Life and Yarn or Yarn and Life

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Year of Projects: Year 7, Week 36

Y'all, I made shoes!!!!! This was not a project that was on the list.

These are the Seaside Espadrilles. The pattern was in Interweave Crochet Spring 2006 magazine,
The jute for the soles was very hard to work with, but they crocheted up quickly. I just used Lily Sugar n' Cream for the uppers. These are not for me, so are really big. It was an interesting exercise, whether I make them again is a slight possibility. Reading others project pages, they double soled to make them less floppy. I'm not, as I don't want to pick up the jute again any time soon!

So that was my only finish. I continue to plug away at several projects and am getting ready to start a Boxy by Joji Locatelli. I'm going to join her Fall KAL. I didn't even know about the KAL until the Grocery Girls mentioned it. I had just bought yarn for Boxy, so figured, why not? The Grocery Girls are going to also have a Sweater KAl, so I can double dip....I may start a few other projects.

I have startitis....but school also starts this week....so probably not!

I think that is it today.....I will catch you all again next week. I have to catch up on reading some blogs..

2020 Completed Projects:

Merry Knitmas - 1/25/2020
Box O' Chocolates - 2/23/2020
Sunny Skies - 2/29/2020
Dobby - 2/20/2020
Gnomes - 2/20/2020
Wow Factor - 3/22/2020
Wow Factor 2 - 3/24/2020
Chrono Hat - 3/24/2020
Showoff - 3/27/2020
Breeze - 4/9/2020
Wise One Hat - 4/18/2020
Lightsaber - 4/18/2020
Snoopy and Woodstock -5/9/2020
Candy Corn Zombody - June 7, 2020
Patons Blue Ragg - June 14, 2020
Cloudy Rainbows - June 15, 2020
Beekeeper Cardigan - June 28, 2020
emPower People - July 9, 2020
Grinchmas Socks - July 18, 2020
Shortie Socks - August 22, 2020
Beach Bag - August 22, 2020 (finally lined, bag was finished in 2010!)
Seasside Espadrilles August 23, 2020

Works In Progress:
WIPS: Crochet:
Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden is now a senior..so maybe I finish it for him to take to college?
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done - I'm not even sure where this is at the moment, with projects in two places. I'll think on this.
Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done. I still love the look of this. Don't think this is at the Homestead, will have to check.
Tabard Tunic (NW Diss 2/1/14) - Haven't made a final decision on this yet.
Venetian Cowl (July 1, 2018) I love this, but the stitch just takes a Loooong time!
Billy shoes - Jan 1, 2019

Knit:
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) - Started the second one, past the thumb point..
Zombie Vixen mitts (10/17/15)- still working on them, again cabling, review these, maybe done for St, Patrick'S Day
Meandering Top (5/20/16) - Took it out, at the separation of arms, looks really big!
Bulky Cowl - this hurts my hands to work on...think I need slippery needles...
Splediferous Blanket - (4/15/17) Roald Dahl club, frogged the mitered and changed the pattern (jan 12, 2020)
Selbu Mitts - 3/26/18
Wee Cria - 3/18/2020
On the Go-veralls -

Socks:

Kai-Mei: (April 2012) - sock 1 done! 5/30/2020
Espalier Socks (Jan 10, 2016) - started and stopped...

2017Games Socks- 2/15/18

Snow Day: 3/4/19
Merfolk: 7/25/19
Monster Mash: 8/16/19 (cuff started awhile ago)

Rhinebeck Socks - 10/6/19

Whammed Socks Dec 7, 2019

Me Too - March 31, 2020

Blue Spruce Socks - April 1, 2020

Hello Sunshine - June 14, 2020

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..

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

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Year of Projects: Year 7, Week 34

Oh Goodness! I went a couple more weeks.....sheesh! Honestly, most of the time, I don't even remember that it is Sunday! This should change this week, as I go back to work tomorrow.

We start PD tomorrow and have been told that this week is virtual.. Students are suppose to start next Thursday - in-person/hybrid model. So I know I'm at school M/T/Th/F, we don't know about W yet. We know the students will all be doing virtual on Wednesdays, but we don't know yet, whether we are in school or at home. Everything keeps changing. We all expect to go fully remote at some point. I think even the superintendent believes that....even when in school, we are "distance learning." Kids will all be on computers and I'll be teaching from a computer at the front of the room.

I'm been having a tough time with sleeping...last night didn't get to sleep until almost 2:00am. Lots of things going on and menopause is also contributing to the sleeplessness....I just hope I can sleep once we get back to school.....

