December and 2012 review

 During the second half of this year, I decided to focus my attention on a small number of projects (maximum 7) and not allow myself to be distracted by my UFOs or enticing new projects.

This is my progress during December which shows that I really do work best when I have a short list of projects to focus on!

1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar quilt (finished)
2. Christmas Tree wall-hanging (finished)
3. Cardigan for Me (some progress)
4. Purple Dropped Stitch Scarf (finished)
5. Merlot Toe Up Sock (finished)
6. appliqué blocks (finished)
7. Scrappy Rainbow “hearts and four-patch” quilt (some progress)

I knew there was no way that I would have that cardigan or quilt finished in December; as long as I am making progress, I'm happy.

Here's the final photo of the Purple Dropped Stitch Scarf  -- taken before it was washed and dried to soften it up.

Nitty-Gritty (for those who like such things)
yarn: Panda Magnum 8ply (DK) 100% acrylic; used all but two metres of the 310 in the skein!
purchased at H. Fay and Sons, Bingara
needles: 4.00mm Aero circulars (60cm long) - purchased at David Jones at least 30 years ago!
time taken: 14 days
length and width of scarf: 6" x 72"

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The short "focus list" came into being after I published a list of twenty-six WiPs  -- some quilting, some knitting. That was June and I was overwhelmed by the number of things I was trying to work on.

I have come to realise that the longer I leave a project the less likely it is to get finished -- which I guess is probably true for everyone!


To keep it "short", this is a list of the UFOs and WiPs I carried into 2012, and the progress I made on them; plus the projects I started during 2012 which are not yet finished. I have not included the 55 projects I started and finished during 2012 (85% of them knitted).

1. piano cross stitch (started 1995) – UFO
2. Stealth Knitting Project (started January 2010) – UFO
3. Ambassador of Love mittens (started March 2011) – UFO
4. Country Houses Quilt (started May 2011) – UFO
5. Lace Infinity Scarf (started June 2011) – frogged August 2012
6. sideways baby jumper (started November 2011) – UFO
7.  Safari Cloth Book (started November 2011) – finished October 2012
8. curtains (started November 2011) – embarassingly -- UFO
9. Scrappy Strings quilt (started November 2011)  – UFO
10. Rainbow Scrap Challenge applique heart blocks (started October 2011) – finished December 2012
11. Rainbow Scrap Challenge four patch blocks (started November 2011) – worked on the last couple of months, so a work in progress
12. Rainbow Scrap Challenge nine patch blocks (started November 2011) – worked on the last couple of months so a work in progress
13. Rainbow Scrap Challenge string blocks (started November 2011) – worked on the last couple of months so a work in progress
14. Rainbow Scrap Challenge improv blocks (started November 2011) – worked on the last couple of months so a work in progress
15. Rainbow Scrap Challenge Wonky Window blocks (started November 2011) – worked on the last couple of months so a work in progress
16. purple Cocoon socks (started September 2011) – I can’t make up my mind whether to knit or frog – UFO
17. soft blue socks (started September 2011) – finished July 2012
18. Merlot toe up socks (started September 2011) – finished December 2012
19. intarsia blanket (started November 2011) – finished November 2012
20. Tina’s baby blanket (started January 2012) – frogged July 2012
21. Super Secret Project for Ben (started February 2012) – UFO
22. Dotty Bright (started April 2012)  – made it to the quilting frame but nothing ever happened – UFO
23. Scrappy Log Cabin (started April 2012) – no action (only thought) since June – UFO
24. sampler quilt (first block cut May 2012) – never really got off the ground so it’s not really a WiP or a UFO, in 2013 it will be like a new project!
25. donated partial scrappy string quilt #1 (started May 2012) – UFO
26. donated partial scrappy string quilt #2 – no longer exists, it has been reclaimed as scraps for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge – frogged November 2012
27. hexagon project bag (started in September) – work in progress
28. Deb’s Diamond blanket (started November 21) – work in progress
29. Westall Cardigan (started 27 November) – work in progress

During 2012, I finished a total of 60 projects; three projects were frogged, one project never got started, eight remain works in progress and ten have slipped into being UFOs (I think six months without any action is long enough to call them unfinished objects)! 


