Nephew Socks

One final project finished before the end of 2019, just in the nick of time to make this year's count; a pair of socks for my Nephew for his birthday. His birthday isn't until February so these are done in plenty of time. Basic sock pattern as usual.

Pattern: basic sock pattern
Yarn: James C. Brett Funny Feetz 4ply sock in FZ05
Needle: 2.5mm
Gauge: 41 stitches and 46 rows = 10 cm

Current Weather
3C and cloudy. A Chinook blew in yesterday and warmed everything up nicely.

Merry Christmas

Weekly WIP Update

A day late but not, I hope, a dollar short. Only three things grew or changed enough for pictures this week.

Fist is the Coral Camo Blanket; now working on the edging. I got the edging idea from Frankie's Blankie. Frankie has some really neat designs, click here to see her Ravelry page, it's definitely worth a look.

The Cotton Vest has grown, it's getting close to splitting for the yoke. I'm slightly worried the fabric will be too loose but I have found that the other vests I've done with this yarn really ended up with a fabric that is slightly too tight so I'm soldiering on. I will NOT have an accident and end up dyeing this one and unfortunate colour.

And the Olive Green Sweater has been split for the yoke although I don't think the picture shows it well.

And finally, since I finished my Dad's birthday socks I cast on my Nephew's birthday socks. His 14th birthday and I'm making him Men's Medium socks. The same size as my Dad and he's got years of growing to go yet.

Many other projects were worked on but none deserve pictures yet.

Other News
In what passes for excitement around here I hired someone to clean the house and I'm delighted with the results. I will definitely have to get them to come back regularly.

Especially given the bad news my Mom got recently. She's been on the list to see a surgeon about a hip replacement for months and then, just when she finally gets in to see him, she found a lump on her breast. Which turned out to be cancer; the good news (such as it can be) is that it's a slow moving cancer and she caught it early. But all this does mean she needs to treat the cancer before she can get her new hip. We're coping.

All of this did make me realize that I haven't been to see a doctor for a long time. So I've now had a mammogram (I'm over 40 and as soon as I mentioned that my Mom had found a lump out came the mammogram form), a heart test (my Dad has a heart condition) and a complete blood work panel. All of which came back normal. But, I do have high blood pressure and I really need to loose some (a lot) of weight. I guess I know what I'll be doing next year.

Current Weather
-4C and clear with periodic clouds.

Dad Birthday Socks

Finished Dad's birthday socks today. Not very interesting unless you're totally into grey for some reason. Should be perfect for him. ;-)

Pattern: basic sock
Yarn: Diamond Select Winter Flower in 3
Needle: 2.5mm
Gauge: 41 stitches and 46 rows = 10 cm

Next up - socks for my Nephew.

Current Weather
-4C and partly cloudy.

Weekly WIP Update

I guess this one's more like bi-weekly but that's because nothing seemed to happen last week. This is not, of course, strictly true; lots of knitting happened it just didn't LOOK like anything had happened. Frankly, I'm not sure that isn't the case again this week but here goes.

The Cherry Zig-Zag Seed Stripes Blanket (do you think I should try to come up with a longer name?) got a little longer.

And Dad's Birthday Socks are close to finished. Still most of the foot to go on the second sock though.

The Coral Camo Blanket is mostly square now but I want a rectangle so I need to do a few more rows.

And I started a new vest, why I felt the need to do this I have no idea.

Everything else got a row or so, or didn't change shape much, so no pictures.

Current Weather
-2C and mostly cloudy. It's been pretty wintry for the past couple of weeks.

Weekly WIP Update

I debated not posting today, not due to lack of progress per se, but do to lack of interesting or visible progress on any one project. Nothing really advanced enough to be worth a picture.

Hang on, maybe the socks did. Here:

Turned the first heel. I'm annoyed with this yarn as I found a break in it. It doesn't seem to matter how much or little you spend on yarn there is always the risk of a knot.

The black sweater gained most of an arm but I'm not sure I'm happy with it. The decreases seemed to go too fast and the sleeve is tighter at the end than I would like. I'm trying to decide if I'll rip back to the start of the decreases and try again so I'm not taking pics yet.

All the other projects on the go either only got a row or two added or are at the point where a lot of stockinette stitch needs to be done before you can see anything interesting happen.

Current Weather
2C and mostly cloudy. Most of the last snowfall has melted but we're supposed to get snow again in a few days.

The CN rail strike has farmers worrying that they won't be able to get the last of their crops off the field and to market. And by "the last of their crops" I mean the vast majority of their crops since everything is buried under snow thanks to an early winter. (See, it's sort of weather related.....)

