Y5: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #16

Happy Sunday! Let's get going!

FOs (Finished Objects)
1. Fire Socks: started April 15, 2015; finished January 6, 2016
2. Nottingham for Stormageddon: started January 12, 2016; finished January 14, 2016
3. Design proposal for Fire Socks: started January 13, 2016; finished January 18, 2016
4. Purple merino/silk spinning (singles): started toward the end of Tour de Fleece (July 4-26, 2015); finished January 29, 2016
5. Nottingham for Little Man: started January 17, 2016; finished February 1, 2016
6. Swirl Hat: started December 16, 2015; finished February 4, 2016
7. Swatch for Marly Bird class at Stitches West: started January 8, 2016; finished February 7, 2016 (no project page)
8. Fire Socks design (the actual pattern writing & photography part): started February 6, 2016; finished February 12, 2016 (link to the preview; pattern went live on Saturday, April 2nd)
9. Mountains Beanie: started February 9, 2016; finished February 17, 2016
10. Rathmore: started February 25, 2016; finished March 4, 2016
11. Dragon's Egg Socks: started September 2, 2013; finished March 9, 2016
12. Creeper for Little Man: started March 4, 2016; finished March 10, 2016
13. Mother Bear Project #1: started February 22, 2016; finished March 12, 2016
14. Asshole Corriedale (spinning project): started March 23, 2016; finished March 24, 2016
15. Pacific Waves: started March 9, 2016; finished March 25, 2016
16. Freeport Vest Frogging: started March 29, 2016; finished March 29, 2016
17. Pacific Waves: started March 31, 2106; finished April 2, 2016
18. Vanilla Latte Socks: started November 19, 2015; finished April 6, 2016
19. Snape's Stockings: started August 20, 2014; finished April 11, 2016
20. Pacific Waves: started April 3, 2016; finished April 15, 2016

So, it appears that I've finished a couple items this week. You can read about Snape's Stockings, as well as the Pacific Waves hat (#17) and the Vanilla Latte Socks here. And then, Friday afternoon, I finished up another version of the Pacific Waves hat (#20). It's currently in need of some more attention, specifically weaving in ends and some minor repair work (the yarn had some breakage in the plies in a couple spots). It has, however, had a trip in the Eucalan/water mix. So, I've got that going for me.

I call it a win :)


WIPs (Works-In-Progress) - carried over year-to-year
1. Wink: started January 5, 2015
2. Ice Socks: started January 7, 2016
3. Finn & Suffolk singles: started April 1, 2016
4. CashSilk Fern Scarf: started April 7, 2016
5. Gex for Little Man: started April 8, 2016

Aside from finishing up the two projects noted above, I've spent most of this week working on the Gex test knit. You can read about my progress here. Right now, I'm in the midst of stockinette hell...for another 9", at least. Given that Little Man is tall, it's probably going to be more like 11". I'm also having some internal panic that it's not going to be big enough. Once it's a bit longer, I'll be able to move the arm stitches to some interchangeable cables and have Little Man try it on. I also understand that the yarn is going to grow a little when I wash it....but still, I'm worried that it's too small and I'll have to make it again in a bigger size.

I also pulled my wheel down, finished spinning the first half of the Finn & Suffolk blend, and started the second bobbin.

Oh, and I had to frog and restart the CashSilk Fern Scarf because I am, apparently, still incapable of reading charts. There are symbols for a s2kpsso and k3tog and they lean differently and instead of, you know, paying attention to my chart, I just kept going with my s2kpssos instead of switching to the k3tog when I was supposed to. I did try to tink it back and fix it....but that just didn't happen. So, frogged it and caught back up to where I was and knit a few more rows. So, I suppose that's a win. It would have been a bigger win if I hadn't screwed up in the first place. I think I've got a whole two pattern repeats finished. It's only a 12-row chart but it's still slow-going sometimes.

Let's just not talk about those other two projects.....I've touched my Ice Socks but that's about it. Maybe a couple rounds of ribbing...maybe.


In my "OMGCRAZYLADYWTFLSGBBQ" lists...

