New Yarn Club!

So a little while ago, I heard tell of a new yarn club...one that is hailing from Sunnydale.....well I knew I wanted to be a part of the Patrol....but they weren't taking just anybody...no the Almighty Random Number Generator was making the choices!  And lucky me, I got in on Patrol 1! I'm a member of the Scooby Gang!

This club comes from two fellow Nerd Warriors....KnottyLa of DizzyBlonde Studios and Heather of Mad Color....I was excited!

So I was waiting for that package, I knew it should have arrived...and it hadn't.....Christmas morning the Hubs throws me a package and says, "You can hit me."  It was the yarn!  It had come the previous day and he had snagged it and wrapped it...jerk!

It is inspired by Season 1 - Episode 6 - The Pack...and is called "Leader of the Pack"  The colors match Xander's sweater so well!  I like brown, so this is good for me...and it is squishy...It's 400 yards of an 80/10/10 MCN blend....also included was a stitch marker

ETA:  if you don't understand the references, it's a Buffy the Vampire Slayer Club.....

Yankee Candle Factory

On Saturday I headed to Deerfield, Mass with my sister and nephews.  There were six of us, Lynn, her husband, Vito, Marco, Christian and Ali.  If you read my blog this summer, you are all familiar with Christian, he was on the road trip with me.  Ali is an exchange student living with my sister from Pakistan, really, really intelligent kid!  And Marco, love Marco..last time I was at the World's Trade Center was with Marco.  I had taken him to New York for his birthday in March 2001 and we went up in the Towers.

We had a ball...but it was a long day..and the place is very LARGE!  We ended the night with dinner at Zen, an Asian Fusion restaurant in Northampton, Mass.

The Museum part

They have a line of knit inspired ware

There was lots of picture taking, shopping, candle making, Santa photobombing

 ....and then eating....

YOP: Week # 52 Year End Wrap-Up

The first box is my original list, the second, my list as of last week:

WIPS: Crochet: Mission Falls Poncho: (Started 2006) Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden) Aran Blanket: (Started 2009): two panels done Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done Larry’s Feet Blankets: (December 2012) Betty Shrug: I don’t know how long I’ve been working on this, but it only has an arm and a border to go. Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done. Knit: Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done Socks: Kai-Mei: (April 2012) Beaded Camo Socks: (July 2012) Scarves/Shawls: Splashy Flowers: (May 2011) Larry Stashbuster Scarf (2012) Breath of Fresh Air Scarf: (April 2011) Creekbed: (Feb 2012) Bags: Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in Really Big Bag (2011): Stashbuster Charity: Hats: Misc: Sunflower: (August 2012) Need a back and to felt Sparkie the Monster: (Jan 2013) Gifts:  Nerd Wars:  T7R1: WIMs: Projects I have the yarn and the pattern Sweaters: Saturn Sweater:  Dissertation for T7 Baroque Tabard Tunic Test Pattern Sweater Car Coat Cowl Vest Shawls/Scarves/Cowls  Trellis Shawl Bedford Springs Shawl Rockefeller Wholehearted The Age of Brass and Steam West End Scarf  Gathering Leaves Alhambra Petal Edge Scarf Filippi Scarf  Firefly Scarf Fraxinus Danube Cowl Simple City Fire and Ice Multnomah Leylines  Hats and Mitts Hermione Hearts Ron Nehalm Hat Felicity Stellar Cabled Headband Fetching Cayunga Hat and Mitts set Preposterous Ruffled hat and mitts Evergreen Gloves Socks: Memento Mori Rubus Siren Socks Hey, have I Ever Steered You Wrong? Savory Lace Socks Autumn Flame Firebird Bags: Sarape Shopper Pleated Purse