Weekly WIP Update

I keep thinking I should do these on Wednesdays since "WIP Wednesday" is a thing. But I never have time on Wednesday. In any event, to the update we go.

I finished a pair of socks and cast on a new pair of socks this week. My Dad's birthday is in January so time is ticking for these. It also made for a great excuse to go yarn shopping. I'm good with it.

Most other progress was on my black sweater. The yoke is now complete and the fist sleeve is about a third finished. Or, it will be a third finished later today. Something like that.

There was progress on my green sweater, the red t-shirt, and the coral camo blanket. No pictures of these as they have not changed enough for new pictures.

Current Weather
13C, partly cloudy, and very windy. Another Chinook blew in last night.

Socks for my Wee Niece

Finished a pair of socks for my Wee Niece in Scotland in record time, started on November 9 and finished yesterday, November 14. The mojo is there when it chooses to be.

Basic socks as usual and I really hope they fit; kids grow so fast.

Pattern: Basic Sock
Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Solids, Heathers & Twists in Dogwood Heather
Needle: 2.5mm
Gauge: 41 stitches and 46 rows in 10 cm

Current Weather
11C and mostly cloudy. There's a Chinook in town.

Rememberence Day

WIP Update

Once again I have finished my blue sweater. I swear I am not remaking this ever again. For one thing the yarn probably wouldn't hold up. The wrinklyness of the re-knit section is a little more noticeable than I'd expected but whatever; another trip through water should take care of it but I will probably not bother until I put a load of sweaters in the laundry.

Progress was made on the Bunny Blanket, the Black Pullover, and the Cherry Zig-Zag Stripes Blanket but not enough for a picture of any of them.

However, I also pulled the coral camo blanket out of the Time-Out Basket. Which is not a real basket but more of a state of being. Meaning I haven't worked on it for a long time so it's in a time-out. I love entrelac for taming clown barf yarn, when done with green/brown/blue colourways it looks a bit like a camouflage fabric. This one has a coral colour as the base, but it has much the same affect.

Camo Blanket - Coral

And then after a video call with my sister in Scotland in which my Wee Niece was seen to be wearing a sweater (jumper to her) that I made I just had to cast on socks for her for Christmas. I was waffling over sending anything over seas, postage is a bitch, but after seeing her wear one of my knits I just have to send her more. Every little girl seems to have pink as a favourite colour these days.

Current Weather

-14C and mostly sunny. I had to shovel snow earlier today.

WIP Update

Huh. Three updates in one weekend. That might be a personal best. Lots of updates since this is more of a two-week update since I missed last week for no real reason; I even took pictures. I just never wrote the post.

First there was more progress on the Cherry Zig-Zag Stripes baby car-seat blanket. The holes for the seat belt straps are complete.

Second, there has been more progress on the Bunny Blanket. Not a lot but it's reached the point where it's a bit of a slog so not much progress is made each day. I can't concentrate on the repetitive pattern for long. It will get done, just in between other things.

My new Olive Green II had to be ripped back to the beginning and started all over again because I (foolishly) used the same needles as last time when I meant to go up a size. It's a good thing I like this yarn.

The Red T-Shirt progresses too, the annoying thing about this project is that I have to keep track of every row due to the way I'm increasing. I really, really, REALLY hope this is worth it when the time comes to wear it.

The Black Sweater continues as well. This feels like it might have stalled so I'm going to have to make sure to do some work on it this week. Or figure out what's wrong. Or if there's something wrong. Or something.

And finally, the Blue Sweater waist shaping, in a word: sucked. So I very carefully cut the yarn just above the waist and picked up the stitches. I'm now knitting down to the ribbing. Don't worry about the wrinkly look, it will smooth out when it's blocked. I'm sure of this because I've done this before.

Current Weather
-1C with light snow grains. Whatever that means, I can tell you that Ahab came in with snow on his fur.

Blue Seed Stripes

Finished my Blue Seed Stripes baby blanket.  My own pattern, although not a particularly complex one; which is me all over, I like simple patterns. This is a simple 3 stitch seed stitch stripe separated by 5 stockinette stitches that moves one stitch to the side every row. I have some notes, if ambition strikes or if someone asks I could write it out.

Pattern: my own
Yarn: Caron Cakes in Blueberry Muffin
Needle: 5.5mm
Gauge: not critical

Current Weather
4C with snow showers.

Socks

Finished a pair of socks at long last. These have only been on the needles since May after all. Basic socks as usual.