Children's Items
1. George's Vest (for Stormageddon - probably the largest size; YOTH Little Brother from Stitches)
2. House Hat (one each for Stormageddon and Little Man - worsted, two contrasting colors)
3. Arthur the Alien (for Little Man - worsted; any colors)
4. Holiday Countdown Stockings (for the family - Aran/worsted; four colors)
5. Mirkwood (for Little Man - worsted or bulky; any colors)

Items for ME (selfish knitting, FTW!!)
1. Vanillaish Socks (using one of my Harry Potter Yarns)
2. Paradiddle Socks (using a solid or semi-solid sock yarn)
3. Hermione Hearts Ron (sport weight; solid or semi-solid - Plucky Primo in Petunia?)
4. Hermione Hearts Ron Fingerless Mitts (sport weight; solid or semi-solid - Plucky Primo in Petunia?)
5. Classic Silk Mayfaire Camisole (Miss Babs from Stitches Midwest)
6. Stormont (worsted; solid or semi-solid)
7. Sockhead Hat (sock; any colors)
8. Moab Shawl (sock; any colors) *need pattern*
9. Prowl (DK; solid or semi-solid) *need pattern*

Secret Sock Club Bags - Pick a bag at random; do pattern with yarn
1. Scotch & Soda Scarf (using Briar Rose Fibers Wistful, leftover from my Icarus Shawl)
2. Jabberwonky (using KP Felici in Abracadabra)
3. If You Know Where To Go (using KP Felici in Green Veggies)
4. Gardener's Socks (using Malabrigo Sock in Indiacita)

Stranded Knitting
1. University of Wisconsin Ski Hat
2. University of Wisconsin Christmas Stocking
3. University of Wisconsin Button Beanie
4. Xanadu Snowflake Cowl

Christmas/Charity Bin
1. 198 yds. of Heaven (worsted; any colors)
2. Phillip and Mr. Grum (sock yarn; any colors)
3. Comfort Food (Aran; solid)
4. Fine Fella (worsted; solid or semi-solid)
5. November Leaves (Shelter from stash) *need pattern*
6. Skinner Hat (sock; solid or semi-solid) *need pattern*
7. The Shoemaker's Hat (bulky; solid or semi-solid) *need pattern*
8. Roll Out The Barrels (cotton; any colors)
9. Sweeny Todd Scarf (worsted; any colors)
10. Bridal Shower Lace Cloth (cotton; any colors)
11. The Snowmen Cometh (worsted; any colors)
12. Sunburst Dishcloth (cotton; any colors)
13. Starfish Cloth (cotton; any colors)
14. Seamless Circular Cloth (cotton; any colors)
15. Tombreck (Aran/worsted; solid or semi-solid)
16. Premie Spiral Hat (for hospital donations - sport or DK; any colors)

Designs
1. Ice Socks (knit prototype and pattern for submission)
2. Susan's Hat (make proper - photos, pattern, etc.; knit new prototype from Babs K2 from Stitches)
3. Little Man's Baby Blanket (make proper - photos, pattern, etc.)
4. Paradiddle Socks (knit prototype - see "Items for ME")
5. Pacific Waves Hat (knit prototype, pattern for submission? self-publish?) *I've started this*
6. Stormageddon's Baby Blanket (design process, knit prototype, etc.)

Spinning
1. Spin approximately 4 oz of either a grey wool or white merino to ply with the purple silk/merino listed in the FO section above.

Other (for things that are fibery/crafty in nature but not specific to knitting or spinning)
1. Organize my handmade stitch markers
2. Make more stitch markers (to sell? donate? hoard?)



I'll be honest, I kind of feel nekkid with only five WIPs going, even though two of them are sweaters. I'm kind of having that urge to start something else....quite possibly some rainbow socks, as soon as I find some white for the cuffs, heel flaps, and toes. But those will be my "travel" knittings. Sooooo, there's that. And one of my WIPs is a spinning project, so for some reason, my head doesn't equate it with "WIP." In other words, my brain thinks I have four WIPs and that I need more, especially as only one of those WIPs are a pair of socks. Meh. Whatever.

Onto reality.....

Little Man went back to school this week, which was a Godsend. I'm not sure what I'm going to do with him this summer when he's home for eight weeks straight. I have a feeling we're going to have lots of playdates and time at the park and trips to the zoo this summer, which is perfectly fine with me.

But it's been a week of readjustment. We were all going to bed later than we normally would and, thus, getting up later than we normally would. So, just the time readjustment alone was pretty rough. I think we're back to normal but we'll see how things go tomorrow morning. And then there was the actual walks to and from school. It's not like it's a long walk to and from school (1.2 miles, round trip, twice a day)...but when you spend two weeks not doing it, it's a little rough doing it again. So, I've had sore legs, which I still find rather strange. Oh well.