WIPS: Crochet: Mission Falls Poncho: (Started 2006) Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden) Aran Blanket: (Started 2009): two panels done Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done Betty Shrug: I don’t know how long I’ve been working on this, but it only has an arm and a border to go. Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done. The Trellis Shawl (February 2013) - frogged 3/9/13 Orange cotton wrap (started ?) Stashbuster cowl - frogged 12/14/13 11/17 Hats for students completed   - completed 1, added 4, but frogged 2 Knit: Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done Yellow Brick Road (11/17/13) - frogged Dr. Who Scarf (11/23/13) - added 2, frogged 1 Socks: Kai-Mei: (April 2012) Hermione's Everyday Socks (January 2013) A Heart Full of Love: Johnny's Socks (January 2013) Adele socks: (April 2012) Faces in the Wallpaper (Sept 2013) - added 4, finished 1 (but it still needs fixing) Scarves/Shawls: Splashy Flowers: (May 2011) Larry Stashbuster Scarf (2012) Breath of Fresh Air Scarf: (April 2011) Bedford Springs Shawl    - finished 1, added 1 Bags: Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in - finished 1 Charity:    Hats:  - doesn't count, as I make these all the time Misc: Sunflower: (August 2012) Need a back and to felt Water Bottle Cozy - finished 1, added 1 Gifts:  Owl for Rose  Hats for Beckett  2 Stargate keychains  1 pair Stargate earrings   17 student hats - added several, finished a few   WIMs: Projects I have the yarn and the pattern   Sweaters: Baroque Tabard Tunic Test Pattern Sweater Car Coat Cowl Vest   - finished 1 Shawls/Scarves/Cowls  Rockefeller Wholehearted West End Scarf  Gathering Leaves Alhambra Petal Edge Scarf Filippi Scarf  Firefly Scarf  Fraxinus  Danube Cowl Simple City Fire and Ice Multnomah Leylines  Holden Shawlette Daybreak Trellis Shawl    - finished 1, added 3 Hats and Mitts Hermione Hearts Ron Nehalm Hat Felicity Stellar Cabled Headband Fetching   Cayunga Hat and Mitts set Preposterous Ruffled hat and mitts Evergreen Gloves Sheepy Cuffs Twisted Rib Mitts and Hat - finished 0, added 3 Socks: Memento Mori Rubus Siren Socks Hey, Have I Ever Steered You Wrong? Savory Lace Socks Autumn Flame Firebird Rescue Me, Chin Boy and Show Me the Stars Twin peaks - finished 0, added 2 Bags: Sarape Shopper Pleated Purse   Circular Felted Bag  - finished 0, added 1

