Project List for March

I sat down last night to start planning for March.  I finished February with 5 completed projects off the list.  The Arroyo was removed after 3 tries.  The wrap never got started.  The afghan only got 3 out of 10 squares.  I did, however, knit a hat for my boss that wasn't on the list and I started an extra pair of socks.

March will have smaller goals.  One is the beautiful cowl that looks like shawl. It is called Zuzu's Petals by Carina Spencer.  I'm going to used one of my Madelinetosh Texas Teacakes collections. Probably the greys.  I have them wound in an ombré magic cake.  Can't. Wait. 

Here's the socks I started.  (And one is almost finished...). I may knit an additional pair this month.

I'm going to make a crazy hat out of this yarnbox yarn.  

As for the rest of my projects, I'm going to knit another Hitchhiker out of Berroco Boboli Lace.  Another Lunule out of Malabrigo Rasta.  A grey wrap out of red heart super saver--Don't. Ask. And I changed my afghan goals to devoting Sunday to knitting on it.  3 squares per Sunday...

There should be plenty of space left over for reading and adding in another project towards the end of the month.

Ending February with Two New Concepts

This is my Desert Vista Dyeworks Winter Pastel socks.  Today, I forced myself to sit down and work out how to do a different heel.  This heel is the Fish Kiss Heel by Sox Therapist.  It uses short rows, twin stitches, and has no gusset or heel flap.  The big stripes of red and blue is where the heel turns.  I made a couple errors, but nothing major.  And I'm happy to report that they fit my feet!

The item you see blocking is the Lunule. It is a shawl designed for super bulky yarn.  It is by Taiga Hilliard and I'm waiting to see how I like it once it is dry.  It's not long enough, I can tell, but it'll keep my neck warm.  I used Hometown USA yarn and a size 17 circular needle. It calls for a 19, so I already know my gauge is off.  No worries, some one will like it!

I Love This Hat!

I used to hate hats back when I had 80's hair (up until about 7 years ago!). I hated squishing my hair and messing up the hairspray.  Now, I have wild permed hair that occasionally looks like Mufasa from the Lion King. Hats are now no big deal.  And this hat? It is awesome!

Kind of a different yarn.  It's from Alina Shea's Disney Villians collection last year.  This color is "Jafar" from Aladdin. Lots of different shades of purples that pool in a diagonal.  Today a girl told me it was ugly.  Poo on her!

This is a picture of the Meret on Isabelle--my styrofoam head.  I did three pattern repeats to get a slouchy version.  I also did the brim for one inch in stockinette, so it would roll and then one inch of 1x1 rib.  It makes the hat extra cool, in my opinion.  (You can see the brim best in the top picture.)

Can't wait to wear this bad boy tomorrow!!

Meret

I worked on my lovely new hat today in the quiet house while listening to podcasts of ThuIs American Life.  I got 1.75 repeats finished.  1 more set of repeats and then decrease tomorrow.  I love it's squishy goodness.

I'm considering revamping the blog.  I'll leave all the current content, but I keep seeing other blogs and how much more they have that keeps me coming back.  Tutorials, contests, better layout... I'll keep you posted.

Crap day

Let me give all women a word of advice--never get your mammogram and pelvic exam on the same day.

My boobs have never seen this much action.  Ever.  Not only did they take a million squished up pictures of them, but then they decided that perhaps I also needed an ultrasound on each breast.  So now they are being steamrolled for 30 minutes.  And then the annual pelvic exam also includes a breast exam.  

"We'll call if we need more images!"  I won't be answering the phone. 

This is what I'll be doing for the next 10 hours.  Curled up with Miss Tess.

Hue Shift Afghan

Who would have thought this beautiful afghan would be a black hole of time? 2 hours per square.  Seriously.  2 hours. And it's not even like its difficult.  I can't figure it out, actually.

So, I have decided to dedicate my Sundays to this afghan.  Laundry, television, afghan. Today, I managed to complete 3 squares. 45 yards of yarn. 6 hours. 

If this was a sock, six hours would have me just past the heel turn and gusset and almost to the toe. I shake my head in confusion because I can't explain the vortex I'm sucked into...  Is it because I have to count so much?  Is it the constant color changes? Argh. 

