New Beginnings

After finishing the Graceful Harvest Cardigan, my thoughts turned to my unfinished works.  I need to sort through the Baby Hap and the purple Ten Stitch Blankie, checking against the patterns and seeing where I am again before starting with them.

But after the sweater and the Sockhead Hat (which was miles and miles of ribbing and stockinette,) I felt the need for something quick.  So, I cast on.

 

Well, first I had to hand wind this so I could knit.

 

As you may be able to read from the label it is mostly bamboo.  Actually it is bamboo rayon, with some wool and a touch of acrylic.  

After a couple days of knitting, including a near needle disaster I am doing quite well.  The tip came off the cable, leaving several inches of stitches swinging free.  I dug out a darning needle and heavy thread, and put them on a lifeline.  From there I was able to put them back on the needles and catch the ones that dropped back a row or two and all is well.

 

Did I mention it is going to be a cowl?  Easy peasy knitting, with some watching the one needle tip.

I also turned this:

 

into this.

 

I weighed them so they should be equal.  More on this project in the future.

Hello Again

Perhaps I should have made it my goal to dial back my postings.  I certainly seem to have don that this month.  But I have excuses, really I do.

On the 16th I had my first colonoscopy and in preparation for that a friend advised me to eat light, so the actual "cleaning out" prep would be easier.  I did and it was, but still not fun.  I hardly got any sleep the night before.  I didn't dare knit, but got lots of reading done.  My latest kick has been mysteries in an old series, "Mrs. Bradley."

I then proceeded to get a tremendous cold, and bailed on all activities for a day.  It was mostly spent sleeping and helped a lot.  The next day was spent with a box of Kleenex in hand, and a bucket for the used ones close by at all times.

Unfortunately not a lot of knitting was done during that time.  But I have finished the first sleeve on the Graceful Harvest Cardigan, and made a good start on the second.  

With the return of NASCAR now there will be prime knitting time every week.  The race format has changed some this year, and of course I need to learn to identify all the new sponsors and paint schemes.  The sweater is brainless enough for that.  I just need to keep track of decrease rows.

 

This past week there were several small races.  But tomorrow is the biggy: the Daytona 500.  This sleeve should grow quite a bit then.

 

I think I have a solution to my low knitting output.  And it's a grand one.

I have been trying to remain faithful to one project at a time.  And I still want to concentrate on finishing my Works in Progress.  But while reading the Mason Dixon Knitters blog post, I discovered why.  I need more projects.  

No, really!

I think this is giving me an excuse to wind up some yarn and cast on something more brainless for travel.  The sweater is way to large for easy travel knitting.  And if I had something smaller, I probably would have grabbed it for on the go.

Yup, I may need to spend some time tonight winding yarn.

A Goal or Two, Or More

As I mentioned before, I don't do resolutions.  Too definite.  To much of a promise.  I prefer the term of goals.  Something to shoot for, but no harm, no foul if you don't quite reach the finish line.

That said, I skip the whole personal improvement type of goals.  Don't smoke.  Only have a wee bit of wine at New Years, then some after, to finish the bottle by the end of the month or so.  I try to improve myself and my actions with frequent "examination of conscience."  

So my goals deal with the real stuff of life: Knitting and Reading.

My knitting goals fall into a couple areas, some miscellaneous WIPs and some sweaters.  While I need to first finish my Favorite Teen's Turquoise Sockhead hat, as well as her Graceful Harvest cardigan, since they were Christmas presents these will be next to go.  The hat is well on its way, with about 3 1/2 inches before shaping begins.  

 

Obviously it will be extra long.  It is a slouchy style hat.  And due to the lighting conditions, it looks too green here.  It really is turquoise.  Anyway....

The WIPs goal:

• First is to finish the Baby Hap, which is stalled on the border and will be first to be worked on, once the presents are finished.  
• After that finish the 10 Stitch Blankie.
• And, at least one pair of my several socks already on the needles. 

Then there is my Sweater Goal:

• Finish the previously mentioned Graceful Harvest.
• Find and finish my Navy Tweed Vest.  (Where did I stash that?  And the last few skeins?)
• Finish my Bang Out A Freyja.  It was a project to have been knit last February, in the round then steeked.  I am close but not quite to finishing the body shaping.  I know where it is, but must review the pattern closely.