Before all that started, last Sunday, we did a few things around the house. We dug out some annoying bushes along our driveway and planted hops (as in things you use in beer-making). So far, only one of the five have sprouted, which is fine...we're hoping the other four sprout soon. We also worked in the greenhouse, pulling the radishes, replanting some of the other plants that were getting waterlogged (eggplant and runner beans, specifically), and other yardwork like mowing the lawn, weed whacking, and leaf blowing. It was all very exciting.

Little Man also collected his first carrot bounty.

Normally, we wouldn't have pulled this carrot but it was in a bin that was partially waterlogged and it was mostly out already. So, we pulled this wee little carrot.

We found this guy on our walk home from school on Monday.

This snail was HUGE. The ledge it's sucking onto for dear life was about 2" from top to bottom. So, like I said, HUGE SNAIL. We could see it a couple houses away, though we didn't know for sure it was a snail until we were closer.

A lot of the rest of the week was spent taking care of a few things that just have been driving me nuts but that I've not had the time with which to deal with them. The hardwood floors were swept, the mantle was cleaned off, I dusted the TV & TV stand, cleaned the TV screen, cleaned the stove (the top, including washing the grates), cleaned the fridge face, found our dining room table under all the paperwork, the carpets in the bedrooms were vacuumed, laundry was done, blah blah blah. In other words, we were rather productive.

Stormageddon loves this monkeybunny (it's a "sock monkey" that's dressed as the Easter bunny). He was giving it a hug when I took that photo.

The next morning, this happened:

A boy and his breakfast. He sat in daddy's chair with his boppy and milk and called it good while I was getting Little Man going. Silly boy.

Honestly, I've no idea what Little Man drew but he drew this on the pavement at school. I took a photo because he asked me to. I think he did this on Friday morning because it wasn't there before school and he had me photograph it when I picked him up.

In other crafty-esque things, these happened:

These are two 5x8 sketchbooks (roughly an A5, if you're not from the US), made by Canson (they come in a 2-pk). I took Little Man to JoAnn Fabrics and had him pick out two sheets of scrapbooking paper and two sheets of cardstock. Then we went to Flax Art & Design here in town, where we picked up the sketchbooks and some book binding tape. As you can see, he was into water-themed paper.

I glued the scrapbooking paper onto the cover and pressed it down lots. I covered the spines with the book binding tape, obviously. I then cut the cardstock in half and used that on the inside cover. I glued it down but because the scrapbooking paper didn't work exactly the way I had envisioned, I needed something else...and in comes Washi Tape. I had some that I haven't used and covered the edges of the cardstock on the inside cover. So, he has a couple fake fancy sketchbooks. He loves them. I'm considering taking actual proper book binding classes. I've got the gist of what to do but I want to make something that's actually, you know, nice. We'll see. I've got supplies to make a couple more for myself at some point. It's a pretty easy way to make something "yours" and look better than just the plain cover. It's not perfect and there's plenty of room for improvement but for the kiddo, it's fine.

Other than that, it's been a fairly standard week around here :)

I hope you're all having a lovely weekend!

Y4: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #42

Happy Sunday!

If you happen to comment on today's post and it doesn't show up, don't panic. We're camping for a couple days and I moderate all the comments so I'll take care of it when we return.

Now, on to business:

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 (pattern is live and can be purchased via Ravelry)
12. Traveling Vines Socks (pattern for publication): started sometime in February; finished April 15, 2015 -- full disclosure Friday, October 18, 2015
13. Sacrificial Goat #5: started May 29, 2015; finished June 4, 2015
14. Baby Hat: started June 4, 2015; finished June 6, 2015
15. Elvish Leaves Dishcloth: started June 10, 2015; finished June 12, 2015
16. Baby Hat: started June 19, 2015; finished June 27, 2015
17. Homework for Alana Dakos Class: started July 1, 2015; finished July 5, 2015 and it's all finished
18. Traveling Socks: started December 23, 2014; finished July 28, 2015
19. Sacrificial Goat #6: started August 23, 2015; finished September 1, 2015
20. Petty Harbour Socks: started July 29, 2015; finished September 5, 2015
21. Curlew: started September 10, 2015; finished September 26, 2015

Nothing new was finished this week.........

.......except these:

I may have a new addiction hobby addiction. Here's how all this started. A couple weeks ago, I noticed a thread in the Stitches West Ravelry board about the stitch marker swap. I was rather intrigued, because, you know, STITCH MARKERS! Anyway, it appears that people wandering about Stitches West swap stitch markers. They're identified by a button that says they're a stitch marker swapper. So, you make stitch markers and you swap them with other people and in the end, you have a pile of mismatched stitch markers, maybe some of your own leftovers, and it's fun. 

