Year of Projects: Week 49

This has been a pretty good knitting week. Last week I picked up my Shapely Boyfriend cardigan and decided to put some work in. I am very pleased with the progress I've made. I finished the ribbing at the bottom, started and finished a sleeve and started on the second. 

(Apparently I can't do a "selfie" if my life depended on it. I had to take it off, lay it out and THEN take a pic)

I think by next week, I'll have started the collar and button band...I guess I have to get buttons for the button band.

I guess I'll go back to the Stitch Surfer sock when I'm done...which technically supposed to be done at the end of June, as per the KAL but I haven't even finished the 1st sock, much less the 2nd.

Year of Projects: Week 48

I actually started to frog another project; not any sock projects but the Annisette Cardi from almost 2 years ago. I still have no idea what I'm going to do with the yarn. It's KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in the colourway Hyacinth. Lovely colour but not it doesn't feel soft at all to me.

I mostly worked on my Stitch Surfer socks. I tried the Fish Lips Kiss Heel...guess what?

I really like it! It actually looks quite pretty and it's pretty easy to do once you do it.

And it's World Cup time. I have always wanted to watch the series from beginning to end. I was looking for a World Cup project to work on; perhaps a shawl of some sort. I knew which one I was going to work on too. I went looking for my 4US circular needles. I knew I had one in a project but I was certain that I had one in the package. Much to my dismay, it was actually from my interchangeable set. I put them back to where they were supposed to be. Instead of starting a shawl, I picked up my Shapely Boyfriend cardigan. 

I think it's about time I work on finishing it. I only have a few more rows of ribbing in the bottom. Next it's the sleeves and button flaps.

Year of Projects: Week 6

I am so behind schedule; not based on my Blankie or my Shapely Boyfriend cardigan, because those are pretty much all I have worked on since the New Knitting Year. It is now the beginning of August and the 6th week of projects and I have not finished a single pair of socks! I have 26 to do and I have not finished a single one. The only redeeming factor in this sock knitting endevour is that I haven't cast on a new pair, not that I haven't been tempted.

As mentioned earlier on in the week, I have received my August/September skein of yarn for the 2013 Cookie A. Sock Club (it's from MissBabs and it's gorgeous) and it brought to my attention that it means the patterns are coming. I am not done with either pair of my June/July shipment [bang head against pillow because a wall would be just too painful]. I really need to catch up!

Therefore, I shall decree to make sock knitting my exclusive knitting project once the cardigan is done! So let it be typed! So let it be done!

Now onto this week's pride and joy; my Shapely Boyfriend Cardigan.

I tried it on this week and realized a few problems. Nothing wrong with the design but as I have previously mentioned for the past few YOP entries, I am short. And as a part of this shortness, many things that are not supposed to be long, are long on me so...I had to make a little adjustment.

If I had stayed according to the original instructions, the cardigan would almost reach my knees. Waaaaay to long. After I finished the hip shaping and tried it on, it was a quarter of the way past my bum. I still had almost 20 rows of stockinette knitting PLUS 10 rows of ribbing. I shortened the stockinette to 3, and so far, I have only one row of ribbing done with further 9 to go before I bind off. 

After that, it's sleeves, neckline and button paneling. The end seems so much closer.

I have the cardigan hanging on my closet door to take pictures for this entry. I took a shot of the front, and then a shot of the back and realized I want to knit a boat neck, cap-sleeved summer sweater. Off to hunt for a pattern to put in the queue!

Note: I already found it! It's called the Summer Scabbard by Jennifer Hansen.

Year of Projects/26 Pair Plunge Update List

To alter or not to alter

Before I went to bed last night, I tried in the Shapely Boyfriend cardigan. I think I already want to do an alteration.

I am short; only 5'1 1/2", if I stretch it. As the cardigan stands now, with only 4 rows past the hip shaping and without the ribbing, is just at my hips. Imagine if I go the next 21 rows as recommend in the pattern and still do the 10 rows of ribbing...that would be almost past my thighs and I don't think I should rock that look. I know the concept is supposed to be like your boyfriend's sweater but I don't think I want it that long on me.

I was going to ask for suggestions but it couldn't even wait until I posted (I originally typed this up just after midnight on Wednesday) before I made up my mind. I'll just add a few more rows and go into the ribbing and do the 3/4 sleeves. I'll end up pushing the sleeves to my forearms anyways.

I got my yarn for August/September months! It's by MissBabs in an exclusive colourway called Inkwell. It is beautiful and it would have been a perfect colour for the Spocks. 

(This picture doesn't do the yarn justice. It's much bluer in real life)

While this is all fine and good, I still have not finished Spock Socks and haven't even made it past the cuff for the Tiberius. I think I'm at the very least, I'm going to finish the Spock Socks before I even consider starting any other socks.

