Year in Review 2016 and 2017

Hello Blog.  Today is December 31, 2017.  Time to review my last two years of knitting.

First up 2016.

16 in 2016 and two of those were frogged projects. So really 14 FO's. Not a lot of knitting for me in 2016.

1 hat
1 sweater
3 cowls
2 mkal's one being Building Blocks by Stephen West size large.
3 shawls
3 pairs of socks
1 Hedgie for a dear soul who is no longer with us.

On to 2017

44 total projects.  One frogged and one is a wip.  I love the idea of 44 projects in 2017, yes for political reasons. Forever 44.

8 completed hats. One additional wip Brioche hat. 4 Pussy Hats. One marched in Washington, one mailed to the Yarnbomber for his Pussy Hat Instalation. I hear he is ill and wish him health.  One small Pussy Hat gifted to my sister for Little Frog. One more my daughter, because she told me she also wanted to be a Nasty Girl.

1 sweater for a dear little one.

1 Hedgie for the same dear little one.

9 total shawls.  2 Stephen West shawls including the Marled Magic mkal and Speckle and Pop. Wonder Woman, loved the movie had to knit the shawl. I knit two fade shawls, Find Your Fade and What the Fade.  I knit along with the Joji Mystery Wrap.  First bit of commission knitting for Yarnbyrds: A Yarn Truck.

2 cowls

6 earbud pouches

2 pairs of socks

11 dishcloths

1 Rosie the Hippo immediately renamed Fiona the Hippo becuase FIONA.

1 pair of long fingerless mitts for my daughter, who is a Freshman in High School.

That's 2017.  I have a Brioche hat on the needles that I have no desire to attempt to finish in a mad dash today. Loving Brioche. What the Fade really helped me find my Brioche mojo this year. I tried two other times over the years and struggled with Brioche. But now it clicks in my brain and I am in love.

Instagram and Ravelry continue to be my online knitting locations of choice.  IRL knitting, and yarn buying, included my first trip to Wool Gathering at Yong's Dairy with two knitting friends. My first trip to the Great Lakes Fiber Festival at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. Yarnbyrds: A Yarn Truck maid her maiden voyage in Westerville two summers ago, I think it was the summer before this past one. The Nest opened up this fall.  I took a yarn dying workshop at The Nest with Destination Yarn. Lots of fun. There are several newish yarn shops here in Cbus that I still have not checked out but hope to in the new year.

Knitting Goals for 2018.

More brioche.

Pad the stash with more DK and speckles.

Get out to local yarn shops.

Maybe take a workshop or class.

Continue to engage with fellow knitters on Instagram.

Continue to encourage new knitters.

I'm not going to pretend like I'm going to blog much this coming year.  See you later for the next Year in Review.

Cold Sheeping: The Halfway Point

Look at me blogging THREE times in one year.  Oh how times have changed.  I'm more on Rav and Instagram these days but I will keep my blog going.

I'm loving cold sheeping.  It's a challenge sometimes but overall I'm enjoying the challenge. 

Must admit that a friend gifted me some yarn during a stash cleanse. This included some super spiff yarn.  I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to knit with this fabu yarn.

Other then a few patterns I've spent very little on knitting so far this year.  My stash has provided yarn, entertainment and an opportunity to use what I have.

I plan on continuing the cold sheep until further notice.

Goodbye Grandma J

Both of the very special women who taught me to knit are now passed. Mom back in the summer of 97 and now Grandma J.

Grandma J was 95, it was her time. 

I'm so incredibly sad.

I knitting related news I have her needle stash, which I love. The straights are displayed in the kitchen.  I also have some of her yarn stash.  Maybe it is time to dip into that special stash a bit in celebration of her life fully lived.

Cold Sheeping 2015

I've decided to Cold Sheep this year.  I have fabulous stash. This year I'm going to focus on knitting from stash instead of adding to stash. 

Of course there can be the occasional exception.  I need to buy a few more skeins of WOTA to finish the Hermione Cardigan for E. 

Otherwise Cold Sheep for me, at least for now.

