So, my wrist is still in a splint. For at least two more weeks.
So, I'm planning on a lot of simplified/abbreviated crafting work for this month.
First, I have two scarves I plan to make with the Netted yarn that is about four inches wide. It'll take about 80 single crochet stitches and suddenly, you have a scarf. Even with a wrist brace, I think I can manage that. The first will get turned into Charms - to craft something I would not normally make - I am not into curly, ruffly things - at all. Definitely outside my comfort zome. The second will fit into History of Magic - Craft something using your not-favorite materials. That net yarn? I will NEVER buy again. I have enough left over from my first scarf to make two more (all three will then find their way to a charity) and I will NEVER work with it again. I think it qualifies.
I've been dying to make a second Crocheted necklace like the one I learned how to make in January at the Knitting Retreat. It takes ladder yarn, which means I need to make a trip to get some. But, it's super simple and once again, single crochet (and not much else) for the win! I'm hoping to give it to my niece as a gift when I go down to see her this summer. Though it's debatable. I migth keep it for myself. This one is going to get turned in for DADA - craft something you can hang on a hook. I'm picturing a turn in photo with my necklace hanging on a hook, seems pretty straight-foward.
A macrame bracelet, similar to friendship bracelets, but made with two tones (or three if I can find the third one) of suede cord. I bought it ages ago at a going out of business LYS sale... thinking that for $1 a ball, I ought to be able to figure out something to make with it. It makes great bracelets. I hadn't originally planned this one - but Herbology prompt to get to do macrame (a passion I had when I was a teenager) called to me.
Dyeing a skein of ugly-to-me pink cotton yarn. I really hate bright pink and have NO IDEA why I bought a big skein of it. But it's 100% cotton, so it should take an acid dye - I'd love to make it dark purple (my go-to-love-this-color) and a good fit for the Potions class. They prompted folks to make something that reminded them of an ingrediant in the Drawht of the Living Death potion - and I'm thinking the juice from a sophophorus bean ought to do the trick!
I'm thinking I can try to complete these small, fast projects during the next two weeks while wearing a brace without too much difficulty (and well, if they are too hard - I can always set them aside for post-splint finishing).
For one more class that I can knit in - I want to make a dead fish hat. I've wanted to make one for FOREVER. But all of my hat-wearing peep's would refuse to wear something that 'out there'. I got to chatting last fall about thinking it was too outrageous for a charity hat and got convinced that a homeless teenager just might fall in love with something like a dead fish hat. So, dead fish hat for the win! Transfiguarion is asking us to make flowers or fishes with bonus points if it's REALLY a flower or a fish and I'm pretty sure the dead fish hat will get those bonus points. Plus I've been told they are super fast and easy and are great for using up leftover yarn. Triple win.
Since I can't knit for at least two weeks - I've decided against proposing an OWL this term. Even when I do get to start knitting, I probably need to take it a little easy on myself. So, I'm looking at doing an Order Mission. Brooms (proposals) can be started next week, but the actual knitting doesn't start until a good week after my splint comes off. I promised my son a Mario blanket - the Know Your Mushrooms pattern on Ravelry. That was before I realized that BIG crocheted blankets are probably not something I'm going to be able to do with my wrist troubles. So, I'm planning on converting it to knit. And knit? This whole blanket will probably take me about 9 months. I'm thinking that what I'll do is a small section of it - say lap-blanket sized with about nine squares (with 8 weeks/ two months to complete). That will be my Order Mission. Then next fall, I will probably propose an OWL for an afghan which will be about 12 squares (with three months to do them). Then the following winter term, I will probably do three more squares in some form or another to finish the 'bulk' of the blanket. Seam them together between terms and I've got a finished blanket in the end. We'll see. Hopefully they will agree that nine squares of intarsia pattern converting a crocheted pattern to knit pattern is Mission worthy.
ETA: ooh, can't forget. Given enough time between the fish hat and the start of my order mission? I'm hoping to wrap up that little dragon for littlest grandson... it can be my WIP the first for June if I can get him 'almost done'.
Showing posts with label hpkchc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hpkchc. Show all posts
Friday, May 3, 2013
Sunday, March 31, 2013
March end of month progress post
OWL - not big enough to count... but after cutting it in half, I think it will make an awesome baby blanket:
It's definitely bright and colorful even with all that black. It's almost luminescent. I had planned on making 25 squares to do a full-sized afghan.. but there was no way I was going to manage to make 25 squares with my sore wrists and I was definitely tired of the pattern by square 10. Since this isn't made to OWL requirements, this got turned in as my second detention project.
This is finished blanket #4 out of 13.
MISSION/Dissertation - Mission was turned in as a partial. Disseration is still in progress. Here's my current in-progress photo.
DETENTION
Woops... I need another picture of my sweater...
Potions - Discovery Challenge:
Baby blanket turned big (guess it's Karma for the OWL that got made small)
Divination (missed deadline for Nerdwars, ended up using something else)
DADA & Nerdology:
Charms & Encyclopedia: (2 of the squares for the Stained Glass Window afghan)
Herbology & Giving Geeks:
This little guy is Arthur the Alien, made with scraps of acrylic... I was worried he wouldn't look 'alien' enough... but my 9 yr old knew immediately that it was an alien and had weird ears. So, that works. He's been mailed off to the 600 Monsters project and I hope he brings a little comfort to someone.
Quidditch 1 & 2 & Flexible Scheduling:
And then an impromptu little project for CoMC made with scraps, a little Dust Bunny:
Not as much as I had hoped, but more than I thought was possible. So, that's all good, right? I'm still sad that I missed out on finishing yet another OWL and yet another Mission. I'm definitely going to try to shoot for ONLY an OWL next term. And probably won't do a Dissertation for NerdWars so that I can focus on finishing my OWL.
Now to start planning April!!!! Woooohooooo!
It's definitely bright and colorful even with all that black. It's almost luminescent. I had planned on making 25 squares to do a full-sized afghan.. but there was no way I was going to manage to make 25 squares with my sore wrists and I was definitely tired of the pattern by square 10. Since this isn't made to OWL requirements, this got turned in as my second detention project.
This is finished blanket #4 out of 13.
MISSION/Dissertation - Mission was turned in as a partial. Disseration is still in progress. Here's my current in-progress photo.
DETENTION
Woops... I need another picture of my sweater...
Potions - Discovery Challenge:
Baby blanket turned big (guess it's Karma for the OWL that got made small)
Divination (missed deadline for Nerdwars, ended up using something else)
DADA & Nerdology:
Charms & Encyclopedia: (2 of the squares for the Stained Glass Window afghan)
Herbology & Giving Geeks:
This little guy is Arthur the Alien, made with scraps of acrylic... I was worried he wouldn't look 'alien' enough... but my 9 yr old knew immediately that it was an alien and had weird ears. So, that works. He's been mailed off to the 600 Monsters project and I hope he brings a little comfort to someone.
Quidditch 1 & 2 & Flexible Scheduling:
And then an impromptu little project for CoMC made with scraps, a little Dust Bunny:
Not as much as I had hoped, but more than I thought was possible. So, that's all good, right? I'm still sad that I missed out on finishing yet another OWL and yet another Mission. I'm definitely going to try to shoot for ONLY an OWL next term. And probably won't do a Dissertation for NerdWars so that I can focus on finishing my OWL.
Now to start planning April!!!! Woooohooooo!
Thursday, March 21, 2013
March mid-month Progress (albeit a little late)
OWL - still down and out
MISSION - rough going. The pattern is REALLY HARD TO FOLLOW. I've frogged several sections more than a couple of times because I didn't understand the directions and have just figured out I made another mistake on a piece that I'll have to rip back and rework. We's running into trouble here... pretty sure this will be a partial turn in for HPKCHC, but am hoping to still finish it by the end of April for NerdWars.
Potions - was supposed to be a baby blanket. Turned in for NerdWars as based on properties of water.
I used a little over Four balls of Bernat Baby Blanket - which is a chenille like super bulky acrylic. The dark blue was leftover from the bunny baby blanket buddy from last month. And the other three balls were on sale at JoAnn's last month. I cast-on toooooo many stitches considering I was shooting for a baby blanket. I added an extra set of five stripes, but it's still a lot wider than long. So, we're turning it on it's side and pretending it was vertically striped. This will go over well at the homeless shelter, I'm sure. It's incredibly warm and squishy and lovely.
I really enjoyed the mindless knitting and would often pick it up when I got frustrated with my Order Mission. This is blanket #3 finished of 13 for 2013.