Pattern: Improvised
Yarn: James C. Brett Funny Feetz 4ply sock in 1 Fz
Needle: 2.5mm
Gauge: 31 stitches and 37 rows = 10 cm

Current Weather

3C and mostly cloudy.

WIP Update

And just like that another week passes, how do they slip away so fast? I was even on my own this week and it still raced by.

Ahab got to come to work with me on Thursday; lucky dog. Not sure why he's looking so worried in this picture, although I did take it early in the day. He had a blast all day with people petting him and giving him cookies. He must have eaten at least half a dozen treats and made a dozen new friends. As usual everyone loved him, I wish I knew how to work a room like that. Although it would probably help if I was so incredibly cute.

Also on Thursday I found out my VISA card number had been stolen. I have no idea how or when; actually when was probably around September 26 since that's the first stolen charge I found on the account. But I have no idea how, I've never given my card out to anyone questionable that I can think of. I've been on the phone with the fraud unit at the bank twice now and the card is cancelled and a new on one it's way to me. I'm still seething over this. Plus I have a migraine headache today, which sucks.

Knitting

But onto more pleasant things. This week was all about sweaters until yesterday, first the black sweater - I am now working my way up the back of the yoke.

The red t-shirt has been cast back on, this time I'm starting with a temporary cast on at the arm pits and working down to the bottom. Then I will pick up the stitches from the temporary cast on and work the yoke from there.

On Saturday I was inspired to try and work out the Awww-Poo Bag pattern again. I think I may have got it. Technically this could be seen as an FO not a WIP but since I haven't finalized the pattern I'm putting it here. Plus I hurt too much to post twice today.

Current Weather
8C and partly cloudy. A lovely fall day.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

WIP Update

Since finishing Celestial I seem to have developed a moderately serious case of startitis*. I cast on for three sweaters all in the same week. This might be a personal best.

As you can see, in the case of Jay, I literally I cast on. Actually, this is my second cast on for this sweater, I used a 2.25mm needle the first time but that needle didn't seem to be working with this yarn so I frogged and went up to a 2.5mm for the ribbing. A 2.75mm (my standard choice for fingering weight sweaters) should be fine for most of this sweater but the ribbing seemed to need to be a little looser.

Olive Green II is making good progress as an evening, upstairs TV watching, project. That would be when everyone gathers at the upstairs TV to watch the same show. Sometimes I hang out in my den downstairs and watch a different show.

And finally a Black Pullover, this one is a 70% cotton, 30% linen blend yarn, the other two are wool (Olive Green II) and wool blend (Jay). This is a true black and I suspect will require good light to work on it; this makes it a good den TV watching project as there is more light in that room. So far it looks like the black will be done first even though it was cast on last by a few days. It's possible that it could be helped along by the fact that it's also the thickest (DK weight) yarn.

The socks, Bunny Blanket, and the Blue Stripes Blanket each got a few rows this week but not enough for a picture. Plus, I had to borrow the 4.0mm needle from the Bunny Blanket for a day or so for the ribbing on the Black Pullover. Sometimes, sacrifices must be made in the name of knitting.

Scent Hurdle
Thee was Scent Hurdle yesterday and I got to run a friend's dog, Tonka. He loves this sport so he's a blast to run, even though he's a 70lb dog who could pull me off my feet if I'm not paying attention.

Current Weather
4C and mostly cloudy.

* from the Urban Dictionary: Startitis: noun - Repeatedly starting new projects while still having multiple uncompleted projects.

Celestial Sweater

Finished my Celestial cotton pull-over. Yay! I now have three light weight cotton sweaters for indoor and summer wear. For the pattern I just followed along with what I've done with the other two cotton sweaters; knit a body, knit a yoke, knit sleeves, and knit a neck. Very basic.

Or, at least, I think it's basic. My mom keeps being shocked that you can do this sort of thing. I have no idea which of us is more normal.

Ummm.... On second thought, it's probably her.*

Pattern: Improvised / Free Form
Yarn: Knit Picks - WeCrochet Comfy Fingering Weight in Celestial
Needle: 2.25mm & 2.75mm
Gauge: 29 stitches and 37 rows = 10 cm

Current Weather
3C and mostly sunny.


* I still think it's a basic sweater.

WIP Update

Most progress this week was on Celestial, just about finished it; in fact, if I hadn't had to take out 1/3 of the second sleeve and start all over again because I picked up the wrong number of stitches I would probably be finished by now. So close and so far away from being able to wear this sweater.

Also made progress on my socks, up to the heel flap of sock number two. Someday these may even be finished. Maybe.

I also managed a few rows on the Bunny Blanket and the Blue Seed Stripes blanket. But no more than a couple rows on each. Not worth a picture. The Red T-Shirt is in a time-out for a little longer.

