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Monday, September 11, 2017

Year SIX: Self-Imposed Year of Projects - Update #37

A day late because yesterday was a travel day soooooo, happy Monday :)


Finished Objects (FOs):

1. Pussy Hat: started January 10, 2017; finished January 16, 2017
2. Hermione's Everyday Socks (v2): started November 14, 2016; finished January 28, 2017
3. Frene Creek Farm Corriedale (spinning): started October 12, 2016; finished January 16, 2017
4. Pikachu Hat: started February 3, 2017; finished February 10, 2017
5. Trusty (v2): started December 22, 2016; finished February 24, 2017
6. Pussy Hat: started February 13, 2017; finished February 27, 2017
7. Pussy Hat: started March 2, 2017; finished March 8, 2017
8. Pussy Hat: started March 9, 2017; finished March 21, 2017
9. Pussy Hat: started March 21, 2017; finished March 30, 2017
10. FlockSock Yarn #1: started April 5, 2017; finished April 5, 2017
11. FlockSock Yarn #2: started April 5, 2017; finished April 5, 2017
12. #initiateknitdesign challenge from ArohaKnits: started April 3, 2017; finished April 11, 2017
13. Knit Picks Bare Palette Fingering: started April 9, 2017; finished April 9, 2017
14. Malabrigo Rios: started April 9, 2017; finished April 9, 2017
15. Nashua Creative Focus Superwash: started April 9, 2017; finished April 9, 2017
16. Pussy Hat: started April 13, 2017; finished April 30, 2017
17. Pussy Hat: started April 30, 2017; finished May 13, 2017
18. Messed Up Moss: started January 4, 2017; finished May 17, 2017
19. Pussy Hat: started May 19. 2017; finished May 23, 2017
20. Pussy Hat: started May 24, 2017; finished May 26, 2017
21. Baby Pussy Hat: started May 26, 2017; finished May 26, 2017
22. Pussy Hat: started May 26, 2017; finished May 26, 2017
23. Bugga Bare (2 matching): started June 3, 2017; finished June 4, 2017
24. Bugga Bare: started June 3, 2017; finished June 4, 2017
25. Bugga Bare: started June 3, 2017; finished June 4, 2017
26. Malabrigo Twist: started June 3, 2017; finished June 4, 2017
27. Malabrigo Twist: started June 3, 2017; finished June 4, 2017
23. Vanilla Socks: started March 30, 2017; finished June 8, 2017
24. Stormageddon's Vest: started October 17 2016; finished June 9, 2017
25. BMFA Handpainted Roving: started March 23, 2017; finished June 23, 2017
26: Malabrigo Sock: started July 3, 2017; finished July 4, 2017
27. Malabrigo Sock: started July 3, 2017; finished July 4, 2017
28. Sanguine Gryphon Traveller: started July 3, 2017; finished July 4, 2017
29. Sanguine Gryphon Traveller: started July 3, 2017; finished July 4, 2017
30. Bonbon for Miss C: started June 24, 2017; finished July 6, 2017
31. Sandy's Palette Merino/Silk Roving: started July 1, 2017; finished July 7, 2017
32. Sandy's Palette Merino/Silk Roving: started July 2, 2017; finished July 10, 2017
33. Miss Babs BFL: started July 11, 2017; finished July 21, 2017
34. Yarn Dyeing Adventures: started August 6, 2017; finished August 6, 2017
35. Unnamed Hat: started August 14, 2017; finished August 24, 2017
36. Veggie Socks: started July 6, 2017; finished September 8, 2017

So, I'm a day late but I have a finished project! I took a few knitting projects on my trip, hoping for some time to knit and I spent some time knitting in the airport(s) and on the plane(s) and while binge watching Stranger Things and lo, I finished my Veggie Socks.


Of course, I finished them and I promptly wore them the next day. They've since been washed and will be going into the dryer sometime today. But they're finished and that's fantastic.