DADA / Nerdology (inspired by a Dr Who shirt with a rainbow) - Rainbow child's hat.
My typical 2-color brioche hat knit in the round... I used up almost all of the rainbow variegated Red Heart yarn and some Navy scraps donated by a good friend of mine. I shipped her the leftover Wool Ease Thick and Quick and Easy and she shipped me a TON of acrylic. Since these hats whip up so fast and can use bits and pieces of lots of different yarns (and I have fun pairing different yarns together, so that works) if I can't think of anything else, but want another hat... this is what I usually grab. Especially when I want to work with something other than bulky.
Quidditch Challenge 3 / Flexible Scheduling (flashback inspired) - I made two Blue Butterfly squares, seamed them... and added a crown to make a hat.
Quidditch Game 3 - A purple Bulky brioche hat for a child
I used the new Hometown USA from Lion Brand yarn that I bought at Walmart. Absolutely perfect (well, except for the Walmart part). It's affordable at almost half the price of the Wool Ease Thick and Quick. It's a good spun super-bulky yarn tht shows off the stitch well and works great for these hats. I'll be making more. I also found that Michael's is starting to carry this yarn... so I'll probably pick it up there instead.
This hat gets me to 10 Charity hats out of 50 for 2013.
Divination / Flexible Scheduling - Afghan Square - about 1/3 done
Charms / Encyclopedia (architecture inspired) - 2 Stained Glass Window squares for the failed OWL blanket - not started yet -- If I can finish these two, I'll seam them with the other 10 and turn them into detention (no points)... but then I can count the yardage towards my goal. And it'll become a baby blanket instead of a full sized afghan (but that would be blanket #4 of 13 for 2013.
Herbology / Giving Geeks - Alien - not started yet
Previously unplanned - but too cute not to do them (hope they are fast)... Dust bunnies. I'll make them for Care of Magical Creatures (to earn a badge in the Great Hall as well as the last badge I'm missing from Diagon Alley trip. They might land themselves in some Easter Baskets if they turn out half as cute as I hope they do. Plus, I'm hoping to use some stash - which will earn a third badge... yep. But, of course, time will tell. I'm trying to focus on the NerdWars projects I need to finish first so I can get those turned in before (or on) the 28th. The bunnies can be finished after the 28th.
For more undone than done. But, I'm working through my list as best as I can. I keep setting aside the mission and/or NOT actually knitting because it's just so frustrating. I'm going to focus on getting my other projects done instead and see what I can't whip out before the end of the month.
MISSION - rough going. The pattern is REALLY HARD TO FOLLOW. I've frogged several sections more than a couple of times because I didn't understand the directions and have just figured out I made another mistake on a piece that I'll have to rip back and rework. We's running into trouble here... pretty sure this will be a partial turn in for HPKCHC, but am hoping to still finish it by the end of April for NerdWars.
Potions - was supposed to be a baby blanket. Turned in for NerdWars as based on properties of water.
I used a little over Four balls of Bernat Baby Blanket - which is a chenille like super bulky acrylic. The dark blue was leftover from the bunny baby blanket buddy from last month. And the other three balls were on sale at JoAnn's last month. I cast-on toooooo many stitches considering I was shooting for a baby blanket. I added an extra set of five stripes, but it's still a lot wider than long. So, we're turning it on it's side and pretending it was vertically striped. This will go over well at the homeless shelter, I'm sure. It's incredibly warm and squishy and lovely.
I really enjoyed the mindless knitting and would often pick it up when I got frustrated with my Order Mission. This is blanket #3 finished of 13 for 2013.
DADA / Nerdology (inspired by a Dr Who shirt with a rainbow) - Rainbow child's hat.
My typical 2-color brioche hat knit in the round... I used up almost all of the rainbow variegated Red Heart yarn and some Navy scraps donated by a good friend of mine. I shipped her the leftover Wool Ease Thick and Quick and Easy and she shipped me a TON of acrylic. Since these hats whip up so fast and can use bits and pieces of lots of different yarns (and I have fun pairing different yarns together, so that works) if I can't think of anything else, but want another hat... this is what I usually grab. Especially when I want to work with something other than bulky.
Quidditch Challenge 3 / Flexible Scheduling (flashback inspired) - I made two Blue Butterfly squares, seamed them... and added a crown to make a hat.
Quidditch Game 3 - A purple Bulky brioche hat for a child
I used the new Hometown USA from Lion Brand yarn that I bought at Walmart. Absolutely perfect (well, except for the Walmart part). It's affordable at almost half the price of the Wool Ease Thick and Quick. It's a good spun super-bulky yarn tht shows off the stitch well and works great for these hats. I'll be making more. I also found that Michael's is starting to carry this yarn... so I'll probably pick it up there instead.
This hat gets me to 10 Charity hats out of 50 for 2013.
Divination / Flexible Scheduling - Afghan Square - about 1/3 done
Charms / Encyclopedia (architecture inspired) - 2 Stained Glass Window squares for the failed OWL blanket - not started yet -- If I can finish these two, I'll seam them with the other 10 and turn them into detention (no points)... but then I can count the yardage towards my goal. And it'll become a baby blanket instead of a full sized afghan (but that would be blanket #4 of 13 for 2013.
Herbology / Giving Geeks - Alien - not started yet
Previously unplanned - but too cute not to do them (hope they are fast)... Dust bunnies. I'll make them for Care of Magical Creatures (to earn a badge in the Great Hall as well as the last badge I'm missing from Diagon Alley trip. They might land themselves in some Easter Baskets if they turn out half as cute as I hope they do. Plus, I'm hoping to use some stash - which will earn a third badge... yep. But, of course, time will tell. I'm trying to focus on the NerdWars projects I need to finish first so I can get those turned in before (or on) the 28th. The bunnies can be finished after the 28th.
For more undone than done. But, I'm working through my list as best as I can. I keep setting aside the mission and/or NOT actually knitting because it's just so frustrating. I'm going to focus on getting my other projects done instead and see what I can't whip out before the end of the month.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
March Planning
I know. I know. It's already the sixth of March. I'm not very on top of things right now. And I REALLY, REALLY struggled to figure out what I wanted to make and how to fit it into the various prompts.
OWL - bombed. Dropped out. sigh. sad.
MISSION/Dissertation - in progress. Will keep tackling it. But, it's currently in time out as I'm frustrated with it. I mis-crossed a cable. Dropped just the cable stitches down about six rows. But then I ended up with a little bit of a mess. Dropped down about ten more rows. Ended up with a bigger mess. Ended up setting it aside. Pretty sure I just need to take the needles out and completely frog back to a good row and start over at this point. But it was bugging me and I was mad. So, it's in time out. I'm hoping to make a big dent in it this weekend.
DETENTION:
Turned in my finished Brown pullover -but the pic is AWEFUL. Am planning on getting a better picture this weekend! Will post it then.
CLASSES:
Potions - (craft something soothing) Baby Blanket #3 - using pattern Chocolate Vanilla Swirl Baby Blanket -- I really, really like the colors of the pattern picture and wanted to do those colors. BUT. I also wanted to use Bernat Baby Blanket yarn which didn't have enough of the color options I wanted. It's also a bit super-bulky. I was going to cast on fewer stitches. Then I ended up casting on just as many as called for. Had about 8 hours into the project before I realized just HOW SUPER BIG it was becoming. But it's super fast. It's garter stitch. And it's coming out lovely. I'm using a solid blue, a solid tan, a tan & white variegated, and a tan, white, blue variegated yarns. I'll add extra rows to get it semi-roughly-square-ish shaped as opposed to being 2 1/2 times as long as it is wide.
NW: I'm also turning this blanket into Discovery - physical property of water (well, I hope). I just have to figure out a way to tie it to beach foam; which it does remind me a little of. Then I can also tie it to Bad Wolf Bay (being all beachy looking) for Dr Who tie-in.
Divination - (craft something that blocks cold from your skin) another 12 1/2" Aran Square - Woollen Collectibles March Square - again in Blue, probably in newer Red Heart, With Love yarn.
NW: I'm using this for Flexible Scheduling - there were flashbacks in Harry Potter movies where Snape would remember his time growing up with Lily Evans. Lily has blue eyes. For team tie-in - I'm back to Dr. Who... tying to how he would talk about time being all timey-wimey in the episode Don't Blink.... and I think this square is all timey-wimey wonky.
DADA (craft something with at least two colors of the rainbow) - I'm creating a charity hat with half blue yarn and the other half all rainbow-ish.