This is all lovely and well except........I don't know how to make stitch markers. 

Yes, I know the photo says I do. And I do now....but I didn't then. That's what online tutorials are for. I didn't know how to make them, though I had a vague idea. So, I looked at a couple tutorials, spent some money at the craft store on Friday morning, and spent less than 3 hours making stitch markers. So far, and you can count them in the photo, I have finished 34 stitch markers. They're not perfect but they will definitely serve their purpose. 

So, stitch markers. Woo.

But that's it, I swear!

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. Wink: started January 5, 2015
5. Fire & Ice (Fire) Socks: started April 15, 2015
6. Little Man's Hat: started July 8, 2015
7. Bunny: started September 8, 2015

Several patterns have seen action this week. I worked a couple rows here and there on my Pacific Shawl. It's my travel knitting project. All I need to remember are where to do increases and otherwise, it's just plain stockinette. It's been good travel knitting. My Dragon's Egg Sock is a couple rows into the first repeat of the second chart, which isn't much but it's still progress. Snape's Stockings saw a half a pattern repeat this week (which I think is 12 rounds). I may have done more than that but I don't remember. I've officially started the raglan increases on Wink. I'm supposed to work the upper body for seven and a half repeats or something like that. I've finished the first one and am somewhere in the second one. It's not much but it's progress :) My Fire Socks are into the second pattern repeat on the leg (out of three repeats on the leg). And Stormageddon's bunny has a body, head, ear pieces, and one and a half arms. I only worked the half arm this week, however.

Little Man's hat.......I looked at it and put it away. Someday.

My Fire Socks, with notes, while watching Daria on my laptop the other night. Exciting times.


In my "OMGLSGWTFBBQ" 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. Harry Potter Blanket (for The Family - worsted; solid) - from various Harry Potter inspired square blocks
5. Albert the Absent-Minded (for Stormageddon - any weight; self-stripe, variegated, solid, or semi-solid)  *need pattern*
6. Mirkwood (for Stormageddon - bulky; solid or semi-solid)
7. Smaug (for Little Man - worsted; solid or semi-solid)
8. Dandy Sir Cephalopod (for Little Man - any weight; self-stripe, variegated, solid, or semi-solid)  *need pattern*
9. Moe the Mustache Monster (for Stormageddon - 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)

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

Because I love Husband and/or My Children
1. Sacrificial Goat #7 (for Little Man)
2. Sacrificial Goat #8 (for Stormageddon)

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 (done, see FO #12)
3. Little Man's Baby Blanket
4. Paradiddle Socks (see Secret Sock Club Bag section)
5. Paradiddle Collection of Hats


::sigh:: Moving along..........

This past week has been.....difficult. Little Man is on vacation for two weeks and he was ready to go back to school by Tuesday morning. He loves school. He loves being home, too, but he's missing the schedule and his friends. 

We have been playing host to 8 of these guys:

Stick bugs. They're interesting. They like to scuttle. One of the molted this week. I caught him hanging out from the top of the tank and found part of an exoskeleton under him later in the day. It was interesting. 

He also decided he wanted to dress in this on Tuesday. The day we needed to see his metabolic specialist at their new facility in San Francisco. The day it was supposed to be in the mid-80s. And the day we wound up walking a half-mile in two directions to find said specialist. After about five minutes, "mama, I'm hot." I tried to talk him out of the outfit but he wasn't listening. Silly boy.

Hopefully this video works...it's Stormageddon and Puppy having a moment. I wanted to show you the video of him saying, "kitty" about everything but it won't load. I'm thinking the file is too large. Oh well.

Little Man at soccer last weekend. He's the little blondie on the left. The other four kids were in his group for the day. He loves soccer. I'm lucky. He loves school, soccer, and swimming lessons. I don't have to fight him to go to anything right now. 

In other random events, I'm gearing up for a bunch of 5Ks that we have coming up. We're doing the San Francisco Color Run in mid-November (November 15th, maybe), the San Jose Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving (which is Thursday, November 26th), and we're looking into something for December. We also contemplated one on Halloween but a friend from college is coming into town that weekend so that may not work too well. 

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

Y2: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #33 (Why yes, I know I'm late...)

Happy Tuesday :)

I'm a bit late in posting this week's Year of Projects update due to being on vacation in Wisconsin...where we had spotty internet, at best (and usually it was none at all, really). Then couple spotty internet with a few other random things (like my laptop being at home in California and delayed flights) and you have an update on Tuesday rather than on Sunday.

