Year of Projects: Week 22

Wow, haven't done one of these since April!
June 3 - 9 goals:

It's the last two weeks of the school year...that is my goal!

So haven't completed any of the previous goals either, but have added some projects...

June goals:
- finish or close to finish the Kiss Me, I'm Irish
- figure out and work the Fish Kiss Lips heel on Keep Swimming
- possible start moving yarn totes up to attic room, after logging what's in each tote
- swatch for the Waves Tank, then knit
- pull out The Meandering Top and see where I'm at (it's been hibernating)
- cast on for the Tegna top, the Vintersol sweater and the Rainbow Cardi  

So here is my list,  I have added four projects, two pairs of socks and two hats for friends.

My fiend, Danae asked for a slouchy hat...so Sockhead is on the needles.  The yarn is from Peggy Jane and is called Farewell, as a tribute to her Mom, who dies of early onset Alzheimer's.  Danae's mom also died from complications of that disease.

 With this yarn, I am making a hat for my friend Deirdre, who is battling cancer.  I going to write HOPE on it...it's just the band, so no progress pictures yet.

Cloudy Rainbows...no pattern....my vanilla sock at the moment

And I cast these on while waiting for my husband in Northampton, Mass (yes the home of WEBS, although I bought this yarn at Northampton Wool, I had already bought plenty at WEBS!)

So I think that is me all caught up now, or as caught up as I'm going to be....

2018 Finished Projects:
Millennial Slytherin Mitts - Jan 6, 2018 
KG AMi - Jan 10, 2018
Shamrock Hat - Jan 20, 2018
Snowflake Hat - Jan 20, 2018
Elephant Reserve - February 11, 2018
Bunny Hat - February 12, 2018
Blue Wave - February 12, 2018
Folding Chairs - March 4, 2018
Jessica Jones 2 - March 7, 2018
Chicken Scratch Sock (test knit) - March 8, 2018 (only one sock)
Zombie Latte Socks (Zombie Valentine) - April 8. 2018
Fortune's Shawlette - April 11, 2018
Hudson Bay Socks - April 12, 2018
Chemo Hat for Deirdre - April 16, 2018 

Works In Progress:         
WIPS: Crochet:
Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden)-not sure he'd want this anymore, being a high school freshman and all, but I think I'll finish it for him. He is now a sophomore.
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done - I looked at this recently and I'm still liking it, so I'll keep it...maybe make it a baby blanket instead.
Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done. I still love the look of this.
Tabard Tunic (NW Diss 2/1/14) - Haven't made a final decision on this yet.
Throwback Poncho 2/19/17
 
Knit: 
Learn to Knit Afghan: (started 2010): 3 squares done, I put this in the giveaway yarn bags..not thrilled with colors....will use squares at school for water bottles..
Shark in the Woods (11/27/14)- I really love this, but it's a lot of cabling and I'm not a fan..about 1/2 done.
Vanilla fingerless mitts (12/25/15) - Think I'm going to frog and do different mitts or crochet them.
Zombie Vixen mitts (10/17/15)- why I may crochet the others...have these and still working on them, again cabling
Garter Path Shawlette (5/30/16)- I have frogged this a couple of times...
Swinging with Winkle (6/4/16)- I love this so much!  Just need to finish it! Added a few rows
Meandering Top (5/20/16) - Totally forgot about this...could get it done to wear in spring...I think I was debating whether to do the bottom ruffle...it's not a good placement for me...
Multnomah (8/21/16)- stuck on feather and fan edging, have too many stitches, in timeout. Stitch count continues to be off.
Bulky Cowl - this hurts my hands to work on...think I need slippery needles...
Splediferous Blanket - (4/15/17) Roald Dahl club, mitered blanket
Selbu Mitts - 3/26/18
Farewell Sockhead - 5/13/18
Hope for Falla - 5/4/18

