Year of Projects: Week 9

Another week as come around and guess what?  The pair of socks I had hoped to be finished by last Sunday, got finished by early Wednesday morning (a la "just after midnight" morning) .  So that means I can use the 26 Pair Plunge banner yet again and then show off my lovely Tiberius socks.

Aren't they pur-tee?  They are very bright and I love them.  So that's 2/26 for the 26 pair plunge, and 6/13 for the 13 socks of 2013 (which apparently I forgot I was apart of too).

Speaking of the 13 of 2013, I actually pulled out all the socks I had knitted since January.  They had to be a completed pair and I have 6 pairs with one with my aunt since I did make them for her.  I piled them all together and took a picture (not including the pair for my aunt because she forgot I had asked for them).

It's things like this that really make you see that you are making progress (and that I need to make a pair of socks in the orange/red family), especially when you feel like you're not going anywhere.  I've already knit more socks that I knit last year and we're still only in August.  I've got quite a few one foot socks that I need to finish soon, especially since some them...mainly the Stitch Surfer, I consider pretty mindless knitting.  I could probably do that one while catching up on a tv show or while watching my soaps (I cannot believe I have gotten back into soap operas but they're getting so interesting again!).

I casted on for the August/September a pair socks for the Cookie A.'s 2013 Sock Club called Istanbul.  I'm making these ones for my aunt and I'm using a yarn that I dyed for it.  I'm also happy that I wrote down the directions for this colour because I want to knit a pair of socks or anklets for myself in this yarn colour.

I am a bit further along but not by much.  I'm still decreasing on the gusset but it is coming along nicely.  I'm not making any time guarantees for this one though because last night, I caved.  I went to the tupperware bin that house the Blankie and I started to knit.  I have even joined the two pieces and I have 2 complete rows finished and I'm a square and a half away from finishing the 3 row.  I even started cleaning up the back of the Blankie while watching Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless.  Somehow, I'm up to 123 squares.  I was at 117 Thursday afternoon. before I picked it up.  I will keep up the work for this weekend and them I will have to pick a different WIP to work on in conjunction with my socks.

One of the projects I want to finish off is the Stitch Surfer (as previously mentioned) and it's not like it will take a lot to finish it.  I just have to unpick the bindoff, and do it properly, and then get started on the second foot.  Perhaps once I finish the Istanbul's, I'll some effort towards it.

Year of Projects / 26 Pair Plunge

Year of Projects: Week 5

117! Woot-woot! That's how many squares I have in total on my Blankie! Plus a few triangles for the sides :)

(Thank you to cousin Khadija for standing on a table to get the Blankie in its entirety)

My-! Look at how the right side has grown! I think at this point, I'm going to join the parts I have (which will make the total 119) and that will begin making this project no longer portable.

I picked up another WIP, the Shapely boyfriend. I still have a ways to go but the fact that I picked it up after almost 3 months of inactivity is good. There is no picture of it for this week since I am not at home and haven't taken a recent picture. This will definitely be travelling with me when I go to my best friend's house this week.

No additional work has been done on any socks so those are in the same state they were in last week. I will be taking the Spock Socks with me.

 I think I will be limiting myself to 2 projects a week to work in.

Just some thinking I have been thinking on the construction of the Petal Blanket that I am going to be donating to my church in a couple of years. I believe I have narrowed down my yarn choices to Knit Picks Brava in Acrylic, due to already having some unused in my stash and not having to really worry about dye lots (or at least I hope that's the case). The colour I have is Tidepool in worsted, I think (and after checking my order email from last year, yes that is the colour). Brava is soft enough and should be durable (due to it being acrylic). Whenever I can get around to making another order, it will be for that and Black Stroll sock yarn for the Blankie.

It's happened twice!

And it's annoying! I was working on another square for the Blankie and then put it down to so something else. Now I come back to do it and I see the red cord of my ChiaoGoo circular needles. I follow the cord and find the tip with no knitting on it. "Okay," I think to myself. "Must be on the other side." That needle is bare too. "Maybe it was on another set of needles? Please, not likely, be on another set of needles!"