Lately....

I know how to do lots of things.  But something I always loved, but now never get a chance to do is work with wood.  Shop was one of my favorite classes in junior high.  I enjoyed the drawings, planning, cutting and assembly.  It gave me a real sense of accomplishment.

I have two uncles who are incredible carpenters.  One no longer creates and one lives a bit too far away.  But one day, I want some real wood working equipment.  Power saws, work bench, clamps, vices.  I want to create. Cool little things for my house that would make life easier.  

I have cut shelving and hung shelves in odd spaces to make more room for all the stuff we seem to accumulate.  But these little things here would add little whimsical touches, but provide much needed space.

And these things wouldn't require a lot of space, but would create space where there is none.

But truthfully, I don't want to share my tools with Andrew, so I'll continue to knit for now...  I know that seems selfish, and it is on one level--on the other level--he's not always careful and he never puts things back/away.  I secretly have my own tool box because he has over 50 screwdrivers that I can never find.  But I know where mine are!!

Smilies

Lots of things to smile about today:  a nap, selling stuff on eBay and getting it mailed off, finishing an awesome book (The Hypnotist's Love Story), pizza, and the following:

I finished the Man Hat for my principal.  And it is squishy and soft and lovely.

My Yarnbox subscription came and the yarn didn't suck!

And this cute book was waiting for me at the library.  The projects inside were kind of "not me," but the pictures and collages and drawings sparked creative ideas for decorating my craft room this spring.  Lots of color and rainbows and garlands and silly stuff that I like!

Trillian

Finally bound off my Trillian this evening.  Once it was soaked and blocked it ended up being 7 feet long.  Since I used worsted weight, I only needed 151 rows before I started the edging.  Good thing, because I was getting pretty tired of this lovely shawl.

Here it is blocking on the dining room table.  I'll weave in the ends tomorrow once it's dry.

It's going to be awesome!!!!

I was a hit at school!

Finally wore my rainbow socks I just finished.  The kids were amazed that they actually fit "like real socks!"  That always makes me laugh.  And that shiny stuff in the back?  That's the sun!!! Wow!

Of course, like last time, the dye ran on my feet--and this time in my shoes.  I know better, I just don't care.  My converse like having rainbow insides!

And check out these pretties!  My cousin David sent me the picture of,these on Pinterest.  Grey chambray.  Yum...  I could rock these.

Snow Day Reprieve

Yesterday was a little meltdown day.  I'm fine now. Really.

Today I got my snow day and I kept my promises.  Taxes are done.  All items are listed on eBay. I sold off 4 skeins of wool I would never use and mailed them.  Lunch with Andrew.  Cleaned off my desk in the office that Andrew thinks is his.  Reorganized my closet by adding another spare shelving unit and taking out the extra hangers.  (Looks very nice!). 

And I finally got to my third skein of yarn on the Trillian.  It's supposed to be 6.5 feet long when finished and as of this post it is 5.5 feet long. When it gets to 6 feet, I'm going to start the finishing.  I should be done by Friday.  

And then I did something nice for myself...  I frogged a pair of socks that NEVER EVER fit and I'm going to make a new pair of socks instead of feeling guilty that I wasted all that time and money on socks I can't wear.  Shibui yarn in my colors--orange, pink, green and teal...  Yes!

Grim Discovery

I wish I had this sign.  I wish I had a maid.  I wish I had an accountant.  I wish I didn't have to work.  I know, wish in one hand and shit in the other and see which one fills up faster, right?  

Why so glum, you ask? I was sorting through my yarn stash today and discovered the stash is not going down very fast.  At all.  I mean, sure, it's plugging along, but I will never ever knit through my stash this year which means I may have to carry over this resolution into next year.  

"It's only February!  Take a chill pill, Michele!"  I knit so very slowly.  And I have so much freaking sock yarn that it's insane.  And I know compared to many yarn people out there, my stash isn't worth a second glance.  I only have one bookcase of yarn.  BUT, I have to work, manage my home, and keep us all afloat.  I vacuumed the entire house and did all the laundry and was ticked off that it cut into my knitting time.  What the heck is wrong with me? 