NW: I found an awesome Dr Who shirt to use for Nerdology. It features a rainbow, a tardis, on a Navy background. I'll tie it to an episode in Dr Who where one of the gents is singing "Over the Rainbow".
Charms (practice a charm - practicing Gemini) - I'm going to try to fit in two more of the Stained Glass Afghan squares in here.
NW: Encyclopedia - represent Architecture... stained glass windows should work fine. Tie-in to the Dr Who episode where they find a Tardis in a Stained Glass window.
Herbology (craft something to overcome shyness) - Creating an Alien stuffie that I can send to 600 Monsters.
NW: Giving Geeks - is for Victim Aid groups, so this is a great opportunity to give another stuffie to 600 Monsters. For team tie-in I'll use Dr. Who's non-Aliens the Silurian's. They look very alien-like, but were the first hominids on earth. Some of them have three eyes... as does my little alien.
QUIDDITCH
- Convert stitch pattern into something else... I'd like to find a lace stitch pattern I can use to base a hat off of.
NW: Flexible Scheduling - I'll use Tardis blue and I'll tie it to the flashback on the television series Castle - The Blue Butterfly based on color. The right color choice, and I get a team tie-in and tie to the flashback and it'll fly well.
QUIDDITCH TWO
- Hat - a hat, any kind of hat. Will have to see what prompts are left for the Hat Study Hall and fit this in there.
OWL - bombed. Dropped out. sigh. sad.
MISSION/Dissertation - in progress. Will keep tackling it. But, it's currently in time out as I'm frustrated with it. I mis-crossed a cable. Dropped just the cable stitches down about six rows. But then I ended up with a little bit of a mess. Dropped down about ten more rows. Ended up with a bigger mess. Ended up setting it aside. Pretty sure I just need to take the needles out and completely frog back to a good row and start over at this point. But it was bugging me and I was mad. So, it's in time out. I'm hoping to make a big dent in it this weekend.
DETENTION:
Turned in my finished Brown pullover -but the pic is AWEFUL. Am planning on getting a better picture this weekend! Will post it then.
CLASSES:
Potions - (craft something soothing) Baby Blanket #3 - using pattern Chocolate Vanilla Swirl Baby Blanket -- I really, really like the colors of the pattern picture and wanted to do those colors. BUT. I also wanted to use Bernat Baby Blanket yarn which didn't have enough of the color options I wanted. It's also a bit super-bulky. I was going to cast on fewer stitches. Then I ended up casting on just as many as called for. Had about 8 hours into the project before I realized just HOW SUPER BIG it was becoming. But it's super fast. It's garter stitch. And it's coming out lovely. I'm using a solid blue, a solid tan, a tan & white variegated, and a tan, white, blue variegated yarns. I'll add extra rows to get it semi-roughly-square-ish shaped as opposed to being 2 1/2 times as long as it is wide.
NW: I'm also turning this blanket into Discovery - physical property of water (well, I hope). I just have to figure out a way to tie it to beach foam; which it does remind me a little of. Then I can also tie it to Bad Wolf Bay (being all beachy looking) for Dr Who tie-in.
Divination - (craft something that blocks cold from your skin) another 12 1/2" Aran Square - Woollen Collectibles March Square - again in Blue, probably in newer Red Heart, With Love yarn.
NW: I'm using this for Flexible Scheduling - there were flashbacks in Harry Potter movies where Snape would remember his time growing up with Lily Evans. Lily has blue eyes. For team tie-in - I'm back to Dr. Who... tying to how he would talk about time being all timey-wimey in the episode Don't Blink.... and I think this square is all timey-wimey wonky.
DADA (craft something with at least two colors of the rainbow) - I'm creating a charity hat with half blue yarn and the other half all rainbow-ish.
NW: I found an awesome Dr Who shirt to use for Nerdology. It features a rainbow, a tardis, on a Navy background. I'll tie it to an episode in Dr Who where one of the gents is singing "Over the Rainbow".
Charms (practice a charm - practicing Gemini) - I'm going to try to fit in two more of the Stained Glass Afghan squares in here.
NW: Encyclopedia - represent Architecture... stained glass windows should work fine. Tie-in to the Dr Who episode where they find a Tardis in a Stained Glass window.
Herbology (craft something to overcome shyness) - Creating an Alien stuffie that I can send to 600 Monsters.
NW: Giving Geeks - is for Victim Aid groups, so this is a great opportunity to give another stuffie to 600 Monsters. For team tie-in I'll use Dr. Who's non-Aliens the Silurian's. They look very alien-like, but were the first hominids on earth. Some of them have three eyes... as does my little alien.
QUIDDITCH
- Convert stitch pattern into something else... I'd like to find a lace stitch pattern I can use to base a hat off of.
NW: Flexible Scheduling - I'll use Tardis blue and I'll tie it to the flashback on the television series Castle - The Blue Butterfly based on color. The right color choice, and I get a team tie-in and tie to the flashback and it'll fly well.
QUIDDITCH TWO
- Hat - a hat, any kind of hat. Will have to see what prompts are left for the Hat Study Hall and fit this in there.
February - End of Month post
OWL
Ummm... yeah. Still stuck at the 10 completed from mid-month. Once I realized that I wouldn't be able to finish 25 of these (15 more in six weeks). I kind of crashed on it. I am hoping to still do two more and make a smaller blanket, but it probably won't be til the end of March.
MISSION
I still owe you pictures of the cardigan-in-progress. I proposed my BROOM as the Chocolate Passion Cardigan. The back was super-fast and pretty easy. The panels that go from the bottom center to the front, up the front and then curve around the neck? Not so easy. I've restarted a couple of times. Funny enough, it wasn't the short rows nor the cables that tripped me up the most (although there have been plenty of mis-crossed cables to have to fix). It's mostly been that the directions were really not very clear and have caused me a lot of heartache.
CLASSES
Flying - DONE
Baby blanket 2 done of my goal of 13 blankets in 2013.
Charms & Muggle Studies - DONE
These were hats #4 and #5 from 50 planned for 2013.
DADA - DONE
Herbology - DONE
Divination - DONE
Quidditch x 2 - Two more hats - DONE
I didn't quite get as far as I hoped on the MISSION nor the OWL (in fact, have caved and admitted OWL-failure already). But, I still got a lot done.
PLUS, I participated as a Ninja in Nerd Wars!!!! I was able to submit the OWL hat and five of my squares for the OWL to Flexible Scheduling. The Twisty screw-like cables on my Aran square for Discovery, the Bulky bright-colored scarf and hat to Encyclopedia (reminicent of a picture of a winter carnival), the blue bunny blankie for Nerdology (inviting Elmer Fudd to eat some wabbit with me). Plus I gave a charity donation to a worthy cause for Giving Geeks. Gotta love being a nerd.
Ummm... yeah. Still stuck at the 10 completed from mid-month. Once I realized that I wouldn't be able to finish 25 of these (15 more in six weeks). I kind of crashed on it. I am hoping to still do two more and make a smaller blanket, but it probably won't be til the end of March.
MISSION
I still owe you pictures of the cardigan-in-progress. I proposed my BROOM as the Chocolate Passion Cardigan. The back was super-fast and pretty easy. The panels that go from the bottom center to the front, up the front and then curve around the neck? Not so easy. I've restarted a couple of times. Funny enough, it wasn't the short rows nor the cables that tripped me up the most (although there have been plenty of mis-crossed cables to have to fix). It's mostly been that the directions were really not very clear and have caused me a lot of heartache.
CLASSES
Flying - DONE
Charms & Muggle Studies - DONE
These were hats #4 and #5 from 50 planned for 2013.
DADA - DONE
Herbology - DONE
Divination - DONE
Quidditch x 2 - Two more hats - DONE
I didn't quite get as far as I hoped on the MISSION nor the OWL (in fact, have caved and admitted OWL-failure already). But, I still got a lot done.
PLUS, I participated as a Ninja in Nerd Wars!!!! I was able to submit the OWL hat and five of my squares for the OWL to Flexible Scheduling. The Twisty screw-like cables on my Aran square for Discovery, the Bulky bright-colored scarf and hat to Encyclopedia (reminicent of a picture of a winter carnival), the blue bunny blankie for Nerdology (inviting Elmer Fudd to eat some wabbit with me). Plus I gave a charity donation to a worthy cause for Giving Geeks. Gotta love being a nerd.
Friday, February 1, 2013
February Planning
OWL
Keep working on the Stained Glass Afghan - goal will be to have 20 blocks completed by February 28.
