Weekly Update

Once again this is not a WIP update but an FO.

Finished my next cotton sweater. Modified the pattern enough to call it Cotton Vest III. Went up a needle size and had to change a number of things due to the change in stitch count. Also went with a longer body and shallower arm hole; not sure I like it as much may go back to the other way I was doing them. Will know for sure after it's washed.

Pattern: My own
Yarn: Bernat Handicrafter Cotton Ombres & Prints in Sonoma Print
Needle: 5.0mm & 5.5mm
Gauge: 15 stitches and 21 rows = 10 cm

Some progress was also made on my Niece's socks but not enough for a picture.

Current Weather
0C and clear. The nice warm weather continues for another week.

Finished Red T-Shrit

The Red T-Shirt is now finished. Well, mostly finished anyway; it needs a wash. I'm leaving my final verdict for after washing but I think it will work out well. I ordered more yarn for a couple more so.....

Pattern: My own
Yarn: Knit Picks Lindy Chain in Serrano
Needle: 3.0mm
Gauge: not sure yet, needs to be measured post washing

Current Weather
3C and mostly cloudy. The Chinook continues.

Weekly WIP Update

This week was all about the red t-shirt. There was some progress on my Niece's socks too but not enough for a picture.

So far it looks like this might actually work as a t-shirt; or, at least as a light, single layer when it's warm. And it has used less yarn than I expected which is nice too. Won't be entirely sure until it has been washed and worn once.

Current Weather
0C and cloudy. A Chinook has finally pushed out the extreme cold of last week when we were dealing with temperatures in the -30C range. Today felt like t-shirt weather.

Weekly Update - Olive Green II

Note that this is not a WIP update, I finished my Olive Green II and decided to post about that instead. OK, OK, fine; as you can tell from the picture the sweater is currently blocking. I'm still calling it finished though.

It was my second try to get this sweater right, the first time it was too small. This time it is just right. Both the sleeves and the front placket of the yoke are something I worked out myself, I highly doubt it is anything new to the world of knitting, or designing, just new to me.

Pattern: my own
Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport in Olive Spring
Needle: 3.25mm & 3.75mm
Gauge: 22 stitches and 33 rows = 10 cm

Picture is terrible because I had my back to the window, it was the only way to take a picture as my usual blocking space has been taken over by someone else's clothes.

Current Weather
-17C and mostly cloudy. It has been bloody COLD for the past week. The Star Was Scarf is getting a lot of wear.

Weekly WIP Update

Progress this week was limited to two projects, I basically ignored everything else; mostly because I'm getting close to finishing my green sweater. And socks just sort of happen.

The Olive Green II sweater is getting very close to done, only part of one sleeve and the neck remain to be finished.

And my Niece's birthday socks have been started. These aren't needed until March but it never hurts to get ahead.

Current Weather
2C and sunny.

2019 Year in Review

Well, that wraps up 2019. Not the best year on record I'm afraid. I lost both Mouse and Soccer and my Mom got some bad health news. I suppose the good thing about Mom's news was it forced me to go see a doctor myself for the first time in far too long. My results are all good except for high blood pressure.

Mom's bad health news will mean a rough year in 2020 so I feel like I'm bracing myself for it. Deep breath.

Starting with pets

Mouse left us in March after a sudden, brief illness. It is astonishing how much of a hole such a small, quiet cat left behind.

Then a second whammy when Soccer passed in July. I miss the stubborn, pushy old fellow.

Ahab is enjoying being the only pet, it's also possible we've been spoiling him. Just a little.... OK, fine; maybe a lot. His health seems to be fine so far (touch wood) still just a little arthritis in his joints slowing him down but otherwise he's in excellent health.

No changes with Eclipse either, she does like being a pasture potato. Best retirement ever.

And moving on to knitting

First thing finished in 2019 was a pair of socks, the usual basic socks made with interesting yarn. Kept these for myself. That's right, I selfish knit.

Then I finally, finally finished Spruce. This sweater took two years because I stalled out on the yoke, and it took me months to figure out that I didn't want another raglan style. I don't know if the yoke I ended up using has a name or not but I must like it because I've now made several sweaters with this yoke or a variation on it.

Then I made myself an Ugly Christmas Vest. Yes, in January. I even wore it this Christmas. This picture doesn't have the buttons but they're there now.