That's twenty two projects being carried into the New Year! And twelve of those were started before 2012!

It's not a long list but, for the sake of my sanity, 2013 needs to be “The Year of the Finished Project”!

missing in action?

I have been busy this past week. My mum arrived on Friday 22 June to stay with us for a few days.

On the Saturday we visited my brother and his family.

On the Sunday WM and I celebrated Younger Grandson’s first birthday with mum, MIL, DD, SIL, Older Grandson, Younger Grandson, DD’s bestie (the boys' godmother) and SIL’s two sisters.

Younger Grandson opening presents with his daddy and daddy's two sisters

On Monday I went to my sewing class (mum stayed at home and enjoyed the peace and quiet), then took mum shopping in the afternoon.

Tuesday was Younger Grandson’s birthday so we had DD and the Grandboys here all day. SIL joined us for dinner.

the grandsons have arrived!

Wednesday was mum’s last day with us so DD and the Grandboys visited again.

We stayed up late on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights watching the tennis. WM and I don’t have pay TV so we can only watch the tennis while it’s on from 8:30pm. I taped Lleyton Hewitt’s game on Tuesday night and we watched it on Wednesday morning before the family arrived. The Australian tennis players didn’t do very well this year; all but one was out in the first round, and Sam Stosur, who won the US Open, was defeated in the second round. Very disappointing.

Meanwhile, I have been knitting. I finished mum’s socks but she wouldn’t model them for me.
She only tried on one but she says it fitted perfectly!

I have also been knitting on the other one of these.

And this morning I cast on a cowl to knit while on the train, taking mum to Strathfield station to catch her Countrylink train. I plan to get it finished while watching the tennis tonight. It’s hard to concentrate on turning a heel while watching tennis so the socks will have to be a non-television activity, at least until the heel is done.

UFOs are sometimes WIPs!

It seems a few of you, dear readers, were a bit concerned about the list of WIPs on my previous post. I see that many as a good thing, a sign of how far I have come. Just fifteen months ago I was a raw beginner as a quilter, some knowledge from reading but little real experience.

Now I have fourteen quilting related projects on the go. I know what each one is, where it is, why it has stalled and what I need to do next! I call that progress!

Since none of the quilting related projects has a deadline, I can relax -- as long as I am doing something to one of them most days I feel like I am moving forward.

But the knitting UFOs are a different story! How did I come to have four pairs of socks on my needles? I usually have more than one project on the go; but not usually more than one of the same type of thing!

But never fear, the sock issue will soon be under control. I have finished my “donation” knitting for the moment. I am quite pleased with what I have accomplished so far this year: 2 shawls, 2 pairs of socks (one a gift for my mother), 13 hats, 15 cowls and 15 pairs of fingerless mitts. Not bad, if I do say so myself!

Below are some photos of some of my latest items.

I don’t take photos of everything because one pair of mitts in a particular colour is the same as another pair of mitts in the same colour – same goes for hats and cowls. I knit the same basic patterns over and over – I can knit them quickly and mostly without thinking; that’s why they are called Elle Bee’s No Fuss patterns on my projects page on Ravelry.

I am the tutor for a “sock from the toe up” workshop on 16 June, so it’s timely that I need to concentrate my efforts on socks. First job is to re-knit the workshop pattern and edit as I go, then I can get back to the socks shown in my previous post.

I have a busy couple of weeks ahead but I will try to work on some of sewing projects. I am starting a new project tomorrow in class; we are making a lined bag. I’m very excited!

What's the buzz (tell me what's happening)?

Random updates from our household:

weather:
It's still about 6°-10°C (10°-18°F) cooler here than it should be at this time of year so it certainly doesn't feel like Christmas is a week away.
Moree has been flooded again and the roads I took to get mum home two weeks ago are closed again.
The eastern side of Australia is under the influence of La Nina - rain and floods are more likely. When we are under the influence of an Il Nino weather system we have high temperatures and droughts!

