July EOM Post (ha! Not so late, this time)

Hats - I ended up making one hat for my son, and SEVEN charity hats!

Here are the five that I turned into Charms and CoMC that haven't been posted here yet.

After finding that I had miscounted some of the earlier hats... my new total is 28 charity hats out of 50... 56% of my annual goal.

Finished the Mario baby blanket.

Aran Square - number 1. Number 2 was just too much to tackle... mostly because it took me three times to get guage on this square.

Instead, I did another yarn-eating baby blanket. I held four strands together of various yarns... to get about 4000 yards used up and represent # 7 of the finished blankets completed out of the 13 in my goal.

And last, but not least... the finished top that I 'just had to make'.

Annual Goals Progress

So, my annual goals & where I am on them... I figure that since I spent a good seven weeks unable to knit; I'm doing pretty well still on some of my goals even though I'm not quite at the 50% mark and it's a little over half the year over. Some goals are going to end up being too much of a stretch possibly, but that's ok with me.

ORIGINAL GOAL - 3 clothing items for me - CURRENT PROGRESS - 50%

1. Green & cream zig zag tank completed in June
2. Green tank at 50% mark in July
-- I should be able to finish the tank by this weekend... that leaves one more. I'd like to do a simple, quick fall sweater and have a few ideas... something that only takes a couple of weeks, is my ideal - And I'm thinking $5 in Paris right now with 3/4 length sleeves might fit the bill.

ORIGINAL GOAL - 3 pairs of socks for me - CURRENT PROGRESS - 33%

1. Purple socks in June
-- Two more pairs of socks in the last five months of the year? This should be something I can work in!

ORIGINAL GOAL - 13 blankets - CURRENT PROGRESS - 45%

1. Blue/Navy/White modified log cabin baby blanket - Jan
2. Bunny Buddy Baby blanket/toy - Feb
3. Not-so-baby-sized blue/gray/white striped blanket - Mar
4. Stained Glass Windows Baby Blanket - Mar
5. Striped pastel Baby Blanket - June
6. Striped pastel Baby Blanket - July
7. Mario Blanket - about 33% mark as of July
8. Aran Sampler Blanket - about 25% mark as of July
-- This one is iffy. I'll be able (I think) finish the Mario blanket this year. I can keep working on the Aran Sampler Blanket - but I don't know if I can do enough to make a blanket. And I do have one more baby blanket pattern burning a hole in my pocket; but it'll take a little longer to make over the super simple, fast ones. And I'm getting tired of working on the super-fast ones... so I might be able to whip out a couple more blankets. Just not sure I'll hit 50.

ORIGINAL GOAL - 50 charity hats - CURRENT PROGRESS 45%

Rather than list them all out - I've got 23 hats completed, and several already shipped off... and #24 is already on the needles and I'm sure I can finish it before the end of the month, if not maybe even a 25th one as well.

-- I'm pretty sure I can meet, if not exceed this goal. Hats are my go-to carry around projects. I don't have to think. I can just grab the needles and some scrap yarn and whip one out without a lot of preparation - so it travels well when other projects don't.  And I'm debating challenging myself with NerdWars to create about 30 or 40 charity hats in three months (most of which can go into classes in the cup; leaving me more time to focus on the Mario Blanket).

So, all told, not too bad of shape.

July planning - and mid-month progress report - all-in-one

First thing finished in July was a hat that I started the evening of June 30th (was bored and didn't feel like working on the Mario blanket... odds are it will look a LOT like OTHER hats completed recently (kind of in a rut, I know).

Second Charity hat -  Turned into DADA simple ribbed edge and stockinette body - fits a prompt to cover your eyes from the vision of the basilisk.... see? -- I did have fun digging for scraps... will do more like this.

Quidditch called for another hat (or... ball carrier...) you decide. More scraps.

That brings my annual total of charity hats to #21.... which is a little shy of goal. I'll probably make one more hat this month - for Charms.  And then take a little break next month and focus on getting at least 20 or more completed during the next HPKCHC term (Sept - Nov).

Additionally, I finished the Mario blanket (picture in last post).

And Quidditch #2 - is another hat. For the first time in a long time though... it's for family instead of charity. My son lost his ski mask and in February had asked me to make him one. Of course, starting it at the end of February ensures that the weather would turn nice (it did)... so I procrastinated making it until this summer... it's already in the winter hat collection basket ready and waiting for it to get cold again.

