelf for our bedroom. I was really hoping we wouldn't need a fifth one...but, we do. I think it'll help once I get the other ones a bit more organized and cleared out of *stuff* that I don't need. I haven't put it together yet but that will probably be a project for today. I also need to spend some more time unpacking. I hope to have everything unpacked over the next few weeks but we'll see how that actually goes. 

Anyway, I hope you're all having a lovely week and that you'll have a fabulous week :)

Mama! I'm in a tunnel!

WIP Wednesday :)

I'm finally participating in a WIP Wednesday! I feel like it's been a significant amount of time since I participated....which is absolutely ridiculous because I had a WIP Wednesday post last week. ::sigh::

Anyway, it's Wednesday here in "northern" California and I took out my knitting yesterday and took some photographs of my WIPs (for once).

So, onward :)

Made my own calendar...

First of all, a photo of something I did this past December. As much as I like Google Calendar, I still require something physical, where I can actually see what is going on during any given month...for my crafting/knitting stuff. Google Calendar is fine for appointments and all that because I just plug it into the calendar and make it remind me a day or two before. But, for crafting type things...it's a little different, especially as I generally write posts ahead of time...and they're time consuming, which means I have to plan in advance. So, my calendar has certain things written in pen (WIP Wednesday, FO Friday, my Self-Imposed Year of Projects)...and other things written in pencil (like book reviews and yarn reviews). The things written in pencil can change, have changed, and will probably continue to change. But it gives me a reference.

My calendar is always a WIP.

But there are more WIPs to discuss :)

Dishcloth

I'm about halfway finished with this dishcloth. It's nothing spectacular. I haven't even added it to my Self-Imposed Year of Projects. I made the first half out of some green Lion Brand Cotton Ease...I didn't have quite enough to get another row so the tail is quite long from where I switched colors. The other color (that I just started) is purple, also Lion Brand Cotton Ease. This is my "My Head Hurts" knitting...easy, don't have to look, all garter stitch (with the occasional YO). This will probably wind up being a gift for a friend that is expecting in September. Or not. We'll see.

Eat Your Monkey Socks (project page)

I'm still working on the heel flap on my Monkey Socks. I know, I know...I should have had it done a couple weeks ago. This is just one of the causalities of writing posts early. ::sigh:: But, there they are...

Mama's Vanilla Socks (project page)

Currently, I'm working on the gusset decreases for the second sock. It's nothing spectacular as they're just plain stockinette socks. I hope I don't run out of yarn, though...that's something I am a teensy bit worried about. I should be okay as I usually wind up having enough yarn for a pair of baby socks (and then some)...but there are more stitches on these socks, they're a teensy bit longer, and the yardage is a bit smaller than what I'm used to. So, I'm slightly panicky. I'll be more panicky as time goes on.

Freeport Vest (project page)

This is just after I added my third ball of yarn. The yarn is matched as best they can be (it's Malabrigo Chunky - I think)...but obviously there's some subtle stripes happening. It doesn't show up as much in natural light but this was natural light plus the camera flash (otherwise it was way too dark)...so the stripes show up more. It's not bad, though. I'm just starting the second half of the waist shaping (where you increase back to your starting number of stitches). I also have to get ready to learn a new technique (Elizabeth Zimmerman's Phoney Seam)...or I might just not do it. We'll see how I feel about it when I get there.


So, there you have it. My WIPs for the week...I feel like I should have more, though.




In "real life" news, there isn't much going on. We've had a couple of hot days...well, not "hot" by Wisconsin standards but everyone in Wisconsin has air conditioning because it's hot all summer long out there. Hardly anyone in the immediate San Francisco Bay Area has air conditioning. As you get further out from San Francisco, it's more common, especially if you get over the mountains or down toward the South Bay. But where we're living in San Mateo...no air conditioners anywhere. So, because neither Brian or I do well in heat above 75°F, we bought a window air conditioner. Because we've had a few hot days, we've been spending more time in the back room with the curtains closed and the little window air conditioner turned on....watching movies on the big screen :)

We've also done a few other things, like discovered a Cinnamon at the mall in San Bruno...and a Stuart Little that's bigger than Little Man.