Socks:
Kai-Mei: (April 2012) - has not changed, 
Carlos and Arne socks (July 3 2015)- using a 9" needle...keep losing stitches. 
Espalier Socks (Jan 10, 2016) - started and stopped...
Just Keep Swimming - (6/16/16) 
Muertos - 8/13/17
Games Socks- 2/15/18
I'm Irish - 3/3/18
Cloudy Rainbows - 5/11/18
Northampton Socks - 5/26/18
 
Scarves/Shawls:
Splashy Flowers: (May 2011) - add a motif scarf, don't see that being finished soon...
Light in Shadows (1/14/14) - I love this so much...need to start the new direction, so need to sit down and figure it out.. 
Willow Fields (9/6/14) - ran out of yarn, waiting on yarn 
My Shelly Valentine (2/10/16) - should finish for this year's Valentine's Day, yeah, that did not happen


Bags:
Beach Bag: (started May 2010)  Just needs lining sewn in, I used it this year without the lining...so may just call it a day on this.... 

 KAL/CALs: 
Fire and Blood (5/4/14) - not anytime soon
Outlander MKAL (8/8/14)  - possibility of finishing this..the yarn is so yummy

Stash Acquisition Saturday

Haven't done one of these since April 7!!!! And yes, I'm still busy and not blogging regularly.  One of the symptoms of my disease is fatigue and that has been plaguing me all week.  Also end-of-the-year teacher exhaustion...so just tired, beyond tired, this week...I took a half day on Thursday, as it was all I coule manage keeping myself upright.  But I had to finish administering some benchmark tests.

So my latest acquisition came in the mail this morning from Australia....it was a swap package....I joined a swap from a Facebook group and she and I are just being casual about it....this first swap was suppose to happen in February (LOL)

I received a moebius cowl, a bracelet of stitch markers, a cool pair of scissors and this lovely skein of yarn from Hello Parker Fibre Studio.  The label is handwritten, but I think it is a BFL, no color name.  Definitely my colors though!

Last week, we went to the Massachusetts Sheep and Wool.  To be honest, I was a bit underwhelmed this year.  There didn't seem to be too many vendors.  But I did buy some things for my Fibreshare partner and a few other things.

Water by Thea Colman (she has given permission to use her pictures) all money raised is going to Little Miss Flint, an 11 year old that is raising funds for the Flint water crisis.  So when I saw The Periwinkle Sheep was selling yarn for the hat and also donating half the proceeds, I snapped up a skein of their yarn Water

I also found a half skein for heels and a "practice" skein

Although this shows blue, it's a deep purple. It's also 70% merino/30% silk for only $12!!!!

Play at Life had this lovely gradient...again my colors...Called Acid Trail, it's her Skinny Scrumpet yarn which is a 80% merino/10% nylon/10% cashmere combo

We stopped at Webs on the way through.  I wanted to pick up some yarn for baby sweaters and see what they had for 9'/10' needles....

Then just picked up some fun yarn for me (and a skein or two for my Fibreshare partner)

I didn't realize this was a DK until I got home...but still loves it!

I have a white version with colorful flowers.  These flowers all have colorful beads.

I never leave WEBS without some MadTosh! This was in the warehouse..This is Dandelion in the color Conference.....

I also stopped by Northampton Wools and hung out while the Hubs was at the used music store,

Cast on a pair socks with this yarn while I waited for him....

A couple things came in the mail...Two Star Wars inspired yarnz...

And Also With You by The Wool Baron....inspired by May the 4th...(read her explanation)

And finally! Yoda from Must Stash Yarn!!

Okay, going to end this here...too tired to go on.....need a nap.....and this would be a VERY long post if I added all the ones I have bought the past couple of weeks....

In case anyone else wants to play..

I'm Alive

Hi all, yes, it's been a couple of weeks...

This was my May...and the 21st, I had to attend a Board meeting at 6:00 (lots of changes going on in our district) and on the 24th, I attended the District Wide Student Art Show at 6:30 because I had two students with pieces in the show. And on the 22cd and 23rd, I was home sick with a stomach virus (I was in bed with it the previous Saturday, had to get out of bed on Sunday to attend a confirmation).  It has been an absolutely CRAZY month.....and not only did I not have time to knit or crochet, I didn't have much desire.  I just wanted to sleep. After Field Day on Friday, I came home and took TWO naps! 