I'm about half-done with my Aran Square of the month (which is actually Aprils - I am a bit behind since I haven't made any since March. Divination has a pretty easy fit where you can tie it to something seen in ashes after a Phoenix's burning day.

I'm also planning on a second Aran Square this month. It'll take a little storytelling -  but this one will go into Potions, I figure the complex potion can be inspired by Prof. Snape, the Half-Blood Prince.

And then I'm nuts enough to think I can do another summer top for myself in the last 12 days of the month. Sleeveless, tank top... something pretty simple. I LOVE my tank I finished last month and got inspired to try to use up some yarn that I had stashed for making a top.  I'll turn it in for History of Magic and take a photo of wearing it while walking the dog.

June EOM post -REALLY late

I've been having issues with Blogger and my home pc. I give up... it's not worth the battle. Just don't tell my co-workers or bosses that I'm doing this with my work pc!


Detention project - AIRL rescue blanket. - DONE

Socks! - DONE

Couple of Charity hats - DONE
Quidditch tote bag - DONE
Tank top - DONE and super-uper cute. I love this tank. When cash flow permits, I will be custom-ordering more in dark colors and making more summer tops!  This was made with cotton/linen blend and I love the slightly marled yarn and the stitch texture. Just LOVE it.

Mario Mushrooms blanket (well the first part - did 9 squares for this part)....  not finished before June EOM.. but finished last week. Planning to tackle another 15-square section this fall, a 6 square section at some point and seaming the whole thing together .... maybe done by next spring?

2 hour baby blanket - DONE

Adipose - skipped for this month, just not enough time.

2 blanket squares - well, one was done - but this was done for a gift blanket as opposed to one of mine (so I'm still behind in my 13 in 2013 blanket goal)...

Busy month, June was. Coming soon, my July planning post... only over half-way through the month ...

:-)

Tank progress shot

I like the way the stripes are turning out. Of course, I totally messed up a bit and didn't use the stripe lengths originally planned... but it still is turning out cute.

Onto the straps... thinking I can have this finished and blocking in a couple of evenings.

June Mid-month progress (albeit a little late)

Detention project - AIRL rescue blanket. - DONE

Socks! Bamboo/rayon blend. Nice, soft, fit well.... simple pattern, super-fast. - DONE

Photo taken in New Jersey... can almost, but not quite, make out the Empire State Building between my toes....


Couple of Charity hats - DONE (well, a couple are done, we might fit one more in, if I find time - unlikely, but possible).

I know, I know... more brioche hats. But at least I played a little with color and went back to doing two-tone worsted weight hats a little bit and set aside the bulky weight yarn (for now).

Quidditch tote bag... the top came out too small. But I've stuck this in my utility room and it's great for storing plastic bags from shopping in. I re-use them around the house all the time, so it's actually pretty nice to have something for it. - DONE

Not as fast a project as one would have hoped. I did do it in one day. But considering that day was spent in airports, airplanes and taxi rides, I would have been happier if I could have finished it within a couple of hours instead of closer to eight hours. (should have done crochet)

ON THE NEEDLES:

Still working on my tank top... Not going very quickly as I haven't had much time devoted to it... poor thing, seriously neglected. (sorry, no photo) - About 33% done - hope to finish before end of June.

Still working on the first section of my son's Mario Mushrooms blanket. Four squares done, fifth square needs some embroidery done. Four more squares to cast-on and finish, plus seaming. - About 50% done - hope to finish mid-July.

NOT YET STARTED.... and honestly? at this point, might not get started unless this weekend holds a spectacular amount of knitting time.

2 hour baby blanket - If I can get tank top to 50% AND the fifth square finished -  I might take a break and work on this... we'll see.

Adipose - it doesn't seem like it would take more than a couple of hours to whip this out... but it's on my low priority list.

2 blanket squares - I'm behind in my blanket projects... and working on this would help me out with that... but I'm not even going to try to cast it on until the end of the month - and only then assuming I get other things finished first.

June planning post

I got a dozen squares in a swap project over a year ago.... and they weren't 'quite' what I had in mind... but were lovely squares. I've been meaning to seam them up for AGES into pet blankets for the ARL.