In Other News
I took a random picture of Ahab the other day. I haven't take a random pet picture since before Mouse died. I'm taking this as a sign of healing. It's a little blurry but whatever.

Current Weather
15C and sunny. Fall decided to come back for a few days but we're expecting snow on Tuesday.

WIP Update

I wasn't feeling well for much of this week so progress was mostly limited to Celestial on the grounds that it is mostly stockinette stitch. I actually managed to finish a sleeve. I may have picked up the odd round of something else but nothing worth photographing.

For anyone wondering why the Red T-Shirt did not get worked since it's also stockinette stitch the sad fact is it is not working and needs to be frogged. Again. I could cry, or scream, or both; something. I keep telling myself that once I get this worked out I will be able to whip a bunch out since I'll have all the numbers worked out. It's the only thing keeping me going when it comes to this project right now. It may also take a time-out for a bit while I work up the courage to try again.

I did however manage to get this yarn rolled into cakes and all ready to be made back into a sweater. My first attempt did not work and I (foolishly) plowed right through to the end before admitting defeat. Such are the perils of knitting.

Current Weather
-2C (officially Environment Canada says it's -2C at the airport, on the thermometer on the back deck it's -8C) and snowing. Snow. That's right; snow. Rather a lot of snow by now since it's been snowing for the past two days.

Ahab for scale

WIP Update

This week's progress was mostly about sweaters. Fist, Celestial has now got both shoulders joined and the first sleeve started. Pretty good progress completing the front of the yoke and getting the sleeves started

Second, the Red T-shirt is up to 12 inches long, four balls added. It now looks like a blob.

Blue Stripes is now two stripes into the second ball.

And there was progress on the Bunny Blanket, socks, and the Cherry Zigzag blanket but not enough for pictures.

Ahab

Ahab got a bath at the dog wash today. He did not appreciate it and is currently trying to figure out how to smell like a stinky dog again. He'll smell nice for a couple days; I hope.

Current Weather
23C and Sunny. Some nice Summer weather as we head deeper into Fall. Yesterday morning was near freezing, there may have been frost but I slept in and didn't notice.

WIP Update

See this? This is half a pair of socks finally done! And the ribbing for sock #2.

Celestial continues well, the back of the yoke is complete and I started the decreases on the front. I placed stitch markers showing where I finished the yoke decreases, I will use these later to work the sleeve cap. I think the second picture shows this better.

The Blue Seed Stripes Blanket is this close to getting the second ball added. I so wanted to post this with the second ball started but life got in the way.

I cast on for another baby car-seat blanket. I don't know why I decided I needed yet another blanket on the go but there we are. Maybe I had too much blue on the needles or something. No, that doesn't make sense I also have red and purple & white.... well, anyway I cast this on.

Progress also continues on the Bunny Blanket and red t-shirt but neither progressed enough for a picture.

In other news

Ahab had a pedicure today, he gets 25% off because of his missing paw. And I got my hair trimmed. And that's what passes for excitement around here. Titillating isn't it?

Current Weather
22C and Sunny. Lovely fall day today.

WIP Update

And just like that another week has passed. Sometimes I wonder how it's possible for it to happen so quickly. And yet I seem to have accomplished quite a bit on most of my WIPs; even finished a blanket.

The observant among you will notice that I have a new duvet, I made a trip to Ikea and found a lovely blue duvet cover for my new wool filled duvet; the first picture below shows the duvet colour best. Also, I have no idea why my camera turned all the creams, greys, and whites into bright yellow. Maybe it's the new duvet cover....?

Knitting

Started a new vest this week, the colour is actually an ashy grey nothing like yellow at all. This will have a pattern in it and not just my usual favourite of plain stockinette. Going a little out there for this one.

And started another baby blanket, blue with seed stitch stripes. Ugh, that yellow should be a greyish colour.

Here is what I hope is the final cast on for my red t-shirt. Please, please, please let this be the final cast on, I'm getting really tired of casting on over and over again for this one.

And further progress was made on my blue cotton sweater. The stitch marker is marking where I will start to pickup stitches when I pick them up for the sleeves. Not really sure that is coming through well in this picture though.

Another stripe or two of checks added to the Bunny Blanket. As you will know from previous pictures of this blanket it is white and purple not yellow and purple.

Virtually no progress on the socks. No picture as it would just be annoying to have an actual record of my lack of progress.

Current Weather
14C and cloudy. So many yellow leaves all of a sudden, seems like only yesterday there were one or two and now half the tree is yellow.