Works-in-Progress (WIPs):
1. Wink: started January 5, 2015
2. Oh, She IS a Bad Nut: started August 11, 2016
3. Fall in San Francisco (prototype 3): started October 4, 2016
4. Smooth Operator Socks: started October 13, 2016
5. Morvarch Aardvark: started January 1, 2017
6. Stomping Grounds collection: started February 26, 2017 (no project page)
7. Hat Design: started March 20, 2017
8. Vanillaish Rainbow Socks: started June 1, 2017
9. Twilight Socks (from blanks): started June 8, 2017
10. Garter Stitch Baby Blanket: started July 6, 2017
11. New Hat Design (for the unnamed hat in the FO section): started August 14, 2016
12. Neck-Down Base Shawl: started September 10, 2017
13. Shetland Neck Wool on Support Spindle: started September 8, 2017

As I mentioned above, I finished the Veggie Socks. I also brought my Vanillaish Rainbow Socks and my Twilight Socks along on my trip, both of which saw some action, though admittedly not a lot. And then, because I don't have enough going on, I started a new project using yarn that I got on my trip.



It's nothing terribly fancy (yet). It's just a neck-down garter stitch shawl though I'm debating whether I should add stripes (I probably will - I'm leaning toward black but I might go white on that one) and what kind of border I'm going to throw on it (because why not add a design element to it?). The yarn is I C Spots from River's Edge Fiber Arts and I have no idea what the colorway is called but there it is. It's an amethyst purple with specks of dark teal, black, lavender/orchid color....not self-stripe, which works really well for this.

You may also have noticed that there's a new spinning project. While I was in Wisconsin, I picked up two support spindles and I grabbed some of my new fiber and started putzing about with it.




I do better with the support than I did with just a regular drop spindle but I do significantly better on my wheel. Of course. But I started and I think I'm going to stick them out.



17 UFOs in 2017
1. Wink: started January 5, 2015
2. Oh, She IS a Bad Nut: started August 11, 2016
3. Fall in San Francisco (prototype 3): started October 4, 2016
4. Frene Creek Farm Corriedale (spinning): started October 12, 2016; finished January 16, 2017 **DONE**
5. Smooth Operator Socks: started October 13, 2016
6. Stormageddon's Vest: started October 17, 2016 **DONE**
7. Hermione's Everyday Socks (v2): started November 14, 2016; finished January 28, 2017 **DONE**
8. Trusty (v2): started December 22, 2016 **DONE**
9. Design: Susan's Hat
10. Design: Little Man's Baby Blanket
11. Design: Paradiddle Socks (aka Little Drummer Girl)
12. Design: Pacific Waves Hat
13. Design: Fall in San Francisco Hat
14. Stash Inventory (photos, in Rav database) **DONE**
15. Dystopian Novel
16. Doctor Who blanket (1)
17. Doctor Who blanket (2)


And my "OMGLSGWTFBBQ" Lists


Children's Items:
1. Stuffed toy for Mr. K (SIL's foster child)
2. Stuffed toy for Miss E (SIL's adopted daughter)
3. Stuffed toy for TAZ (brother's daughter)
4. Undetermined hat for Little Man
5. Undetermined hat for Stormageddon
6. Mittens for Little Man
7. Mittens for Stormageddon


Items for ME (selfish knitting FTW!):
1. Park Slope (fingering, specifically Mountain Colors Crazy Foot)
2. Worsted weight house socks (worsted, of course - maybe something like Lumberjack)
3. Classic Silk Mayfaire Camisole (Miss Babs Northumbria with modifications)
4. Evangeline (worsted; solid or semi-solid)
5. Lichen (Aran or Sport/DK; solid or semi-solid)
6. Moyen Age (fingering; one of my Vice Yarns? Zen Yarn Garden Serenity 20?)
7. Ginny's Cardigan (DK; solid or semi-solid)
8. Drip Drip Drop (sock; solid or semi-solid)
9. Celtic Myths (worsted; solid)
10. Jag in Garter Stitch (DK; 2 colors)
11. Cobh (fingering; 2 colors)
12. Offhand Lace (bulky; solid or semi-solid)
13. Whitman (DK; any color)
14. Flax (worsted; any color - Misti Alpaca Harry Potter-esque one?)
15. Hoar Frost (Wollmeise that's wound in the bag)