Project of the week

Again! I picked up the Shapely Boyfriend cardigan and I am not regretting it :)

It is coming along quite nicely. I just finished the hip shaping and I got 35 more rows to go. At the rate that I'm going, I might just finish it tomorrow. Then onto the sleeves! I am so excited! I want to make another in a shorter version or a 3/4 sleeve or maybe even a slightly slimmer fit. Ah the possibilities!

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.

This was somewhat surprising

Last night, after my somewhat depressing entry, I went back to watching Charmed and pulled out my Shapely Boyfriend Cardigan. I am by no means anywhere close to being done but I am on the last third of the waist shaping. After that it's hip shaping and after that, I should really refer back to the pattern and write it out. I think it's the ribbing and sleeves, then finishing touches like collar and butting paneling and such. I still haven't purchased or discovered any buttons to finish it off with. I do have the 5 wooden buttons that I purchased for the Annisette Cardi but the Shapely Boyfriend requires 7. I'll have to see what I can do about it.

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.

Almost Unmovtivated

I keep looking at the bag with the Pirouette socks and get frustrated.  I don't even have to open the bag or move it from its spot hanging off the headboard of my bed.  I don't know if I think that I messed it up or if I'm too scared of doing it wrong.  I still need help with it...and as I type this and remember that it's Tuesday, I could have gone to see T today to get help...excuse me as I bang my head on the keyboard ;jlaksfd

I haven't reached the point where I'm going to frog it but I wanted to knit again and still being otherwise frustrated with my DPNs situation from yesterday, I casted on for the other sock club socks called Tulip.  The plan was to use Grapfruit Sunrise from the Tosh-Along that I dyed earlier on this year but the skein is frustrating me (see a lot of frustrating me).  The skein came from Knitpicks and is the Bare Stroll Sock.  It doesn't seem to come skeined like everyone else, including their skeined sock yarn.  I did somewhat notice it when I was dyeing it but figured I was just not looking at it correctly and it would "fix" itself when I was ready to use it.

Well it didn't.  I couldn't even place it properly on the swift.  I didn't want to cut the starting string so I skeined it back to the figure 8 and put it back on the shelf.  It's reasons like this that make me not want to order it again.  I pulled out my BFL Peacock Fury.  It caked beautifully and I casted on no problem for the Tulip Socks on the 1.5 US DPNs, one of the few sizes where there are no missing or broken needles.

This also gives me another project to do.  I did one successful re-dye of Carol's Eyes so in theory, I should be able to re-dye Grapefruit Sunrise if I get another undyed skein right?

I'm currently travelling with the Tulip Socks, the Hermione whatever-whatevers, the Shapely Boyfriend Cardigan, which are all stashed in my backpack while I hem and haw over which project to work on while at the Tuesday Knitting Circle.  I think I can save the Tulip socks for when I reach back home to watch Dancing with the Stars, Jimmy Fallon and Castle.  I think the Shapely Boyfriend might be the project of choice, especially since I do have to finish fixing my error.  Maybe tomorrow will get a progress picture of it.

Still picking up stitches

The intention for the day was to sleep in, pick up the stitches to redo on the Shapely Boyfriend and dye the DK weight yarn.

That's not quite what I did today. I did sleep in. I pulled out my interchangeable set and stared at it and went to my phone to read fanfic.

When I got tired of that, I went to dye my yarn. I had a little helper, B2's bestfriend Nas. She is definitely a crafter in the making. I wasn't trying for it but I a got a variegated blue that is currently drying on the line. And then I went back to reading fanfic.

I washed my hand knit socks and went back to the fanfics.

My mother called me, describing a couple of dresses that she saw in the store. Let me just say that I love my mom but I'm not a fan of her clothing style and apparently she cannot describe clothes if her life depended on it. She tried to describe them anyways and brought them home. Suffice it to say, I am now the proud owner of 2 new dresses. She did good!

I finally made it back to my room at 11pm and finally started picking up them stitches. I'll finish doing this and the. I'm going to bed.

Too soon...sigh...

Things were going so well. I was ready to start the waist shaping. I just wanted to try it on and then write the blog update. I told myself not to worry. Obviously the stars were aligned and nothing would go wrong.

Yeah...that didn't happen. I put it on and a swear I felt the stitches pulling off the needles. I tried to save the stitches and I managed to do it on one side but the other side looks horrendous. Therefore I'm going to do something I have never done before. I am going go back a few rows and redo it. You don't know how happy I am that I learned this technique from the afterthought heel on the Dark Isle socks.

I am now in the last few minutes of my birthday. It was a good and simple day. My mom made me a birthday came I could eat. You don't know how rare that is. I like baked goods very simple: chocolate, vanilla and marble. No mousse. No icing. No dipped fruits. Real simple. I got a hazelnut crunch cake. I don't know what the crunch part of this cake was but I was good.

Not destined to be a sock

I got 2 orders in today; the DK weight undyed yarn (which looks like fingering to me, go fig) and the yarn from my sock club shipment.