I always need a few socks right away at the start of the year since there are a cluster of birthdays all at once. Here are my Niece's socks. My Dad and Nephew's socks were finished in 2018 during an impressive sock run.

Then I finished Parchment. The first of three fingering weight cotton/acrylic blend sweaters, the yarn is Knit Picks Comfy Fingering Weight, I would love a couple more of these. A dark grey and a light grey perhaps..... Or maybe a bright red..... decisions, decisions..... I ended up taking the neck out of this sweater and re-making it, you can see my second attempt in the second picture.

 

I had a need for some socks for my own sock drawer so three pairs of socks dripped from the needles in rapid succession. Including my Time Traveler socks at last. If you don't know which pair that is or why they're called Time Traveler you need to turn in your Nerd Card.

 

Then I finished a sweater that was too small. Urgh. No idea why I continued until after blocking it before I admitted defeat but I did. It is now being re-knit a little larger.

Ravelry says I completed a pair of booties next but apparently I didn't take a picture and I'm not exactly sure where they are.

Then I completed the second fingering weight cotton/acrylic sweater. This one is a lovely dark green. You can see I did a much better job with the yoke where the sleeves attach compared to Spruce. The neck is just slightly too snug on this one, I have to take my glasses off to put it on or off. But, once it's on it fits great.

Then I needed some summer socks. These are a cotton/acrylic blend. I really don't like knitting cotton socks so these took quite a while to finish.

Next a wool vest. Not sure I will be keeping this one as I don't like how the shoulders sit or the way the weight of the hood pulls at the yoke. It may get re-made into a different vest.

Next came my pride and joy for 2019: my very own Star Wars Scarf! I love this scarf and have been wearing it at the slightest hint of cold. Unfortunately it was too warm for it when I went to see Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. This is a double knit fabric and I have fallen in love with this technique, the fabric it makes is wonderful. The down side is that it is a fairly slow technique since you basically have to work each stitch twice every time. It is totally worth the effort though.

Then came two sweaters for my Wee Niece for her birthday. I usually do socks for birthdays but she was spotted in a video call wearing another sweater I had made for her so I decided on a sweater. Then made her two because she's still small enough I can still make her a sweater pretty quickly. And she wears the sweaters; this is important because there is no point in investing all the time and yarn needed for a sweater that won't be worn. There have been multiple sightings of her wearing the heathered sweater since it arrived, apparently it is currently one of her favourite sweaters. One really must take advantage of this willingness to wear hand knit sweaters while it lasts.

 

A hoodie sweater for myself came next. This was a re-knit of another sweater that didn't work out quite right. Wool yarn isn't cheap so I didn't want to have an unworn sweater sitting around. I have worn this one many times since it was finished. Or re-finished.

Another car seat baby blanket came next.

And then came Celestial, it was this project where I perfected the yoke for this series of fingering weight cotton/acrylic blend yarn. Unfortunately, I don't know if you can see it in this picture.

After something of a sock drought these were finally finished and went to Mom for her birthday.

Then another baby blanket, this one is not meant for a car seat. I made up this pattern and I really like how the textured stripes came out.

Since my Wee Niece got sweaters for her birthday this year she got socks for Christmas. I don't do a lot of Christmas knitting, too much pressure, but I'm willing to make an exception for someone who wears so many of my knits. Plus my other Niece and Nephew have reached the gift card age.

And Dad's birthday socks are all set for 2020.

And a blanket which has been on the needles since Aug. 2018. Glad to have this one done at last. There is a surprising amount of yarn left after finishing this so it may get some matching booties, and maybe a sweater and a hat.

And one final pair of socks for my Nephew's birthday in February. Squeaked these under the wire by finishing them on New Year's Eve. Yup, that's how exciting it is around here.

To recap:
24 projects completed
10 pairs of socks
8 sweaters
7 gifts
3 little blankets
3 things sent to Scotland
2 vests
1 Star Wars scarf

Word of the Year
I think I succeeded with this; for 2019 my word was 'active' and after moving to a new office for work I did start walking the dogs in the morning, my consistency did sort of fade once Winter set in though. More to do with ice than with snow or cold, although cold is a factor for Ahab.

For 2020 the word will be - health.

Current Weather
0C and mostly cloudy, the wind has stopped so I thing the Chinook is close to over.