And Miscellaneous Knitting Goals:

• Finish at least one project started over two years ago.  Sadly, I have several to chose from.  This may be a two- fer with a pair of socks.
• Hold off as long as possible starting any new projects.  This may well be the hardest goal of all.

I think I will save the Reading Goals for next time.

Preparing for 2017

I am not a fan of resolutions, but goals I can live with.  They have a more "squishy" quality and I don't feel as bad if I don't meet them.  I've started working on my new ones and I've broken my goals down into two main areas again this year: knitting and reading.

I will share more about them in another post.  But I wanted to review the status of my WIP pile.  I went through to add the year 2017 to the tags.  In doing so, I discovered some were older than I thought.  Apparently, while I completed a fair amount of projects, most were new ones, or at least very recent.  I need to do something about that this year.

My last comepleted project for 2016 was the Red Ribbed Hat for my Little Peanut, which was also my .ast project on in 2016.

 

Looking through my project page on Ravelry I can see it is true. All 17 projects completed were started last year, except for the Lions Scoreboard Cowl, which started with the beginning of the NFL football season and had to wait until after their final game.  Of those projects, many were for other recipients. I knit two pair of slippers, two Hitchhiker shawls and the rustic blue silk Shawl that were for me.  The Scoreboard was gifted away, leaving lots of gifts, mostly for children.

I guess I have a bunch of older WIPs to get cracking on.  I will take that into consideration when finalizing my goals.

But before that, tradition came to the forefront today.  Every year around Christmas or New Year's, some friends and I have a girl's movie night.  Or in this case, afternoon. 

Our local movie theater added a third smaller theater screen.  This past month or so they have been showing some great older movies.  So today four of us went to a screening of The Wizard of Oz.  Flying monkeys and all.  And I loved it!  The sound is so much better there than at home on tv.  As well as the general ambience.

I look forward to going back in a couple weeks to see Casablanca.

 

But in the meantime, I have a Sockhead hat to finish.

Another One Done

My thirteenth project of the year is finished. While this one was crochets and not knit it still counts.

The scarf that was the original part of this crochet adventure has been done for some time. But yesterday, I managed to finish and stitch them both up.

I am planning on making these the first gifts destined for the Christmas present pile. They will need a bath and blocking but there is plenty of time before they need to be ready.

Now to finish some of my Works in Progress. The WIP pile is way too large to start anything new, so I will ignore the fact that November is NaKniSweMo. National Knit a Sweater Month. While I do have a couple I could finish, I think I will work on the socks I have going and the couple blankets in progress. I need to finish the Baby Hap for the Purple Princess, even if she is no longer a baby.

Let's see how long I can avoid casting on something new.

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WIPs Parade

This past Monday, before my Tuesday sock class, I spent some time on several of my active WIPs, or Works In Progress. While the Baby Hap was out of the question due to the heat, I did manage to work on the Ten Stitch Blankie for my Little Peanut.

Once the heat started getting to me, I turned to the Tapestry Hitchhiker. Being a rayon yarn, it was less fuzzy and much more comfortable to knit.

I have quite a bit of yarn left, and it is already wearable.

Poor picture, but you get the idea.

Finally I dug out the poor forgotten Smocked Brown Cow Socks and tried to figure out where I left off.

I figured out that I had left off with the gusset almost done. I am now working down the foot.

And of course on Tuesday I had my class on the Golddigger Socks. I have completed the cuff since this picture and am on the cable set up rows. I need to get through the chart twice before my next class.

I better get back to the charts.

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No Surprise

It should probably come to a surprise to no one that with the completion of the Peanut Dress, for my new granddaughter, that my thoughts have turned to new projects to begin.  Teddy bears, socks, sweaters for me,,,,,
But I quickly came to my senses.  After all, there are quite a few items sitting in the WIP pile, not necessarily in time out, but still not being worked on.  So while visions of new projects continued to dance in my head, I sorted out the projects sitting on deck.
While I will continue to work on the Tapestry Hitchhiker at odd moments, I am designating the Ten Stitch Blankie, which is for Little Peanut as my main knitting emphasis.

