2015 in Review

I thought I'd take a look back at some of the things that happened in 2015.

First up, Squish. His thyroid packed it in early in the year and he must now take medication for the rest of his life. 1 pill twice a day. Makes vacations tricky. Hopefully he'll be with me for many more years.

Squish

Next up, Ahab. In February he had to leave Scent Hurdle due to his missing paw and it took until December to get him back. This involved a major change to the rules of the game. He's back in action now though!

Whistler, Oliver, and Ahab at his last Scent Hurdle tournament of 2015

Continuing with health issues I had a major gallbladder attack early in the year which ended with it's removal in November. While I was getting that done Soccer had the worst ear infection ever which took over two months to clear up. I think that's it for heath crises in 2015.

Now for the fiber stuff!

Seamless Red

Fist project finished in 2015, although it was started in 2014 was a little red sweater for my Wee Niece, completed before I even new she was a Niece not a Nephew. It's sized for a toddler not an infant.

Grey Baby Blanket

Then a baby blanket for the same kid. The picture doesn't show the texture in it at all. I'm told Wee Niece quite liked this blanket as it's very soft. My sister likes it too because it's acrylic and easily washed. The grey yarn came from a commercial sweater of mine that fell apart and I scavenged the yarn for a future project. Well used I'd say. The yellow was pulled from the stash, a leftover from another baby blanket made years ago. I was unemployed while making this one, hence everything coming from the stash.

Cell Phone Case

Then I made myself a cell phone case. I used it for a while but found it inconvenient to have to fish my phone out of two pockets.







I found I needed something to hold treats for the boys so I made myself a bag to carry dog training treats in. It fastens to the belt loop on my pants.

Dog Treat Bag

Niece Socks

Followed by socks for my not-so-wee Niece. There were definitely socks for my Nephew completed around this time too but apparently I didn't put them in Ravelry or take pictures.



Then Wee Niece got an adorable little overall that ended up fitting her for about two weeks. Kids grow so dang fast at first.

Pepita

Got selfish and made some socks to keep my own toes warm. Actually, I don't think this counts as selfish. I need socks too after all.

Super warm socks

Mom and sweater

Followed by a sweater for my Mom. She wears it lots, which is really cool.

Knocked off a quick pair of booties to go with the overalls for the Wee Niece. Feedback regarding these says they stay on quite well, Wee Niece wasn't able to kick them off immediately.

More socks, this time Mother's Day socks for Mom.

Eventually, I got around to making another something for myself. A tank-top for hiking. Note to self: go hiking more so you can use this.

Papita II

I got worried about the little overalls not fitting the Wee Neice, with some subsequent justification I might add as she was a big baby, so I made a larger version of overalls for her. Although at this point I still didn't know she was a girl.

Had to interrupt all the baby knitting to make some Father's Day socks for my Dad.

Father's Day Socks

Then straight back to baby knitting for some booties to match the second overalls.

Found an adorable pattern for toy mice for the cats so Squish and Mouse got a catnip filled treat. Where they are now I couldn't say, under furniture I suspect.

 

Returning to baby knitting I couldn't resist making a hat to complete the set for the Wee Niece.

Sister socks.

Decided that a new mom might need some new socks too. The colour in this picture is all wrong, it's the same yarn as the Father's Day socks. 

Socks for BiL

And if a new mom needs new socks surely a new dad does too. Made these for my Scottish BiL. The colour in this picture is much closer to reality than the socks for my sister above.

Experimented with some Star Booties but ended up not liking them because I chose the wrong cast on. It's a neat pattern but I need to think about the cast on.

A$$ Juice Cozy

Got caught up in a record keeping mistake and ended up making an A$$ Juice Cozy for work. Modeled on a wine bottle here. Completed with only three days warning.

Another blanket for my Wee Niece. This time a Loom Knitting experiment. I like this technique I can see ways to do some really intricate colour work.

Loom Knitting

A random pair of socks that ended up going to Mom because I got caught up with baby stuff and ran out of time to make her a pair for her birthday in December. Good thing I had these in reserve.

