Sunday, February 10, 2013

Year of Projects 2: Update 19

Project Percentage Complete: 49%
Overall Percentage Complete: 66%

Number of Project Items: 98
Number of Added Items: 73
Total Items: 171

Total Completed Project Items: 48
Total Completed Items: 114


I missed my update last week and by the time I got around to writing something up, I figured it was close enough to Sunday to just wait. So, this week has left me with a few finishes - but not items that were on my original project list.

I'm definitely finding it too easy to work on things not on my project list - I am seeing so many other wonderful things that I just want to do them all... so I'm trying my darndest but I can say that my "hobby job" on a gaming server is suffering because I'm so wrapped up in the cathartic nature of knitting and crochet that I haven't had time to log in and do my job over there. I should really do some of that today.. but maybe later because I have 53 more rows until I can turn the heel on my new pair of socks!

I now only have 13 rows and a bind off left for these socks
I have genuinely fallen in love with Opal sock yarn. Granted, I can't tell you much about the yarn because the band is completely in German. I know that its made of 75% superwash virgin wool and 25% polymide and I wouldn't have purchased this ball a few months ago if it hadn't been in the clearance bin at a yarn store my friend A- and I hit up on a quick yarn crawl north of here. The colorway I have is called "Schmetterling" and is one of the colorways in the Rainforest 2 collection. This collection is no longer being manufactured, which is somewhat heartbreaking as I LOVE many of the colors on the ball band. You can see them here as well: http://www.opalsockyarn.com/Rainforest2.html

I finished the Man's socks this last week to. He just wanted a very vanilla pair of ankle socks (which is what I'm making in the Opal because I liked the style a bit but wanted some color). It took me a few days to work through those. I admit, I wasn't intimidated by doing the sock, I was working a bit slower because working in all off-white isn't exactly exciting. I like seeing color changes on the socks I'm making from the Opal yarn, which seemingly makes me knit faster. Going round after round in off-white is kinda.... eh. *laughs*

I did want to stop and make his socks because right before the holiday he said he'd like me to make him some. I was a little stunned by his request - as he is always willing to take a new hat or scarf I've made, he had said previously he was not interested in hand knitted socks. But... for some reason he changed his mind. I told him that as soon as my holiday crafting rush was over, I'd work on him some socks. He picked out the yarn and it had just been sitting in the craft room since. I decided I had better seize the window of opportunity and make the darn socks... so I did. And he says he loves them and that they are super soft and squishy... which, in my opinion, means it was a successful project.

Other than that, I'm trying to get my oompf together and work on the Navajo. I tell ya - if going round after round in off-white didn't get me, doing row after row of single crochet with an occasional dropped double crochet may. That blanket was very fun in the beginning, now its just tedious. I will finish it. I will most likely use it as one of my State Fair projects ... and then give it to my brother, the rightful owner.

I did go on another yarn crawl with several of my yarn group friends last Thursday. I was only able to buy one skein of yarn (sock yarn, go figure HA!) because of my budget, BUT I had a great time and I'll post about it sometime this week coming.

Yup... that's about it, I think - I have a few other posts I want to start writing up today as well... oh, and of course try to finish off my socks in Opal Schetterling!

And even though I did have another craft related photo in this post, I thought - the personal random photos are kinda fun.

This is a photo of my son, DC, and our outdoor cat, Ed. It was taken just a few months ago at the end of summer. Ed is quite a personality in that he has a personality that if he were human with the same personality, no one would like him or he'd be in jail for murder. He's not a very pleasant cat but oddly, he LOVES our son. The cat genuinely does not like to be around people but if its my son, he is ok with being held and being petted for a little bit.

I'm pretty sure that cat has never scratched DC either....

oh, and note that this is not a tiny kitty - during the summer month's, Ed weighs in at about 18-20 pounds almost pure muscle.. in the winter, when he piles on the weight and gets his winter coat, he's closer to 25-28 pounds (and is much more grumpy in the winter). Don't worry though, he has a heated "cave" we built for him.

For such a jerk kitty - he sure is loved *laughs*


Project List Items (not started/in progress)
- Navajo Indian Multi-Color Afghan (gift)
- 17 squares for SIBOL  
- 9 crochet knockers for donation 

- 5 pet beds for donation
- 10 chemo caps for donation
- 2 swiffer covers (for me!)
- Knit a Sweater for the Man
- Knit Wingspan Shawl
- 1 pair spat warmers
- Woven Blocks Crochet Quilt
- Room Shoes
- Amimono Kimono (for me!)


