A Year of Projects: A Quick Update

 It’s another week of where did the time go???  I’ve gotten out of the habit of taking 30 minutes to knit each morning.  That needs to change.  Just did my calendar for the week and wrote it in daily.  I think I knit maybe 2 days this week.  The good news is, I finished the Morning Coffee Socks.  This also allowed me to mark off the last square on my BINGO board.  Just in time for Bingo Board #2. Below is a picture of all the socks I’ve knit since June 1st.

That’s about it for picture worthy knitting. My poor gnome has not even been touched this week. I added a few rows to my mom’s socks and a few rows to my sweater.  I’ve started frogging a poncho I made (and won’t wear) to reclaim the yarn for a sweater. 

Taught my sister in law to knit and she completed her first dishcloth.  She came over last night to learn how to bind off.  Now she wants to learn how to crochet.  We’re going to go shopping next weekend and get some supplies.  She’s excited to learn about the different kinds of yarn for different projects.  

Plied this yarn last week. Im going to move my wheel into the living room. I need to try and spin 15 minutes a day. I’d like to get a more consistent spin, that’s not going to happen without practice.  

A Year of Projects Post

 It has been a good knitting week.

I fell behind on my mystery gnome due to having to sew the I cord.  Finally sat down this week and sewed and stuffed the hat.  Now I can move onto the body.

We took a ride to the mountains yesterday hoping to see some changing leaves.  There wasn’t too much color where we went, but we visited some cool places.  I’ll be blogging about them soon.  Took my morning coffee socks.  I think I’m ready for the foot decrease, too hard to try on in the car so I’ll check that today. *Hopefully* I can finish them this week. I said that last week but got sidetracked by other projects.  So we’ll see. 

I was able to finish the leg and start the heel flap of my moms sock, so there was some good progress made there. It’s a plain vanilla sock pattern by Crazy Sock Lady.

Skeined and rinsed the yarn I spun.  It’s still wet, so final pictures will have to wait.  But here it is on the Knitty Knoddy. 

Finally I’ve pulled my Weekender Sweater out of hibernation.  Now that most of the socks are done it’s time to get back to this.

That’s it for knitting, but I did some project planning this weekend.  About two years ago I won some beautiful yarn and a shawl pattern from a LYS.  I started the pattern right away, got about 15 rows in and it’s been sitting ever since.  Love the yarn and the shawl pattern is beautiful, but it’s just not the right pattern for me right now.  So I frogged it and started playing around.  I’m thinking of making a Find Your Fade Shawl.  Anyone want to weigh in on the options below?

  

Progress! A Year of Projects update

Going to be a quick post as I’m battling a headache and the screen is not helping right now.  It has been a good week of crafting.  

Finished my Ridgeline Cardigan and wove in the ends. Also pulled out my Asheville Cardigan (finished months ago) and wove in the ends.

 

 

     

Chain plied 2 bobbins of natural colored wool.  I have to skein it up and then clear two bobbins of Into The Whorled.  My daughter has decided she wants to learn how to spin.  So I’ll need all the bobbins so we  can share the wheel while she is learning.  I’m still a beginner spinner so wish me luck as I try to teach her!

Progress was made on my Morning Coffee Socks and moms socks for Christmas.  Nothing photo worthy so I’ll save the, for next week.   My goal is to finish the Morning Coffee Socks the week. 

That’s about it over here.  I look forward to reading what everyone else is up to during the week.  Happy Crafting!

A Year of Projects: Back after a hiatus

 And just like that, September is over.  Somehow with the start of school (homeschooling), searching for a new job, and all the other stuff going on, I missed a month of posting.  Sometimes I just don’t know where the time goes.  All month, I’d think about writing my post, and then Sunday would roll around and I wouldn’t get to it.  My knitting has also been slacking.  I need to get better at this.  I *feel* better when I get my daily knitting in.  

Anyway, I hit post on the last draft I wrote in August outlining my crafting plans for the next few months. Made some progress on my Morning Coffee Socks and am now working on the foot of the second sock.  I will be kitchnering the toe of the first today to finish that up.