It was not :( I'm not good at picking up stitches, especially when there are decreases and increases. So I just frogged the square and I'm getting ready to start it again.

For me personally, it seems as if the plans I had for myself will have to be readjusted. As far as I can see, it (meaning my schooling) will still finish the same time. I guess this will also give me an opportunity to get some more money for my living expenses. 

Year of Projects: Week 4

This was a Spock sock/Blankie week.

I believe I made a lot of progress on the Spock sock until an incident occurred over the weekend which made me stop. I knew I wouldn't be able to concentrate enough to do the socks so I moved onto the Blankie.  Good thing I travelled with 2 projects.

I added 3.5 squares and it's coming along nicely. I actually received many compliments from people at my church when they saw me working on it yesterday. 

It still feels like a Blankie type of week so I can't say if the Spock socks will be done by this time next week. I do think I can manage to put in some work on it during the knitting circles this week.

Not quite off topic but isn't this a beautiful shade of blue?

I guess this week will be a short update.

Year of Projects: Week 3

The "photo-shoot" is finally done. What did I learn from this experience? Check out my bags of WIPs. I really need to finish some more projects before I start with anything else.

(Neatly put together)

(The hidden explosion of projects)

The Bex

Started October 1, 2012.  I had to battle with this yarn; not while knitting but when trying to wind the skein into a cake.  I ended up with so much yarn barf that I looked at it in disgust and left for New Jersey to visit family.  Those 2 balls you see is what I have remaining.  I hope it's enough to finish the 2nd sock.

The Stitch Surfer:

Started on November 30, 2012.  The only reason I stopped was because I had never finished a toe up sock before and was not grasping how to bind off.  Suffice it to say, it's doesn't make it past my foot, much less my leg.  T suggested that I just unpick the bind off and redo it...talk about a "duh" moment.

The Dark Isle:

Started March 17, 2013.  I specifically dyed the yarn for these socks...well not all of it, just the gradient yarn.  I think it turned out pretty good.  I just have to find the time (and get my 2US needles free again) to finish them.  I don't think it will take too long.

Forget Hermione! These are for me

Started April 12, 2013.  I started these as a dye challenge.  It was supposed to be dye and knit a project in a month.  I was doing so well! And then I broke not 1 but 2 of my DPNs.  I started going on the circular needles and I was not enjoying the process.  I lovingly bagged up the project and said "forget it" until I could get some DPNs.  Now I have them (as seen in the above picture) and I don't have the time right now.  I want them done by the fall so I can wear them.

Basically Perfect Baby Socks

Started May 21, 2013.  This should have been a quick project.  I finished the first sock within a couple days and the other one is still on the needles (the 2US needles that I need to get free to do the Dark Isle socks).  I can get it done but I think it's the boredom of stockinette (and laziness) that keeps me from doing it.

Shapely Boyfriend Cardigan

Started April 2, 2013.  I had been making good progress on this cardigan.  I am at the waist shaping and I want to continue however the call of the Cookie Socks is a bit stronger. I was hoping to have this done in for the fall but I think I'm going to have to be a bit more realistic on the time constraints.

Anklet #1

Started May 30, 2013.  I'm pretty certain these will be cute when finished.  I already started decreasing for the toe.  I'll like to have the mismatched pair finished soon mostly due to the fact that I don't like the yarn that is being used for the cuff, heel and toe.

Tiberius

Started June 18, 2013. Love the look of these socks but there's not rush on these ones.  That's pretty much it for now.  How much writing is expected for ribbing?

...fascinating

Started June 10, 2013.  Yes!  I finished the first sock and I'm just past the ribbing on the second sock.  I want these done ASAP.  I want a new pair to wear, despite the fact I have barely worn the Pirouette and Tulip socks that I finished less than 2 months ago.  They are so squishy and soft and pretty :D  By the way, I am a convert to Tanis yarn now that I've finally knitted with 1 of my 3 skeins.