I saw the club yarn online from other members of the club and I was not too impressed with the colour not to mention it's 100% wool. I don't want to have to repair socks and I don't want to take the chance that I will have to. I'll pull out something else from my stash to make a pair of socks. I just have to sit and wait until the pattern makes its appearance on Ravelry.

I may attempt the Sproulette with it within the time frame. It would be for a gift anyways for a baby girl who is not even born yet.

I still haven't decided what colour(s) to use for the DK weight yarn. I didn't want to do the pale blue which I seem to do so often. Maybe I can try a dark blue/purple vibe and see how it turns out.

Onto the Shapely Boyfriend. I separated the sleeves from the body, or at least I reached 75% of the way before I realized I had messed up and I had to start again. I was reading for the wrong size. I was going to continue with the smaller size but that would mean having to undo 9 rows of work. If I kept it at the original planned size, I only had to undo the current row. I did manage to fix the problem. I actually knitted on the bus on the way to Hamilton and am well on my way to the body.

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.

Thirty-Three done

I just started the Shapely Boyfriend a little bit over 24 hrs ago and I'm already finished row 33 which means I can start the front increases. I've added some stripes which is actually looking kind of nice. I've noticed that the stripes go kind of wonky at the increases. I think I've found a solution to the problem in regards to the stripes. I have been changing the colour on the wrong side row. When I reach the right side row, and it's time to do the Right Lifted Increase and Left Lifted Increase, I have to pull of the stitch 2 rows below the current row. Which means the wrong colour comes up. If I had changed the colour on the right side row, the colour that would be pulled up would be the same as the previous row. At least if I do this sweater again, I shouldn't have the same problem. Yes I'm already wanting to make another one of these, or at least another raglan type sweater.

I am LOVING this Cascade 220 Superwash yarn! It doesn't feel itchy, it looks good and it knits up well. Heck! I even love the way they ball it up. I can start knitting immediately from it. When the means comes around, and I see a sale for it, I will stock up with enough for 2 or so sweaters.

I got the notice that my DK weight yarn from Acme Fibres. It should be in my hands by tomorrow :) I'll try to dye it on Sunday. I still haven't even decided what colours to use yet. I think I may dye both skeins so I can make a matching hat or something.

I got the shoes I wanted (and could afford) today. Just simple black wedges and closed toe which apparently is very difficult to find [insert eye rolling smiley].

The want vs the means

I got an newsletter email from The Purple Purl. This month they featured a knit-a-long of a summer sweater featuring yarn from Sweet Georgia. I immediately decided I wanted to participate. I was sure I could find the time to finish the sweater before July 1st.

And then I sat and REALLY thought about it. A sweaters worth of Sweet Georgia is not cheap. That's about $100 of money that I really don't have. I also don't have a pressing need for a sweater either. I still have my Shapely Boyfriend cardigan to do. Unless I miraculously get $100 in the next couple of weeks, I'm going to have to pass for now. I can still make the sweater but it will have to wait until I really have more free money.

This seems like its the first time I said no to a knit-a-long due to not having the money to spare. It's not like I don't have money in my account but I guess I'm starting to grow up and really want to see money in my account. Yay for maturity.

I was surprised when I was leaving for Knitting Circle #1 today when I saw a package in the mailbox addressed to me. Colour me confused, especially when it said it was from Quebec. I went back to the house and opened the package. Lo and behold it was my dress. The same dress I ordered late Saturday night. How it reached to my house so quickly with the weekend and the non mail holiday yesterday, I will never know. I'll be sure to go home and admire it after Knitting Circle.

Admired the dress and it looks awesome. I'm going to use a wider belt that I have with it instead. I saw a pair of black wedges that will look good with it to. All that would be left to find is a cardigan in either beige or black. I think the only change I would like would be if the dress had pockets.

I put down the Blankie today and started the Shapely Boyfriend Cardigan. I just noticed a problem but I don't think it's going to be too big of an issue. I should be using worsted weight. I thought I purchased worsted weight. I looked on Ravelry to change this cardigan for queue to projects, when I noticed off to the side that my Cascade 220 Superwash is a DK weight. I had to go looking through other people who have done this project and there have been a few people who did it with the same yarn in DK weight and no adjustments had to be made. So I'm hoping for the best and I'm going to continue as is.

The Cardigan is actually coming along well and since it is 12:37 am from where I am, I'm going to sign off and go to my bed.

Good night!

Everything I need is here

I got the last batch of yarn for my Shapely Boyfriend sweater. I'm still not going to start it until the Anisette Cardi is done. I'm actually re-evaluating the size to make. I have enough yarn to make up to a 1X, however I don't plan to still be that size by the time I finish the sweater and its already a loosely made sweater. I guess the smart idea would be once I'm ready to start the sweater, I'll measure the bust and then knit it according to that.

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