Grrrrr!!!! Just spent a bunch of time trying to figure out spacing on Blogger. The new interface, they removed to option to change spacing! I had weird spaces in my text....

So what have a I finished? Well I FINALLY sewed the lining in my "Beach Bag." It's not really big enough to be a beach bag. It's more purse sized. (There is a picture with my fingers, so you can see the sizing.) I had the lining hanging around the Homestead for awhile. Friday, I found the bag tucked into another bag. So I sat down after we got home and got my sewing on! It was all handsewn, as I can't use the machine at the moment. So sewed up the two sides of the lining and then sewed the lining into the bag.

Pattern: Jaunty Shells by Jean Leinhauser. It was in one of those small pattern books from a craft store called Trendsetting Totes
Yarn: Lily's Sugar n' Cream.

I also finished my shorty socks. No real pattern. Just cast on 56. made a short cuff and then continued on

Yarn: OnLine Supersocke in Emotion II

I started a Perfect Pockets Shawl for my friend. She is fighting her second battle of cancer in two years.
I first saw this shawl on the Needles at the Ready podcast. The yarn is Lion Brand Heartland.

I also joined an MKAL...I'm not good at them and am already two clues behind. It's called The Sharon Show by Casapinka...pattern written by her cat, Sharon....It's just a lot of fun....

The yarn is Skinny Bugga by Sanguine Gryphon and Cephlapod (both no longer dying)

I've also been working on the crochet throw/blanket round ripple for my friend's son. No picture of that this week. It takes an hour to crochet one row.

I also recently uploaded a new video, if you'd like to watch. There is a giveaway. I also have a previous one about my sock wips, if you'd like to watch that one...Thank you! And hopefully I'll see you next week.

2020 Completed Projects:

Socks:

Kai-Mei: (April 2012) - sock 1 done! 5/30/2020
Espalier Socks (Jan 10, 2016) - started and stopped...

2017Games Socks- 2/15/18

Snow Day: 3/4/19
Merfolk: 7/25/19
Monster Mash: 8/16/19 (cuff started awhile ago)

Rhinebeck Socks - 10/6/19

Whammed Socks Dec 7, 2019

Me Too - March 31, 2020

Blue Spruce Socks - April 1, 2020

Hello Sunshine - June 14, 2020

Scarves/Shawls:

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

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Year of Projects, Year 7, Week 30

Oh my goodness! How many weeks did I miss? Last week it was around 5:00 when I realized it was Sunday!!! And I have no idea before that....I'm sorry.....I have been posting on youtube weekly though and on Instagram.....

So let's take a look at the list...

2020 Completed Projects:

Candy Corn Zombody - June 7, 2020

Patons Blue Ragg - June 14, 2020

Cloudy Rainbows - June 15, 2020

Beekeeper Cardigan - June 28, 2020

emPower People - July 9, 2020

Grinchmas Socks - July 18, 2020

Espadrilles -

Wee Cria - 3/18/2020

On the Go-veralls -

Socks:

Kai-Mei: (April 2012) - sock 1 done! 5/30/2020
Espalier Socks (Jan 10, 2016) - started and stopped...

2017Games Socks- 2/15/18

Snow Day: 3/4/19

Merfolk: 7/25/19
Monster Mash: 8/16/19 (cuff started awhile ago)

Rhinebeck Socks - 10/6/19

Whammed Socks Dec 7, 2019

Me Too - March 31, 2020

Blue Spruce Socks - April 1, 2020

Shortie Socks - June 1, 2020

Hello Sunshine - June 14, 2020

Scarves/Shawls:

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
Knits4Comfort Advent Shawl 12/13/18
Zomboni - January 1, 2020 (restarted Jan 18)
Van Gogh - January 18

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

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..

Last post I showed the three (four) sock WIPs I finished and/or reknit. I have finished three more projects since them...First up, the Beekeeper.....So this was an Olive Knits 4 day knit in 2018. It took two years, but hey I love it!

The yarn is Malabrigo Arroyo...I talk about it more on episode 14 of my vlog. (It was really hot that day!) I can't wait to wear it this fall.

The second finished object is the emPower People cowl by Casapinka. I've become a big fan of Casapinka this summer. This is a free pattern, there is also a free crochet version, by BzyPeach, which I will also be making.

The yarn is by Neighborhood Fiber Co. I absolutely loved this yarn and intend to buy some more. It's a bad picture, haven't taken a project photo yet...

