loose pages

Another summer, another christmas.

2010-07-27T18:26:00.003-06:00

So. not much got completed last year. For a long time I didn't do *anything* because I felt so horrible. Also, lots of personal stuff going on this year. It's been a pretty miserable year so far, actually. But now it's almost August, time to start (almost) fresh. Ready? And here we go:

1. Wedding granny afghan (due ASAP) started
2. "Sprinkler" cross stitch (due November, to have time for lacing and framing for christmas)--link to the art, not the cross stitch
3. Caroline's "woodcliff" afghan (due November, for mailing)
4. Wool Eater afghan (due December)
5. Dad's sweater (SIGH)

If there's time:

6. Jayne hat
7. HP mittens

I have vacation next week, and I plan to bust out as much of the wedding afghan as possible. It's been hot and I don't want to do anything, but as it's making squares I might be okay.

Post-christmas reevaluation

2009-12-27T09:05:00.002-07:00

Things what must be done:

1. Jimmy (approx 15% done): due before February 4.
2. A Bevy of Bunnies: due February sometime, but must have time to lace and frame.
3. Jayne Hat: due ASAP, before April.
4. HP related something (not Hermione Hat?): due ASAP, before March.
5. Bulky yarn afghan: due ASAP.
6. Wedding afghan: due June.
7. Wool Eater afghan (now Beth's housewarming): due ASAP.
8. Handmade gift: due christmas 10 (might as well add it to the list, I have to figure out what to make.).

This list, it worries me.

Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy

2009-12-03T23:55:00.002-07:00

So far, so good. Okay, so I'm like 8 rows into it, but so far, it's MUCH easier than all those cables. I'd take pictures, but it's midnight. Tired now, so to bed.

Feeling semi-hopeful . . .

Gryffindor Set is complete!

2009-12-03T00:11:00.002-07:00

Pics coming later, but I just now finished weaving in the ends on sister's Gryffindor wristlets. I finished the fringe on the scarf earlier today. Yay!

There is a noticeable difference between the gloves--both in tension and all around quality of stitching. The second (red) glove is much nicer, though there's some laddering noticeable when the glove is stretched. The tension is much tighter than the first glove. I personally like the tension on the first glove, because it's a little more relaxed and comfortable, but what are you going to do? I need to work on my making my binding off looser, as well.

If I have time, I'm going to make another yellow glove. *If* I have time.

Status Update

2009-11-29T09:38:00.002-07:00

Change of plans. Beck is no more. I just can't handle doing all those cables, they were killing me and I kept having to rip. SO. Say hello to Jimmy. Interestingly, no one in ravelry is doing Jimmy. Beck is definitely hugely popular, but there are three things that Jimmy has that Beck doesn't: 1. No Cables, 2. No half-zip, and 3. NO CABLES. Jimmy is actually a basket weave pattern, and I've done those before (okay, in crochet, but I understand the concept!). I'm gonna need some luck to finish in time.

Secondly, I've finished one of the Gryffindor Gloves for the sister. It didn't turn out too badly, for a first try. If I've got time, I'll make another one. Plans today are to knit the second one. After I finish the second one I'm going to add the fringe to the scarf, which is waiting patiently, having been stitched, woven, and blocked.

Almost done with one thing, at least!

2009-11-14T23:21:00.001-07:00

Tonight I finished stitching the Gryffindor scarf. I've had some of the ends woven in, but halfway through stopped doing it as I went, so I'm working on weaving in ends tonight and tomorrow, and I'll add the fringe tomorrow. WOO. Pic when I finish.

Checking in

2009-11-08T09:54:00.000-07:00

I've been knitting a storm on this stupid scarf and it's not done yet. This is a short "weekend" for me. At work I closed last night, and I open on Monday, so my weekend consists of today. But I'm going over to Laramie for the day to help my sister with her new house. I'm planning to knit in the car on the way there and back (thank goodness mom is going). Also there's a hockey game on tonight and I have to knit during that. The plan is to have the scarf finished this week. I said that last week, but I really mean it this time.