Christmas
The presents are bought and wrapped.
Most of the food is bought and stored - I still have to buy lollies (candy) and chocolates. I will leave the salad vegetables until Christmas Eve.
Puddings made yesterday and boiling as I write this.Older Grandson loved throwing the threepenny pieces into the mixture - he was having so much fun no one thought to take any photos!
Cards to be written and posted today.
Christmas lights up on the outside of the house.
Curtains and windows in lounge (living) room and dining room need to be washed before decorations can go up - if only it would stop raining!
A "live" tree will be purchased next week and decorated on Christmas Eve. It will stay up until 6th January - the twelfth day of Christmas.

Family health
Younger Grandson has had lots of tests - they have all come back normal so no cause for his febrile convulsion has been found. He had an EEG on Monday - we don't have the results of that yet.
Son-in-law was off work last week for three days with a respiratory tract infection.
DD rang on Friday morning saying that she couldn't visit because she had caught it.
SIL dropped Older Grandson at our place then went to work. By lunch time OG had a runny nose and a cough and was feeling miserable.
DD and OG are now on antibiotics. YG is sniffling but not on antibiotics.
Yesterday, WM stayed home from work. He saw a doctor in the afternoon and has today off too. He has - you guessed it - a respiratory tract infection.

Stitching
I am working on "in-the-ditch" quilting my Hunters' Cabin quilt. I'm about halfway.
DD and I still need to piece backs for the two quilt tops I showed you earlier this week so that we can get them on the frame and quilt them.
I am about twelve rows from finishing Blanket for William - then I will need some warmer weather to get the 10ply (Aran) cotton blocked.
I have reached the cast off the first Merlot toe-up sock (Ravelry link); I need to check the instructions for Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind off. I won't hurry because then I'll have to cast on the second sock and, although I love the look, I find Judy's Magic Cast On very fiddly on dpns and my circular needles are otherwise occupied!

And we have no hot water! The element was replaced about two months ago so they think it might be the thermostat this time! Someone will be out to have a look this afternoon!

in which I speak of socks

Last month, I was supposed to teach a full day workshop on knitting socks from the toe up. Unfortunately, I became very ill with acute sinusitis and was unable to stand, let alone tutor all day.

In the weeks leading up to the sock workshop I had, of course, concentrated on sock knitting.

In a previous post, I showed you my sample sock (seen again at right with my 20cm long dpns).

Before I even designed the sample sock, there was the pair I started in April and finally finished last month for the Wonderful Man.

Next, I cast on another pair of self striping / "fake isle" socks. I thought I might wear them but they are way too big for me. I had become so used to knitting man-sized socks that I automatically made them 72 stitches - much too wide in the foot for me!

Moda Vera Noir colourway Merlot

So, two days later, I cast on yet another pair of socks -- I had to keep practising Judy's Magic Cast On. For me, it's the trickiest part of the sock. The cast on itself is easy but knitting those first two rows can be a little fiddly on 2.25mm (US 1) needles.

The socks I cast on are Ribbed Ribbon socks (Ravelry link) by Wendy Johnson from her book, Socks from the Toe Up. These socks don't have the short row heel we were going to do in the workshop. However, I decided it wouldn't hurt me to try something new so I did the heel exactly as the pattern stated.

I knitted the first sock on two circulars (according to the pattern). I find it cumbersome - sliding the stitches from the plastic cable (where they often catch) on to the needle; and the needle-not-in-use always seems to be in the way.Give me dpns any time!

The combination of circular needles and a lace pattern makes for very slow knitting. It took me three hours to complete one pattern repeat of 24 rounds! With dpns and "plain vanilla" socks, I could finish the whole foot or leg in that time!

I also can't decide whether I like the socks or not (for many reasons):

1. I think they may be a couple of rows too short in the foot. They are perhaps a little too snug!
2. I think I'd like the toe area to be a little longer; perhaps twenty four rounds instead of eighteen.
3. The yarn (Cleckheaton Cocoon 70% merino, 30% nylon) has gone fluffy already and they haven't been worn or washed. I know it's baby yarn but it has the same composition as sock yarn - obviously it is spun less tightly! Why did I choose to knit socks from it? I only have self striping yarn or variegated yarn in my stash and didn't think either would do this lace pattern justice! Mind you, I don't think this yarn is doing the pattern any favours either!
4. I have gauge but my pattern looks clunky rather than elegant like the photo of the sock in the book (which I can't show you here for copyright reasons) or the ones seen here.