So, let's get going...

Finished Objects (FOs)

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

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

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

I haven't finished anything new. I only had one project along with us for our trip. However, I did finally block my Icarus Shawl and you can see the fully finished project and all that right here. 

Works-in-Progress (WIPs)

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



This means my WIP list is still sitting at four projects. I only brought my Traveling Vines Socks along to Wisconsin and I didn't get much of a chance to work on them. At this point, I think the legs are going to be five pattern repeats. After that, I'm going to have to do some thinking about how I want things to work. 


My Greyson sweater is almost finished, as well. I expect that will be done within the next couple of weeks (you know, finishing the sleeve, doing the neckband, weaving in the gazillion ends, giving it a good soak, etc.). Once that's done...well, who knows :)


That means that my remaining lists look like this:

Children's Items 

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

Items for Me (Selfish Knitting FTW!)

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

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

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

I've got ideas for my next project but it depends on whether my boxes that I shipped from Wisconsin show up unscathed. If they don't, it's my own fault because I'm the one that packed them...but they should be fine. 

Once things get a bit more settled, I should have a proper post (with photos) of our trip back to Wisconsin, including such follies as Stitches Midwest and the Wisconsin State Fair :)



I hope you've all had a lovely week and start to the week and all that :)

Self-Imposed Year of Projects: Update #44

Happy Sunday, fiberistas (yes, I just made that word up)! It's time for another installment of my Self-Imposed Year of Projects. I'm heading into my forty-fourth week...which means only eight more weeks until I start all over again...and only eight more weeks until my birthday...and only six (or is it seven?) more weeks til Christmas...

::sigh::

Good thing I've been doing some of my holiday knitting, right?

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
18. Ruffled Feathers Pinwheel Blanket: started September 12, 2012; finished September 24, 2012
19. Plain old boring "normal" dishcloth (no project page): started September 22, 2012; finished September 28, 2012
20. Raglan Hat: started September 28, 2012; finished September 29, 2012
21. Nolan for Nellie: started September 28, 2012; finished October 1, 2012
22. Garter Stitch Scarf: started October 5, 2012; finished October 5, 2012
23. Chunky Scarf: started October 6, 2012; finished October 8, 2012
24. Hypnotic Dream Dishcloth: started October 3, 2012; finished October 11, 2012
25. Matt's U of AL Beanie: started October 11, 2012; finished October 14, 2012
26. Christmas Elf Hat: started October 17, 2012; finished October 22, 2012
27. Sweet Girl's Hippo: started May 10, 2012; finished October 26, 2012
28. Susan's Hat (mini): started October 25, 2012; finished October 26, 2012

I've finished three projects since last week: the Candy Cane hat (which I wrote about this past Friday), a mini version of an unpublished hat, and Sweet Girl's Hippo! Okay, so she still needs a face...but she's done and stitched together otherwise. I'm going back and forth in my head about whether I want to use black embroidery floss, white embroidery floss, or the pink yarn to do the eyes, nostrils, and mouth. I'm leaning toward either the white thread or the pink yarn because I'm afraid the black would get lost because she's a bit of a grape color (actually, I'm pretty sure that was the color of the yarn - grape). So....what do you think? White embroidery floss or the pink yarn to do the eyes, nostrils, and mouth? Or do you want to sell me on the black embroidery floss? Most likely I'll have a FO Friday post all about the hippo, complete with photos :) She may still not have a face.....


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. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012
5. Little Man's Sweater: started October 23, 2012

Finishing up the hat and the hippo means, of course, that my WIP list is a teensy bit shorter, right? Oh wait.....Startitis. ::sigh:: The sweater. I've dubbed it "Little Man's Sweater" because it's intended for him but Nikki (the lovely designer) has called it the Joseph Sweater. So, eventually it'll link up in my project page but for right now, I don't have it linked (the pattern isn't "live" yet as it'll be for publication). 

I've spent the majority of the last week finishing up the hippo, the hat, and starting the sweater. I suppose that's to be expected. I did take some time on Thursday prevening, however, to go stash diving. I was bound and determined to find at least one skein of the Briar Rose (I had two stashed somewhere) so I can finish up my Icarus Shawl sometime this century. I swore that I had dug through every yarn bin I had. And, honestly, I did...but I didn't dig far enough. In the closet in the spare room I have five bins of yarn (keeping in mind that I have eight - yes, eight - more sitting in the room, not in the closet)...I had dug through them but I hadn't actually removed everything. I just kind of pulled half of the yarn out of each bin, dug around a bit, and if I didn't see it, I put everything away. 