If this makes me sound disciplined, toss that thought out of your head.  I also signed up for a sock class at the local yarn shop.  It starts next week.  Book was previously purchased and yarn has been purchased as well.
Swatching has begun. There will be a new project begun soon anyway.  But to anyone who knows me, that should not be a surprise.

Being Accountable

I thought it would perhaps be a good idea to check in occasionally on my resolutions to help me in at least try to work towards them. Of course I didn't really call them resolutions. More like goals, at least as far as my knitting was concerned. If you want, you can see my original post on these goals dated January 8, in the archives sidebar on the right.

I wanted to work on finishing the most active projects. I did finish knitting the Lilac Cardigan, even though at the time it was dangerously close to being abandoned. The lace was seriously slow going at the time. But it still needs washed and delivered before I can say it is truly done. I also finished the Stonehenge Shawl. And the back of my Navy Tweed vest is up to the arm shaping. Although as I reported recently, it is still stopped in mid-row. The other items I mentioned then haven't been touched. Oops.

The main reason for my lack of action on the other WIPs (Works In Progress) is of course my Bang Out a Freyja. The "Banging It Out" means it is supposed to be the only project I work on. I think before long, I will be reverting to putting something else in rotation. But, on the bright side, the Freyja does help my second goal of knitting one or more cardigans for myself. I did intend making them out of stash, but hey...a sweater is a sweater.

Socks? As I mentioned in the January post I need more socks. And that is more so now. I discovered another pair that needs darning. I started one pair of smocked socks, but....Freyja happened.

So three projects have been finished so far this year, not too bad.

I haven't finished any of my Craftsy classes yet either, but I have been dabbling with them.

There were two other goals that I noted in my Bullet Journal that didn't hit the blog.

The first was to try to blog more often. My exact words were "as close to daily as possible." I think I am doing fairly well with that goal. I deliberately left myself wiggle room.

The other goal is also one I have already taken action on. It was to explore finding a new church. I think that has been accomplished. I feel quite at home at the Catholic parish I am attending now. Classes for membership won't start again until September so I have time to settle in and make a final decision.

If anyone wants to know more about this big jump. I am blogging about it at :

thecontinousjourney.blogspot.com

I will not be posting there daily, but I just wanted a place where I could record the reasons I am making the change. I also hope to simply journal about how the change progresses. Feel free to bookmark the website because I will not always be sharing those posts on Facebook as I do this blog.

And now, just to finish on a cheerful note, here is my favorite small human again.

I love that kid.

 

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Oops, I Started Something New

I turned around, and there was some yarn from the stash on my lap. (Small dog for scale.)

Next thing I knew, there was something new on my needles.

I will let you puzzle over just what it is. But it is over half done in this picture. And I need to make another.

More on it next time.

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Resolutions, Finally

Now that is a week into the New Year, I have thought about at least my knitting goals for 2016.

1. I would like to finish my most active WIPs. Namely the Navy Tweed Vest, the Lilac Cardigan (before a certain purple princess outgrows size 12 months), my Stonehenge Hitchhiker Shawl (shown above before the last half skein was knitted), Sandy's Traveling Woman shawl (before July), the Rustic Blue Silk Triangle, and the Baby Hap Shawl (also for the purple princess).
2. Knit at least one cardigan for me, maybe two. I want to use the Fabjous Yarns fingering weight in Plum Cake that has been in the stash for over a year for one sweater. And I would like to make another out of some of my homespun. I have enough white, light gray, and dark gray Shetland, or some white mixed Leister crossed from a fleece I got a while back, and also I believe I have enough Jacob with all the colors blended together. Multiple choices there.
3. Socks, I need more socks. To that end I signed up for a free Craftsy knit along. Of course I did buy the yarn recommended. It's in the mail now. I need to work at getting them to fit better again.
4. Finish more of my other Craftsy classes.

Of course while these are noble goals for the year, I did accidently cast on something new yesterday. More on that tomorrow. When will I ever learn? At least the Scoreboard Cowl is finished.

Now let's see how well I do with these goals.

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Stealthy Knitting

I have finished one Christmas present and am closing in on another. But, because they are presents, I cannot show pictures. Those will need to wait untill after the holiday gift giving.