Christmas/Charity Bin:
1. 198 Yds of Heaven (worsted; solid)
2. Comfort Food (Aran; solid)
3. Tombreck (worsted; solid or semi-solid)
4. Premie Spiral Hat (DK; any color)
5. Pumpkins & a Pattern (any weight, any color - gauge doesn't matter)


Designs:
1. Susan's Hat *started* - need new prototype & write pattern
2. Little Man's Baby Blanket *started* - write pattern
3. Paradiddle Socks - need prototype & write pattern
4. Pacific Waves Hat *started* - need another prototype & write pattern
5. Fall in San Francisco *started* - need another prototype & write pattern
6. Stormageddon's Baby Blanket - need prototype & write pattern
7. Cabled pullover (grey look-alike sweater) - need sketch, grading, swatch, prototype, & write pattern
8. Christmas stocking for Little Man - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)
9. Christmas stocking for Stormageddon - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)
10. Christmas stocking for Husband - need charts, prototype, & write pattern (maybe)
11. Stomping Grounds collection (everything: charts, prototypes, swatches, etc.) *started*


Spinning:
1. Faerie Mountain Fibers Crazy Batt
2. Wash & start processing Alpaca fleece from Lambtown
3. Wash & start processing Merino fleece from Lambtown

Other:
1. Stitch markers
2. Make sure my vintage patterns are in Ravelry (Workbasket magazines, leaflets, etc.)



The early part of the week was filled with trying to get everything together. I had three meetings: one on Monday night and two on Wednesday morning, all for the auction. In between getting ready for those meetings, I was attempting to pack for my trip to Wisconsin. I was extremely busy but I got through it all and Thursday morning, after dropping Little Man off at school, I was dropped off at the airport. I should maybe note that while I have done a bit of flying over the years, this was my first solo trip on a plane. So, I'm already a little bit of a nervous flyer so my anxiety was ramped up a bit. It didn't help that I had a 45 minute window when I landed at O'Hare in Chicago to get from one plane to the other....I seriously thought I wasn't going to make it (and I almost didn't).

But, back to the week...

So, Thursday, I got to the airport around 8:45am or so, thinking my flight was at 11am. Nooooooope. Apparently reading is not my strong suit because my flight wasn't actually til something like 2:30pm. Oops. I wound up sitting around, knitting, having a leisurely "lunchfast" and taking care of a few emails and such before my flight. It was wonderful. I started with two rounds of the leg left on my Veggie Socks so I did those, then the heel flap & turn, and I picked up gusset stitches before I got on the plane.

We landed in Chicago early. Hooooray. Except that one of the flights sitting at a gate had about 5 fire trucks and 3 ambulances surrounding it and we were told we were probably going to be sitting on the tarmac for a bit. It was originally supposed to be 10 minutes and it turned into almost a half hour. By the time I got off the plane, my next flight was boarding. Now, if you're unaware, this is what the map of O'Hare looks like:


Being that I was on a United flight. we landed at Terminal One over on the right side of the above photo. You'll also notice that Concourse C is kind of off on it's own. In order to get from Concourse C to the rest of the Concourses & Terminals, you have to take 40 stairs down, a good 3/4 mile walk, and 40 stairs back up. 

Guess what I had to do? 

We landed at Concourse C in Terminal One and my next flight was in Concourse B (thankfully just Concourse B). Based on what my ticket said, I had about 10 minutes to get from my first flight to my second one before the doors closed. I pretty much ran through the airport, including on the moving sidewalks. I got to Concourse B and took a quick look at the arrival/departure sign and noticed that my plane had been late coming in so I actually had 10 minutes to have a pee and grab some Starbucks. Unfortunately, it meant that we arrived late in Madison (not horribly off schedule but I was hoping to be at my friend's house by 10pm and, instead, we were pulling up to our gate at 10pm). 