But Thursday morning, I had a vision: the yarn was in a bin with a bunch of other yarn that was already wound into cakes. I knew it was one of the solid (not see-through) bins that was in the closet. So, after a particularly rough day with Little Man, I had him play with Husband for awhile while I spent some time with my fiber and my books. I pulled out those bins and started at the bottom (of the stack of bins). Wouldn't you know, in the very bottom of the bin of the bottom most bin, I found both skeins of Briar Rose. I caked one and went on my merry way. 

So, Icarus Shawl knitting can continue and I can, hopefully, have it finished before we head back to Wisconsin in December :)

PLANNED HATS (at least 1 more - 12 total for the year)
1. Hermione Hearts Ron
2. Ogre Babies!
3. NIN Hat
4. Godric's Hollow Hat
5. Bergen Street Tuque


Anyway, that's about all I know with regards to my Self-Imposed Year of Projects. I've been pondering my Second Self-Imposed Year of Projects again...but I think that's partly due to the Startitis. Oh well.


Perhaps I'll be back for WIP Wednesday this week. I should be back for FO Friday...we'll see if I can get my act together. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week and that your weekends were as equally fabulous :)

Self-Imposed Year of Projects: Update #36

Normally, I write my Self-Imposed Year of Projects updates a day or two or three early (for example, this post was started on Wednesday and finished on Saturday). Last week, that just didn't happen because we went on a mini-vacation (go look at the photos again). By the time we got back and somewhat settled back into life on Tuesday, I decided that it was too late to do a proper update so I skipped a week.

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

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. Not-Too-Scruby Dishcloth: started September 7, 2012

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

TOTALS
 Finished: 16 projects
WIPs: 6 projects
Planned: 8-11 projects


You'll notice that I have three new FOs that I never had on any list to begin with. Of course, all three of them are dishcloths and all three of them were featured on my FO Friday post from two days ago. I'm pretty sure I had hinted at them over the last couple weeks and if I didn't, I meant to. I also have a fourth one in the works. 

In other random FO news, remember way back when I finished up my test knit for Kasia? Guess what? The pattern went live this week :) She let me add to the pattern to put in the directions for knitting it on a circular (or DPNs)...and I checked her spelling/grammar. She's from Poland and English isn't her first language and there are knitting nuances that Google Translate just cannot figure out. 

So, that's all exciting and lovely.

As far as my WIPs, I've been working on the dishcloths and Hermione's Everyday Socks mostly. However, after our cruise, it occurred to me that the next time I would be wearing my "fancy" dress is at Nellie's (and Matt's) wedding in December...in Wisconsin. It's tea length and sleeveless. Did I mention this wedding is in Wisconsin? In December? So, I think I'm going to concentrate on finishing up my Icarus Shawl (shawlette?) next. I think it will go very well with the dress. We'll see. What's the worst thing that happens? I call Sherri and ask if I can borrow this:

Andean Treasure Shawl

 I'm sure she'd let me borrow it...

Anyway, I'm going to try to finish up the shawl next. Or maybe I'll throw a hat or two in, too. We'll see.

You may also have noticed that there's a WIP missing that has been there almost since the beginning. On Friday night, I finally dragged out the dental floss, wove it through all my stitches, removed the needles, and tried on my Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit socks....and, as I was afraid of (and almost certain of prior to doing this little experiment), they didn't fit. Dammit. Dammit dammit dammit! So, I pulled the dental floss out and reclaimed my sock yarn. I really do want to make these socks but I'm not sure the yarn or the size I was working wanted to cooperate with the pattern. So, I don't know what I'm going to do. ::sigh:: Perhaps I should swatch next time. Or not.

So, that's about all I have for my Self-Imposed Year of Projects. I think I'm back on schedule now and we shouldn't have any more hiccups until the end of December. But that will be the wrap-up post anyway. And I'll probably write it early.

I'll leave you with some photos of Little Man :)

Hi

Mama, finish up my Giraffe so I can have him!

Ima wear my Daddy's shoes!

 

FO Friday

Hoooooooray! It's Friday :)

In the fiber world, thanks to Tami and others that I don't know about, it's FO Friday.......and I have something finished! Unfortunately, because this item is a Christmas present and the recipient may or may not read this blog, I don't want to tempt fate by posting photographs.