Also, someone thinks those huge, red balls that sit outside of Target are slides...

 

For more WIP Wednesday fun, visit Tami :)

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #17

Happy Sunday!

It's been a bit of a crazy week around here. I can't believe it's already Sunday when I feel like it was just Tuesday. Or Friday. Little Man and I had a pretty full week. We did some running around a couple times, twice to the mall in San Bruno, one for a trip downtown, and, of course, a trip to Target. It seems that no week around here is complete without a trip to Target. I was very excited to discover that there's a Cinnabon at the mall in San Bruno. The ones in Madison closed long before we moved and I was always sad that I couldn't have it. I can now :) 

On top of that, this past week was the Fourth Annual Knitting & Crochet Blog Week. I spent some time writing and scheduling my posts the week before so I wouldn't forget. The first year I participated (the second year), we were in the hospital for part of it because Little Man got sick. Thankfully, nothing like that this year! 

Around the house, things are coming along. We got a shed yesterday so we could, perhaps, park a car in the garage! I don't know that we actually will as Husband's motorcycle takes up quite a bit of room...but it's a start. I haven't done much unpacking lately but I have done some organizing and purging. I need to get a couple ads up on Craigslist to get rid of some of my books, particularly my college textbooks that I doubt I'll need (they're 10 years out of date at this point). I suppose I should go through my yarn, too....but that will go on Ravelry first.

Anyway, we're not hear to talk about all that...well, we are but not right now. Right now, it's time for my Self-Imposed Year of Projects update. This marks the beginning of my seventeenth week and I'm proud to say that my inner bee has shown itself this week......

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

 

Not that I've finished anything..........

 

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012
2. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012
3. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013

 

You may have noticed something missing, however. I had a "come to Jeebus" talk with myself this week about Little Man's Vest. I like it, I think it's a well-written pattern, I like the colors and yarn I chose......but I didn't swatch and it was coming out way too big and I just don't feel like doing the math to make it work in a larger size. Also, I haven't touched it in a couple weeks. So, it went to the frog pond. I think I'll probably make it using the same yarn but I intend to properly swatch and I have a feeling that it'll end up either going in my Etsy Shop (if I ever get it going) or it'll be a baby shower gift for someone. Or something. No, I'm not pregnant. 

I spent some time with my Freeport Vest this week. I'm on my third ball of yarn and have just started doing the second half of the waist shaping (where I'm increasing back to my starting number of stitches). If it keeps going the way it does, I'll probably only need five or six balls of the main color. I'm pretty sure I bought ten (I went by what the pattern told me I'd need and then another ball extra). That's fine. I'm sure I can think of something else to do with the remaining balls of yarn. 

I also worked a little bit on my Monkey Socks. I'm almost done with the heel flap and turn on the second sock...the one I told you I was finished with two weeks ago. *ahem* Moving on....

I'm also busy working on the decreases of my Vanilla Socks. That's a pretty mindless project except for knowing if I'm decreasing or not. Once I'm done decreasing, I have plenty of stockinette before I do the toe decrease and such. 

Oh, and I've also got a plain dishcloth on the needles. I didn't bother to add it to my WIP list and it probably won't end up in Ravelry. It's just another one of the dishcloths. They're dead easy to make and I find them useful for swaps and gifts. It seems everyone wants them and no one likes making them. 

But......now I've only got three WIPs going, I have the urge to start something new again. Nevermind that I've been doodling out designs, too. I finally found my knitter's graph paper so I may be able to properly chart out the scarf that's running around in my head. We'll see. I need to find the right yarn for it, first. I don't want to make it out of something that's going to either lose the design or be the wrong material (i.e., I don't want to make this out of cotton or laceweight yarn, probably a solid or semi-solid color). So, there's that. There's also the socks and the market bag I have in my head. I might actually make the bag first. I don't know. I want to cast on all the things. Now. Right now.

Or maybe I should look at these.....