And the last finished project is my Grinchmas socks! I love these...just a vanilla sock, the yarn by Night Owl Fibers..

And there have been some new castons and starts....

I'm crocheting some espadrilles. I started a pair of Go-veralls for a baby shower. And started a couple more pairs of socks....so my WIPs are not getting any lesser...LOL...

I have published two new episodes in the past three weeks, if you'd like to take a peek...the first one is the The One With the Stitchmarkers

And the second one, I talk about my sock WIPs....Angela of YarnnYarns is doing a summer sock WIP KAL that I joined...

So I guess that will be it for this week...again, so sorry I didn't post.....It's been a weird summer...

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Year of Projects, Year Seven - Week 23

Oh goodness, it's been two weeks! The first week, I really didn't have much to write about. The second week, well, I just didn't feel like it. There were some things going on in my personal life in addition to all the turmoil and ugliness happening in our country. I fell into a depression for awhile. But I did craft!

I finished 4, Yes 4 sock WIPs!!!!! And I am almost done with my Beekeeper Cardigan, only needing to complete the sleeves...

Remember this mess?

Well I finished both socks! I actually wore them on Friday. The first sock, I finished it and then had to rip out the toe again...I hadn't decreased enough and it was a very large weird square toe. But I'm so happy with them now! I will definitely wear them now! I finished them in 2013 and never wore them.

The pattern in Sour Apple Socks by Cherry Tree Hill Yarn (Sharon Mooney)
The yarn is Lorna's Laces Solemate in Camouflage
I used size 2 DPNs
I originally started them in July of 2012 and finished them in April 2013, but because they were so big and mismatched, I never wore them.

I finished my Desert Vista Dyeworks Zombody is Eating Candy Corn.
The pattern is Vanilla Latte
The heels are Fish Lips Kiss heel and in the Green Decomp colorway, also from DVD.
I used 9 inch ChiaGoo metal in US 1 or 2.25 circulars, two at a time.
There is a weird bump in the heels, but they'll be fine when I wear them.

Yarn: Paton's Blue Ragg sock
Pattern: Vanilla pattern, which is 56 stitches for me. To give it some texture, when changing colors, I would slip the 8th stitch.
The yarn is listed as fingering, but it's a heavy fingering. They are thick socks, so will be good boot socks.
Slipped stitch heel
Needles were 9 inch Hiya Hiya bamboo circs in US size 0
I started these in January of 2020, after seeing Angela of YarnnYarns start a pair.

Pattern: Vanilla Latte
Yarn: Manic Pixie Dream Zooey in Cloudy with a Chance of Rainbows. Unfortunately, she is no longer dying. I believe this is my last skein of her yarn. I really love her yarn!
Needles: US 1.5, 2.5 mm, I think they were ChiaGoo
Slipped Stitch heel
Started in May of 2018

And I have finished the body of my Beekeeper Cardigan! On to sleeve island....

I'm very excited to get it done, as I have several more garments waiting in the wings.

I still have around 10 sock WIPs. I started a new one on Knit in Public Day. So I'm trying to get them under control!

School is done as of Friday the 12th, although starting in July, I'm going to meet with my kids once a week and read to them. We are also meeting on the 24th to celebrate a birthday. We still have no idea what is happening in the fall. I still don't go out much. I have had a couple of social get-togethers, as one of our teachers has retired.

I also went to a Black Student Forum. I did not state it earlier, but Black Lives Matter.

All of these gatherings were outside and masks were worn for the most part. I wear glasses and have allergies, so often I need to move the mask away from my nose, as I'm congested and can't breathe or my glasses have fogged up.

That's about it for me right now. I never posted my last video and haven't felt like doing a new one yet. I have some things coming in the mail, so I may be filming this week to do some "unboxing."

Take care and I'll see you next week.

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Year of Projects, Year 7, Week 20

Good morning! WiFi is especially sucky right now! Even those people with the "better" wifi are complaining about it dropping out. I need to go to my other house, as I've been trying to upload a new vlog since yesterday and it is just not happening. So those of you who watch my youtube channel, there will be a new video up this week...possibly two!

Liz from Highland Heffalump asked if I have second sock syndrome...Nope....I have HEEL Syndrome! I get to the heel of a sock and I stop...and it'll go weeks, sometimes months before I put the heel in.....I'll cast on the second sock, or cast on a new sock before doing the heels...I don't know why...well that's not true....I do know why...heels are not intuitive...and I have to stop and look at the directions and I have to focus on them....so if I'm tired or want something easy, I don't work on heels..