Blankie

Started July 13, 2012.  Wow! It's been just over a year and look at how big it's gotten! As of the time of typing this update, there is 107.5 squares and by the time I finish this knitting year, I want to be at 250 squares.  Note: I am so short that even when standing on a chair, I still couldn't get the entire thing in one picture.

Now onto the forgotten projects.

Slide Socks

You can already see that one of the socks is off the needles.  I was trying to do these socks 2 at a time and I was not successful.  I will make these socks out of this yarn but I think I'm going to try winding them into balls and working on each sock seperately.

Anisette Cardigan

As I have mentioned before, the back is utter perfection...but I just don't think I really want the cardigan out of this yarn and it would be nice if the sleeves were the correct size.  I'd rather just toss out the whole thing and make it again from a different kind of yarn.  Nothing wrong with the pattern.  It's lovely but I'm just not liking this project.  I just want to know what I can do with this yarn.

Blankie Update

Total Count: 94.5 + 8.5 = 103

This Blankie is progressing nicely. I'm over 100 squares! Yippee! I counted the starter squares and I'm at 25. I don't know if I'll make it go to an even 30 or not. That would mean that I need at least another 5 starter squares to go.

I finished 1 ball of Knitpicks Stroll in black. So that's about 1 ball per 100 squares. I have 1 remaining ball of black. I got a cart with another 9 balls sitting in it (plus a few more things to make it to $50) just waiting to be purchased. Hopefully I can get it before I finish another 100 squares.

Correction: I measured it against my queen size bed. It's wider than my bed so it's only up to go 

Lessons Learned

- listen when they say to pick up stitches with a smaller needle or at the very least do a provisional cast on with a larger needle. It is difficult or at the very least to pick up stitches when the next stitch is getting repeated smaller because after 5 minutes you finally managed to pick up the previous stitch. Must locate a 2US in my needle stash - not fun, mind you.

- the colour work square doesn't look too bad. I just have to be neater in their construction.

- I really need to start weaving in my ends.

Picture:

Picking up stitches from provisional cast on. At the very least I got the provisional cast on down pat!

This is the full pic of the Blankie as it stands. It's not all attached yet but it will be by next week.

Note to self: monitor the left overs I have and make sure they don't all go towards the anklets plans.

Blankie Update

First strategically placed Blankie Uodate. I added on the Peacock Fury BFL yarn I used for the Tulip Socks. I wasn't able to add any of the Tea Rose Muscadine from the Pirouettes. That's what you get for starting the 2nd sock so quickly and having enough to do more than the cuff.

I attempted the colourwork and it turned out okay. It's not as neat as I had hoped but it's still usable. I do think I will attempt to refine it and do some more perhaps with different designs.

I also did a couple starter squares with a provisional cast on. I hope it won't look too different when the black triangle gets added on since the other squares were started with the long tail cast on.

I've only done 2.5 squares today which gives me a grand total of 94.5 squares. Here's to hoping I have 100 but this time next week.

Observations

It's amazing how quickly (and barely noticing) yarn can go in a project. Today was a Blankie day. I actually looked inside the ziplock bag and saw that I really don't have much black yarn left. Luckily I still have 1 50g ball left but at the rate I've been working on this Blankie, I don't know how much longer I can work with what I have. At the very least, I still have enough yarn for about 80 squares...that should keep me good for a few months.

Recently, I have been looking over the Shelly Kang's Blog, The Heathen Housewife, just reading more about her Blankie.  There is so much work that goes into putting this thing together.  I really liked her idea of Blankie Friday.  Me, I make no guarentees about Friday topics however, I do like the idea of having a designated day for the Blankie.  It actually gets to show progress by more than a couple squares at a time.  I may just do them on Wednesday (starting next week at the earliest) and maybe not every week...especially since I'm just happy to be able to update the blog with something everyday.

Come to think of it, maybe I could have certain projects dedicated to different days...not for knitting specifically but just update on their progress.  I'll still keep a general update going for the projects and the rest of my life, which surprisingly isn't all about knitting...although reading this blog would really make you think so.