But I've also gone to the New Hampshire Sheep and Wool and the Massachusetts Sheep and Wool, with a side trip to WEBS.

So I will catch up with my linkups this week...we have three more weeks of school, but it shouldn't be this crazy...just have to finish correcting things and get my grades in....and then to pack my classroom for the summer.....

I didn't take any pictures at the Mass Sheep and Wool yesterday, but the Hubs took some of the sheep...and some baby goats we met at a roadside stand in Massachusetts.

And cast on a pair of socks while waiting for the Hubs outside of Northampton Wools yesterday

Enjoy the Dance Party from Field Day

Stitch Along: Week 18

I have done absolutely nothing, nada, zilch!  I do plan on casting on a pair of socks to work on tomorrow.  We have the annual baseball game that all Grades 3-8 attend.....not sure I'll actually work on the sock, but want to have something just in case....my other pairs are at heels...and I need something mindless....

I went shopping for snacks for the game....students did donate money...I put together bags for them....

Today is Teacher Appreciation Day...our administrators sent an ice cream truck for us!  It is owned by one of my student's fathers.  She was so excited for me to meet him. (He was out of the country for several months and then had gotten hit by a car)

I got to see my first in person Highland Cattle!  I was very excited!  I've loved these from afar for several years!  The farm where they are, used to be owned by my husband's great uncle.  He owned a lot of land.  My husband grew up on the piece of land that is behind this farm that was also owned by Uncle Bill.  He actually took apart one of the structures he built on this land and carted it through the woods to our property, rebuilt it and lived there.  My in-laws use it as the garage.  There are several rooms, but we don't go upstairs as it's been taken over by bats...

So that's it...I'll throw up the link for anyone who may have something to share....some weeks there is no one...sigh....;)

Stash Sock Yarn Swap

So right after I joined in on the Once Upon a Sock posts, there was a stash yarn swap organized.  I love a swap!  It was a secret up/down swap.  So I sent to someone who was not the person sending to me....

I got my parcel awhile ago, but haven't done a proper blog post about it.....and I know she's been waiting...I apologize for the delay....

So my secret swapper turned out to be Paula from Spin a Yarn.  I kind of had an inkling it was me when she posted about stalking her swapee.  I can be sneaky, so when she said we have a lot in common and even have the same yarn, I checked her Ravelry stash page and on the first page saw 3 yarns that we had the same (LOL)....I didn't friend her, because I didn't want her to know I'd looked it up....(I'm also very good at guessing gifts, my husband has taken to disguising them) Yes, I'm also one of those people that doesn't mind spoilers (I'm an IMDB addict)  and will read the end of a book before finishing it.

I laughed with delight when I opened my package and found String Theory Continuum yarn in Mandrake.  I have looked at this yarn at least three times, but always decided to wait!!!  It's made of my favorite colors, green and purple....and called Mandrake, which to me brings to mind Harry Potter and poor Neville (one of my favorite characters)  So this was a hit on many levels!

Then, she sent a bag of Gummi Bears.....yum, yum!!!! And the good ones too!

The kitchener stitch keychain is pretty awesome...I'm not sure who it is by, but I love the lobster claw clasp...I have one from Katrinkles that resides on my sock knitting notebook, so this one is going to reside on my travel pouch of accessories!

And last, but so not least, knitting jewelry!!!!!  A stitchmarker bracelet from Heidi and Lana.....It's perfect AND the best thing is it fits!   I have super tiny wrists and bracelets fall off all the time....I love it!!!!!

The little sheep can also come off and be used as a stitchmarker/place holder.....

So the whole package was deeply appreciated and loved...Thank you Paula....and yes how did you find my Ravelry?  You mentioned something in one of your comments.....as my Ravelry name is not connected to my instagram name (which is how I found you!)