Completed Projects for the year:
YTD Completed:
Crown for Natalie: 1/5/2013 - crochet
Sparkie the Monster: 1/21/2013 - crochet
Casseiopia Shawl:  2/9/13 - crochet
Crikey Cowl: 2/10/13 - crochet
Feet Blankets: 2/12/13  - crochet
Eros the Owl: 2/16/13 - crochet
Ladder Up: 2/20/13 - crochet
Chocolate Peep: 2/26/13 - crochet
Czech Republic flag: 2/27/13 NW - crochet
So Cazh Socks: 3/9/13 - knit
Deep Blue Seas 3/23/13 - crochet
Spock bear  3/23/13 NW - crochet
Stargate Keychain 3/24/13 - crochet
Noodle Baby Hat 3/24/13 NW - crochet
Bunnies, It Must Be Bunnies 3/30/13 - crochet
Beaded Camo Sock 4/7/13 (technically done, but need some fixing) - knit
Green Spring  Dissertation for T7  4/21/13 - crochet
Daffodil 4/27/13 - crochet
Cotton Baby Hat 4/25/13 - crochet
Citrus Flower Hat 4/28/13 - crochet
Cute Critter War: Dragon, Mameshiba, Monkey and Mike (May 2013) - crochet
Demented Owl and Mameshiba (CCW2 May 2012)  - crochet
Monkey for Alexis  6/8/13 (NW) - crochet
Car blanket for me  6/15/13 (NW)  - crochet
5 Monkey Head Keychains (June 19, 2013) - crochet
Snorkle (June 19, 2013) - crochet
Wilkey's Cowboy Hat  (June 27, 2013) NW - crochet
Spring Lariat (June 27, 2013) NW - rochet
Plum Pudding Starghan (June 25, 2013) NW - crochet
Christian's Beanie (July 18, 2013) NW - crochet
Jello Flowers (July 21, 2013) NW - crochet
Black Beanie (July 31, 2013) - crochet
Bag Hat (August 6, 2013) (frogged) - crochet
Cedar Leaf Shawlette (August 2013) NW - knit
Spring Buds (August 2013) NW - knit
Eyeglass case (August 2013) - crochet
Charity hat (August 2013) NW  - crochet
Lacy Mitt Gloves (August 2013)  - crochet
The 8 Beanie (August 2013) NW - crochet
Ice Cream Cozy (August 2013) NW  - crochet
Mice (September 2013) - crochet
Ali Winter Hat (9/21/13) - crochet
Phillip Beanie (9/25/2013) - crochet
The Lucy Hat (9/29/13) - knit
Monkey Hat (10/5/2013) - crochet
Age of Brass and Steam (10/6/13) - knit
Really Big Bag (10/13/13) - crochet
Todd the Wraith (10/27/13) (NW) - crochet
Aurora Mitts (10/27/2013) - crochet
Minions (11/17/13) - crochet
Simple Hat (11/17/13) - crochet
Cushy Cowl (11/18/13) - crochet
Lucy Hat 11/23/13 (NW) - knit
Katniss Trial Cowl (11/21/13) - crochet
Dragon's Egg Bag (11/29/13) (swap) - crochet
Mom's Lucy (11/27/13) (NW) - knit
Red Bow Headband (11/27/13) (NW) - crochet
Katniss Cowl/Vest (11/30/13) - crochet
Stargate Keychains (11/30/13) (swap) - crochet
Will's Minion Hat (12/22/13) - crochet
Amber Hat (12/26/13) NW - crochet
Dragon Bookmark (12/26/13) NW - crochet
Wonky Creekbed (12/26/13)NW - knit
11/17 Hats  (ongoing) - crochet

Overwhelmingly, I have made hats, 32 at last count, next would be critters of some sort, 23 - 1 being a bookmark.  I did not include all of the charity hats I made.

I knit my first shawl/shawlette..and actually made two!  9 cowls/scarves/shawlettes, 2 pair of fingerless gloves. One sweater and various other objects, crowns, keychains, including finishing a small afghan.

Pretty productive year, even if I didn't stick to my list that well.

Next year?  I'd like to try knitting my first sweater..I also have 2 crochet sweaters that I have the yarn and patterns for that I'd like to start....I want to finish my socks and start at least 2 more pair..and I'd like to get at least one more knitted shawl done...but there will be more on that next week with my list for 2014.

What Was Finished this Week?

I have three finishes this week:

Another Minion hat for a nephew, I did not follow a pattern for this one.

A dragon bookmark

This was for a Nerd Wars challenge...I wanted to make a balaclava in the shape of a dragon, but ran out of time...I'm still going to make it, but now I don't need to rush...and it is for me...I do bus suty outside and it gets cold!

And finally the Wonky Creekbed scarf is done!   It is stretched out drying right now, bt I'll post a teaser shot...

I'll get a proper photo session with it later....although I will say, having now looked at it...the colors remind me of bacon....






What did you finish this week?  Or where your holidays too busy to craft?
Wisdom Begins in Wonder and Natural Suburbia

Something's Soaking

The Wonky Scarf is finished.......

Twas the Night Before Christmas ......in Crochet

Have you seen this book?  I ran across it while shopping yesterday, and, of course, had to get it...

It's written by Mitsuki Hoshi, her website is in Japanese, but I've seen some of her other designs in other books...

