March!! Its March!! Its the middle of March!!

Ok, I know February is short, but what the heck!! I totally did not see where it went. Not much happened obviously! So project wise...

Yep, progress, but no finished objects. I have had some issues. I have had to keep myself from casting on everything that comes to mind. I MUST finish these commissions!!

I made progress on the Cadence Socks. They are sitting at the toe decreases.

Cadence Socks at the toe decreases. ALMOST THERE...

I had to rip out the 36x36 mitts due to them being too small. Ready to get started again. They are going to be beautiful, but they were not going to fit. I have the same measurements as the person I am doing them for (or roughly anyway) and they were NOT going on my hands very nicely. Too stretched for color work mitts. So, going up an needle size should fix that issue.

36x36 Mitts FROGGED and ready to be started again!!

I started and frogged a Vodka Lemonade for myself out of some wool from Bindigo Mills in Australia. I liked this, but the fabric was just to stiff. I didn't think I would wear it much. It is not technically frogged, just in the pond to be, so I may still change my mind. But for now, I am not going to be working on it.

Vodka Lemonade - FROGGED

I started a Vodka Lemonade for my grandma in Wool of the Andes from Knit Picks in Oyster Heather. Really should get back to this. She is not expecting it any time soon. She is realisitic about how long a sweater takes, but should would like it before Fall this year. I think I can manage this.

Vodka Lemonade for Grandma :)

Started another commission piece, Melisandra Socks. I received a skein of STR in return for this. It is pretty. Not sure what I am going to make with it... Hitchhiker or something along those lines...

Melisandra Socks in Rainy Days & Wooly Dogs Strychnine - Gothsock in Multipass

I have been bitten by the Featherweight Cardigan!! I was able to purchase some Wollmeise Lacegarn in the Fritzi Frizzante color way. Its beautiful!! But this is what I have been working on instead of my commission knitting!! What is wrong with me? Ain't it pretty?? I NEED to put this down and work on the other stuff above, but I just can't. I swear I am trying. Maybe after I get to splitting of the sleeves I can put it down for a few and finish up the above projects... Yeah, that sounds like a good idea, I am actually almost there, I am at 38 of 45 sts for the front pieces.

My Featherweight in Fritzi Frizzante Wollmeise Lacegarn. LOVE IT!!

I have also started a tunisian square blanket. I am trying to have enough squares at Christmas time to be able to put a blanket together and give away if I so choose. Or to have one for me and my SO.

So, there has been no cross-stitching and no spinning for February and March is not shaping up either. But I am starting to REALLY want to spin. I may do that this next week as I will be staying home one day to receive some packages.

What?! Its February 1st!!

Ok, so what happened to January? Who stole the month of January? Ummm... with this rate, I may want to start on Christmas stuff now, as I may not realize that it's tomorrow...

So, Lets see, January, what did I do...

Well New Years was uneventful. Shawn played Boarderlands with Adam, via the internet, on the PS3, while I was thinking of changing where my blog was, how it looks and making my goals for 2013. A few days later a box arrived with my new Tunisian Crochet hooks!! I started a blanket for SILs foster baby with Lion Brands Pound of Love and the J hook. I had started a blanket for baby back in December after Christmas, but have changed my mind several times since then. I am going to stick with the Tunisian blanket.

Then came going back to work (which consisted of 1 day then the next few off... Strange schedule of mine, but it works. That weekend was my 31st BDay. Had a great time with Amy, Robert (Amy's Date), Adam, Shawn (DD) and me. Was sloshed on 3 shots and 4 mixed drinks, then we went to have breakfast and after dropping Amy and Robert off, we headed home. So, not such a bad start to the new year. (I had even cast on for a hat for myself as a BDay present).

Then after the epic BDay, which the next two days may have been a hangover may have been me getting sick, I had the flu. Crappy week of it. Was starting to feel better on the Friday, but stayed home from work to be rested and ready to go Monday. Come Sunday night/Monday morning I end up with vomit sick. So, there goes another week of feeling like crap and worse.

Not much crafting was done during the 2 weeks of sick, but I did start and finish a few projects. I didn't have much brain power so that limited what I worked on. Also didn't want to pass on the sick, so didn't work on projects for baby or the commission I have either. I finished my hat, a pair of fingerless gauntlets and a cowl during those two weeks. I didn't really feel like knitting most of the time, but was able to work on some personal and simple ribbing projects for myself.