Thank you, thank you!!!!

Once Upon A Sock: May Edition

This was my picture from the April edition, so where are we?

I finished the Zombie Valentine socks April 8...

Yarn:  Brazen Stitchery My Zombie Valentine
Contrast yarn: Two Sisters in Red
Needle: Kollage square 9" US 1/2.25mm
Socks started: June 21, 2017 (Vanilla pattern)

I finished the Hudson Bay socks on April 12, 2018
Yarn: Fishknits Yarn on the Strong Heart base, color is Canadiana
Needle: Knitpicks 5" DPNs, size US 1, 2.25 mm (wood needles)
Socks started: June 21, 2017 - the cuff was actually started before this, but I just put down that date as starting point

I followed Susan B. Anderson's directions for this yarn and pattern.

Did I mention my obsession with self stripe yarn?  This is just a small sampling.  I actually have a tub mostly filled with it..

This arrived today, waiting on another

I especially enjoy a Gobstopper ball....This is the box I bought for the Box of Sox Kal this year.  I haven't gotten very far in it as I wanted to finish up some WIPs.  So the first socks that will count for my Box of Sox is my Kiss Me, I'm Irish ones (Vanilla Latte pattern)

They are at 6" right now. I do enjoy about 7" on the leg.  I have to decide what I'm going to do for the heel...contrast or not?  Speaking of that, I have also been collecting some mini skeins for contrast heels/toes.

The other one I've been working on is the Games socks (Vanilla Latte pattern)

I'll finish the red and white stripe and then work on the heel.  I have the green as a contrast for these socks...the mini came with the Gobstopper ball.....The only thing about the Gobstopper balls is you can only do one sock at a time

No love was given to my Just Keep Swimming socks...I am on the heel, and I still want to do the Fish Lips, but haven't taken the time to sit down and figure it out yet....I will..it's on the list

I didn't give any love to the other four pair on the needles.  My Kai-Mei (the only non-stripe sock) has a dropped stitch that I have to go back and figure out.  The other three just didn't see any loving..what are you going to do?

I am looking to work on some patterns that showcase the stripey more that the Vanilla Latte or a ribbed sock.  Although ribbed socks fit me the best....and I maybe should work on some of my non self stripe yarn and patterns.....

On the way home today, I was like, "Maybe I can whip up a pair of shorty socks for May 4"  (You know May the Fourth Be With You Day).....Yeah, I realized that wasn't going to happen....I had the yarn (I do have other SW inspired yarn)

It's 100% superwash merino, no nylon...it should still work, right? I do have Star Wars socks I was gifted at Christmas...so now it's do I wear my Star Wars family shirt or my Come to the Dark Side, we have cookies shirt, or the "dressier" Star Wars shirt I have, decisions, decisions....a couple former students have already asked me if I'm wearing a Star Wars shirt on Friday....

Sorry, geeked out there for a minute.....

So if you'd like to join us, Paula at Spin A Yarn has the link-up....please join us...

Stitch Along: Week 17

Good evening!  Again, haven't really worked on anything...still no mojo.....or it could be this...

I still have 6.5 weeks left of school and boy am I already done. I'm not really sure why, as it has never happened this early before, but boy am I done.....but every day, I go back in and spend the day with those 21 (18 today) fantastic third graders who need me to still be invested in them....and the hugs are worth it...

Because every day is different....whether we are standing in the cold because of a fire drill set off by some dust on the alarm..

or taking one of the state tests and not actually teaching at all today.....I will be doing some teaching tomorrow, but none on Thursday...Thursday is JA (Junior Achievement) Day....I'll be helping out the business person...who is actually the father of two former students and I've known him for years....Friday, we have a math state test...and then we'll see what the rest of the day brings.....

So I'm not sure it it's my mojo not being around or general apathy about everything right now....I have big plans, but just don't follow through on them....so what do you do when this happens to you?

Share what you have been doing this week?  I'll also have a post up for Thursday, to link up with the Once Upon A Sock: May Edition....