Twas the Night Before Christmas

by Clement C. Moore

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; 

 

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds;

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;

And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,

Gave a lustre of midday to objects below,

When what to my wondering eyes did appear,

But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny rein-deer, 

 

With a little old driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment he must be St. Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blixen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;

So up to the housetop the coursers they flew

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too—

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; 

 

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a pedler just opening his pack.

His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples, how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath;

He had a broad face and a little round belly

That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight—

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

  

All of the characters she created for the book

 

and on that note, I hope everyone is having a fantastic holiday season!

YOP: #51

Almost there!!!!!!  I probably won't change my list much, even though I didn't get to most of it....the fact is I have the patterns and the yarn for almost everything on the list..it's just time needed to complete them...

I'm not sure how much I actually made from the original list, but I do have quite a list of finished projects, so I'm proud of myself for that....and I have the next 12 days off...so plenty of time to finish up some others...

This week I worked on hats...I managed to get 11 out of 17 ...and will make the other 6 over break....

I also worked on my Creekbed...and realized yesterday that I kept skipping part of the pattern, a repeat when I am done with this part...it's suppose to be double the width I am making....it will not be...I won't be repeating it...so I'm on the last 7 rows...it is riddled, seriously riddled, with mistakes...it is now my Wonky Scarf.....now that I am really aware of the mistakes, I don't want to do another side, that might come out better and then it'll be the Lopsided Scarf....besides it is long and I am short, so I'll have to wrap it a couple of times and too wide is not good for me....

This is what I did most of the day.....

YTD Completed:
Crown for Natalie: 1/5/2013
Sparkie the Monster: 1/21/2013
Casseiopia Shawl:  2/9/13
Crikey Cowl: 2/10/13
Feet Blankets: 2/12/13 
Eros the Owl: 2/16/13
Ladder Up: 2/20/13
Chocolate Peep: 2/26/13
Czech Republic flag: 2/27/13 NW
So Cazh Socks: 3/9/13
Deep Blue Seas 3/23/13
Spock bear  3/23/13 NW
Stargate Keychain 3/24/13
Noodle Baby Hat 3/24/13 NW
Bunnies, It Must Be Bunnies 3/30/13
Beaded Camo Sock 4/7/13 (technically done, but need some fixing)
Green Spring  Dissertation for T7  4/21/13
Daffodil 4/27/13
Cotton Baby Hat 4/25/13
Citrus Flower Hat 4/28/13
Cute Critter War: Dragon, Mameshiba, Monkey and Mike (May 2013)
Demented Owl and Mameshiba (CCW2 May 2012) 
Monkey for Alexis  6/8/13 (NW)
Car blanket for me  6/15/13 (NW)  
5 Monkey Head Keychains (June 19, 2013)
Snorkle (June 19, 2013)
Wilkey's Cowboy Hat  (June 27, 2013) NW
Spring Lariat (June 27, 2013) NW
Plum Pudding Starghan (June 25, 2013) NW
Christian's Beanie (July 18, 2013) NW
Jello Flowers (July 21, 2013) NW
Black Beanie (July 31, 2013)
Bag Hat (August 6, 2013) (frogged)
Cedar Leaf Shawlette (August 2013) NW
Spring Buds (August 2013) NW
Eyeglass case (August 2013)
Charity hat (August 2013) NW  
Lacy Mitt Gloves (August 2013)  
The 8 Beanie (August 2013) NW
Ice Cream Cozy (August 2013) NW  
Mice (September 2013)
Ali Winter Hat (9/21/13)
Phillip Beanie (9/25/2013)
The Lucy Hat (9/29/13) 
Monkey Hat (10/5/2013)
Age of Brass and Steam (10/6/13)
Really Big Bag (10/13/13)
Todd the Wraith (10/27/13) (NW)
Aurora Mitts (10/27/2013)
Minions (11/17/13)
Simple Hat (11/17/13)
Lucy Hat 11/23/13 (NW)
Katniss Trial Cowl (11/21/13)
Dragon's Egg Bag (11/29/13) (swap)
Mom's Lucy (11/27/13) (NW)
Red Bow Headband (11/27/13) (NW)
Katniss Cowl/Vest (11/30/13)
Stargate Keychains (11/30/13) (swap)
WIPS:
Crochet:
Mission Falls Poncho: (Started 2006)
Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden)
Aran Blanket: (Started 2009): two panels done
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done
Betty Shrug: I don’t know how long I’ve been working on this, but it only has an arm and a border to go.
Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done.
The Trellis Shawl (February 2013) - frogged 3/9/13
Orange cotton wrap (started ?)
Stashbuster cowl - frogged 12/14/13
11/17 Hats for students completed
 