Mossy

Then something for myself again, a green vest done in double moss stitch. Don't think I'll be doing that again in a hurry. Worked out though as I wear it a lot.

More baby stuff, this time for a different baby. The overalls and booties went to a co-worker for his baby. When I met his girlfriend at the office Christmas party she said she quite likes them.

 

Another vest for myself. This one from the same yarn as Mom's sweater.

Gallbladder

Because I had requests to bring in my gallbladder after it was removed I knitted one as it turns out they don't let you take your organs back after they've been removed. Imagine that. It's presently in a jam jar on my desk at work.

Christmas hats for the Canadian Niece and Nephew. I think these went over well as they wore them home after opening them.

 

And another a pair of socks for myself. In fact, I'm wearing them as I write this.

And to finish off, a final pair of socks for Dad for his birthday in January. Didn't notice how different the two skeins were when I started and ended up having to rip out the first sock back to the heel in order to make the heel and toes in the second skein.

Wow, 33 projects finished in one year. I sure hope I don't have to exceed this in 2016.

And I guess that pretty much sums up 2015. Looking forward to a great 2016.

Current Weather

Mostly sunny and 1C.

Boots

Couldn't resist making some little booties to go with the overalls that I finished the other day. This pattern is terribly cute and stays on fairly well I'm told, although I suspect most babies could get them off eventually. I prefer making separate booties instead of attaching them to the overalls as the pattern calls for; they're cute that way but the kid stands a chance of wearing them a bit longer without attached feet. I think.

Pattern: Baby Boots by Frankie Brown
Yarn: Georga Baby Luv
Needle: 2.25mm

Cutie booties

Here's the whole set.

Is this much cute actually legal?

At Long Last

Something is finished.

Another Pepita for a coworker who is expecting a little one with his girlfriend. Modified the shoulder straps to have a single button on each side at the front; feedback from the first one I made indicates the small double button system is a bit awkward for new parents. The multi-generation button bin came through again for the buttons. Also lengthened the legs again as this kid stands a good chance of being long like my Wee Niece; my coworker is well over 6 feet tall. Expect I'll do some booties using the same yarn.

Pattern: Pepita by Martina Behm
Yarn: Georga Baby Luv
Needle: 2.25mm

Cuteness

The Wee Niece? She has definitely proven me right about being long and lean.

Weather

It snowed. Really glad I'm on vacation and didn't have to try and make it into work today. The hill road out front looks like a skating rink.

The backyard shortly after sunrise

Progress

Feels like a silly post really since there's only so many ways to say "things are progressing".

Still.

Here we go.

First up, the Ugly Christmas Sweater. I keep having visions of running out of yarn. No idea why but there you go. I think that's why I keep putting off working on it; fear of disappointment. Maybe its the weather too, we haven't had a killing frost yet. Unusual for this part of the world. I'm sure snow would inspire work on Christmas stuff.

Horribly blurry phone picture. Urgh.

Next we have Grey the grey vest. I think I'll make this a square neck since the last one was a v-neck. I do like how the waste shaping came out on Mossy so I'll probably do that again. Hope I have enough yarn, I should but, well..... one never knows.

Grey

Followed by a plain old blue sweater. Probably going to have a hood and I'm thinking of trying something to use a shoe lace or something to lace up an open neck. I said that badly, if it works the pictures at the end will explain it all.

Just Plain Blue.

And finally a co-worker has announced he will have a baby arriving early in the new year. Made an excellent excuse to do another Pepita. Will likely do booties and a hat to go with as that makes for a really cute set. This is made from Georga Baby Luv yarn, I think it's the softest acrylic I have ever worked with. It is just a smidge splitty so you have to watch your stitches carefully if you're using sharply pointed needles but other than that it's pretty nice as acrylics go.

Any excuse for another Pepita.