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Baby Surprise Jacket
3. Toddler Socks
4. Alvin Sweater
5. A New Sock Monkey
6. Stig
7. 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. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts
6. 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 or two or seventeen somewhere with potential designs)

 

 

 

Anyway.......I hope you're all having a lovely week and, if you participated in Knitting and Crochet Blog Week, that you're calming down a bit from the high :)

 

I will, hopefully, be back sometime this week with photos of WIPs. We'll see. 

 

Also, if you haven't already, click on the FREE YARN link to the right of this post (if it's still there - and it should be) for a chance to win some yarn!

Missed It Monday: Coming Clean

Sooooooo........I need to be honest with y'all for a moment (not that I'm not normally honest but, it'll make sense in a moment).

My Self-Imposed Year of Projects update yesterday talked about how I was working on both my Vanilla Socks and my Eat Your Monkey Socks and how I had finished turning the heel on both socks and that I'm now ready to start working on the foot......

Yeah. About that. I did get the heel flap and turn done on my Vanilla Socks. I did not, however, get it done on my Monkey Socks. When I started writing the post, it was Thursday night (and I finished it on Friday)...I honestly thought that I was going to get the heel flap and turn done on my Monkey Socks before it posted on Sunday morning.

In short, I'm a liar and I need to apologize for it. I'm sorry. I fibbed on my Self-Imposed Year of Projects post from yesterday. I do, however, intend to get the heel flap and turn done soon enough.

::sigh::

I hope you all have a lovely day :)

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #15

Happy Sunday!

I really wanted to pop in on WIP Wednesday but I just didn't get around to it...and then I wanted to pop in and say, "HIHIHI!" one other day this week and that just didn't happen either. ::sigh::

Sometimes I feel like my life is so hectic (and it is, sometimes)...I feel a little guilty, actually.

But, nevermind that. It's Sunday and that means that we're heading into a new week for my Self-Imposed Year of Projects, my fifteenth week, in fact. 

So, let's talk about that...

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

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

1. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012
2. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012
3. Little Man's Vest: started January 16, 2013
4. Freeport Vest: started March 7, 2013

My current WIP list is still sitting at four, which is probably a good thing considering that they're all a fairly large undertaking. I know that socks are small but they just seem to take forever. Speaking of the socks...I'm at the point where I've turned the heels on the second socks of both sets. I haven't necessarily done the decreases on both but I'm working on it. Sadly, it means I've not worked on either vest. In fact, it's been quite awhile since I worked on Little Man's vest. It's languishing at the bottom of my knitting bag and that makes me sad. Perhaps I'll yank it out sometime this week. We'll see how things go. 

That means my remaining lists still look the same as they did last week:

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Baby Surprise Jacket
3. Toddler Socks
4. Alvin Sweater
5. A New Sock Monkey
6. Stig
7. 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. Zombie ViXen Fingerless Mitts
6. 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 or two or seventeen somewhere with potential designs)

I have the desire to start something else again. I'm not sure what that "something else" is going to be but the urge is there again. And, of course, the designing bug. That's a totally different beast, though...and I still can't find my graph paper so it's not going so well. I know I just saw it within the last couple weeks so I know it's nearby but I just haven't found it. ::sigh::

Anyway, that's about all I have going on. I'm trying to keep it short and sweet this week. I hope to be back with photos or something sometime this week, perhaps a review of some sort. Or not. Next week starts the Fourth Annual Knitting & Crochet Blog Week and I plan to participate. That may mean I'll be light on posts this week. I just don't know. I never know. 

I hope you all have a lovely week :)

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #9

Happy Sunday! 

We all know what we're here for so let's get to it, shall we?

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

I finished the dishcloth last night. I haven't had much time to knit so this was a quick finish. Also, I have located my blocking mats and my pins so I'm hoping that I can get the Icarus Shawl washed and blocked sometime this week and maybe have a FO Friday. We'll see what gets done this week. 

1. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012
2. Eat Your Monkey Socks: started November 29, 2012
3. Little Man's Vest: started January 16, 2013


I've finished the decreases for the armholes on Little Man's vest...well, the back side, anyway. I'm just knitting away on that until I start shaping for the neck. I also worked on my Vanilla Socks. I'm getting closer and closer to the heel flap but I'm not quite there yet. I think I have about 3/4" to go. Unfortunately, I have not worked on my Eat Your Monkey Socks this week. I just wasn't feeling it. Soon enough...once we get settled in a bit more and my knitting mojo comes back. It's been lacking lately.