Beck is going nowhere. Crap.

Gryffindor Scarf

2009-10-21T23:36:00.001-06:00

I haven't crocheted or knitted in *months*. It's very pathetic. That's what happens when I set deadlines, though. *headdesk*

Anyway, because it's the middle of October, I've decided to bite the bullet and get to work on a christmas project. No, not Beck (omg, I'm totally screwed with that), but the Harry Potter scarf. I've worked on it 2 days in a row, woo! I've decided that I'm going to do at least one block of color per day until the bastard is finished. Actually, I'm sort of hoping to have it done this weekend, as I'm off. Wish me luck!

Beck is started!!

2009-08-25T21:39:00.002-06:00

Yes, it deserves multiple exclamation points, because holy cow, this sweater is going to be hard, and it's almost September already.

Anyway, I cast on today and have thus far managed not to foul up 2 whole rows. I may or may not attempt a third row, but my fingers are sore from clutching the needles (it's a LOT of cabling, holy crap).

I also did a couple rows of the gryffindor scarf, and have a total of 8 stripes (supposedly it's supposed to have 19, but I don't know, I think it's going to be more than that). So I officially have 2 (big) Christmas presents started. Yay!

Another day, another deadline

2009-08-19T13:43:00.005-06:00

My aunt just announced she is expecting in March, which is *fabulous*. But now I have another project and due date! My mom is planning to quilt a baby blanket, so I decided to do a cross stitch instead of an afghan. And this is what I chose today at Ewe Count. It's called A Bevy of Bunnies, from The Sweetheart Tree. I had to darken the picture so you could even see what it was, but essentially it is all white stitching (with a small amount of beading) on a grey-blue fabric and a single silver charm. It's very elegant, which is definitely my aunt (I hope!) There are "b" letters throughout the cross stitch, but I'm going to wait until the baby is born/named and add the baby's initial instead. At the bottom I will add the full name and birthdate.

What's the best thing to do when faced with a deadline?

2009-08-02T22:51:00.004-06:00

Start something new, of course! It's a small project, at least, the diagonal band Nehelam hat from Oat Couture. I'm using alpaca yarn company classic alpaca (dk) in a sea green color. It's so pretty. Here's a picture of what I've gotten done on the band:

Not much, but it's on size 5 needles, which is new for me. I'm hoping (ha, that I'm even writing this is a total jinx) to have this done August 21st.

Still no movement on the project front. Dire circumstances.

2009-07-25T00:21:00.002-06:00

Okay, so I exaggerate. No dire circumstances here.

Work has been kicking my butt this week, especially Thursday. And today was the first day (I'm pretty sure) that the temperature went above 90 this summer. So yeah, no yarn work for me. That's not going to stop me from going to Lambspun tomorrow with Mom and a friend of hers, though! I'm not looking for stash enhancement--the last time I was there I bought 4 skeins of Summer Tweed--but if something calls to me I'm not gonna deny it. Today was payday.

Shiny new (well, sorta) digs!

2009-07-20T20:51:00.003-06:00

I've done some remodeling here! This spring I learned how to knit, WAY overcommitted myself to handmade christmas presents, and am now in the "I don't want to craft" funk. So I spiffed up the place, hoping for some inspiration. Here's a list of projects I've got either in progress or I *should* have in progress (all links go to Ravelry):

Sweater for Dad (xmas 09)
Sweater for Mom (birthday 10)
Gryffindor scarf and fingerless gloves for Beth (xmas 09)
Hermione hat (xmas 09)
Jayne hat (xmas 09)
Wool Eater Afghan (for me, so obv. will never get finished)
Central Park Hoodie for me (again, WNGF)
Irish Hiking Scarf (WNGF)
A Bevy of Bunnies cross stitch (March 10)

So yes, lots on my plate, not a lot of motivation. But then, it's summer! Who wants to deal with yarn when it's 85 degrees outside? Go team!