I’ve pulled my gray sweater out and figured out where I am in the pattern.  I added a few rows to the sleeve.  Just need to finish the sleeves and weave ends.  Hoping to finish this within the next week or so.  We’ve had some chilly mornings and this will be a great sweater for this weather. P

Started some Christmas knitting with a pair of socks for my mom.  They will be my travel project.  We’ve been trying to get out and visit some local parks/sites so we’ve had a bit of car time on the weekends. I normally don’t do much Christmas knitting because I don’t like the pressure of a deadline, but I’ve got a few ideas for gifts this year.  So we’ll see how it goes.  

The last project on my needles is a mystery KAL. It’s for a gnome.  I’m currently current on the clues, but don’t want to post in case anyone is also knitting it.  I’ll link to my project page once I get it up.  (It’s on today’s to-do list :)).  

Yesterday I spent some time getting reacquainted with my spinning wheel.  I had to reteach myself chain plying.  It felt really awkward at first, but I finally got a good rhythm going.  I’m going to need to spend a little time each day with that.   

A Year of Projects 9/52

—-Written 8/29

 The last week of sock camp has arrived!  Sock Camp officially ends the 31st, but I have finished all I am going to finish at this point.  It was a very successful camp.  I knit 5 pairs of socks for camp (June 1st - August 31st). What a great experience!  I have not knit so much in a long time.  I also tried new methods of sock knitting: cuff down, and socks on 9 inch circulars.  I am beyond pleased with what I was able to accomplish this summer.

I finished my last pair, the Bomb Pop Socks, yesterday.  

Now that Sock Camp is over I need some new goals for the next few months.

Here’s what that looks like:

1. Weekender Sweater (WIP/UFO)  https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-weekender-5

2. Gray Sweater (UFO)

3. Finish pink socks (heel on second sock)

4. Finish neon socks (knit second, heel on both)

5. Finish Morning coffee socks https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/morning-coffee-socks

6. Mom socks for Christmas

7. Gnome dishcloth holders https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gnome-towel-topper

I didn’t get a lot of knitting done last week between interviewing, paperwork, and our staycation.  But we did get to visit a really cool park and get some swim time in. :) I just finished photographing my socks for camp and getting project details uploaded (I need to get better about creating projects in Ravelry as soon as I start the project.). Looking forward to getting started on some new projects soon!

A Year of Projects 8/52

 **Theres no week 7/52 post as I needed a computer break.

Back for week 8 with…you guessed it: socks!  Needed to take a bit of a computer/social media break last week.  Spent some time updating my resume, and interviewing. My current job is up in the air right now, so I’m trying to prepare for when it ends. 

Stripey socks are almost finished!  I need to Kitchener the toe and weave in ends on sock number 2.  They’ll be finished this evening.  That leaves me with my Bomb Pop socks and Morning Coffee.  Summer Sock Camp ends the 31st.  Im still going to try and finish both, but I’m not sure I’ll get the Morning Coffee socks done.  But I’m fine with that.  I’ve knit more this summer than I have in quite some time.   After that, I’ll be  finishing up the socks I started before camp and moving on to a sweater or two.  Working on my Fall Knitting Goals now.  

   

In addition to my socks this week, I was helping my daughter finish a hat she made for her grandmother.  She has really taken to knitting.  Next up for her is a cape let from the new Harry Potter knitting book.  Ill be teaching her M1L and M1R with this pattern.

That’s all I’ve got this week.  Trying to get some stuff done before we have a “staycation” the end of this week.  I’m looking forward to some extra knitting time :)

A Year of Projects 6/52

 This summer is flying by!  In the beginning of the summer we were super excited for a family vacation.  So I get why it was going so fast.  Unfortunately, due to increasing COVID numbers, we’ve had to cancel the vacation.  We are sad, and angry. The whole family has not been together since Christmas 2019.  Thankfully, we have all been able to see each other at different times, but it sucks not being able to have everyone together.  But, in order to stay safe, this is how it needs to be.  I hope these numbers go down quickly! Knitting has been a great stress reliever at this time.  My daughter has even started knitting again and has been finishing some projects up.  