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Garter Stripe Baby Socks
3. Baby Surprise Jacket
4. Toddler Socks
5. Alvin Sweater
6. A New Sock Monkey
7. Stig
8. 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)

I think I've decided what my next projects are going to be, you know, now that I only have three WIPs and all. I have a small skein of Mirasol sport weight in a dark green, dark blue, orange, and dark purple variegated (or something like that). I only have 165 yds (it was a single, unloved skein) so I was thinking it'd be perfect for either the Toddler Socks or the Little 16 Socks (though maybe two pairs of the Little 16 socks). It looks like one skein will be enough for toddler feet. I was also thinking it was time to start the Freeport Vest (finally). The only problem is that I have not located my swift or ball winder. I can work around that by using the feet of one of our dining room chairs to hold my skeins as I hand wind them (or, if I can find my nostepinne). I need something selfish for me that isn't just socks. 


We seem to be settling into life here in San Mateo. That doesn't mean that the unpacking is finished or that the house is perfect and organized. Not even close. But, I can find the grocery store, the UPS Store, Target, and Nine Rubies (the LYS). That's a pretty good start, right?

This past week, I finished putting the buffet together, we put the sectional couch together, I unpacked quite a few boxes, we had our new freezer and washing machine delivered (and had to order a different dryer because someone didn't listen when we said we needed an electric dryer), and made an expensive trip to Costco. 

We also discovered wildlife in San Mateo. We were visited by two raccoons the other night. I seriously thought someone was trying to break into our house but it was just two very noisy raccoons. By the looks of them, they were young...not necessarily babies but I'd say they were less than a year old. They were very curious about the orange tree and the dog's food. Husband chased them off (after I woke him up).  I don't know if it was one of the same ones or not but we had a raccoon in the tree that hangs over our fence last night, too. Puppy was barking at him and it scampered up the tree. Aside from the raccoons, we also have a thieving squirrel. Puppy was barking at something on Friday afternoon and I look over and watch a squirrel jump from our orange tree onto the huge power lines that run through our backyard...with an orange in his mouth. From there, he made his escape and got to keep the orange. Puppy is still barking at the orange tree. I think he thinks there's another thieving squirrel in there...or raccoon.

Anyway, I hope you all have a lovely week. I should be back sometime this week with my next book review (which should have been last week) and I'm hoping to pop in for a WIP Wednesday. We'll have to see how things go. 

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #6

Happy Sunday! 

Life is starting to get...well, it's getting a bit crazy, to tell you the truth. Packing has sort of started. Little Man's room is mostly packed. The few things that are still out are things we're still using or can't be easily packed (and will probably need to go into the moving van "as is"). The rooms that really need packing are rooms that we still need to use a lot (kitchen and bathrooms). I'm hoping to go through the kitchen and pack up things that we don't need and get them out of the way. We'll see how that goes. 

Aside from packing, we've been signing asinine amounts of paperwork. It seems like every other day we have at least two forms to sign. Now that the loan paperwork is done, this should be reduced significantly. I've also had paperwork coming in for my properties in Wisconsin. The closing date on the house is next Friday (hooooooray!) and the closing date on the condo is in five weeks, also a Friday. 

Also, I've stopped giving Little Man naps. It's not worth the hassle of getting him down to sleep. The downside to this is that around 6pm he starts getting really cranky. The upside is that he goes to bed somewhere around 8pm (8:30pm at the latest)...oh, and he still sleeps until 7am most days. It's working out pretty well, to be honest. 

But, that's not why we're here.....we're here because it's Sunday and it's time for my sixth installment of my Self-Imposed Year of Projects update (meaning it's the beginning of my sixth week). So, let's get to it :)

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)
 
I'm able to reveal what I made for the Doctor Who swap finally. I've made both dishcloths before and they're good patterns. The only problem I had was with the Don't Blink Dishcloth...I ran out of yarn during the bind off and wound up finishing the bind off with the yarn I used for the Dalek Dishcloth. So, aside from revealing what I made, I haven't finished anything else. 