BROOM
Cast on Chocolate Passion Cardigan with Knit Picks Brava in dark brown (need to find buttons!). Get to 50% done by February 28.
CLASSES
Flying - Bunny Buddy Baby Blanket (half plushie, half baby blanket)
Charms - Charity Brioche hat
DADA - Brioche Scarf
Muggle Studies - February Cabled Square
Herbology - Dishcloth
Quidditch
two baby hats - one cabled, one crocheted with an i-cord & flower
Keep working on the Stained Glass Afghan - goal will be to have 20 blocks completed by February 28.
BROOM
Cast on Chocolate Passion Cardigan with Knit Picks Brava in dark brown (need to find buttons!). Get to 50% done by February 28.
CLASSES
Flying - Bunny Buddy Baby Blanket (half plushie, half baby blanket)
Charms - Charity Brioche hat
DADA - Brioche Scarf
Muggle Studies - February Cabled Square
Herbology - Dishcloth
Quidditch
two baby hats - one cabled, one crocheted with an i-cord & flower
Thursday, January 31, 2013
January - End of Month Wrap Up
OWL
I'm at about 20% complete and wanted to be at around 25% complete (10 blocks). I still haven't finished the last five blocks. I plan on working on it again next weekend and hope to finish those five blocks to get me to 10 done. But I was hoping to have gotten half-way through the next five by this weekend, which isn't going to happen. I'm a little behind, but am hoping that I can make up the time during Feburary.
BROOM
Chocolate Passion Cardigan - I plan on casting this on this weekend.
CLASSES/Quidditch
I got a little closer to the crazy train than I wanted.
1. Penelope the Empathetic Monster - by Rebecca Danger DONE
2. Small baby blanket from Lion Brand DONE (though I messed up the dimensions.
3. A blanket square of some sort -DONE
4. A hat - DONE times 3
Not planned, but also completed
Beaded Ribbon
Necklace
Not turned in for the cup
Stitch Markers
So instead of four smaller projects, I completed 9 smaller projects - AND my OWL suffered for it. Hmmm... this is just proof, again, that getting excited about the smaller projects hurts me on the bigger projects. AND now? I've got two bigger projects to work on for next month. And, as I'm typing this I'm also looking at my plans for next week. Which is a bigger list. I need to get things to a manageable level.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Blanket square
Finished the cable-licious square for Herbology. I'll be making several of these in shades of blue and/or white. Hoping for a nice blanket when it's all said and done.
This was the January square from the Woolen Collectibles pattern set. I'm not a huge fan of bobbles (to have and even less so to make) but I went ahead and decided to try it anyway and try to step outside my comfort zone.
I think it turned out pretty cute.
It's a full 14" x 14" which should work out with the 12 months turning out about the same size. But to make a blanket I will probably make more than 12 squares - so some of the other squares will have to get adapted to end up this big.
This was the January square from the Woolen Collectibles pattern set. I'm not a huge fan of bobbles (to have and even less so to make) but I went ahead and decided to try it anyway and try to step outside my comfort zone.
I think it turned out pretty cute.
It's a full 14" x 14" which should work out with the 12 months turning out about the same size. But to make a blanket I will probably make more than 12 squares - so some of the other squares will have to get adapted to end up this big.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
January mid-month Progress post
FO's:
1. My failed Potions OWL cardigan - DONE - and worn on a regular basis ever since!
2. Penelope the Empathetic Monster - by Rebecca Danger for the 600 Monsters charity - DONE - just waiting to send off in the mail, should be able to get it sent off this week yet.
3. Hat #1 - I caved to the Muse when I saw the Angry Birds Hat pattern - and it makes a terrific mascot for a quidditch team. - not planned, DONE - set aside for charity donation this fall - NOTE: since this was intended for charity, it turns out it's a very good thing that I made this as a small hat... as both my 9 yr old son and my 5 yr old grandson have both REALLY wanted to steal it. They didn't ask me to make one for them, but they are definitely jealous that someone else is getting it.
4. Hat #2 - Flying. After I posted my ideas for Quidditch and found out there were bonus points to be had in Quidditch if you tie your project to Flying option 3 (create a quidditch uniform) AND bonus points to be had in Flying if you also do Quidditch... AND a dear pride-mate was ALSO doing an Angry Birds hat, well, whipping out a quick, simple hat sure seems like a really good tie in for some extra points! - not planned, DONE - set aside for charity donation this fall.
5. Hat #3 - Basic 2-color Brioche hat for charity - will be turning this into Potions along with my Slytherin beast-quest team mate as we banish the beast that is colorwork - DONE - set aside for charity donation this fall.
Only 47 more hats for charity to do for 2013!
WIPS:
OWL - the Stained Glass Windows Afghan - 10% done. I have 5 squares finished (and am eternally grateful that while they seemed to want to curl and pucker while I was making them - that they smoothed out pretty well when they were squared off and finished). I do have some concerns that they aren't as 'squared' off as I would like - but I'm thinking that I'm just being too picky. I have 5 more squares started and should have them about half-finished by the end of this week. My goal is to make 5 complete squares every two weeks... which gets me 25 squares by the end of 10 weeks and leaves two weeks for seaming and bordering.
Each finished square is approximately 9" x 9".
Classes -
DADA - 25% done on blanket #2 of 13 on a small baby blanket from from Cascade Cherub in DK - two shades of blue + white. Using the Lion Brand Log Cabin Pocket Blankie pattern (link requires registration/log in). It's turning out cute, but the initial corner isn't looking very squared off. But I'm hoping blocking will help. Plus when I seam the pocket over the top, you won't see the initial square at all except from the back of the blanket. I am loving the light-ness of the yarn and how nice the fabric is turning out. The baby is due this spring and I think it's going to make a great summer blanket. It seems like it's taking forever, but it really is going well. I just need to get more time to work on it - and I will have time this next two weeks, so I'm hoping to finish before the end of the month.
This is about 20" x 20".
Herbology - 33% done on my blanket square - I am using the January square which includes a ton of bobbles which made me hesitate. But I'm liking them a lot better than when I made a baby hat COVERED with the darn things. Still not my favorite thing in the world to make or to have them on a blanket, but it does bring textural interest. This is at the 1/3rd point after just starting it this last Sunday, so it should be easily finished before the end of the month.
When finished, I believe this will be about 12" x 12".
TO DO:
BROOM - Chocolate Passion Cardigan, won't get my starting whistle to start this until the last week of the month. But I've got the yarn and the needles and I am ready to cast on when the whistle blows. Since I'm not making any other sweaters this term, I'm kind of itching to get started.
1. My failed Potions OWL cardigan - DONE - and worn on a regular basis ever since!
2. Penelope the Empathetic Monster - by Rebecca Danger for the 600 Monsters charity - DONE - just waiting to send off in the mail, should be able to get it sent off this week yet.
3. Hat #1 - I caved to the Muse when I saw the Angry Birds Hat pattern - and it makes a terrific mascot for a quidditch team. - not planned, DONE - set aside for charity donation this fall - NOTE: since this was intended for charity, it turns out it's a very good thing that I made this as a small hat... as both my 9 yr old son and my 5 yr old grandson have both REALLY wanted to steal it. They didn't ask me to make one for them, but they are definitely jealous that someone else is getting it.
4. Hat #2 - Flying. After I posted my ideas for Quidditch and found out there were bonus points to be had in Quidditch if you tie your project to Flying option 3 (create a quidditch uniform) AND bonus points to be had in Flying if you also do Quidditch... AND a dear pride-mate was ALSO doing an Angry Birds hat, well, whipping out a quick, simple hat sure seems like a really good tie in for some extra points! - not planned, DONE - set aside for charity donation this fall.
5. Hat #3 - Basic 2-color Brioche hat for charity - will be turning this into Potions along with my Slytherin beast-quest team mate as we banish the beast that is colorwork - DONE - set aside for charity donation this fall.
Only 47 more hats for charity to do for 2013!
WIPS:
OWL - the Stained Glass Windows Afghan - 10% done. I have 5 squares finished (and am eternally grateful that while they seemed to want to curl and pucker while I was making them - that they smoothed out pretty well when they were squared off and finished). I do have some concerns that they aren't as 'squared' off as I would like - but I'm thinking that I'm just being too picky. I have 5 more squares started and should have them about half-finished by the end of this week. My goal is to make 5 complete squares every two weeks... which gets me 25 squares by the end of 10 weeks and leaves two weeks for seaming and bordering.
Each finished square is approximately 9" x 9".