2014 Knitting Year in Review

Hello and Goodbye to 2014.

Let's run down my FO's shall we?

4 shawls, two Stephen West designs, love his funky design sense.

7 hats.

5 Hedgies, including one Extra Special Hedgie for the Ravellenic Games.  The political ridiculousness in Sochi dampened the usual Olympic joy.  So I knitted a Rainbow Hedgie for Educational purposes.  Hedgie turned out super cute and educational.  You can see the short row sections in the back quite nicely. 

Ravellenic Rainbowllenic Rainbow Construction Educational Funtimes Hedgie

Ravelry Project Link

7 dishcloths knitted on handmade wooden straights for an online buddy.  Her Grandfather made the needles and she gifted them to me.  I realized that I tend to drop, more like throw, my needle when I'm done with a row. This is not a big deal when using circs but it is annoying when using straights.

4 bricks for the  Secular Coalition of America.

1 lap blanket using the massive Palette stash.

1 pair of super complicated kilt hose for the husband. I'd not knitted socks in two years.  This was my most challenging pair of socks to date.  One month and a day of knitting.

1 Weasley sweater for the son, it turned out huge, but he continues to grow so no worries.

I am so close to being done with a Hermione Cardigan for daughter, but it is not getting done in 2014.

That brings us to a grand total of 30 finished projects in 2014.  Hooray for me!  Looking back I'm focusing on more complex knitting.  The kilt hose were ridiculous but I got them finished. The Hermione Cardigan I'm currently working on had a crazy stranded yoke.

I continue to knit for me by my rules.  Knitting brings me comfort and a creative outlet.

Goals for 2015

Dare I even think about cold sheeping?  I have a great little stash. I'm thinking it is time to knit down the stash a bit.

I plan to continue to challenge my skill set and try new techniques.

Knitting will continue to be something for me. 

2010 Knitting Year in Review

I'm still here and I'm still knitting and reading and going about my daily business. One thing I'm not doing is knit blogging. Bad blogger. I'm on Facebook and twitter way too much. Oh and Ravelry. Not on Ravelry too much.

I have tallies of my FO's for 2010.

Hats 9

Toys 8

Sweaters, I'm counting both child and adult sized here 11

Dishcloths 17

Blanket, lap but still blanket sized 1

Mitts 1 My Yarn Harlot Yarn winning Twilight Mitts for the Ravelympics.

Socks 3 This feels like a really small number

Phallic Recorder Case 1

Lace Shawls 4 I LOVE THEM ALL

Thong 1

Cowls 7

Felted Bowl 1

Coaster 1

That's a total of 65 FO's for 2010. I'm pleased but it also feels a bit anticlimactic after last year's 74+ number. It's still over one project a week.

I also frogged 5 items in 2010. Sometimes a project just does not work out. It's ok. There might actually be one or more additional trips to the frog pond that I did not put into Ravelry. When I crash and burn I crash and burn.

Knitting Goals

I jotted down the following list a few months ago. I did not date it. Who knows maybe I blogged about it. Regardless I'm going to go through it. I've accomplished a few.

Mosaic Knitting, I've done a tiny bit of this in the Linoleum Dishcloth. It's a fascinating technique.

Illusion Knitting, I knitted a little Hegwig dishcloth for Allison. It's a fun technique. The next step is to knit the big HP/Harry Potter illusion knitting banner for Allison. Need to get yarn first.

More socks. I can't believe I only knit three pairs. All three rock and I loved the yarn for all three. STR medium weight, Noro sock, and Stroll Tonal.

More Lace. Always looking for more lace. I love lace.

Shawl Pin. I have one! I'm wearing it now! I love it!

The Walker Books. Because Barbra is a visionary and a treasure. I will enhance my knitting library stash at some point with All of the Treasuries, From the Top Down and Mosaic Knitting.

Sub to Vogue Knitting, I go back and forth on this one.

Hedgies/Felting. I have not knitted a single Hedgie in over a year. Mind Blowing. I have felted in the new front loader. I'm thinking I will be hand felting from now on. Otherwise I love my washer.