This week I was able to finish my Socks that Rock socks. I did this as part of Knitty Natty’s second sock week knit along.

I’ve also worked on all the others :). I have two sections left on my stripey socks.  I hope to finish them this week.  I need to pull out my instructions for the afterthought heel. 

 My Bomb Pop Sock needs to come off the 9 inch needles so I can do the toe.  

I was even to get some time in with my Morning Coffee Socks.  My knit group had a Zoom meeting on Friday and I worked on them during it.  It was so nice to get to spend some time with friends knitting. Sock Camp wraps up August 31st, so I need to start thinking about what’s next on the knit/crochet list. Can’t wait to take a look around this week to see what everyone is up to while I work on my list!

A Year of Projects 5/52

 Just a quick update. We’ve been out doing yard work all morning and now I need to get some errands done.  It’s still all about socks here :)

I’ve got a completed pair, as my daughter decided she wants to try tube socks.  

I’ve mostly been working on the stripey socks and my Shark Week socks.  One stripey sock is ready for a heel. I need to finish the other. My shark week sock will be my focus this week as Knitty Natty is running a second sock knit along.  

   

I didn’t really do too much on the Morning Coffee Socks or the Bomb Pop Socks.  Maybe a few rows each.

I look forward to checking out what everyone has been up to this week!

A Year of Projects 4/52

 Last week, one project got all the attention.  This week I pulled out all my sock WIPs and worked a bit on each during the week.  My goal is to finish all these for sock camp.  That would give me six pairs for camp, plus my daughter’s pair.  (Her pair doesn’t count for camp because the first sock was cast on before June 1st.) Sock Camp runs until August 31st, it’s definitely a stretch goal, but I’m going for it!

Shark Week Socks:  Knitted a few rows.  I’m ready to start the heel flap.  This will be today’s project.

Pattern: Crazy Sock Lady Vanilla Socks on Magic Loop

Yarn: Socks that Rock, unknown color way

Needles: size 1 circular

Bomb Pop Socks: Turned the heel and am now knitting the foot.

Pattern: Crazy Sock Lady Vanilla Socks on 9 inch Circulars

Yarn: Knit Picks Felici dyed with Kool Aid

Needles: 9 inch circulars, size 0

Stripey Socks: I spent a good amount of time on these this week.

No pattern, toe up with afterthought heel.

Various yarns from the Charlotte Yarn Crawl 2019

Needles: size 1 circulars

Morning Coffee. This one has a pattern.  Added a repeat this week.  

Pattern: Crazy Sock Lady Morning Coffee Pattern

Yarn: happy Mermaid Yarn Company, SSC2021

Needles: 9 inch circulars, size 0

H’s Socks. I keep these next to my desk.  I work on them when my students are late or I have a no-show. I had a few late students this week and was able to work on these.  

No pattern, toe up with afterthought heel

Yarn: hand dyed with acid dyes from when I was dyeing

Needles: circular size 1

It’s been hot and humid in North Carolina this week which has been great for crafting time.  BUT I need to get some work done with the landscaping (gardening, weeding, etc).  Hoping for some better weather for outside work this week.  We shall see. 

Week 3: A Year of Projects

 Mission accomplished! 

I did it! A sock and a half in a week. I’ve been participating in #sockweek2021. The challenge is to knit or crochet a sock during Shark Week. I cast on Sunday morning and was able to bind of Thursday evening. Friday morning I cast on the second sock. I have until midnight tonight to finish it, but I’m happy completing the one. It’s the fastest I’ve ever knit a sock. But, I didn’t work on anything else this week, lol. 

Details on the yarn are limited. It was purchased at Rhinebeck many years ago.  It’s Socks That Rock, in an unknown color way as I lost the label. The socks were Knit on size 1 needles, magic loop cuff down.  I followed Crazy Sock Lady’s plain vanilla pattern.   

There has been no other progress on projects this week. But I did receive my Shark week pen order. So here are some fun pens to look at. :)

A Year of Projects: Week 2/52

 Mostly socks, with a penguin thrown in. 