Classes -
DADA - 25% done on blanket #2 of 13 on a small baby blanket from from Cascade Cherub in DK - two shades of blue + white. Using the Lion Brand Log Cabin Pocket Blankie pattern (link requires registration/log in). It's turning out cute, but the initial corner isn't looking very squared off. But I'm hoping blocking will help. Plus when I seam the pocket over the top, you won't see the initial square at all except from the back of the blanket. I am loving the light-ness of the yarn and how nice the fabric is turning out. The baby is due this spring and I think it's going to make a great summer blanket. It seems like it's taking forever, but it really is going well. I just need to get more time to work on it - and I will have time this next two weeks, so I'm hoping to finish before the end of the month.
This is about 20" x 20".
Herbology - 33% done on my blanket square - I am using the January square which includes a ton of bobbles which made me hesitate. But I'm liking them a lot better than when I made a baby hat COVERED with the darn things. Still not my favorite thing in the world to make or to have them on a blanket, but it does bring textural interest. This is at the 1/3rd point after just starting it this last Sunday, so it should be easily finished before the end of the month.
When finished, I believe this will be about 12" x 12".
TO DO:
BROOM - Chocolate Passion Cardigan, won't get my starting whistle to start this until the last week of the month. But I've got the yarn and the needles and I am ready to cast on when the whistle blows. Since I'm not making any other sweaters this term, I'm kind of itching to get started.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
January 2013 Planning Post
My OWL was approved! My OWL was approved!!!! I'm both really, really excited and really, really scared all at the same time. I'm now doubting my ability to get it done... but I'm going to give it a good college try.
OWL
My First blanket to start in 2013 (of the 13 blankets in 2013) is the Stained Glass Windows Afghan. Stunning, really. I'm using Knit Picks Brava Worsted yarn in BRIGHT shades of the rainbow with the black edging (because really, you do need to use black for leading a stained glass window). I'm making it 5 x 5 squares, so it'll come out a bit 'bigger' approximately 60" x 60". Plenty big to curl up under.
Plus it's a perfect Potions project, with all that color?!
BROOM
I am planning on proposing to make the Chocolate Passion Cardigan for my BROOM - Order of the Phoenix Mission. (which won't be able to be started until the end of the month) I am also using Knit Picks Brava Worsted yarn in brown as I really do look the dark, rich color from the pattern pictures. This has a very interesting construction and I'm looking forward to trying it. It also has some fun cable details and I do love me some nice, thick cables.
I'm planning to propose it under the infiltrate Hogwarts by posing as an OWL student. Since I've failed my Herbology OWL and this pattern is just under Herbology requirements, I'm certain this should fly.
CLASSES
I am going to work really hard at not over-doing my class participation this term. I am NOT jumping on the Crazy train. I am not jumping on the crazy train. I am not jumping on the crazy train. (I will be repeating this to myself often, don't mind me... just trying to get a little less cup-crazy).
1. Penelope the Empathetic Monster - by Rebecca Danger for the 600 Monsters project using stash leftover acrylic. They (and I) are aware that Sandy Hook is currently turning away contributions that they cannot manage. I think the whole world wanted to reach out and ease their burden simultaneously. This whole project was originally planned such as to hold off and provide the toys a little bit later after the flood wore off. They're still thinking that might apply, but if it's still too much at that time, they are planning on monsters going to children affected by violence anyway. Which is a wonderful opportunity to give a child a hug who needs it, even if it's from a distance.
I am planning on using Care of Magical Creatures to turn in this project under the option of - to provide strength.
2. Small baby blanket from Lion Brand I am planning to use some yarn I purchased at my LYS - Hill Vintage & Knits from Cascade Cherub in Aran (I think). In shades of Blue and Cream. This should be blanket #2 of 13 started this year.
Still have to decide which class this fits into at this point.
3. A blanket square of some sort - probably a heavily cabled one from O-Wool. They have a 12 month afghan project with a square per month. And January's month looks as good to me as any. This will be part of blanket #3 of 13 started this year - though unless I can figure out how to make more than one square a month, I might have some issues getting a blanket with only 12 squares.
I was thinking this would be an excellent fit for the Herbology prompt craft an item that is excessive in fussy details.
4. A hat (maybe only one, maybe more if I find myself needing more portable projects. This will be the one in my bag that I carry with me. I'm using stash yarn and making my Brioche watch cap (in the round) using worsted weight yarn. This is hat #1 of the 50 I'm attempting to make this year.
One of the yarns is variegated - so it should be a good fit for - Potions - Craft with a variegated or self-striping yarn.
I've looked at the Quidditch prompts and while I might participate, I might not. Nothing stands out right now as an 'ooooh - I need to do x'. I thought about post-poning working on my Monster to include it in the Mascot challenge, but I've already put off starting the monster for a week and while I'm glad I did, I'm also really glad not to wait even two more days. I thought about doing a second monster in new colors for Quidditch, but don't really feel the NEED to do so. And since I'm trying to avoid the crazy train, I think I'll save the participation in Quidditch for when I feel the NEED to do so (or, well, as soon as I can figure out a place to put a charity hat - lol).
OWL
My First blanket to start in 2013 (of the 13 blankets in 2013) is the Stained Glass Windows Afghan. Stunning, really. I'm using Knit Picks Brava Worsted yarn in BRIGHT shades of the rainbow with the black edging (because really, you do need to use black for leading a stained glass window). I'm making it 5 x 5 squares, so it'll come out a bit 'bigger' approximately 60" x 60". Plenty big to curl up under.
Plus it's a perfect Potions project, with all that color?!
BROOM
I am planning on proposing to make the Chocolate Passion Cardigan for my BROOM - Order of the Phoenix Mission. (which won't be able to be started until the end of the month) I am also using Knit Picks Brava Worsted yarn in brown as I really do look the dark, rich color from the pattern pictures. This has a very interesting construction and I'm looking forward to trying it. It also has some fun cable details and I do love me some nice, thick cables.
I'm planning to propose it under the infiltrate Hogwarts by posing as an OWL student. Since I've failed my Herbology OWL and this pattern is just under Herbology requirements, I'm certain this should fly.
CLASSES
I am going to work really hard at not over-doing my class participation this term. I am NOT jumping on the Crazy train. I am not jumping on the crazy train. I am not jumping on the crazy train. (I will be repeating this to myself often, don't mind me... just trying to get a little less cup-crazy).
1. Penelope the Empathetic Monster - by Rebecca Danger for the 600 Monsters project using stash leftover acrylic. They (and I) are aware that Sandy Hook is currently turning away contributions that they cannot manage. I think the whole world wanted to reach out and ease their burden simultaneously. This whole project was originally planned such as to hold off and provide the toys a little bit later after the flood wore off. They're still thinking that might apply, but if it's still too much at that time, they are planning on monsters going to children affected by violence anyway. Which is a wonderful opportunity to give a child a hug who needs it, even if it's from a distance.
I am planning on using Care of Magical Creatures to turn in this project under the option of - to provide strength.
2. Small baby blanket from Lion Brand I am planning to use some yarn I purchased at my LYS - Hill Vintage & Knits from Cascade Cherub in Aran (I think). In shades of Blue and Cream. This should be blanket #2 of 13 started this year.
Still have to decide which class this fits into at this point.
3. A blanket square of some sort - probably a heavily cabled one from O-Wool. They have a 12 month afghan project with a square per month. And January's month looks as good to me as any. This will be part of blanket #3 of 13 started this year - though unless I can figure out how to make more than one square a month, I might have some issues getting a blanket with only 12 squares.
I was thinking this would be an excellent fit for the Herbology prompt craft an item that is excessive in fussy details.
4. A hat (maybe only one, maybe more if I find myself needing more portable projects. This will be the one in my bag that I carry with me. I'm using stash yarn and making my Brioche watch cap (in the round) using worsted weight yarn. This is hat #1 of the 50 I'm attempting to make this year.
One of the yarns is variegated - so it should be a good fit for - Potions - Craft with a variegated or self-striping yarn.
I've looked at the Quidditch prompts and while I might participate, I might not. Nothing stands out right now as an 'ooooh - I need to do x'. I thought about post-poning working on my Monster to include it in the Mascot challenge, but I've already put off starting the monster for a week and while I'm glad I did, I'm also really glad not to wait even two more days. I thought about doing a second monster in new colors for Quidditch, but don't really feel the NEED to do so. And since I'm trying to avoid the crazy train, I think I'll save the participation in Quidditch for when I feel the NEED to do so (or, well, as soon as I can figure out a place to put a charity hat - lol).