I want to check out some new to me yarn.

Malabrigo, no longer new to me. How about some Twist and Rios.

Koiju PPPM, it calls a siren song.

Kidsilk Haze. Yes I want to go full out you can't tink this sh*t Kidsilk Haze.

Allie and I are going to see Lady Gaga and the Scissor Sisters this coming March. I want to knit something for this show. I have some ideas. It's a matter of making a decision, buying yarn and knitting. I'm thinking something lacy to go over something else.

I'd really just like to keep knitting, keep trying out new yarns Publish Postand learning new techniques.

What I knitted in 2008 and Goals for 2009

Thought I would tally up my Ravelry projects to see what I knitted in 2008. Let's look for a pattern or two in my knitting.

Ok...

Hats 13 (5 Unoriginal Hats)

Sweaters 2 one for an Adult Man and one for a Toddler Man in Training.

Pairs of Mittens 3, all felted

Hedgies a surprisingly low 4. I thought I made more this year. Only a 4 Hedgie year.

Tissue covers 6

Dress 1 Ah Crumpets is DONE!

Knitted Toys that are not Hedgies 11, this included 3 sonic screwdrivers, 3 TARDIS, a Dalek, 2 squirrels, hmm might be 12, not sure.

Dishcloths 1

Felted Coasters 9, four were Obama coasters to keep me from hurting myself or the TV during the debates.

Pairs of socks 6 I'm grouping here, this is one pair of yoga socks, one pair of felted fuzzy feet, one pair of felted ballet slippers one pair of anklets and two pair of 'traditional' socks. Wow. That blows my mind a bit. I've not really considered myself a sock knitter, but I had fun knitting up all of these projects and have several sock/foot related projects on tap for 2009.

Felted bowls 2

Mop covers 1 not a fan

Knitted Market Bags 4

Cup cozy/wrist warmer 1 another Obama themed debate night knit.

Themes?

I'm a bit surprised by the high number of sock/foot items. I love my fuzzy feet. E loves her ballet slippers. I like the idea of knitting up felted slippers then felting them with the recipient there so they can conform to their foot. Same goes for felted mittens.

The number of hats does not surprise me. Dad gets at least one or two hats a year. I like knitting hats, they are small, quick and don't take up a lot of yarn. I feel I can splurge on some yummy yarn for a Hat.

I'm immensely proud of the two sweaters. Dave wears and is beating the ever living crap out of his Cobblestone. Now to get a picture of H in his Weasley sweater. I'm not big on sweater knitting, never have been in the past but I enjoyed both of these knits. It helped that I found a metric buttload of Paton's Classic Wool Merino for 2 bucks a skein.

The low Hedgie count surprised me. I do not have all of my Hedgies documented on Ravelry. I really need to get the HP Hedgie on there, he has fun flocked fur, looks like he has a fro, he is spiff. I love the Hedgie pattern. I'm feeling a bit Hedgied out at the moment but plan on knitting more in 09 just because they make me happy.

Knitted toys other then Hedgies. I love little nonsense knitted toys. They make me smile and don't take up a ton of time and yarn. The Dalek was a PITA to knit but I love the FO. Maybe it's time to knit a TARDIS.

Dishcloths really don't do it for me. I have nothing against them they are just not for me, at least for now.

Felted bowls, very low count this year. I was tearing through felted bowls in years past. Love them for stash busting. I have a ton of red yarns, might do a few bowls. We shall see.

The knitted market bags were fun but just don't really call to me. I'd rather use store bought reusable bags then knitted bags.

The knitted bag and dishcloth malaise might be due to the cotton. I'm just not a huge fan of knitting in cotton. Oh I might be on to something here. Crumpets was in Cotton Ease and I was not thrilled with Crumpets once I got passed the super fun bodice. Hmm. Makes we wonder what I should do with my stash Cotton Ease, it's not that much but if I don't enjoy knitting in cotton.