Also, someone has asked about Beach Bag....to be honest, I don't know where it is right now....between the two houses, I haven't been able to locate it....And the title is misleading...it's more of a purse, it's not a big bag. I found the fabric for the lining at the other house this week, but not the bag...sigh....but here is a very bad picture of it, it is listed in my projects on Ravelry

So this has been the week of the WIPS.....I have been working on some old projects.....

I finally finished sock 1 of my Kai-Mei by Cookie A. These were the socks that made me want to learn to knit. I cast on the first one April 8, 2012 and cast it off yesterday....I had to fudge the toe, as I had way too many stitches....

And I cast on the second one...the leg goes fast on these and the yarn. The yarn is Dream in Color Smooshy, which although a fingering, is thicker than most.

I also pulled this beast out....

This is a blanket for my friend's youngest son. He picked out the yarn when he was 8 or 9, he just graduated high school. There are more than 300 stitches per round!!!! This is how many rounds I've done...

I also did another two repeats of my Beekeeper Cardigan.

And this morning I pulled out this mess...

These are the Sour Apple Socks. I finished them years ago. And have never worn them. The feet are short and fat. So I pulled out the foot and now am pulling out the heel flap. It was 3 inches long! My heel flaps are, at the most, 1.75 inches. And it was just a stockinette heel, so ripping it to make it a slipped stitch heel. But now I have this mess...

So have to do some winding.....but also just developed a headache and I'm a bit light headed, so may go back to bed for a bit.....I'll catch up with everyone later! Hope you have a great week!

2020 Completed Projects:
Merry Knitmas - 1/25/2020
Box O' Chocolates - 2/23/2020
Sunny Skies - 2/29/2020
Dobby - 2/20/2020
Gnomes - 2/20/2020
Wow Factor - 3/22/2020
Wow Factor 2 - 3/24/2020
Chrono Hat - 3/24/2020
Showoff - 3/27/2020
Breeze - 4/9/2020
Wise One Hat - 4/18/2020
Lightsaber - 4/18/2020
Snoopy and Woodstock -5/9/2020

Works In Progress:
WIPS: Crochet:
Round Ripple: (Started 2006 (?) Aiden is now a senior..so maybe I finish it for him to take to college?
Around the World Afghan: (April 2010): about ¼ done - I'm not even sure where this is at the moment, with projects in two places. I'll think on this.
Sunrise Sunset Afghan: this has been hibernating awhile, 6 squares done. I still love the look of this. Don't think this is at the Homestead, will have to check.
Tabard Tunic (NW Diss 2/1/14) - Haven't made a final decision on this yet.
Venetian Cowl (July 1, 2018) I love this, but the stitch just takes a Loooong time!
Billy shoes - Jan 1, 2019

Knit:
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) - Started the second one, past the thumb point..
Zombie Vixen mitts (10/17/15)- still working on them, again cabling, review these, maybe done for St, Patrick'S Day
Meandering Top (5/20/16) - Took it out, at the separation of arms, looks really big!
Bulky Cowl - this hurts my hands to work on...think I need slippery needles...
Splediferous Blanket - (4/15/17) Roald Dahl club, frogged the mitered and changed the pattern (jan 12, 2020)
Selbu Mitts - 3/26/18
Beekeeper Cardigan - 7/1/18

Socks:

Kai-Mei: (April 2012) - sock 1 done! 5/30/2020
Espalier Socks (Jan 10, 2016) - started and stopped...

2017Games Socks- 2/15/18
Cloudy Rainbows - 5/11/18

Zombie Candy Corn - Oct 7,
Snow Day: 3/4/19
Merfolk: 7/25/19
Monster Mash: 8/16/19 (cuff started awhile ago)

Rhinebeck Socks - 10/6/19

Grinchmas Socks Dec 7, 2019

Whammed Socks Dec 7, 2019

Patons Ragg Socks - Jan 1, 2019

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..
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
Knits4Comfort Advent Shawl 12/13/18
Zomboni - January 1, 2020 (restarted Jan 18)
Van Gogh - January 18

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

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..

Life and Yarn or Yarn and Life

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Sunday, August 30, 2020

Year of Projects: Year 7, Week 36

Sunday, August 23, 2020

Year of Projects: Year 7, Week 34

Sunday, July 26, 2020

Year of Projects, Year 7, Week 30

Sunday, June 21, 2020

Year of Projects, Year Seven - Week 23

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Year of Projects, Year 7, Week 20

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