2013 First FO of the year
I WIPd the First with my Cardigan that I was trying to make last fall... Here's the ravelry project link with details (open to non-Ravelry users).
It's the Velvet Morning Cardigan made with Knit Picks Shine Worsted that was custom dyed at Yarntopiatreasures.com. Beautiful colors, beautiful pattern.
I did A LOT of mods.
These pictures are the best that I've gotten so far (for true to color). I'd love to get some shots with it on, but didn't have anyone to help me do them and trying to do cell phone pictures by propping up the phone? Not high on the success rate.
I just love the style of the colorwork with the variegated yarn. I realize that it makes the design harder to see, but I love, love, love that it's all just 'color' and a hint of pattern instead of a strong pattern. I'm wearing it to work today and getting tons of compliments and can't wait to share it with knitters. Too much to love.
I've also finished to the point of a final end to weave in two more bigger projects. But the intent is to finish one in February and a second one in March so I can keep WIPing the First.
It's the Velvet Morning Cardigan made with Knit Picks Shine Worsted that was custom dyed at Yarntopiatreasures.com. Beautiful colors, beautiful pattern.
I did A LOT of mods.
- Converted to top-down, contiguous sleeve (though the button band was knit separately and seamed)
- The only seaming was the button band
- Skipped out on the button holes since I probably wouldn't button it even if I had buttons
- I never did flippin figure out how on earth her repeat lines in the chart would EVER work math-wise; so I did the repeats however I felt moved to do them (but then tried to stick to the style as a section would repeat later in other rows).
These pictures are the best that I've gotten so far (for true to color). I'd love to get some shots with it on, but didn't have anyone to help me do them and trying to do cell phone pictures by propping up the phone? Not high on the success rate.
I just love the style of the colorwork with the variegated yarn. I realize that it makes the design harder to see, but I love, love, love that it's all just 'color' and a hint of pattern instead of a strong pattern. I'm wearing it to work today and getting tons of compliments and can't wait to share it with knitters. Too much to love.
I've also finished to the point of a final end to weave in two more bigger projects. But the intent is to finish one in February and a second one in March so I can keep WIPing the First.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Last Christmas gift on my list
Over a month ago, I wanted to make something for my future daughter-in-law. I wanted to make a scarf or cowl... and I ran out of time during the cup term. But, with a favorite color of red, the next thing was to find a pattern. I wanted something somewhat traditional - and couldn't find a pattern that felt mindless enough, or quite just-right. So, I landed back to an oldie - the mock cable scarf. I found the stitch pattern AGES ago and have made a couple of scarves with it. I included the pattern I used for this particular scarf on my ravelry project notes here.
This scarf took 370 yards of Red Heart, with Love yarn. It's a little narrow, but nice and long. A good 5" wide by 70" long.
Here's a close up to the mock cable stitch pattern:
The reverse side looks a little like uneven ribbing.
There is no cabling involved, the 'slant' and the part that looks like it's crossed over? Is a stitch that gets slipped then passed over a couple of stitches. This ends up with a decrease, but on the next row, you add a stitch for each spot where you'd decreased. This results in the little 'dot' which is the yarn over above the slant that helps with the 'look of' a cable. I found that I could do about 6" an hour, so that makes this a super-fast knit.
This scarf took 370 yards of Red Heart, with Love yarn. It's a little narrow, but nice and long. A good 5" wide by 70" long.
Here's a close up to the mock cable stitch pattern:
The reverse side looks a little like uneven ribbing.
There is no cabling involved, the 'slant' and the part that looks like it's crossed over? Is a stitch that gets slipped then passed over a couple of stitches. This ends up with a decrease, but on the next row, you add a stitch for each spot where you'd decreased. This results in the little 'dot' which is the yarn over above the slant that helps with the 'look of' a cable. I found that I could do about 6" an hour, so that makes this a super-fast knit.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
December Planning
THERE WILL BE NO PLAN -!!!
But I do have the following on the needles that will get picked up and worked on as the mood strikes!
But I do have the following on the needles that will get picked up and worked on as the mood strikes!
- OWL sweater - colorwork cardigan with about 10 hours remaining
- Brown Sweater (started in October) - about 40 hours remaining
- Mario Hat - duplicate stitching remaining - about 4 hours
- Teddy Bear - 90% of him remaining - about 8 hours of work
So, I wouldn't mind finishing the last two of those. But the first two will get finished to the last end woven in and trimmed - so that I can turn them in for future WIPtheFirsts.
Christmas knitting that I haven't started yet and will probably do this month... though if I don't there won't be anyone applying any guilt (best and only type of Christmas knitting I will do).
- Christmas ornaments for my family and Alex's teachers at school
- Red scarf for my future daughter-in-law
Since it'll be the new year around the corner.... there is also one last WIP that hasn't gotten a mention all year.... the hibernating project, the dreaded alligator. About 20 hours of knitting remains on him. And it's down to the nit-picky little bits. Not much to do, but it's all down to somewhat fiddly and fussy. But he's been hibernating for about 18 months and I would like to finish him. If I can get him to within 99% of done, he can be an AWESOME WIPtheFirst in the future.
I will pick out a blanket project, order yarn and knit a swatch for the New Year at some point this month.
November EOM Progress
ARRRGGG! Again, I didn't manage to finish my OWL.
The Hat Time Trial followed by the enui that followed it, cost me. I knew it was going to be close and the OWL was the only thing I worked on for the full last week of November (sadly this includes housework, so, um, yeah - now I get to clean house today - lol!). By Friday at noon, all I had left was the button-less button band. Approx. 93" of 22 stitches of K2, P2 Ribbing. I did 3" during my 30 minutes of lunch, getting me to 38". Which left me with 57". At 3" in 30 minutes, or 6" in 1 hour.... that would be 9-ish hours of knitting left... plus seaming and weaving in the final ends - so approx. 10 hours. I was only going to have 8 hours left before HPKCHC end of term.
SO CLOSE. SO DARN CLOSE.
But, if I wasn't going to finish, I wasn't going to stay up all night trying to finish.
So, instead... I tried to tackle some of my other class ideas.
COMPLETED:
1 mochimochi snowman
This took a LOT longer than I anticipated and I had a lot of trouble with it. I didn't have any fingering weight white yarn to use - so I used sport, but same size needles recommended (even though I'm a loose knitter -with the idea larger yarn would compensate). It's certainly cute. And my son claimed it 2 seconds after I finished it. But I will most certainly NOT be making more like this. I might end up trying to see how big they end up with worsted weight yarn on size 3... but if it's as fiddly to start as this is? I probably will come up with a different ornament to make for my son's teachers at school.
Previously posted:
41 hats
2 cowls
ON THE NEEDLES:
My so-close OWL
This is a shot of the body being blocked pre ends woven....
Here's a close up on the colorwork, for a night shot, it's actually somewhat true to the color.
The Mario Hat (hat is finished, just none of the duplicate stitching yet):
And lastly, one little leg (all alone) of a teddy bear:
I also had my TKGA Master Knitter Level 1 hat to start... but it was 10:30 pm, I was tired... and that is NOT the time to try to start a master knitter project.
I may sigh and whine about what I didn't finish. But, honestly? I got a TON done this month. I just need to remember that being a single mom working two jobs? No matter how cupper-crazy I may be, I have boundaries and it's ok. Because... lookie what I did get done! Seriously? I have a lot to be proud of, you know?
So, my plan for December is to rest and recharge! There will be knitting. And there will be FO's posted. But they will be whatever they will be based on motivation and moments. And no official plan.
The Hat Time Trial followed by the enui that followed it, cost me. I knew it was going to be close and the OWL was the only thing I worked on for the full last week of November (sadly this includes housework, so, um, yeah - now I get to clean house today - lol!). By Friday at noon, all I had left was the button-less button band. Approx. 93" of 22 stitches of K2, P2 Ribbing. I did 3" during my 30 minutes of lunch, getting me to 38". Which left me with 57". At 3" in 30 minutes, or 6" in 1 hour.... that would be 9-ish hours of knitting left... plus seaming and weaving in the final ends - so approx. 10 hours. I was only going to have 8 hours left before HPKCHC end of term.
SO CLOSE. SO DARN CLOSE.
But, if I wasn't going to finish, I wasn't going to stay up all night trying to finish.
So, instead... I tried to tackle some of my other class ideas.