Knit:
Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done
Yellow Brick Road (11/17/13) - frogged
Dr. Who Scarf (11/23/13)

Socks:
Kai-Mei: (April 2012)
Hermione's Everyday Socks (January 2013)
A Heart Full of Love: Johnny's Socks (January 2013)
Adele socks: (April 2012)
Faces in the Wallpaper (Sept 2013)

Scarves/Shawls:
Splashy Flowers: (May 2011)
Larry Stashbuster Scarf (2012)
Breath of Fresh Air Scarf: (April 2011)
Creekbed: (Feb 2012) ( restarted 10/20/13)
Bedford Springs Shawl   

Bags:
Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in

Charity: 
  Hats: 

Misc:
Sunflower: (August 2012) Need a back and to felt
Water Bottle Cozy

Gifts: 

Owl for Rose

Hats for Beckett 

2 Stargate keychains 

1 pair Stargate earrings  

17 student hats
 
WIMs: Projects I have the yarn and the pattern
  Sweaters:
Baroque Tabard Tunic
Test Pattern Sweater
Car Coat
Cowl Vest
 
Shawls/Scarves/Cowls 
Rockefeller  
Wholehearted
West End Scarf 
Gathering Leaves
Alhambra
Petal Edge Scarf
Filippi Scarf 
Firefly Scarf   
Fraxinus   
Danube Cowl
Simple City
Fire and Ice
Multnomah
Leylines 
Holden Shawlette 
Daybreak
Trellis Shawl
   
Hats and Mitts  
Hermione Hearts Ron
Nehalm Hat
Felicity
Stellar
Cabled Headband
Fetching    
Cayunga Hat and Mitts set
Preposterous
Ruffled hat and mitts
Evergreen Gloves
Sheepy Cuffs
Twisted Rib Mitts and Hat

Socks:
Memento Mori
Rubus
Siren Socks
Hey, Have I Ever Steered You Wrong?
Savory Lace Socks
Autumn Flame
Firebird
Rescue Me, Chin Boy and Show Me the Stars
Twin peaks

Bags:
Sarape Shopper
Pleated Purse  
Circular Felted Bag 

11 Made...6 to go....

So I did get two more hats made....

I hung them up in the classroom and let them look at them for a day....

Then they randomly selected their hats...the 6 who did not get hats, got to put in a request for color..and I'm going to make them over the break...and I may mail them to the students, so they get a little fun in the mail....

So my hat making is not over...but I'm on a break at the moment....although I've been thinking of starting Almond Comfit for myself...the yarn is wound...

Hat WIP's

So this year, I have a small class...17....and most of the day I only have 13...as I teach a specialized program that the four other students do not need, so they go elsewhere for language arts. And I decided to make them hats for Christmas....I have now made 9....I am using scrap yarn..and they are all acrylic, as they will get banged around.....I don't think I'll get 8 more made in two nights.....but they will still get hats, it'll just be after the holiday.....

I have 10 girls and 7 boys, so most of the hats are girly colors...thankfully I have a lot of that yarn!

So 8 more to go.....

Joining in with Tami today....