2009 Goals

I know I want to knit more socks this year. The Opal HP sock yarn just calls to me. I like the idea of learning magic loop, maybe 2 socks on one needle or 2 socks on 2 needles. I might get all wild and try toe up socks.

I still have a bit of the Rich Red Patons Classic Merino left in stash. I want to knit E the Jane Austin shurg in the second Mason Dixon book. Yes it calls for cotton but I am not a big fan of cotton. I'll try it in the merino and see what happens.

I have not knitted a shawl in awhile. I've had the Diamond Fantasy Shawl queued for some time. Found a great tutorial on adding beads while knitting so you don't have to move them along the yarn. The Swallowtail Shawl also calls. The Flower Basket Shawl has eluded me on several tries. I have a scanner now, could easily blow up the chart to make it more readable. What is up with the tiny charts.

Hats continue to call. I still want to do Koolhaas. I showed Dad the Koolhaas pattern and the library it's based on, he was impressed. We shall see.

Like I wrote in my last post I knit for the process, for the calm it gives me, for the joy. It's also fun to have a knitted Dalek for your family room mantel but I digress.

In the meantime I have a Jaywalker sock to work on.

Holiday Knitting

Finally got back to Holiday knitting. Had a little vase languishing on the needles for a few weeks. Finally finished it up tonight while watching Dr Who Season One Confidential episodes. Even pounded out a second little vase in browns. The plan is to knit up a bunch and then do a mass felting.

I've not been knitting that much lately and I've really been missing it, the feeling of being productive, the break for my brain, the yarn, the comfort. It felt good to be knitting again tonight.

Knitting Goals

Now that I'm back to knitting, ok sort of back to knitting if not really back to blogging, I've been thinking of what I want to knit in the coming months.

Currently On the Needles

I'm currently working on a fuzzy little kitty that I found over at the Harry Potter and the Book 7 KAL. It's a really simple little knit. I'm using koolaid dyed wool, leftover cascade 220 and Knit Picks Butterfly Kisses to make it whispy.

I have yet another knitted/felted bowl on the needles. I just can't stop.

I have a feather and fan scarf on the needles that might end up felted to make a coaster/trivet of sorts. That knit is bitter sweet. It makes me sad but I think I'm going to keep it knitted. I like the idea of felting it to signify permanent change. Need to think on that one.

Recycled Bag Project

I've been working on a new project where you basically knit a bag out of recycled grocery bags cut into long strips. I first found the idea over at Magknits.

I'm knitting a bag following the pattern for a Fulled Lopi Tote over at Hello Yarn. Obviously I won't be felting this one since it is plastic and not a natural fiber. Here is a great tutorial on how to cut the bags into continuous strips.

I've been using up my stash of Giant Eagle grocery bags for the little tote bag. They work ok but are quite thin and rather bland color wise. So far it's a different, yet still interesting, knit.

We had Damon's take out for dinner last week. The food arrived in a spiffy black plastic bag while the condiments arrived in a smaller red bag. This got the little grey cells moving a bit. While taking a shower I got the idea to knit Unbiased in recycled Sari Silk yarn and to also knit it in recycled plastic shopping bags.

I found this DIY Network project while researching knitting with plastic bags that gives an idea of what kind of textile you can create by knitting up different colored shopping bags. The look is similar to that of recycled sari silk, obviously not identical but similar in spirit. I know it's plastic, literally, plastic.

So here is my plan. Knit Unbiased in the recycled sari silk yarn that I've been longing to knit for ages and knit a second Unbiased in a colorful array of plastic shopping bags. The goal is to have both knitted in time for Earth Day, April 22, 2008. I'm figuring that gives me a doable goal far enough ahead and also ties in nicely with a Recycle/Earth Day post for the knitting blog.

Items I want to knit.

I want to knit my Henry a Weasley Sweater in a blue tweed with a light gray H.

I'm seriously debating about Holiday knitting. I have a few things finished that could be Christmas gifts but nowhere near what I would need to fulfill all gift giving needs. I'm thinking we are going to keep Christmas simple again this year.