As of now, I'm still thinking of exactly who the Shout Out should be for tomorrow.  I think I got an idea but I'm still hemming and hawing over it...and wondering if I should just save it for another week.  I guess I'll decide by tomorrow but if you don't see it tomorrow, you'll know it will just come along later on.

On a more personal note, I have a job interview tomorrow.  Hopefully this goes well so there's some income for me and I'll be able to pay for my transportation again; April's done so the bus pass has expired, I don't got money for another one and I only have 3 bus tokens left in my possession which will be finished by the end of the week.  I'll also not have to listen to my brother singing "There's no food in the house!  There is nothing to eat!" I'm afraid there will be verses soon.

It's so good to have a plan

And I finally feel as if I have a general one for the Blankie in regards to how to proceed. I'm going to try to even out what I have; meaning I'm going to go one row over the new purple square and go from end to end.

This means I have to:
1) create at least 5 more starter squares
2) join the separated parts of the Blankie
3) add the side triangles
4) add the bottom triangles
5) put in the right side corner triangle
6) find my other stroll yarn in black (and buy more if I run too low)

I still want to try out more complicated colourwork squares. I guess I'll eventually sit down and figure it out.

T, I will finish it before I have great grandchildren

There is now an on-going "joke" that my Blankie will take 50 years to finish. Especially when T found out how I wanted it to fit a Queen sized bed. If you see this update, I'm calling you out T! Lol!

And with that, I haven't worked on my Blankie since Monday...I think...

I've been enjoying knitting the Shapely Boyfriend too much. The stripping is going just the way I want it to. I think I'll hold off on any additional stripes until the body and maybe again on the hips. I'm only a few rows from separating the sleeves. I am so excited! Hopefully I'll reach to the row before it, by the time I go to bed.

Tonight I saw T was working on the most adorable baby dress by Tanis Lavallee (the wonderful indie dyer of Tanis Fibre Arts) named Sproulette. Once I saw it, I was thinking who could I make this for. Lucky for me, all my friends have just had children or they will before the year is out. So I bought it. I finally have a use for my 100% wool fingering weight. I should find a baby boy's outfit or shirt.

I didn't get my DK weight yarn today, the the Canada Post Tracking app promised. Hopefully it will be here tomorrow so I can dye a skein over the weekend. The next skein for the sock club should be arriving tomorrow or so, especially since the pattern should be coming on Monday. I really want to see what kind of socks will be available and what kind of treats B1 and I can whip up.

Funny story: B2 (who is 9), came into my room last night AFTER Arrow (smart child that she is), with a netbook showing me recipes for desserts she wants me to make. Yeah, I think that's a strong hint that she wants me to bake again.

Because one isn't enough

I did it. I went back on eBay and purchased another iPhone charger set in yellow this time. The plan is one is to travel with and the other is for home. I paid less in total for this yellow set than I did for the green one, less than $5 Canadian :)

Progress in the Blankie is going fabulously. I'm not even sure how many squares I've added in the past week - actually, I might as well count now. That's 11 added onto the main part of the Blankie, 5 starter squares that still need to be added to either parts of the Blankie, 3 triangles and 1 corner. I have made good progress.

Tomorrow is my birthday lunch with my brother. My birthday isn't until later on in he week but this was the free time we could get.

Useful rambling

I am so forgetful. I made it all the way to Hamilton, sitting down at my church with an Iced Capp and a chocolate chunk cookie from Tim Hortons before I realized I forgot to pack the charger for my phone. My phone has been temperamental about charging since last summer, or so I thought. The USB cord that came with my phone will no longer barge my phone but a knock off from Walmart charges it. The problem is that the charger is literally falling apart and has a tendency to pull out of my phone. Luckily enough, a resident of "my Hamilton house" has this lovely green charger that I thought my phone would not like. Lo and behold it plugged in no problem and started to charge like my phone used to when I first got it. I asked and they said they got it from eBay. Of course this prompted me to start looking and I found it and entered the bid with 5 minutes until ending with no one else bidding and got it for a penny plus shipping. Good deal? Of course!