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
4. Little Man's Vest: started January 16, 2013 
5. Woven Rib Dishcloth: started February 8, 2013

I spent some time on all my projects this week, which is a lovely, lovely thing. I also started a new one (to try to keep the Startitis at bay...didn't work).

The Woven Rib Dishcloth is a dishcloth I designed (with the help of a stitch dictionary). The first version was made out of the variegated blue kitchen cotton that I long ago lost the band for. This one is out of a solid color. It's a quick knit and it's one of my designs so I guess I'm kind of crossing something off the design list...

My Vanilla Socks are over half finished. I'm probably halfway through the leg of the second sock. I'm hoping to take less than six months to finish the second sock but we'll see how that plays out. My Eat Your Monkey Socks are also over half finished. I'm only a repeat or two into the leg of the second sock but it's on the second sock :) And the first sock took me only a couple months...

Little Man's Vest is....well, I'm not sure. I measured the width and the back side is about 15" and that means that it would be approximately 30" around once I get to the point of seaming. With that said, it means that (1) it's going to be way too big for him (which is perfectly fine) and (2) I need to figure out how big I need to make it so that it's not too short. Based on the Craft Yarn Council's Child/Youth Size Chart, 30" around would be a size 12...or Youth Medium. The total length (from the collar to the waist) should be about 15". The pattern says the armholes should be approximately 6" but that's for a 28" size (which they say is for 24 months but, again, looking at the chart, that would be a Youth Small or youth size 10). Sooooo...I'm thinking that lengthening the armhole to ~ 6.5" should be enough. Worst case scenario is that it's too short and I send it to Sassy Girl (or Sweet Girl) and they can wear it short over a button-down shirt. Or something. I'm just worried that it's going to be short and wide. I also have to remember that it's going to go over a shirt of some sort so it's okay if it's a little big...but I don't want it to be too short. I'm just not quite sure what to do here. Anyone have any ideas?

I also spent some time with my Icarus Shawl this week. I only have a couple rows left on the last chart and the edging rows and it'll be bound off and ready for blocking. Unfortunately, I'm at the point where each row takes about 20-30 minutes (depending on how complicated it is). It's not too bad if I've got an episode of Doctor Who or Red Dwarf on as background. I can get a couple rows done during an episode of Doctor Who and at least one row done during an episode of Red Dwarf. I'm looking forward to this one being finished...maybe not necessarily blocked but finished. If I'm really lucky, I can have it bound off before we move. 

I'm not going to hold my breath, though. 

Children's Items 

1. "Little 16" Newborn Socks
2. Garter Stripe Baby Socks
3. Baby Surprise Jacket
4. Toddler Socks
5. Alvin Sweater
6. A New Sock Monkey
7. Stig
8. 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) 

I'm stuck on where to go next...I was gifted a couple patterns (Stig and the Little 16 Newborn Socks) but I'm not sure I want to start them yet. Part of me wants to start another "big" project like the Freeport Vest or Ardys but the little voice in my head is telling me that I shouldn't start one of those until I finish up my shawl. Sooooo, I'm still wanting to start something new. I'm kind of tossed about the Viking Bag or the Petal Dishcloth. I'm thinking that if I make the bag, I'm going to have to line it somehow and my sewing skills are nil. I mean, I get the general idea but I suck at it...and I don't have a sewing machine. I may buy one eventually and I think having a sewing machine would make lining the bag much easier. Also, I have to find appropriate yarn. Cotton is totally out on this one. It stretches and doesn't bounce back into shape. I think I'm probably going to go with Cascade 220 for it...if that's the one I decide to make. I just don't know. ::sigh::

Anyway, that's about all I have for the update this week. I hope you all have a lovely week!

I'm cute :)

I see you!

These photos were taken by one of the other Knitting Mamas while we were on our retreat and she shared them with us. How did I end up with such a photogenic little boy who loves having his photo taken (and loves taking photos)?