In the meantime I have a kitty calling me to knit up it's little body.

Nearly forgot to mention two things.

1. Thank you for the continued thoughts/prayers and comments.

2. I went to see Order of the Phoenix at 12:01AM and it rocked!

*SPOILER ALERT* Highlight the following text to read. OK you can still sort of read it, at least it will slow you down.

Loved the movie overall. They really took the old pruning shears to the plot. Can we say slash and burn? Anything extra that could be cut out was cut out leaving only the barest essentials. But they did take time to add a few little extras that were not in the book.

I found the scene where the Weasley Twins comforted the younger student about the EVIL Umbridge's bloody pen of doom hand scars. It showed the tender, good side of the twins.

Umbridge was pure EVIL. Great performance, fabulous costuming.

Loved the score.

I LOVED LUNA. Oh she was perfect. I wanted to see more of her character.

I thought Daniel Radcliffe carried the movie. He is really coming into his own as an actor, no as a Thespian, an artist if you may. I think he is amazing, grounded, talented, handsome, quirky....

Yes the plot got the old chop but I enjoyed the film and look forward to seeing it again at some point. My sister saw it again but in digital format and she said it did look crisper.

Anyway loved the movie and am seriously looking forward to book 7.

Knitting Program and the Daisy Cake

I hosted a PEO meeting this morning. I also happened to be the program presenter. Our chapter has a really open ended theme this year so you can really just about pick whatever topic you want to present for your program.

I choose to talk about knitting and knit blogging.

I'd been thinking about what I wanted to talk about, the basics really. I made up a little crib sheet to help me remember what I wanted to talk about; types and composition of needles, types and weight of yarn, where to find instruction and patterns and most importantly to talk about knitting blogs in general.

The night before I set up a little display of some FO's and a few WIP's to have examples to share.
Not surprisingly the Hedgehogs were a huge hit. Everyone wanted to know about the hedgehogs, and the Kiri shawl. All told I'd say my little talk went well. Who knows maybe one of the ladies will pick up the sticks again after a long hiatus or try them for the first time.


Check out the swanky Daisy Cake my girlfriend Michelle of Sauer Cakes designed, baked and decorated for my meeting. It was White Almond Sour Cream cake with Raspberry filling. I asked for Marguerite Daisy's and for it to feed 10 to 15 people. It tasted fabulous, like good wedding cake. Thanks Michelle!

In knitting news I'm working on a felted Princess Hat for E out of New Knits on the Block by Vickie Howell. It's in Knit Picks Sierra in Rose and I want to say Lettuce?



In case there was any question as to the amount of fun we had talking knitting check out the aftermath. Ah yes a good time was had by all.

The Fifth Hedgehog

See my Tabblo>

Have you checked out Tabblo? It takes a little getting used to the interface but you can create fun posters, books and postcards with your pictures.

Nearly finished with Hedgie #5. Thought I would share a few things I learned while knitting and finishing the Hedgies.

First off the pattern, Fiber Trends Huggable Hedgehog #228 is in my opinion very clear and well written. I'd done short rows for Tychus but that did not require wrapping while turning.

The Hedgehog pattern is felted, obviously, so it's a bit forgiving. A small miscount here and there will not completely destroy your finished project.

I tried a total of four different fun fur/eyelash/novelty yarns for the fur. From left to right we have Lion Brand Fun Fur held double. Bernat Boa, Cello Eyelash held double and Knit Picks Butterfly Kisses held double.

Yarn Choices for Fur

I'd say I am most happy with the Lion Brand Fun Fur held double, followed by the Bernat. The Cello held double is just too fuzzy. It's out of control Bon Jovi 80's hair fuzzy. The Knit Picks Butterfly Kisses, in my opinion, just does not provide substantial fluff for this pattern. Even held double it does not provide adequate coverage. Held single, which I did for the 5th Hedgie, it provides only minimum coverage. While minimum coverage may be ok for car insurance from time to time it is not good for a Hedgie. Poor thing looks like he has mange, or worse yet hair plugs.