COMPLETED:
1 mochimochi snowman
This took a LOT longer than I anticipated and I had a lot of trouble with it. I didn't have any fingering weight white yarn to use - so I used sport, but same size needles recommended (even though I'm a loose knitter -with the idea larger yarn would compensate). It's certainly cute. And my son claimed it 2 seconds after I finished it. But I will most certainly NOT be making more like this. I might end up trying to see how big they end up with worsted weight yarn on size 3... but if it's as fiddly to start as this is? I probably will come up with a different ornament to make for my son's teachers at school.
Previously posted:
41 hats
2 cowls
ON THE NEEDLES:
My so-close OWL
This is a shot of the body being blocked pre ends woven....
Here's a close up on the colorwork, for a night shot, it's actually somewhat true to the color.
The Mario Hat (hat is finished, just none of the duplicate stitching yet):
And lastly, one little leg (all alone) of a teddy bear:
I also had my TKGA Master Knitter Level 1 hat to start... but it was 10:30 pm, I was tired... and that is NOT the time to try to start a master knitter project.
I may sigh and whine about what I didn't finish. But, honestly? I got a TON done this month. I just need to remember that being a single mom working two jobs? No matter how cupper-crazy I may be, I have boundaries and it's ok. Because... lookie what I did get done! Seriously? I have a lot to be proud of, you know?
So, my plan for December is to rest and recharge! There will be knitting. And there will be FO's posted. But they will be whatever they will be based on motivation and moments. And no official plan.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Cleaning out stash
My wool allergies have gotten a LOT worse.
So, about a year ago I got rid of a ton of lower-quality 100% wool balls by shipping off a box to a random number drawing from asking folks if they wanted it within the Gryffindor house. Some of it got used for an OWL - how awesome is that?
But some of the nicer, expensive yarns I didn't feel comfortable gifting quite the same way. And I had thought about donating them as prizes in Gryffindor... but wasn't sure about that. So, instead, I listed them on Ravelry in Stash to be traded/sold. They've been sitting there for a good year. It's not like there's a lot of yarn there... just one or two balls of different quality/type/etc. Some of them I did use to trade for the last Cleaning Wars prizes; and a couple of more are slated to go in teh next Cleaning Wars prizes sometime next month.
But what surprised me is that I've actually sold two of them, like within a week of each other.
It's not a lot of money - just $8. But hey. It's $8. AND I get to get rid of more wool from my house. How cool is that?!
My goal for next year is to eliminate all wool from the house as lately? Literally picking up the skein and moving it to another place with wool? Makes me break out in hives. It's got to be eliminated. So, I figure in January I'll decide what's decent enough to contribute as a prize. What's not will probably get thrown into a 'grab bag'... and I'll probably pick someone from my pride to send it as a random act of kindness.
So, about a year ago I got rid of a ton of lower-quality 100% wool balls by shipping off a box to a random number drawing from asking folks if they wanted it within the Gryffindor house. Some of it got used for an OWL - how awesome is that?
But some of the nicer, expensive yarns I didn't feel comfortable gifting quite the same way. And I had thought about donating them as prizes in Gryffindor... but wasn't sure about that. So, instead, I listed them on Ravelry in Stash to be traded/sold. They've been sitting there for a good year. It's not like there's a lot of yarn there... just one or two balls of different quality/type/etc. Some of them I did use to trade for the last Cleaning Wars prizes; and a couple of more are slated to go in teh next Cleaning Wars prizes sometime next month.
But what surprised me is that I've actually sold two of them, like within a week of each other.
It's not a lot of money - just $8. But hey. It's $8. AND I get to get rid of more wool from my house. How cool is that?!
My goal for next year is to eliminate all wool from the house as lately? Literally picking up the skein and moving it to another place with wool? Makes me break out in hives. It's got to be eliminated. So, I figure in January I'll decide what's decent enough to contribute as a prize. What's not will probably get thrown into a 'grab bag'... and I'll probably pick someone from my pride to send it as a random act of kindness.
Friday, November 23, 2012
November - mid-month Progress post
Ugh. Definite lack of mojo going on around here. This past week has been disappointing.
But here goes.
I posted last week that I exceeded my goal of 30 charity hats and managed 40 instead.
My OWL? I'm onto the sleeves! I still have a ton of work to do and not nearly enough time.
FO:
Ancient Runes - Changed my mind to do an infinity COWL with my corn yarn.
A new project I cast on for History of Magic - in honor of the booby... A bulky weight cowl for a co-worker who bought a charity-intended hat and wanted a matching cowl. I used the proceeds of the sale for mittens and gloves for the clothing drive. And of course, because it has to match - it's in a wool-blend which means I can only work on it for a little while at a time. AND of course, because it's a paid order - it's not going well and I've had to frog it multiple times - and need to frog it again... sigh.
Not started yet:
Muggle Studies - assignment is to craft something inspired by games - a Mario hat for my 9 yr old son.
Headmistress Challenge - create swatches on the knook.
Charms - craft something to reflect a favorite season - a handful of mochimochi snowmen
Potions - that stubborn old TKGA Master Knitters hat that I keep procrastinating working on.
Flying - craft something inspired by a flyer - teddy bear....
Yeah. sad, I know. I knew that I'd have trouble making everything I wanted this month... but I didn't expect so much trouble with knitting mojo after that hat time trials.
But here goes.
I posted last week that I exceeded my goal of 30 charity hats and managed 40 instead.
My OWL? I'm onto the sleeves! I still have a ton of work to do and not nearly enough time.
FO:
Ancient Runes - Changed my mind to do an infinity COWL with my corn yarn.
A new project I cast on for History of Magic - in honor of the booby... A bulky weight cowl for a co-worker who bought a charity-intended hat and wanted a matching cowl. I used the proceeds of the sale for mittens and gloves for the clothing drive. And of course, because it has to match - it's in a wool-blend which means I can only work on it for a little while at a time. AND of course, because it's a paid order - it's not going well and I've had to frog it multiple times - and need to frog it again... sigh.
Not started yet:
Muggle Studies - assignment is to craft something inspired by games - a Mario hat for my 9 yr old son.
Headmistress Challenge - create swatches on the knook.
Charms - craft something to reflect a favorite season - a handful of mochimochi snowmen
Potions - that stubborn old TKGA Master Knitters hat that I keep procrastinating working on.
Flying - craft something inspired by a flyer - teddy bear....
Yeah. sad, I know. I knew that I'd have trouble making everything I wanted this month... but I didn't expect so much trouble with knitting mojo after that hat time trials.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
FO's - and then some
Quidditch Hat Time Trials was a seven day challenge to make as many hats as you possibly can.
So I did nothing else except make hats for a solid seven days.
Saturday - I used Wool Ease Thick & Quick and started making child-sized versions of my basic Brioche watch cap.
But, I actually reached a point where I needed to take a little break from the pattern. I've rarely been tired of working brioche... after 100 hats last year and 40 hats earlier this year in this pattern - I still think that if I haven't gotten tired of it yet, I'm unlikely to. But, I did need a break and wanted to do some crochet.
So, Sunday - I started with a simple crochet hat pattern - still using the Wool Ease Thick & Quick. I adapted it for a child's size... but it was more involved than I wanted ... I was in the mood for fast and quick.
So, I switched to another pattern and whipped out a baker's dozen ... most of these were intended to be child-sized... but I was regularly distracted and ended up with several larger hats - perfect for an adult.
And then, my wrists got sore. So, it was time to switch back to knitting. Back to the brioche stitch. Sadly, apparently two dozen hats in wool ease in less than 48 hours was enough to kick off my allergies... lol.
So, between Monday and Thursday - I managed another handful of hats.... the remainder of these hats were knit with various worsted weight acrylics - held double.
Friday, I decided to kick it up a notch and did my best to exceed my own expectations... and landed with seven more.
Final tally - 40 hats. All of these hats are going to charity. My son took the first 33 to school with him on Friday for a school winter clothing drive... the last seven and the 40 I did earlier this year along with a few scarves and cowls are heading to a winter clothing drive at work. Definitely fun and a stretch for me. A little nuts, but what good is being totally sane?
That said - nuts is relative. I'm not sure what the maximum number of hats knit for this competition was - but the biggest number I saw was 100... and I'm certain there were other, equally nuts numbers. 100 hats in 7 days? Yep. Nuts.
So I did nothing else except make hats for a solid seven days.
Saturday - I used Wool Ease Thick & Quick and started making child-sized versions of my basic Brioche watch cap.
But, I actually reached a point where I needed to take a little break from the pattern. I've rarely been tired of working brioche... after 100 hats last year and 40 hats earlier this year in this pattern - I still think that if I haven't gotten tired of it yet, I'm unlikely to. But, I did need a break and wanted to do some crochet.