Instead, I will say, the boot toppers are finished. I should have my next present completely done by bedtime. I may even have a new project started by then. It replaces one of the ones pictured last time I showed my queue list of patterns. I found a better pattern. And if I can't get the others done in time, no big deal. The next one to be cast on may take me to the Christmas deadline.

And in case you can't deal with no blog pictures, I can give you this:

He likes to laugh at our selfies.

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Spinning and Knitting, With a Side of Genealogy

Saturday was a bit chilly in this neck of the woods. A glorious low of 31.5 was recorded on our thermometer. I love the cooler weather, but I, or rather my Cemetery Walk alter ego, Calico Jane was scheduled to sit outside the Hesperia Library spinning that morning!

My Ashford Traditional wheel hasn't been used much, especially on the road. But I finally have a car that I can (barely) get it to fit into. I had to spend some time Friday getting it tuned up and remembering how to adjust it. But it spun like a dream after profuse oiling and fiddling.

Luckily, it was a great morning. While the local history and genealogy folk were gathered inside, I filled half a bobbin of light gray Shetland wool. I was well bundled against the chill, armed with hot coffee, wool socks, a hand-spun, hand-knit wool scarf, sweatshirt cardigan, and two knit tops. Only my foot in the shoe was cold. The other was kept warm by tredling along.

After a couple hours I went in to the gathering. I discovered my Cross family line that lived in Beaver Township left me related to several people who there, including some I went to school with. My family just keeps growing, even if a certain grandniece continues to take her own sweet time.

Back home and back to knitting. With the Gray Spiral Blankie done, and the Purple Swing Cardi off the needles, I needed to pick my main project to work on. I have been working along on the Lilac Lace Cardigan, but it is a project that requires careful watching. (And it is Lilac, not Lavendar as previously reported.) Now that the Lions somewhat embarrassing game is over I do have the Scoreboard Cowl to work on as well, but that usually is done by the day after the game.

The Raspberry Creme shawl resurfaced, as well as the Rustic Blue Silk Triangle Scarf. I may frog that and start it again. After seeing the one in the local yarn store, I think it needs to be redone at a tighter gauge. I'm not quite sure if I just need to knit tighter, or use smaller needle. Thus that sits in time out while I mull that project a bit more.

But now, back to my Scoreboard Cow. I'm sure glad I purchased the extra skein of silver colored yarn. And because I don't have many pictures in this post, I decided to include one of the cutest Little Farmer in the world.

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2015--Looking Forward

A new year!  All fresh and ready to explore.  No mistakes yet, no tangled yarn.  Just full of projects and possibilities.
I have been working a couple of new projects.  The left front of the Green Flowy Cardigan is far enough that I am almost through the complete cable pattern.  It is working out well so far.  I don't want to get too complacent about the cables, but this one seems fairly easy so far.

I have also started on a great cowl with the most luscious yarn.  Again it is an easy project.  I don't generally think of making a cowl for me, but it can fit more like a collar with the sawtooth edge folded over.  I have no neck for turtlenecks and such, but this is low and will still work.

The plain garter side has short rows to make that side longer, so it will lay flatter on the shoulders when finished.  And being light, this makes a great project to switch to when it gets late. The dark green can tire the eyes after a while.
I also have the vest pattern I can work on as well as a break from the green.  It is another Custom Fit pattern, just a plain vest with a seed stitch border.  It is in oatmeal bulky yarn and will be great to wear in the cold if I finish yet this winter.

With this just being the beginning of 2015, all sorts of adventures are before me.  I know I have at least 2 more sweaters for Little Farmer to work on.  And I may invest in some alpaca or something to make a cowl or shrug for Lil Farm Gal too.  Some nice soft yarn.
And who knows what new knitting adventures are yet to come.  Hello 2015.

Off the Needles and Back on Again

I cast off the Green and White Jacket this afternoon. I love how it changes from this:

to this with just a couple folds. That Elizabeth Zimmermann was an amazing knitter and designer.

Of course I need to sew the shoulder seams and there are a bunch of loose ends that have to be woven in. But I am pretty happy with it.

Which leaves me with the Gray Spiral Blankie to knit, and my Blue Blood Cardigan to sew up and work the collar and front bands. And, my next project.