I'm thinking that the Cello held single will produce nice overage without going overboard on the fuzz factor. That's probably what I will do for the next Hedgie.

I used two whole skins of Lion Brand Fun Fur plus a little bit of a third. Same for the Bernat and the Cello. Two skeins is not enough. The Butterfly Kisses comes in 200 yard balls but I had a terrible time winding it into a ball held double. Tangled horribly.

Yarn Choices for Body

I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes for Hedgies 1-4. Knit Picks Sierra for #5. Both felted up well. The Sierra is a bulky weight yarn, it was delightful to knit with and created a very dense, thick fabric. One skein of each color, tummy and paw/back of Wool of the Andes will make one hedgehog with yarn to spare.

After finishing the 5th Hedgie out of Sierra I've found that the Sierra is nice and thick but not very soft and squishy. I want a more squishy Hedgie, so I think I'm going to stick with the Wool of the Andes.

Deviation from the written pattern

Without divulging too much of the pattern. I have no desire to violate copyright. Here are the slight changes I made while knitting the pattern.

I used a matching yarn color to the fur yarn for the back of the hedgehog to create a more uniform color look. I saw a hedgehog knitted in grey for the body and back with black fun fur. The result was cute but I did not care for the look of black wisps of fur coming out of the grey back. I would prefer a matching black back. This is personal preference.

For example the OSU Hedgie has a grey tummy, red paw tips and red back with red eyelash for fur. The fur is sparse so the red back helps mask the lack of fur.

The Paws. I did not completely understand the directions for the paws. I just knitted all rows without purling. I think the paws turn out fine knitted.

I did not change needle size for the back as directed in the pattern. Did not want to shell you another 10.50 for a size 11 needle.

The felting process

I place all of my items to be felted in a zippered pillow case to catch stray fiber. I allow the item to go through the entire wash cycle to get out the excess water. This is frowned on in the pattern, it can cause permanent creases in the finished project. I've found that if I make sure to remove the item promptly I can avoid creases. Regardless felter beware and watch the washer.

I tend to prefer a very dense, therefore smaller finished product so I tend to let my items run through a second agitation cycle for added shrinkage. I do think I may have over felted the 4th and 5th Hedgies. They are on the small size. That may also be due to the fur yarn choice. I just do not like the butterfly kisses yarn for this application.

The pattern calls for removing excess water then using temporary stuffing while waiting for the item to dry. If it goes through the spin cycle it's pretty much ready to stuff and sew closed in my experience.

Finishing

The nose and eyes really give the Hedgies their personality. I've been using inexpensive plastic noses and eyes I purchased at JoAnn ETC. They are under two dollars per pack. I have not tried it but I don't see why you could not needle felt on the nose and eyes or sew contrasting yarn on the item for even more secure nose and eyes. I have decent hand strength but I've had to ask Dave to snap the backs on several eyes and noses for me.

Closing Thoughts on the Hedgie

It's a fun pattern. I have yet to find someone not find them incredibly cute and charming in person. I've been having fun coming up with fun color and fur combinations not found in nature. I'd seen the pattern before but it was Kim-Chi Crafts post on her Hedgie The Gimp that got me hooked. Why try to make a realistic looking Hedgehog when you can make a pastel Hedgehog?

I have requests for at least two more Hedgies, one for my Dad and one for our friends Matt & Brandi. I think I'm going to take a little break for now

The Coasters

I think I've found a viable hand knitted/felted Christmas gift project for next Christmas. Felted coasters in a little bowl. A set of four round coasters that fit into a little felted bowl.

I've got one set nearly done and a second set started. I'd need at least four sets for my main gift recipients, another three if I want to include the Great Grandparents.

I think it's doable. In the meantime I get to keep dying with Koolaid and knitting small, easy little bowls and coasters.

Finally made the big switch to the new Blogger. So far so good but we shall see. I really can't complain about Blogger, it is free.

Henry had his 2 month well baby checkup today. He is growing and doing great. The best thing is that he is smiling. Oh it melts the heart it's so cute. Check out my little cuddle bug.