The bomb pop socks have received the most attention this week. It was a crazy week and plain vanilla is what has been needed.  I am loving how the yarn is working up on this one. I’m at the gusset and hoping to finish this one this week.

I was able to get a bit of quiet time before everyone was up one morning. I took advantage of that and worked on my Morning Coffee Socks. I’ve recently discovered the Crazy Sock Lady’s patterns and love them. They are so easy to follow. I’m making this one with yarn from The Mermaid 

Yarn Company. It’s a sparkle yarn, I’m enjoying how it gives a little pop to the pattern. 

We had a crafting day this week due to a lot of rain from Tropical Storm Elsa. My daughter wanted to do some needlefelting.  I was able to finish a penguin. 

Today is the first day of Sock Shark Week. Found some blue yarn and cast on my cuff during the cast on party. The challenge is to knit a sock in a week. We’ll see how that goes. 

A Year of Projects 2021-2022

 Jumping in and trying this again. 

This summer I’m participating in Crazy Sock Lady’s Summer Sock Camp. It runs from June 1st to August 31st. I finished a pair of socks in June and a second  pair yesterday.  My goal is to knit 5 pairs by August 31st.  I’ve got 2 pairs in progress and started another this morning. 

Bomb Pop Socks

In addition, I’ve got 3 pairs in progress from before June 1st. Those won’t count for camp, but I’d like to have them finished by the end of the summer as well. Two pairs just need heels.  I tried my first afterthought heel before sock camp began. 

In addition to the sock knitting, my daughter and I will be dyeing some yarn and trying some basket weaving. September 1st I plan to bring out the sweater knitting. 

Pictures of our last yarn dyeing.  I started a pair of socks with the blue and red yarn this morning. 

I’m going to put this in list form for the first quarter and update in September. 

July, August, September Project list:

1. Bomb Pop Socks

2. Morning Coffee Socks

3. Striped scrappy socks

4. Yarn dyeing

5. Neon socks

6. H’s socks

7. Pink/yellow socks

8. Basketweaving

9. Weekender sweater

10. Gray cardigan

A Year of Projects: Week 12

 It feels like Fall has arrived!  I'm being told that is a "false Fall" and Summer weather will soon return.  But for now, I will take it, because I get to wear my sweater today!! We found apple cider in the store this week, so part of today's fun is making apple cider donuts.  I'm looking forward to a doughnut and hot cider as a treat today!

It has been another slow week crafting wise.  The good news is that we are settling into our school groove, so I should be able to get some more crafting time in the near future.  I haven't decided on my next project, but I have narrowed it down to two sweaters.  I have to swatch for one and then make a decision.  The other is an unfinished object from a few years ago.  At this point I am either going to finish it or frog it.  

The stocking is almost finished.  My goal is to finish it up today.  I'll be back later to update with pictures :) my daughter is calling me to go hang out with her and the chicks in the backyard right now.

A Year of Progress Week 10

 And just like that, she missed three weeks.  I feel like time is flying by.  I know it has been three weeks since I've posted, but it doesn't FEEL like it has been three weeks.  Needless to say it's been a bit crazy around here: homeschooling, gardening, chicken tending... oh my!

The good news is, the sweater is done!  (Yes, those ends have been woven in, I just didn't get a chance to take another picture. :)). This was my first colorwork sweater.  It was easier than I thought it would be.  I look forward to making another.  I'm not sure it will be made of wool though.  We'll see how much I get to wear this one down here.

Hubby took vacation the last week in August and we were able to sneak away for a few days.  Due to everything going on, we decided a few days camping would be the best fit for our family.  I was able to rent a cabin at a Yogi Bear Campground and we went mid-week.  It was wonderful!  Not too many people, sign ups were required for the pool, and all activities were respectful of social distancing.  It was nice to spend some time outdoors and get the chance to relax.

While camping I started a stocking for myself.  I made one for my husband and daughter years ago. Now that we've got an actual mantle I figured it was a good time to complete the set.  It is almost done. I should be able to finish it up this week.  I have no idea what is next.  Looking forward to spending some time on Ravelry to figure it out.  Top ideas right now are the Six day Kid Blanket or a cardigan.  Time will tell...