Cowl, Hat and Fingerless gloves knitted for myself.

I finally get to go back to work the following week. Still not feeling so great, but I am sick of my bedroom and I need to get things done there. I had started another cowl (these are using up a present from MIL for Christmas 2012). I have finished that cowl, but I don't like it and I am going to frog it and find something else.

The weekend before I went back to work I went through my fingering weight tub and made sure they were all on Ravelry. This is part of wanting to have my stash up on Rav and to knit from it this year. I know there is more that is not up and I will go through the tubs a few at a time and see if I can get it all up there. This way I just have to search for patterns then see if I have some yarn for them to use.

Here is the yarn stash tubs. 

During the stash diving/picture taking, I found some projects that are not finished. I am going to take pictures of them and start deciding if I want to frog or finish them. I have a few that are single socks left over from my test knitting that need to be finished as well as some that I started for myself.

This was just the Fingering weight box. I still have many others to work threw and I know there are more projects to add to the Frog or Finish pile. I first want to work on the commission knitting and the Tunisian Blanket before I really dive into the Frog or Finish idea. I am also still working on the Stash knitting. I have made it through January with out buying yarn or roving. I am happy with myself.

I have also worked on my Pipers Journey Shawl. I have completed the first ball of yarn and I am getting ready to add the second and figure out when I am going to stop with the garter and add the boarder. I believe I am just a few rows from that point, but will do a count and make sure I have enough added to make the boarder even.

I have stared a sweater for myself. I am excited to be working on it. The yarn is from Bendigo Woolen Mills in Australia. It was brought back by a friend who visited another friend over there. When she visited us, she was working on a sweater out of the same yarn and I loved it. I like the sweater, but I don't think I would have finished it since I would have had to knit the cable separate then sew it on. I am not a pieces kind of gal. Though I may want to do it in the future, its in my library. I have chosen to do Vodka Lemonade. A person in my knitting group is also doing this sweater and we have agreed to push each other to get it finished. It is from the top down and I have finished the collar and I have 3" of 11" for the raglan seam done. I am enjoying the knitting on this.

Vodka Lemonade sweater.

I was commissioned last year to knit a pair of socks and mittens for a lady on Rav and she would weave me a scarf. She has mostly finished the scarf, it just needs to be "blocked" and some fringe work. I on the other hand have not touched my projects for her for a bit. Christmas had some thing to do with that. I have vowed to get these finished, which means I will be putting the sweater and other projects down until these are finished.

Cadence Socks

I had also started a pair of socks last year with the hopes to wear them for Halloween. Yeah, that didn't happen. They haven't been touch in forever. I would like to get them finished in the next few months.

I have frogged, or plan on frogging, a few projects too. Or at least plan on doing it. First up is the cowl that I finished, It just isn't right. I will frog this and knit something else up. I frogged a cowl that was being knitted in Lorna's Laces Shepard Sport in the River color way. I just wasn't liking the way the color was turning out on it. I do plan on casting on another cowl, but I am just not there yet. I also had started the Hope Shawlette by Stefanie Japel in Lorna's Laces Soulmate in the Flamingo color way. I just wasn't excited by the way the color was turning out. I am going to frog this and do something else with the color way. It was purchased as "Boobie Month" kit.

Frog it pile. I still have to do the cowl and the shawl.

There has been NO spinning in January. I have been itching to get back to it, but some things have to be finished first and I was not in the mood to spin while I was sick.

Must finish this so I can get started on other stuff.

Project Goals for February:

1. Finish Cadence Sock.
2. Finish 36x36 Mittens. Then packaged and ship 1 & 2 to Commission in Washington DC.
3. Progress on Vodka Lemonade.
4. Progress/Finish? on Tunisian Baby Blanket.
5. Choose yarn and start Afghan Blocks (5 minimum) and plan for the rest of the blanket (I worked out that I would have to complete 5 blocks a month plus 4 others to do the big afghan by the end of this year. I didn't do the blocks for January, so those will be added. It will be 5 blocks for February and 6 blocks a month for the rest of the year.
6. Spin up the roving that is on the wheel and start on some Loop Bumps.
7. Work on some cross-stitching.
8. Purchase and set up the Victory HAED cross-stitch.