So, Sunday - I started with a simple crochet hat pattern - still using the Wool Ease Thick & Quick. I adapted it for a child's size... but it was more involved than I wanted ... I was in the mood for fast and quick.
So, I switched to another pattern and whipped out a baker's dozen ... most of these were intended to be child-sized... but I was regularly distracted and ended up with several larger hats - perfect for an adult.
And then, my wrists got sore. So, it was time to switch back to knitting. Back to the brioche stitch. Sadly, apparently two dozen hats in wool ease in less than 48 hours was enough to kick off my allergies... lol.
So, between Monday and Thursday - I managed another handful of hats.... the remainder of these hats were knit with various worsted weight acrylics - held double.
Friday, I decided to kick it up a notch and did my best to exceed my own expectations... and landed with seven more.
Final tally - 40 hats. All of these hats are going to charity. My son took the first 33 to school with him on Friday for a school winter clothing drive... the last seven and the 40 I did earlier this year along with a few scarves and cowls are heading to a winter clothing drive at work. Definitely fun and a stretch for me. A little nuts, but what good is being totally sane?
That said - nuts is relative. I'm not sure what the maximum number of hats knit for this competition was - but the biggest number I saw was 100... and I'm certain there were other, equally nuts numbers. 100 hats in 7 days? Yep. Nuts.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Weasley's Sisters Podcast
I was honored this week to be a guest on a podcast focused on the knitting competition I partcipate in... the HPKCHC on Ravelry.
My Ravelry ID is PennyIA which is how they know me....ergo, how I'm introduced.
Weasley's Sisters Podcast - Episode 51
My Ravelry ID is PennyIA which is how they know me....ergo, how I'm introduced.
Weasley's Sisters Podcast - Episode 51
Friday, November 2, 2012
November Planning
DETENTION - November 1st
I started a hat for the class I teach on making these hats on Oct 25th (first night of class). And finished on the evening of Nov 1st (last night of class).
Yes, I know - it looks just like a few others I have made. This is actually the 50th charity hat I have made this year (and I'm not even close to being done yet).
Defense Against the Dark Arts - Create something from your own design.
Yet another hat - same style, new color. Hope to start and finish tonight.
Then, I'm going to work on my OWL for the rest of the evening (Velvet Morning)... here's where she was when we left off a little over a week ago.
Sadly the colors are a little washed out in this photo. It's so hard to take a decent indoor shot and honestly? The weather hasn't been that great to try an outdoor shot.
But then ..... starting tomorrow.....
I'm going to dive DEEP into the Quidditch Hat Time Trials.
My goal?
Are you sitting down?
30 Adult Hats for Charity in 8 days. I have from the 3rd of November to the 10th of November. I'd like to do the bulk of them this weekend. And I probably won't work on anything else all week.
Then, the next focus will be working on the OWL. I have to finish it by Nov 30th... and there's 40% of a sweater to work on....so I will be busy!
I have NO idea if I will find time to do anything else... but if I need something to carry around and/or need a break, I will be working on the following:
Muggle Studies - assignment is to craft something inspired by games - a Mario hat for my 9 yr old son. It's crafted in two colors - then all the decoration is done with duplicate stitch afterwards, so it should be pretty portable until you are adding the colorwork.
Ancient Runes - craft with fiber containing a minimum of 50% cellulose-based fiber. I have some lovely corn yarn that has been itching to become something. I'm going to make a scarf for my daughter-in-law.
Headmistress Challenge - create swatches - I've been wanting to learn how to knook. And I can create ten sampler swatches that in the future could be seamed and turned in for detention as a scarf.
Charms - craft something to reflect a favorite season - I'm going to make a handful of mochimochi snowmen as Christmas Ornaments for my son's teachers for gifts.
Potions - that stubborn old TKGA Master Knitters hat that I keep procrastinating working on. It takes three colors (but doesn't specify which three colors) and the prompt is to craft something with a complementary color scheme.
Flying - craft something inspired by a flyer - I'm picturing a little girl in pigtails with her birthday balloons tied to the lawnchair getting carried away, but clutching a teddy bear. So now I can make a teddy bear that has been on my list for quite a while.
Yes, I know there's no way I'm getting through this list during the month of November.
There are a few items on this list that I need for gifts that can wait until December.... and there are a few items on this list that do not HAVE to get made at all, but that I'm eager to try to get to.
Basically, I'm going to be happy if I get through the Charity hats and the OWL. The rest of it? Just icing on the cake. And I'm pretty sure I can get through the pile of hats and the OWL as long as I make them the priority.
I started a hat for the class I teach on making these hats on Oct 25th (first night of class). And finished on the evening of Nov 1st (last night of class).
Yes, I know - it looks just like a few others I have made. This is actually the 50th charity hat I have made this year (and I'm not even close to being done yet).
Defense Against the Dark Arts - Create something from your own design.
Yet another hat - same style, new color. Hope to start and finish tonight.
Then, I'm going to work on my OWL for the rest of the evening (Velvet Morning)... here's where she was when we left off a little over a week ago.
Sadly the colors are a little washed out in this photo. It's so hard to take a decent indoor shot and honestly? The weather hasn't been that great to try an outdoor shot.
But then ..... starting tomorrow.....
I'm going to dive DEEP into the Quidditch Hat Time Trials.
My goal?
Are you sitting down?
30 Adult Hats for Charity in 8 days. I have from the 3rd of November to the 10th of November. I'd like to do the bulk of them this weekend. And I probably won't work on anything else all week.
Then, the next focus will be working on the OWL. I have to finish it by Nov 30th... and there's 40% of a sweater to work on....so I will be busy!
I have NO idea if I will find time to do anything else... but if I need something to carry around and/or need a break, I will be working on the following:
Muggle Studies - assignment is to craft something inspired by games - a Mario hat for my 9 yr old son. It's crafted in two colors - then all the decoration is done with duplicate stitch afterwards, so it should be pretty portable until you are adding the colorwork.
Ancient Runes - craft with fiber containing a minimum of 50% cellulose-based fiber. I have some lovely corn yarn that has been itching to become something. I'm going to make a scarf for my daughter-in-law.
Headmistress Challenge - create swatches - I've been wanting to learn how to knook. And I can create ten sampler swatches that in the future could be seamed and turned in for detention as a scarf.
Charms - craft something to reflect a favorite season - I'm going to make a handful of mochimochi snowmen as Christmas Ornaments for my son's teachers for gifts.
Potions - that stubborn old TKGA Master Knitters hat that I keep procrastinating working on. It takes three colors (but doesn't specify which three colors) and the prompt is to craft something with a complementary color scheme.
Flying - craft something inspired by a flyer - I'm picturing a little girl in pigtails with her birthday balloons tied to the lawnchair getting carried away, but clutching a teddy bear. So now I can make a teddy bear that has been on my list for quite a while.
Yes, I know there's no way I'm getting through this list during the month of November.
There are a few items on this list that I need for gifts that can wait until December.... and there are a few items on this list that do not HAVE to get made at all, but that I'm eager to try to get to.
Basically, I'm going to be happy if I get through the Charity hats and the OWL. The rest of it? Just icing on the cake. And I'm pretty sure I can get through the pile of hats and the OWL as long as I make them the priority.
October - end of month wrap-up
Finished my Ambiette for Detetion - DONE
Quidditch food fight - Small steak for son - DONE
OWL - Velvet Morning - 50% done
Herbology - Quick Hat #1 - DONE
Quidditch Endurance Challenge Ten baby- or preemie-sized hats for the Period of Purple Crying project - DONE
Muggle Studies - Baby ball -- DONE
History of Magic - Snowman stocking - DONE
Not previously planned, but what ended up happening instead:
- Suede bracelet - turned in for Defense Against the Dark Arts (claimed it was a type of parasite that was trying to get into someplace dark and steamy like my child, but that we captured it).
- Test Knit Hat - turned in for Potions as it was a nice gray with interesting texture and represented the smoke that comes from Skelegrow.
- Finger Puppet converted a pattern to make an Ood from Dr Who. I turned this in for Ancient Runes as it bore a remarkable resemblance to the rune for 7.
Started but not finished:
- Adult Yoke sweater
I just couldn't convince myself to work on the third sweater. I never did cast on. I went back and forth on picking a different pattern. I just didn't seem to be able to commit by casting on. As it was, I only got about half-way through the adult sweater I finally cast-on in Worsted weight yarn. Over all, I'm still quite pleased with my progress even if I didn't get started on my third sweater.
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