So, what can I tell you on this FO Friday? Well......I finished my Go Pack, Go! hat on Wednesday and the information is below.

Pattern: Brandon Ribbed Beanie Hat by Mindy Vasil
Time frame: started August 18, 2012; finished August 22, 2012
Yarn: madelinetosh DK in Moorland (green) and Candlewick (yellow) - not even a half-skein of each
Needles: US #7 (4.5mm) 16" circular & US #6 (4mm) DPNs
Size: medium/large (see modifications)
Modifications:
* I CO for the medium size (70 sts) using a smaller needle than called for in the pattern
* Did "version 3" of the pattern - but instead of doing the two different stripes from that version, I only did the first kind twice
* Added one more row of MC between the stripes
* Made the large size in length (and I'm glad I did)
* Used even smaller needles for the crown decrease (which was more of a matter of not being able to find my US #7 DPNs than aesthetics...)
Thoughts: The pattern is a very basic ribbed beanie hat and while I think I need that in my arsenal, I wasn't a fan of the stripes (well, not of the ones I did anyway). They don't look bad or anything but they were cumbersome to knit and my yarn kept getting tangled and I wasn't exactly sure if what I was doing was right or wrong or what. My FO didn't look like any of the ones that are pictured in the pattern...which makes me think I did something wrong. It works...but I wonder what I did differently. I also found that the modifications I made worked out better than they would have if I had done what was written. I think the hat would have been too short if I hadn't added length to it (i.e., if I had followed directions). This was also my first two-color project. I mean, I've made items that have had more than one color before (i.e., stripes) but this was the first one where I had to carry yarn and have floats and all of that. I think I did pretty well for being completely clueless. And the floats aren't too tight in the back so the hat actually fits properly and doesn't pucker inwards while sitting. Will I make this hat again? Perhaps. I'll leave out the stripes or do some basic stripes instead. Nothing too fancy.

Overall, the pattern is lovely but I do recommend checking gauge (something I just don't ever do, really)...I may have done better if I had actually checked my gauge. Or something. I don't know.



Anyway, I hope you're having a fabulous day and for more FO Friday fun, go visit Tami's blog (the link is at the beginning of this post).

Self-Imposed Year of Projects: Update #32

SUNDAY, I AM IN YOU!

Anyway, it's officially Sunday again and that means that it's time for another installment of my Self-Imposed Year of Projects. I'm heading into my 32nd week...and there were things to show for it! I suppose that means that my lists are going to be a little different again (which is perfectly fine, by the way).

So, onward to my 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


WORKS-IN-PROGRESS
1. Little Man's Giraffe: started May 11, 2011
2. Icarus Shawl: started March 15, 2010
3. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit Socks: started January 23, 2012
4. Hermione's Everyday Socks: started March 6, 2012
5. Sweet Girl's Hippo: started May 10, 2012
6. Mama's Vanilla Socks (round 2): started June 29, 2012

PLANNED HATS (at least six)
1. Hermione Hearts Ron
2. Ogre Babies!
3. NIN Hat
4. Brandon Ribbed Beanie
5. Godric's Hollow Hat
6. Raglan Hat
7. Bergen Street Tuque
8. Nolan
9. Candy Cane

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

3. Adipose (was supposed to be for Ravelympics Ravellenic Games but I didn't get there)

TOTALS

FO: 12 projects

WIPs: 6 projects

Planned Projects: 9-12 projects

Total Projects: 27-30 projects

Now, let's discuss everything...first of all, you will noticed that there's another FO listed so I'm up to 12 done for the year. I suppose that's pretty good. I wish it were more but it's not and that's how it is. You may also noticed that I added a FO that wasn't on any of my lists. I had actually started making the Nolan hat and although I CO for the infant size, it was coming out bigger than my head. There's nothing wrong with the pattern...I was just using worsted weight and bigger needles. I was expecting it to be larger....but not quite that large. I frogged it the day after I started it and I wanted something to do with this cotton yarn that was half unwound. So, I started the dishcloth...and then I finished it yesterday during Little Man's nap.

I'm not saying where it's going. Maybe it'll be to wipe my backside. Maybe it'll be for a friend. Maybe I'll keep it for posterity or something. I have a feeling that it's going to be someone's Christmas present though...maybe. We'll see.