Yep, so bad at this!

So, it looks like my goal of actually writing...

Yep, gone the way of the ... Well, lets not point fingers and call myself names, thought I do deserve them, sometimes.

I have been just test knitting away. I have completed three other socks and I am diligently working on a wrap.

I have been working on some personal projects as well just to have a break in between.

I have completed one Hermione's Everyday Socks in the Schoppel-Wolle Crazy Zauberball in U Boot color way, plus one stripy sock without the afterthought heel in 3 Ewes Twisted in Fiber in the Viva Las Vegas color way. I have started another of the stripy socks out of 3 Ewes Twisted in Fiber in the Golightly color way, they reminded me of some Lilys I had just gotten (I cast this on for a sock to knit a doctor/dentist appointments). I completed a Magrathea shawl by Martina Behm, I have also stared and frogged about 4 Trillian shawls by the same person. Nothing wrong with the pattern, just wrong with the yarn.

I think somewhere in my pile of projects is a two different DayBreak shawls by Steven West. Again, nothing wrong with the pattern, just with the yarns I keep choosing. I have started and put aside a Modern Log Cabin blanket. I do want to finish it for my bed. I do like the colors. I have started and fizzled on a felted hedgehog, for my nephew, I really should get back to that. I had an idea to do them for the kids for their birthdays this year. I have also started a Piper's Journey shawl. I do want to get this finished as well. I have a Beekeeper's quilt stared, you know those dreaded hexi-puffs are here too. I have been on a kick to use up my kitchen cotton since it had taken over a complete tub out of my stash!! I have a few done that I have thrown into a box that I can grab to give as gifts if I need to.

I have queued up a Calligraphy Cardigan and Wonderland Socks to knit for myself.

I have been commissioned by a friend to knit a baby blanket for her daughter (same age as me). The colors are not something I would normally put together, but I think I can make them work. Hot Pink, Black and Yellow. I have decided to do a Neat Ripple baby afghan with 4 to 6 stripes of Hot Pink, then 1 black, 1 yellow, 1 black, then back to hot pink.

Oh and to top it all off, I have decided to knit sweaters for the 5 kids in the family... WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME!!!

Not only all the above, but I have added a Trindle Spindle to my collection and have been spinning away on some roving that a friend got me in Austraila. It's purple and spinning lace weight singles. I just love this thing. My cat on the other hand has issues with me spindling. I am not sure if it makes a sound he doesn't like, but he acts like it's a big dog or something to come and attack him. Its funny.

I have signed up for the CloudLovers fiber club and my first shipment is on its way. I also have a giant order from Knit Picks on the way. with over 9,000 yds of fiber. Mostly for the sweaters for Christmas. I did buy some red yarn for a Clapotis for myself. I have been on some strange kick of wanting a red scarf of some kind, and why not have one of these as well.

Yep, I have lost my mind... :) Just check out that list on the left there...

January 2011

Where did the month go? I am not done yet. I still have lots of plans for the month of January and it is ending today. Well, I have made some progress on the bits and pieces for this month.

I have finished my Koi Garden Shawlette. I have finished my swatch hat for my HPKCHC Herbology OWL. My proposal was reviewed but since I am doing the pattern myself, I had to add the design drawings to the proposal and now I am waiting on the decision. I am STILL working on Grms scarf. Not sure if I will have it done in a week. Here's hoping. I still have to write up my "homework" for Charms class. I am going to use the shawlette and some creative story to make it work for the scarf I just was not able to cast on this month. :(

Tomorrow (Well, 9 pm PST) Nerd Wars Starts!! Yeppy!! I am still deciding if I want to do a dissertation in that group (like an OWL). I have not decided just yet. I am thinking of something to do with spinning.

I have been spinning a little each day. A friend of mine sent me some COOL rovings from Australia. I wanted to be able to give her the choice of having some of the yarn that came out of it when she (possibly) visits later this year. :)

Well, I hope that January has treated you better reader and that you are caught up on what ever it is that you needed to finish this month.

2011 Resolutions

So, it is yet another new year and I am still doing the same things, well, mostly the same things. That means yet another list of un-meaningful resolutions. But hopefully since this is out in public, I can keep myself a little more motivated... We will see.