Coming up soon, once something is finished. I have too much on the needles as it is so nothing is getting cast on until something is finished, will be some Monster Pants at the request of my sister in Scotland. I'm sure my Wee Niece will look adorable in them. She sure makes her Pepita look cuter..... I was actually worried she might never fit the red/gray Pepita since she was born at over 9lbs (and my sister is tiny so I have no idea how she managed to cook up a kid that big) however, I did get some photographic evidence that she wore it a couple times. Thrilling to see hand knits being worn.

Come to think of it that rule about finishing something before starting something might get thrown out in order to do some Christmas hats or slippers or something for my Niece and Nephew. And Wee Niece too come to that.

Finished!

Finished the little overalls for my sister's baby.  The first time I made one of these I basically followed the pattern exactly, this time I modified it a bit; I especially wanted to lengthen the legs since there is a strong possibility that Wee Bairn will be long and lean.

Found some lovely buttons in the multi-generation-button-bin for them. I think my sister will appreciate that part too.

Pattern: Pepita by Martina Behm
   Modifications:

• Changed the dual straps that button over the shoulder into one long strap that buttons in the front. 
• Changed the button holes to one large hole in each strap instead of two small holes on each side of each strap.
• Added three possible button holes to the straps to allow for a bit of size adjustment.
• Left off the adorable feet, again so the size is a bit more flexible.
• Lengthened the legs a bit by knitting 6 rounds then decreasing for the first leg decrease section and then knitting 4 rounds then decreasing for the second leg decrease section. 

Yarn: Patons North America Kroy Socks FX
Needle: US 2 - 2.75 mm
Gauge: Not critical as babies grow so unbelievably fast. It will fit at some point.

A Hail of a Tale

Passed my three month anniversary at work last week and got business cards. Never had business cards before.

Dog Sports

I almost missed practice last night due to hail and when I called to say I might be late it was sunny in the south end of the city. Weather here is so bizarre. Did make it to practice in the end although the hail storm seemed to follow me there but it only dropped water down south, the hail stayed in the north end of the city. There were still piles of it lying around when I got home from practice. It's a good thing I made it too since I had half the team's Scent Hurdle equipment with me.

This week I brought the peg board home with me to help Soccer learn to scent discriminate and not just retrieve a barbell.

Knitting

Finished one leg and started the second for the little overalls. Just need to finish the second leg and knit the straps. Had to get more yarn, seem to be using a lot more this time, probably because the gauge is so much looser. For a miracle though Micheal's actually had the same dye lot!!! Doesn't look like I started the final ball in sync with the first leg though. Meh, it'll look cute no matter what happens. Also still need to find a couple of buttons; think I'll check the multi-generation-button-bin (it was my grandmother's and now my mother's and I've added a few to it too), they may not match exactly but I suspect I can find something that'll work.

Progress

Or, lack thereof in Soccer's case. I've taken a step back with him because he's still struggling badly with scent discrimination so I'm getting him to search for the barbell again. He seems to enjoy that part a lot.

Knitting

On to the fiber stuff!

Selfie with the grey tank top is much better than I expected. Further proof that nothing is done until it's blocked. If I do something similar again I'll make the shoulders narrower I think, they sort of look like they're falling off me. Not too bad for a first try though I guess. I've done enough raglan style sweaters that I've got the hang of them for myself but the tank top was new.

Split for the legs for the overalls. I'm going to lengthen the legs a bit; there is a strong possibility that Wee Bairn will be long and lean.

And finished the second heel and instep of the Father's Day Socks.

More Scent Practice and Other Stuff

Scent Hurdle

Practice continues a-pace; Ahab is getting better and better at not picking up Soccer's barbell. Soccer is still working on the part about how I want HIS barbell not A barbell. It'll come. Or not. This is Soccer after all.

Knitting

Work continues on the Father's Day Socks. Urgh, men's socks are so huge. No one had better ever ask me for kilt hose......

The colour is terrible in this picture but to be fair my phone's battery was dying.

The little overalls are down to the bum short rows. No picture; no battery remember.

And on and on.....

Made Liver Brownies for the dogs on the weekend and they're loving training again. Those store bought treats are OK but there is nothing like a Scooby Sna... I mean a Liver Brownie.