Now that I've got a few more FOs on my plate, I'm thinking it's time to start hitting the WIP list pretty hard....but I've also got Startitis. Again. And new shiny yarn. So I'm thinking I might have to start something new on my list. Or not. I don't know. Maybe I should find the bin with my missing WIPs. I saw them once when we moved in and now I don't know where they wandered off to. I'll have to look. I know that the Icarus Shawl, Little Man's Giraffe, and the Hippo are in there...the rest of my WIPs are in my big bag :)



In other "life" things...Husband comes back from Wisconsin later today. I expect that he'll want the kitchen cleaned up but that's probably not going to happen. I mean, I can clean it up but it won't be clean, exactly (translation: everything put away, the sink cleaned out, and nothing on the counter - yeah, not going to happen). I also need to get laundry put away...and collect the rest of the dirty laundry. And maybe an idea of something to have for dinner. I'm not really sure what time he'll be home...I'll have to look into that. 

Yesterday, Little Man and I went to the Oakland Zoo.

Mama, I like Goldfish...don't take my picture!

This is as close as you're getting to a smile, Mama. My mouth is full!

And back to my juice...

Aside from the fact that it was hot, we had a good time. We picked up Katrina in Oakland and met Liz and her son, Zeke, at the zoo. When we left Alameda, it was maybe 72°F.......when we got to the parking lot of the zoo, it was 91°F! It was hot hot hot! But, we had a good time, despite the heat. 

On Friday, Little Man and I met some new friends here in Alameda. One of the Ravelry groups I belong to had a forum (started by me) and I was made aware of a child-friendly knitting group that meets on Fridays. So, off we went. There were five adults and our hoard of children...I think we had a total of seven or eight kids in tow (I lost count). Little Man was kind of in the middle, age-wise. The kids ranged from just under a year to four years old. Little Man had a blast chasing the boys (two of which were older than he was) and acting like a boy in general. It was also nice for this Mama to get out and meet some new people. I need friends in this place and child-friendly knitting was definitely a good place to start :) 

The best part? The almost-epic nap that Little Man took when we got home. If only he'd sleep that well at night...it could be worse, though.

Anyway, I suppose that's all I know at this point. I hope you're having a wonderful weekend :)

FO Friday

Happy Friday! No, better than that: happy FO Friday! It's true, I have something to show...in fact, I have TWO somethings to show!

Yes, I am that good.

Insomnia gives me lots of late-night knitting time and I've been using it.

First up.......

Little Man wanted to help...

Pattern: Pine Forest Baby Blanket by Ingrid Aartun Bøe (links to my project page and the pattern page)
Time frame: started February 21, 2012; finished August 4, 2012
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Worsted in Dublin (that's the green) and an unknown 100% acrylic that I picked up at Michael's (that's the pink)
Needles: US #9 (5.5 mm) 32" Addi Turbo circulars
Size: It's a baby blanket so I can make it whatever size I want...and no, I didn't measure but it's plenty big for a baby and will probably work into the early elementary school years...
Modifications: I used larger needles than the pattern called for and added an additional three pattern repeats on the horizontal (i.e., I added 21 stitches to make it wider)
Thoughts: This pattern was easily memorized and it had enough interest to keep me going. I don't know that I would make it again just because it took six months of work but I'm a slow knitter. It's a lovely pattern and then you make the Baby Sweater on Two Needles (by Elizabeth Zimmermann) and you'll have a little matching set :)

But wait, there's more!

Blurry but you get the idea...

Pattern: Simple Baby Cap #1 by Susan B. Anderson (links to my project page and the pattern page)
Time frame: started August 4, 2012; finished August 5, 2012
Yarn: Same as the blanket above...
Needles: US #7 (4.5 mm) Chai-Goo 16" circular and DPNs
Size: Newborn/0-6 month (see modifications)
Modifications: I CO for the newborn size knowing full well my gauge would be off because I used worsted instead of DK weight yarn...but I made the length according to the 0-6 month size. I also added stripes which are not in the original pattern but it works just fine.
Thoughts: Once you're going on this pattern, it's easy peasy (which is kind of the point). I only really had to pay attention when I changed colors and when I got to the crown decreases. I knit this in just a few hours while up late at night watching episodes of Futurama.

And now, more lovely photos (including some modeling by Little Man)...

The matching set

Mama, boys don't wear pink...well, okay, I know I'm cute in it though...

Mama, are you sure this hat isn't going to be too big? It fits me...

Yes, baby, I know the hat fits you...but that's pretty much stretched to it's maximum. Besides, I made you one and you were able to wear it when you were little and you can still wear it now. So hush.

For more FO Friday fun, visit Tami :)