I'm still working on the Blankie today and I believe I will be working on it until the next sock pattern arrives. The Dark Isle socks can wait until I finish the next pair from the the club.

I've added 5 squares today. One of them is reminiscent of the Dark Isle socks with the same colour stripping (which only encourages me to create self stripping socks yarn in those colours). I loved it so much, I did another in Calends (from Springtree Road) and Thunderhead (from Knitpicks). I think I'm going to throw in more of these kinds of stripping as I go along.I would also like to figure out how to do other kinds of colour changes in a square like if I can find a way to get the raised seam a different colour. I was thinking of adding the colour from the wrong side on either side of the centre stitch so that when I do the double decrease, that will be where it shows. I'm going to try it out and see how it works. So far, it's a good idea in theory.

And as I work on this Blankie, I was thinking that I can also use as a colour sample of yarn that I would like to dye it, but on a much smaller scale than the current Blankie. I'll need to get a few skeins of sock yarn, divvy it up into 5gram skeins and start to do some dyeing and see where I end up with it.

Current absolute favourite square: the ode to my parents homeland - Jamaica.

Self stripping: it shouldn't be too hard o get it done. I think the hard part will be getting the navy blue which I purchased in that colour from Springtree Road...I'm loving Late Dusk.

Crazy ways of building your stash

My yarn stash is shrinking. I've used, or partially used 3 skeins from my stash plus a skein from the sock club in the past 2 months. That was made into 2.5 pairs of socks in less than 2 months and 12 full skeins of sock yarn that I haven't dyed myself.

What has this made me realize? This year is still a "no buy sock yarn" year. I may purchase a skein of DK weight of Tanis and that should be all for the year. Next year, instead of purchasing sock yarn so to speak, I think I'll join an extra yarn for the year. I'm thinking about joining the Tanis Year in Colour for 2014, along with the Cookie A Sock Club 2014. That way, every month is get a skein of yarn. And I'll have more sock yarn to add to the Blankie later.

Of course I don't have the money for this venture but that's what saving money is for. The goal is $500ish for the end of the year. Other than needle purchases (I'm starting to look at Signature DPNs because I'm crazy like that), a book purchase, undyed yarn and 1 Knitpicks purchase of Stroll Yarn in Black, that should be it for knitting purchases.

Onto the Blankie update...

I added a corner and did another triangle. I line the results but I have to find another cast-on method other than the long tail cast on (LTCO) or the backward thumb cast in. It's too hard to pick up stitches with the LTCO but the backward thumb doesn't look too hot. I don't know any other cast on so this means YouTube cast on research required.

This is the Blankie in its entirety so far. I had to pull it out at the library, where Knitting Circle #2 is located, and put it on the table to get it all in the pic so far. I still have 5 or so starter squares to do before it has a chance of being wide enough for my queen size bed.

Blankie Triangles

I didn't get to work on my Blankie as much as I wanted to however, it wasn't a bust at all. I finally attempted to add triangles and I was SUCCESSFUL! I have 2 triangles added and I'm ready to do more.

I also did 4 starter squares in total and I believe I need another 7 to make the Blankie as wide as I want it to be. And with that combined with understanding the triangles, I can really start to work my way up and make a lot more visible progress.

Just Blankie Pics

I worked a bit on the Blankie while at the Knitting Circle. I took a few more pics and that's about it (other than buying a new dress, sweater and loafers).

I have decided

I think I'm going to go with 30 squares across and right now I'm at 18 in total so I should be good with another 12 individual squares. And then time to build everything up. It's already on my lap, and creating heat. I love this thing :)

I'm up to 64 squares in total.

There isn't really much to say today because I'm generally not knitting on Saturday as of yet.  Tonight, I plan to be sitting at the computer, watching "Downton Abbey" while doing more for the Blankie.  No pics tonight.  Maybe tomorrow

But on a non-blankie note: I got an email from Cookie stating that my first shipment is on the way!  I am so excited!  I can't wait to see what comes.