2011 RESOLUTIONS

1. I am going to really put some time in on my spinning wheel this year. I paid for it, I should use it. Plus, my friend sent me some AMAZING roving from Australia!! The purple braids are beautiful. Then you go to the bags and OMG!! soft as melted butter. I rolled in them for a bit :) I am not sure what kind of fiber they are. But most definitely very beautiful and SOFT!! Got to make sure I spin these with some experience!! I would love to make something out of them, but just not sure what!! Needles to say, I need to return the favor. Road trip!!

2. I am going to knit from my stash. I have five, count them five, well, maybe 6 or 7, plastic bins full of yarn in the garage and there is still MORE in my house. I have been watching the show "Hoarders" on A&E. OMG!! I know that my house is not as bad as the people on the show, but I do feel that there is just way to much stuff that is just taking space in our house.

Little side note here: Our house has two adults that have lived there most of their lives, MIL and BF. So it is full of their stuff. Then we have a roommate that had a house before he moved in. He is really good about being only in his room, but I think that is not fair, he has lived here long enough that he should be apart of the house, if he wants. Then we add me. My stuff is the most visible and I really don't have that much, but it was the last stuff to add to the house so it is on top of everything. Or was anyways, now it is mostly in the garage and my office area.

3. I am going to make a GIANT effort to keep my house useable this year. We tend to start stacking things in corners and by the end of the month, we loose that area to STUFF!! Not any more.

4. Work on getting the garage into a useable area. I don't have to park the car in there. But it would be nice if I had the choice to. Or at least a good storage area. Organized and neat.

5. Work on programming for the MAC and iPad/iPhone/iPod. I don't have school anymore, so I should actually be doing something in the programming field.

6. Either get a programming job or work on our home based business. One or the other needs to start making money.

7. Live life, laugh often and love hard. Enough said.

8. Actually try to blog this year. See how it goes. I would like to actually have my thoughts out there in the world instead of just being in my house, in my head or going through other peoples ears.

9. I would actually like to make our house, our house. I know that is redundant, but if you knew me, you would understand. (See note above). I would actually like to have some nice things that belong to us and not BF's mom or sister or father or anyone else in the family. I would like to look around and see us, not "his mom's" house. It's not like his mom lives here every day, well at the moment, but not sure how long. She is here maybe 4 to 7 days out of an entire month. I think it is time to make a home or move.

There are other resolutions, but they are on a more personal level and I do not feel like sharing with the public on those.

Crafting:

I am knitting/crocheting projects for two groups. One is the Harry Potter Knitting/Crochet House Cup (Hufflepuff) and the other is Nerd Wars (Dumbledore's Army). I am deciding if I want to be captain in the Nerd Wars group. It would be different, but do I have the time? Really?

Birthday:

Yesterday was my 29th Birthday. I don't feel any different than when I was 21. Is that how it actually is supposed to feel? Am I really supposed to just go year by year and not really feel any different than the last 8? What am I going to accomplish this year to make it different? I need to feel a change and for the most part it started last year and is continuing. Where is my life going? Is there going to be kids or am I satisfied with having my Niece and Nephews?

These type of thoughts were going through my head as I tried to sleep last night and really couldn't. Why is my birthday so close to the new year, it sucks because one's mind is always looking for a way to change the next year, then bam, my birthday shows up and screws with my head, makes me start looking about my entire life instead of just one year. What the heck is up with that?

Closing Thoughts:

Well I believe this is a good start. Hopefully I will be writing most days. I really don't do much at the moment. But soon I hope that will change. I will defiantly start writing about my knitting, crocheting, spinning and hopefully the thoughts that run though my head. I DO NOT guarantee that I will not complain, I will, though, try keep it to a minimum and let you know before hand.

I would like to start writing my column again, but I just don't seem to have any ideas on what to do with it. I will look into that and see what I can come up with. Maybe it will just be a weekly blog thing that I can learn something new and let you, the reader, know about it. Well, that is if anyone reads this thing. It will at least keep my stash of notebooks down to a minimum.

Well, that is the end of this entry. I am going to work harder on keeping track of things. I just hope life doesn't get too busy.

Happy Knitting! or what nots. :)