This Trillian shawl is killing me.  I'm at 5 feet in length and it's supposed to be 6.5 feet long.  I have 126 rows of the 191 rows complete.  I WILL knit all 191 rows, but next month, only 1 big project for the month.  Too much stress.  

Who cares?  No one but me.  I'm a goal setter.  But only for myself. 1 pair of socks per month--doable. 1 shawl per month--doable.  This month's list had 2 shawls, a cape, 2 hats and 1 pair of socks on the list.  And 10 squares on a afghan.  And then I agreed to make a hat for my boss.  (In the shortest month of the year, no less)

So tomorrow, perhaps I'll get a snow day (it's yucky outside as I type).  If I do--I'll do my taxes, mail my packages, list my stuff on eBay and then devote the rest of the day to my Trillian.  I promise.

Lazy, Snowy Sunday

Started the hat for my principal.  He wanted a manly hat, so I searched on ravelry for "manly hat" and got "The Man Hat" which is a free pattern.  It works up really quick, but is incredibly boring to do because it's all in one boring, manly color

.,

And once I'm finished with his hat, I've discovered another hat that will be awesome for me!!  It's called Meret.  I'm going to use a yarn I've had for over a year in my stash, but could never decide what to use it for.  It's a rich purple with lighter purple and pink accents.  Yum!

Pair of Socks #3

I got begged into going to a swim meet last night with Miss Maya, so in order to pass the time, I started my 3rd pair of socks.  I wanted to work on my Trillian, but it was a bit large to pull out and work on in the stands, so socks prevailed....

These are prettier than I thought they would be, which always seems to be the case with Desert Vista Dyeworks.  This color way is Winter Pastels.

Halfway through February

I checked my project list and it was pretty lofty.  Too many large projects to finish, so I'm already telling myself it's ok that I don't meet my goals this month.  One goal I DID meet was completing a pair of socks each month--here's this month's socks!!  Rainbow-y!!

I actually bought yarn Friday.  It's this lovely Madelinetosh Vintage, but it's for a good reason--my boss asked me to make him a hat.  It was not a frivolous whim purchase.  I promise.

And the stash bust continues!  I used up another miscellaneous skein of yarn on this Truffle Hat.  I modified the pattern so that every other rib was cabled instead of cabling every rib.  I like it better...

Now, back to the hat for Mr. Holmes. I wanted to finish my Trillian, but it will be a small miracle if it is finished by the end of the month.  To much "end" at the end of the pattern makes for a boring knit....  And the 10 squares on my afghan?  Forget about it...

Crochet and Crafts

Stashbust 2014 is coming right along!  I'm attacking my cotton stash this week by making washcloths and instead of keeping the small amount that's left, I decided to try out something I thought of yesterday--mini washcloths or scrubbies for makeup removal.  They are super cute and I can get 3 out of the leftover yarn. Yay!!

I'm always looking for interesting ways to hold signs, photos, or postcards. These lovely giant clothes pins were in the dollar bin at Michael's. They had 5 colors of the rainbow, but no red.  Sooo, I bought an extra orange one and painted that puppy red today. 

This clipboard used to have my maiden name on it in stickers.  It was so cute, but outdated.  I painted the top metallic green and then mod-podged some cool scrapbook paper to it.  Looks pretty darn chic!  Now I have to do the rest of the ones in my craft room so they don't feel left out...

Rainbows

Didn't work on these while I was home for 6 days.  Then I pulled them out on Friday and made mad progress.  Hoping to get to knit on them on my way to Columbus this morning.

I also cast on a different pair of socks (I bought an additional sock needle!!!) so I can work on two pair at once.  It will probably just stifle progress, though.  We shall see.

Arroyo No More

I started the Arroyo for the third time and made another mistake that irritated me to no end.  The yarn was ticking me off, the pattern was ticking me off, my husband was ticking me off (he made me lose count), so I scrapped it for the final time.  Lace knitting is no fun.

So I rewound my yarn. 

And cast on the Trillian.  Much. Better.