I had done so well

I forgot to do an entry yesterday. I remembered at about 10 at night but still forgot again within a minute and it took over 12 hours before I remembered and another 12 hours before I actually finished this entry.

I didn't do much yesterday. I went to the gym, visited my adopted grandparents, picked up a few groceries, finished a square and went home to watch Arrow (love that show).

Today on the other hand was a day off. I went to the gym while freezing my butt off in this crazy Southern Ontario weather. By the time I made it home, I had no intention of leaving my house unless it was to pick up my cousin from school. I spent quite some time knitting Blankie. This week I did 9 squares, all attached but not on the main Blankie just yet.

Off to bed for the night!

Oh Blankie, My Blankie

Today was a continuation of last night.  It was spent on knitting Blankie (while still watching episode 2 and 3 of "Downton Abbey").  I managed to do 5 starter squares in less than 24hrs.  I even had a theme/pattern going on but I messed up on the last square and picked the wrong red.  Ah well.  I still like my progress.  I think I'm going to start building up from these 5 (it's really 6 squares since I'm in the middle of knitting a square).  Eventually of course, it will be added to the rest of it.  I also belatedly realized that I don't have enough black sock yarn so I'm going to order more from Knitpicks, along with the "Principles of Knitting" book that I've been admiring for quite awhile.

I brought the progress to the knitting circle (it is Tuesday after all).  The Librarian Kathy who's in charge of the program, donated yarn to my Blankie cause, and gave me the stash of sock yarn that someone else had donated to the library.  I've never even heard of this brand of yarn but it's cool to own it.  It's wool and it's made to be washed so it's good to go.

Downtown Squares

I finished attaching the left panel of the Anisette Cardi (doesn't it sound like this is the only thing I do?) and started on the sleeve. Woohoo and yay.

I picked up my Blankie and did a 2.5 starter squares while watching "Downtown Abbey". I think the two should go hand in hand; watch the show and knit more squares. I think I'll make a lot of progress this way since there are 4 British seasons and so far the one episode I watched was 65 minutes long with no commercial breaks.

One Week's Progress

I only worked on one project this week, the Annisette Cardi.  I finally finished the the left panel and I started on the right (or vice versa, I really can never keep them straight).  I couldn't even wait for all the pieces to be put together before I started seaming the back to the newly finished right/left panel.  I think it shouldn't make a difference as to what order the sweater gets seamed in so I'm hoping for the best.  I already messed up on the neckline, in addition to my other errors.

My wonderful seaming work

All the pieces together so far.

I still have to do the sleeves, collar and button panels.  I am actually really looking forward to it.

I'm already planning my next sweater, the Shapely Boyfriend.  I already already selected the yarn I wanted for the project.  It's sitting in the Webs cart, waiting for me to just hit the checkout (which will be done after the US Thanksgiving passes; seriously hoping that there's some kind of cyber monday sale going on).

This is the main colour that I wanted, Cascades 220 Superwash in Grey.

I wanted to add in a bit more colour, with a colour transition yarn.  I was hoping for something closer to Knitpicks Worsted Chroma but it doesn't come in superwash and it's single ply.  I don't think I'd like it for the sweater.  Instead, I picked Lorna's Laces Shephard Worsted in Black Purl.

I also want to add a skein of black to perhaps frame to second skein.  I'll see how everything will work once I do a swatch.

The other thing I'm planning on doing (I really like to plan, can't you tell?) is joining Cookie A's Sock Club 2013.  I am looking forward to it as well.

Other current projects still on the needles, The Bex socks (which hasn't been touched in a week), the Monkey Socks (which will probably not be touched for quite sometime) and the on-going Sock Blankie (this is like a 2 to 3 year project)

It's only half as wide as I want it to be so I've got a long way to go.  I think this week will be a Bex and Blankie week so hopefully a great amount of progress will be posted for these projects next week :D