Episode 20 - UFO Parade!!

So this week the episode is what feels like forever long. I show ALL my UFOs- Unfinished Objects. I took pictures of them all too. This week is just massive. But I have a reason for doing this- accountability. I want to show everything that I tuck away because I've gotten tired or bored of it and bring it out into the light of day so that it can get some fresh air, and if I've shown you everything that I am working on, then maybe I will also be more inclined to finish them. That is my ultimate goal, to have no more UFOs by the end of the year. I am also on a yarn diet. I am trying to focus myself on the things that I already have and have started instead of always jumping ahead to the next biggest and brightest thing. That being said, enjoy the show!

First, there are a couple different categories of UFOs, first there are the UFOs that I have inherited in some way (mostly through thrift store purchases), that will ultimately either be frogged or finished and given to charity. Then there are the UFOs that I have personally started, but are still on their way to charity when they are finished. Finally, there are the UFOs that I have started for either me and my loved ones and they have been caught up on some detail somewhere along the way. So without further ado, let us start with the first category. UFOs that I didn't start, but will either frog or finish and give to charity.

The next category of UFOs are the projects that I have either started or worked a substantial amount on, and are going to end up somewhere for charity. Unsurprisingly I have several blankets in this category, but also a sweater for the Knit for Kids charity.

First a granny ripple afghan.

The infamous Knit for Kids sweater that is just missing one arm.

A garter stitch baby blanket made with skinny yarn on small needles.

An afghan that was started in my college dorm days and I honestly have no idea why it didn't get done. I might have run out of yarn, but that is clearly not a problem now, really I have no excuse.

A ripple with Lion Brand Homespun yarn, I just really don't like the way the yarn behaves so I have been avoiding the whole thing.

My nuts for neon blanket for Project Linus that I have started working on, but got set aside, no real reason. 

Then we arrive at the last category of UFOs, the projects that I have started for either me or my loved ones, and that have languished because of some flaw in either the design, or a difficulty with the pattern, or a conflict between the needles and the project.

First there is the back to a chunky sweater, where the large needles hurt my hands, and since I was improvising the pattern, I was unsure of what to do next.

Then a cowl that I have been working on, but got stymied on because of the trepidation of doing that much kitchener stitch again to finish it up. 

A purse done in a bobble ripple that was just a little too fiddly.

A shawl that had really slick alpaca yarn and slick metal needles that had an eyelet row feature and it was hard to keep the stitches from just slipping off.

A ameniko cat that just needs sewing together, but I am not much of one for sewing, I prefer the stitching part of any project.

Two hats with the same story, just in need of a little stitching to be done.

A tunic poncho with metallic yarn that was worked with skinny yarn with a big hook and also got kind of fiddly to work with.

A construction truck blanket squares that show that I am an imperfect knitter because the intarsia is lumpy.

A Curls shawl from the Curls book by Hunter Hammersen. I didn't like the color when it was knit up, and even though I am almost done with the shawl I was never able to memorize the stitch repeat on it, so I always had to follow the chart, which gets tedious.

While I was going through all these UFOs in the podcast I pull out a little hat that I have been not working on, and remember that I was working it using the Portuguese knitting technique. I try to demonstrate this technique during my podcast, but I am afraid it is a bit of a failure, and really you just watch me knitting, and can't tell that I am doing anything differently. Also, I haven't really knit on the podcast to show you how I knit normally, so showing you how Portuguese knitting is different is kind of a moot point when you don't have anything to compare it to. Sorry! So, as promised here is a video tutorial by someone who knows what they are doing.

Now onto the WIPs, which I am including in the things that I would like to get finished this year. At the end of the year I would like to start with a clean slate. Honestly, to be completely unrealistic I would like everything off the needles at the end of my yarn diet, which is when school gets out, so I can work on whatever new projects I want to during the summer, and cast on all the things!!! Anyways, there is a lot of lace this week, I think I have just been in the lace knitting mood.

First I worked on my mitered square scrap blanket a lot this week, and added 15 squares!

Then, I started a semi-circular shawl worked on 2.5 needles, and my grandma's Christmas slipper socks, because I need to get those done pretty soon.

I also started a Tunisian crochet cowl with some yarn that is similar to Noro, but not quite.

Then there is the lace baby blanket that I am making as a keepsake, although I'm not sure who it will end up going too, I am enjoying working on it. The pattern is from Lace 101 One Skein Wonders book. I really love the entire 101 One Skein Wonders series.

I am also working on a lace scarf, just as a relaxing knitting project, with mystery sock yarn from a local craft supplies consignment shop, worked on US Size 3 needles.

Then there is the ever popular neon cowl that I am making out of Done Roving Frolicking Feet and Madeline Tosh Edison Bulb. I am working alternating seed stitch and eyelet rows with the different colors, and have two more stripes to go and then I will be done.

I also have stash enhancement this week, but mostly because it was Christmas this past week! I got needles and hooks with money from my grandparents, and I am really excited about them, I mean who wouldn't be?

I also inherited yarn from my knitting group, it's sad that this lady passed, but I will put her sock yarn to good use!