HPKCHC -- When I don't have a WIP the First project ready to go, (and my wrists aren't in splints) the plan is to grab four of them and whip one out for Detention.


I picked up some CoSaBi yarn a couple of months ago - bamboo/rayon blend for socks!  The thought is that it just might be a way to get some socks for me that I can wear year-round and not be slipper-socks. Acrylic hasn't worked in the past (well, except for great house slipper-socks). So - a pair of socks!

HPKCHC -- Charms has a 'make a person look good' option - so I'm thinking some pretty lilac hand-knit socks are just the ticket.

NerdWars -- Nerdology Challenge is to look into alternative transportation. Walking! Feet - need coverage for long walks. Still uncertain of my team tie-in I want to use for June. Might be Team Tardis, might be something with Mythology - must decide.

Charity Hats - at least one, maybe two

HPKCHC -- Divination has us staring into the Fire for finding answers to questions. Global Warming and severe storms has me worried about weather. I see cold people in the fire seaking warmth.... so warm hats for charity will help me for the vision.

NerdWars - Giving Geeks Challenge is to prepare for foul weather during fair weather. I plan to donates the hats finished this month, plus some of the earlier hats done this year to a clothing donation site. (Normally I wait until Fall - but they need to be 'delivered' now).

I picked up some lovely cotton/linen blended tonal yarn at the LYS last Saturday... LOVELY yarn. I want to support my LYS, plus I love that they take the time to think about me with their non-wool-content yarn. Since they keep me in mind, I want to recipricate by buying up the lovelies!  They didn't quite have enough of the dark green for a top, but they had a really nice tan-nuetral color to go with it. I'm thinking a stripey tank.

HPKCHC -- Care Of Magical Creatures - Protect yourself from heat. Cotton/Linen yarn? Yeah - this is an easy fit.

NerdWars - Encyclopedia Challenge - has us using Birthdates as inspiration. I found out that the birth stone for June USED TO BE Agate. I found some nice agate photos - one that had a ripple stripe look (but not green, sadly) and another with a nice shade of green. I'm pretty sure I can sell the top as inspired by agate.

13in2013 is suffering - between blankets not wanting to be the size planned and seven weeks in splints... I'm planning a SUPER fast baby blanket (colors to be determined). Double Crochet - with stripes. Simple and fast. 

HPKCHC -- History of Magic has us making baby items

NerdWars - Discovery Challenge - inspired by new life - need I say more?

Aran Blanket Square - at least 1 - pattern to be determined - in a shade of blue

HPKCHC -- Herbology - Craft a cushioning object to hold your pottery to protect it - strategic pic with some pottery on top should work.

Adipose! My inner Doctor Who Geek has been wanting to make one for ages. I wasn't going to do it this month, but then I saw a prompt and decided I could write up a cute little story line with the Adipose.... and how often can you tie Dr Who to Hogwarts? Not often, let me just say. But it should be fun.

HPKCHC -- Defense Against the Dark Arts - make your presentation of what you think a Boggart will look like if it doesn't have anyone looking at it (which would make it turn into the object you fear the most). Adipose are cute, little giggly things... sweet, and harmless. Well, harmless when they are removed from your body slowly... deadly in other circumstances. Kind of like how a boggart is harmless all by itself, but when you confront one - well, not so much!

NerdWars -- Flexibility Challenge - Tied to a drink - I'm thinking Adipose makes me think of my nutrition shake. Mostly white and cold (why do I think they're cold? eh) and formless.... and affects your body weight.

Totebag - I'm a sucker for bags of all sorts... and when I found out there was going to be a speed challenge for making a totebag ON THE DAY I have to get up at 5:00 AM AND SPEND THE DAY TRAVELING (but not driving) - with MUNGO knitting time! Well. Try to keep me from signing up!

HPKCHC -- Quidditch speed trials - Training Film #3 - Start June 6th - competing against other crafters and most points for the early finishers.

NerdWars -- Flexibility Challenge - Not sure I can tie it easily to a drink - but thankfully, they made the challenge optional this term (NICE!).

I'd also like to make at least 2 charity hats and 2 blanket squares - but I don't know if they will fit into Quidditch event number two or get turned into classes with another object. I'll wait to turn the others in until I know what the Scrimmage #1 event requirements are.