The former so-called commissioned project, henceforth to be known as Green Flowy Cardigan is almost ready to begin. I am not sure of the yarn as it was delivered in two one-pound cakes. But it is a medium shade of yellowish green in a single ply. I love it. It was pictured a couple days (with fat small dog for scale). I have sketched out the schematic. All I need now is the swatch, knit, washed and dried.

Swatching, of course, has commenced. I love working with wool.

 

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Pass Off Complete. Onward!

The blankie and vest were packaged up with my usual fancy wrapping (a plastic Walmart bag) and read for deliver.  I did manage to get a picture of both together at Knit Nite last Tuesday.  Take a good look, that's probably the last I will show or see them.

You can tell the yarn for the vest was different from the yarn used on the blankie.  But for casual use, they are fine.  I hope.

Ever onward, I returned to Lil' Farm Gal's Eyelet Yoke Cardigan.  After frogging it earlier in the week and casting on again with a different provisional cast on, I am again past the third eyelet row.  Of course, like the blankie, the rows get longer and longer.  There are only one or two more increase rows, but they really pack on the stitches.

And I might say that my fingers are very happy to kiss the 100% acrylic good bye.  While this is machine washable, at least it is a wool blend.  

And as usual at this point, I am contemplating new projects for travel knitting.  I can use the neglected SWestie shawl, that is manageable, and fairly brainless. That is less than half done. 

As long as I don't lose the markers it is easy going.  Maybe I will attach a string to them to weave through and hold them on.  But I do need to get a set of socks back on the needles too, besides the pair I leave in the car for random periods of waiting.  I am contemplating two patterns, and I will make a decision once I get some WIP tubes, or at least something to protect the points of the sock needles from poking through bags, as well as hold the stitches on the needles when the silly knitter snatches the sock from the knitting bag. 

And while, I have the above sweater to knit, as well as one or two I have been mulling over for myself, I have been inspired by the two blankie projects to finally attempt a lace weight square Shetland style stole.  Out of wool of course.  I have pulled out my stitch pattern books, and Shetland knitting books and am drooling over..... oops, I mean studying them.  I want to do a center square, probably garter, and certainly an all over pattern, not sure yet if I want to go corner to corner, or not.  That square will be followed by another pattern, going around the square.  I am leaning to feather and fan or some such pattern with a moving pattern.  And then I will polish it off with a lace.  Contrary to the complaints about the length of time it takes, it really isn't that hard to do a sideways lace as your bind off.  As long as I have presence of mind to choose a reasonable lace pattern.  I have that really call to me. 

Then there is this crazy part of me that wants to do the same shawl, but only triangular instead of square: half the yarn and knitting, all the pleasure, and not too hot to wear.  

Well, I should have some time to mull this over, since I have a few projects ahead of it. 

Reviewing My WIPs List

The Mitered Lace Blankie came off the needles this evening. I can't decide which project to turn to next.

This lace blanket was my eleventh finished project for 2014. I am slightly impressed with myself.

It was a bit of a new style for me. I really Iike the way these last two baby blankies came out. I think after these, I have the courage to try a lace weight Shetland style shawl. I started a circular shawl a few years ago with a cone of boysenberry colored lace weight yarn. Since it has sat untouched for a couple years, I may frog that and begin anew.

And speaking of frogging, I found half of a fair isle sock that I began in 2011. I finally faced up to the fact that color work is not my thing.

Relentlessly I took out the needles and started ripping back. I gained four needles, a skein of white Sockrates alpaca sock yarn, and some lovely tonal dark blue mystery sock yarn. And a nifty knitting basket is freed up again.

I now feel free to cast on some socks soon.

 

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Number Six Done, On to the Next

I managed to finally finish my Duchess of Cambridge Featherweight Cardigan.  (So named because I worked on it early one morning while watching a royal wedding.)  I say finally because, according to Ravelry, I started it in August of 2010.

It is warm and comfy and I love the color.  Its Brown Sheep Naturespun fingering weight yarn, in Nordic Blue colorway.  I still have a fair amount left of the one pound cone, perhaps enough for another small project.  I guess I will need to weigh the sweater, so I can figure out how much is left on the cone.
But in the mean time, I have been working on my SWestie shawl.  And I may have started something new.

I may or may not be using this.