Project List Items (done)
- 33 squares for SIBOL
- 5 knit/crochet cloths for Mom (Christmas present)
- 5 knit/crochet cloths for SIL (Christmas present)
- State Fair Afghan
- Dead Fish Hat (Birthday gift for DS)
- Spidey-colored Round Ripple Lapghan (Christmas present)
- 1 crochet knockers for donation
- Wrap (ended poorly - was supposed to be for Squirt but... didn't work out)

Added Items (not started/in progress)
- Tongues of Fire (for me) 
- Headband to Match Garter Slip Scarf (for me) 
- Pimpelliese (for me)
- 1 pair of Vanilla Socks for me

- Striped Granny Bag
- Elite Syncopations
- Harry Potter Scarf 
- Blue or Purple Cowl (for a friend; after the holidays)

Added Items (done)
- Have a Heart Shawl (free Red Heart pattern)
- Magic Square Potholder
- Boot Toppers (Christmas present)
- 50 Ruffle Scarves
- Striped Scarf (Christmas Present)
- Crochet Clock (Christmas Present)
- House Slippers (Christmas Present)
- Warm Hat with Bill (Christmas Present)
- Stocking Cap (Christmas present)
- 3 icord knit snakes
- My Garter Slipped Scarf (for me)
- 1 pair Vanilla Socks
- 2 plastic canvas door hanging pouches (for Valentine's Day)

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This post is part of the Ravelry Group "Come Blog-A-Long" #yearofprojects Project. If you are interested in joining along or finding other posts similar to this one, visit the group on Ravelry.



13 comments:

sandy said...

Ohhhhh what a shame they don't make it anymore....it's awesome colors. http://4ccccs.blogspot.com/2013/02/counting-rows-and-stitches-but.html

Gracey said...

I've used Opal yarn on three pair of socks (I think)...I do like it....I like the ones you are working on...The Hubs won't ever get socks from me, as he is really rough on socks...

Minding My Own Stitches said...

Self-patterning yarn makes me knit faster too. I always want to see what's next. And then I make deals with myself, like okay I'll knit to the end of the red, then make coffee, and then I'll knit to the end of the white and move the washing to the dryer ... It's addictive!

Cris said...

They have some other great colorways that are still being made - I just gotta buy more :)

Cris said...

Oh I love Opal yarn - I had never used it before.

Cris said...

Exactly!!!!!!

kimmery4 said...

Okay! First off, Ed makes me laugh! Cats are just so bizarre and we have one with his own unique personality too--totally different from our dog! I love those socks, and have been hearing a lot about Opal sock yarn recently--I almost bought some a while back but didn't know much about it at the time. Our yarn crawl is coming up this spring and I can't wait--what a rush being around all that yarn all day!! :)
*smiles*

Cris said...

Ed definitely has a personality .. not a good one, but he definitely has one *laughs* Odd you should mention dogs - I really think Ed feels he is a dog. He hangs out in the back yard (unless he is off killing something in the woods) and can get aggressive with people walking by! Its insane!


As for the yarn - I would DEFINITELY recommend he Opal sock yarn. I can't wait to get my hands on some more. Its pricey, but you can find it online on clearance too - its just a matter of finding it :)

ruthmckeown said...

Love your sock the colourway is just fab. I'm using Opal for the socks I'm presently knitting and its lovely to knit with, so much so that I've ordered some more and this end of the world its quite reasonably priced

Cris said...

OOOOOOOO I wish it were cheaper.... perhaps we need to do a yarn swap sometime *wiggles eyebrows* Seriously though - it really is nice yarn!

DeliaKnits said...

Love working with self striping yarn. It is addictive! My poor hubs, I started two pairs of socks for him, and haven't finished..maybe I should do that next! We have several outdoor cats here too. People make a big fuss over them being outside in the snow, until we explain to them that we often see them in the basement, sleeping on the furnace. They do make a big show of being forlorn and pathetic though..

Emma said...

Love the socks, I'm making some simple self striping socks at the moment, and I love seeing the colours come out. And It's weird, my boyfriend asked for his first pair of hand knitted socks this year, after swearing he would never, ever wear hand knit socks!

Cris said...

HA! I wonder if there is something in the water/air? :P

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