Soccer continues to surprise me with Scent Hurdle, although I'm beginning to wonder if he's scenting to me and not to himself. It seems that if I touch a blank barbell he will start picking it up instead of his barbell but as long as I handle the blanks with the tongs he picks his barbell. Hmmmmmm. We're going to have to work on that as I really need him to scent to himself. No pictures as it's very difficult to take a picture and handle Scent Hurdle equipment at the same time.

Ahab continues to do well consistantly choosing his barbell instead of Soccer's.

Knitting

More progress on the little overalls and very little progress on anything else. Of course I was too lazy to take a picture and now my phone is charging anyway. Meh. Still, if I get these done I'll be able to focus on something else.

All Together Again

Mom and Dad got home from Scotland this afternoon, jet-lagged but safe and sound. All the pets are delighted to have more hands to pet them. Mouse even sat on Dad for half an hour this afternoon I'm told. Squish and Soccer are all over everyone expressing their happiness that everyone is home again. It's very annoying but very cute. And the somber Ahab even cracked a smile. Twice.

Knitting

Mom tells me she wore her new sweater so much in Scotland that it already needs washing. So pleased she likes it, there is no greater compliment you can pay to someone who made you something that is meant to be used than to USE it. If you wear it out even better.

Started a pair of Father's Day Socks for Dad. Good old basic black. I think this is actually the first time I've made him black socks; grey was the closed I've come before. I did a pair with many shades of blue once; that was seriously pushing the envelope.

There might have been a trip to the LYS to get the yarn for Dad's socks and it's just possible a couple other balls landed in my stash. But since sock yarn doesn't count we don't have to talk about it.

Work continued on the second set of baby overalls, now joined in the round for the body. That's Squish photo bombing the background. Does it count as a photo bomb if the photographer is just too lazy to move the cat?

Baby Stuff has Arrived

There are a number of knitted items that arrived in Scotland with Mom and Dad.  I was unemployed when the announcement was made so quite a few baby things got knitted right away.

In order of completion.

A blanket. Mostly just a gray acrylic from a sweater of mine that fell apart due to poor seaming on the part of the manufacturer, the yarn was OK so I salvaged it for future use. Then, when I was unemployed and needed a baby blanket I checked the stash and there it was. I thought adding the yellow brightened it up a bit, although it's not really as dark as this picture suggests. Suitable for use outdoors since it is really easy to clean. My sister and her fiancee love doing outdoor things.

Pattern: improvised mitered squares with an attached i-cord edging.
Yarn: an old grey sweater and some Bernat Softee, both from the stash.

A sweater. This isn't newborn sized, it should fit about a 12-18 month  old child. Sex of the baby is unknown so I figured red was pretty neutral. If not then we'll just go with this kid is half Canadian. Maybe I'll do a blue and white version for the kid's Scottish half.

I'm not a huge fan of acrylic yarn in general but kids are so hard on items I decided it was the best choice for this sweater. Plus, I was on a tight budget, so yarn from Walmart was what I could afford since there was nothing appropriate in the stash.

Pattern: Seamless Blue by Felicia Semple
Yarn: Red Heart Luster Sheen in Cherry and White

Some overalls. These are just too cute for words. The pattern calls for little knitted booties on the feet but after talking to my Mom about how she used to cut the feet off baby clothes so she could use them longer I decided to leave them off.  These came out quite small so I might do a slightly larger version just because they are so darn cute.

Pattern: Pepita by Martina Behm
Yarn: Patons North America Kroy Sock in Gray Brown Marl

And finally some Baby Booties. These are the same yarn as the overalls so they sort of go with them instead of knitting the feet directly onto the overalls. I really like this pattern, it's knit flat so it's easy to knit and has only one seam down the back to finish up. It only took me a couple hours to make both, although it might take a beginner a bit longer they're certainly easy enough for a new knitter to try working with sock weight yarn. Very neat design.

Pattern: Baby Boots by Frankie Brown
Yarn: Patons North America Kroy Sock in Gray Brown Marl

Now we just have to wait for the kid to arrive so these items can be used.