So, that was the airport saga. I got my car, drove to my bestie's place, we stayed up way too late, and then I crashed...but I made sure to get my alarm going at 7am so I'd get moving. It was hard but I did it. 

She took her kids to school while I showered, then we had breakfast at the bakery that I grew up eating. She informed me that not only was I having a doughnut, I was also having a cookie.



After that, we headed to Jefferson for the Wisconsin Sheep & Wool Festival.


We may or may not have had wine slushies with our dogs & fries. We may or may not have had more than one of those. Also, Husband may or may not have sent my bestie her very own slushie machine so we can have them all the time.















SHEEEEEEEEPIES! Many of them were friendly and loved to have pets. A few tried to nibble fingers. The lambs were a little skittish (top sheep photo) but I think it's because there were so many people....and the sheep shearing was going on nearby and they were hungry.

That night, we went out for Mexican and ate way too much and then we wound up doing a binge session of Stranger Things on Netflix. We started around 8pm and finished around 3am. All eight episodes in one sitting. It was glorious.

Saturday was a little different. We went to see It at the theater, with the heated reclining seats and food. It was a glorious movie and I want to see it again (but I know Husband won't be going along). After that, back to the fairgrounds to check on my auction bids and have a couple more wine slushies and elephant ears and deep fried Snickers bars. Yup. That all happened.




We were amused with the signs in the parking lot. Other signs included sheep, horse, cow, pig, and goat. And probably a few others.



This little guy is a Lincoln sheep. They're extremely rare (something like 5,000 left in the entire world) and he was very friendly. It might have been a "she" but I thought the owner said "ram" in there somewhere. Either way, friendly little sheepie.


This one *really* liked my friend...kept resting the little face on her stomach and looking up at her with big sheepie eyes that said, "take me home, lady!

That night, we went to the pub for dinner.


The pub is in the space where my grandparents had their business since before I was born. I spent almost 30 years running around that space before I closed it. I worked there, when I was home sick from school, I was usually there, and we visited often. The building was originally a bank so in the back there's an extremely heavy, metal, bank vault door and the vault itself. They actually put the fridge/freezer room back there, which isn't surprising. The only way that door would be coming out is if the building owner pulled off the front of the building and went in with some very heavy construction equipment. So, use it to your advantage.


And that was dinner: Norwegian meatballs on a pile of mashed potatoes with some slaw, gravy, and a bun :)

I had to head back home on Sunday but my bestie made waffles, we did some packing, took a trip to Walmart (so I could get bubble wrap to pack beer for Husband), and had lunch at Culver's, which is a fast food place in the Midwest mostly.

My flight home was....not how it was supposed to be. I got to the airport with plenty of time and I go to the ticketing agent and he asked if I would be willing to go on a later flight into Chicago and then home. I was supposed to to Denver and have a 3 hour layover, getting in to San Francisco around midnight. The flight to Chicago and then to San Francisco would get me home about two hours earlier but my connecting flight in Chicago had about 45 minutes. Oooookay, that's what my flight on the way was supposed to be and I ended up running through O'Hare. But, home two hours earlier.....so I did it.

As expected, we got stuck on the tarmac (even though we landed early) and I checked the board as soon as I got off the plane. My connecting flight was on Concourse B and I was, of course, on Concourse C.....so it was basically a reverse of what had happened on Thursday except I had even less time. Turns out the flight home contained the Stanford Women's Volleyball Team and they were holding the plane for us. Sooo, aside from having to run through the airport again, I made it and I arrived home earlier.

Hence why there was no post yesterday and I am, instead, posting today.

I'll have a proper yarn post about my acquisitions....hopefully Saturday. We'll see what happens.

I hope you've had a lovely weekend and beginning to the week :)

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