And last but not least, the best stash enhancement of all, I got a new quilt from my mommy! I love it so much. The colors are all my favorites, done in a gradient, and then the grey and black squares have different writing and math all over them. It is definitely my quilt, and I love it!

I hope that 2015 was a great year. I look forward to seeing everyone's New Year's resolutions, and Have a wonderful New Year! See you in 2016!!

Episode 19 - Merry Christmas!!

This is my Christmas special, only there is not really anything special about it. It is just me sitting and talking as usual, with a little thought of the week that is about Christmas. Otherwise, it's business as usual.

This week is just a quick hello, since today we are having our family Christmas open house. So, I didn't really have time for pictures, sorry. I did take one picture though, and that was of my five pairs of finished slipper socks that are going to my cousins this year for Christmas. I did them all in the same yarn, just different colorways, and I really like how they turned out. I am thinking of writing up this pattern, and publishing it the same time that I publish my Not Quite Vanilla Socks pattern, but we'll see how well that all turns out. I have the draft of the pattern worked up, there was just something weird going on with some of my numbers, so I am test knitting it myself to make sure that it all works up before I publish it, that is unless some of you out there would like to test knit it, I would be more than happy to send along a copy your way!

This week I ended up coloring a lot to help me deal with the blues. It worked. I even ended up coloring when I went to church on Wednesday morning with my grandma, the leader handed out coloring sheets for everyone to work on while she did her lesson. I found that coloring helped me destress and focus. My grandmother was saying that she has seen on TV that it is as good as meditating for your brain and emotions. This article from the Huffington Post backs up what she was saying. This is the coloring sheet that I worked on. It's from the post card coloring book Secret Garden Postcards by Johanna Basford. I really like her work and think that it is a very relaxing activity. 

I hope that you all have a Merry Christmas and that you can find joy and happiness in the holiday season, no matter what holidays that you are celebrating. Thank you for watching, and reading and I will see you next week where I will lay out my plans for the New Year!!

Episode 18 - You're on my Wavelength

This week we were joined once again by the marvelous madmadre a.k.a. my mother a.k.a. LoriAnn. We talked a lot about knitting and crochet, mostly crochet. She had several finished projects from the past year that she showed, and I had two finished projects from this past week. I hope you enjoy this episode, and sorry if it seems like we are mumbling sometimes.

This is my mom's Ravatar, so you can know what she looks like if you see her out in the wild! The two projects that I finished this week were my third pair of slipper socks for Christmas that I am going to give to some special people in my life. They are made out of Classic Heritage Tapestry, which is a Worsted self-striping yarn, but I forgot to keep track of the colorways. I think it might be discontinued, since it was on the clearance rack of my lys. I used US size 8 needles, and worked from the top down in just a simple sock, they may look kind of small, but the special people in my life have small feet, even though they are full grown. 

The second project that I finished this week was my Not Quite Vanilla Socks, that I am working on writing up the pattern for. I have it all formatted and figured out, I just need to work out a couple bugs on the heel, because it's not looking right on paper, and I don't want to send out a glitchy pattern! I will be posting it on Ravelry when I finish, but since it is my first pattern I am going to be sending it out for free. I worked them on US size 1 needles, and had 72 stitches around, so it was a pretty tight gauge, but I want them to last a long time. I used a mystery yarn that I don't know where I got it from or what kind it was, so I don't have any really clues for replicating it. 

I also finished the first sock of my Christmas socks for myself that I am working to get finished by Christmas. They are made out of Cascade Yarns Heritage Prints, which is a self-striping sock yarn. It is in Christmas colors and very festive. They are a plain vanilla sock worked on US size 1 needles, with 72 stitches around. I am working them from the toe up and only have the very base of the toe done on the second sock.

This week I also worked on two Project Linus blankets. I am working on a granny ripple that I got at the thrift store half started, and am finishing it with yarn that came in the same bag. I guess it's kind of like a kit, only there are no instructions, and who knows if there will be enough yarn? At any rate it's fun to do and I like working the granny ripple stitch. Madmadre has not made a granny ripple blanket yet and we were saying that she is missing out and really needs to try it. I am using worsted acrylic yarn, most of it came without labels, and I am using a US size H hook.

I am also working on a blanket that I feel like calling an Orange Monster or an Orange Monstrosity. The orange is such a terrible color to look at in big swaths at a time. I am going to add just one more skein to the border, but this picture was taken before I added the plum like I show it in the podcast. Then I just have one more skein of the orange and black striped and then I am going to say that it's big enough and cast off. I am using Red Heart Super Saver in orange, Red Heart Super Saver in orange and black, and Caron Simply Soft in plum for this blanket. This blanket is also going to Project Linus.

Finally I am working on a cowl for myself. It is made out of Madeline Tosh Sock in Edison Bulb, and Done Roving in a colorway that I have forgotten. I am doing seed stitch with Done Roving and then an eyelet pattern with the Madeline Tosh. It is very bright and I plan to wear it with a black shirt so that it will really pop.

The thought of the week is that it is important to give generously to those around you, whether it be by something that you are physically giving, or just a positive thought or deed. Have a nice week and see you next week!