In our house, we have a saying: "If in doubt, don't!"

Because I couldn't decide whether to continue or rip out the Ribbed Ribbon Socks, I cast on yet another pair of socks on the Monday afternoon. It would have been good to have gone to the workshop on Saturday wearing a pair of handknit socks!

This third pair is knitted from Patonyle (the old 50g balls) which I bought at the Australian Country Spinners Mill Shop in 2008 and had almost forgotten.

In fact, the yarn didn't have a label but a search on Ravelry confirmed my suspicions. The pattern is "plain vanilla" because the yarn is self striping. I used Judy's Magic Cast On (32 stitches) and increased in every second row until I had 64 stitches. I knit until the foot instep touched my leg then did an hourglass heel (which is what I would have been teaching the following Saturday). Because it was late at night and I was tired and not well, I made a mistake and had to rip out the whole heel again. I went to bed that night thinking about socks.

When I woke on Tuesday morning, I knew the answer! The increase in alternate rows creates a narrow toe which doesn't suit the shape of my foot. I need a completely different shape, one more like a commercial sock.

And so I did the only sensible thing -- I ripped out the whole sock! If I had continued and ignored the toe, I would have regretted it and probably never worn the socks.

I still have to bind off the first sock and cast on the second, so it's just as well I didn't want to wear them to the workshop-that-was-postponed, wasn't it?

As for the Ribbed Ribbon socks - what do you think? Should I finish the pair, or count my losses and rip this one out?

knitted FO

Back in April, I started a pair of toe up socks for WM.

I learnt a long time ago to knit two socks at the same time to save gauge issues later!

I finished the first sock but the cast off was too tight so I put the sock away.

At that time, the toe and the foot of the second sock had been knitted.

Due to workshop I am tutoring next week, I thought I should unpick that too-tight cuff and finish it. In the process, I discovered the second sock which I hadn't even thought about.

So, on Tuesday night I turned the heel and knitted most of the leg.

Yesterday I finished the leg and knitted the cuff.

Both socks were finished after dinner last night and so the colours may be a little "off" due to the use of artificial light and flash.

the colour changes in the yellow are in the yarn not the photo!

WM is very happy with the socks; they fit perfectly - which I guess is the point of knitting socks from the toe up!

upcoming workshops

Thanks C. for sorting out my UFOs! LOL

Here is my tutoring schedule for the rest of this year and what I need to do to be ready for each workshop:

20th August    mini-workshop: no sew grafting
sample needed - will probably take about half an hour to knit and graft two squares

17th September    all day workshop: socks from the toe up
sample needed - plus I need to make sure I know I can do it!

1st October   all day workshop: entrelac
samples already made from former workshop, but I would like to make some more!

I don't have time to be employed elsewhere; so much to do, so little time!

toe up socks

After my post last week about socks, in which I explained that getting socks that fit my feet and are the right length for my legs has been quite challenging, despite the fact that I have successfully completed lots of pairs of socks, I bring good news on the sock front (although this pair isn't for me). I am working on a pair of toe up socks.

the yellow does change like that - it's not just the photo - I think they had trouble with the dyeing process)

I have never knitted toe-up socks before but plan them to be the central pattern of the workshop I am teaching in September so thought it was time to give them a go.

I tried a figure eight cast on - five attempts later, I still couldn't get it. I tried a provisional cast on using a crocheted chain - but I'd have to graft the toe and that seems rather pointless, doesn't it?

So I listened to my inner EZ - I unvented a cast on. I call it my two needle backward-loop-over-the-thumb cast on. It simply means that I used a simple looped cast on and put stitches on two needles alternatively. Deceptively simple and possible whether one uses dpns, two circulars or magic loop (all of which I have to master before September). This cast on (which I unvented) could be described as a figure 8 cast on with a twisted loop.

Now, I'm sure that when my Montse Stanley book arrives from England, this cast on will be in there.

But for now, I'm just chuffed with my own achievement (until I face the short row heels).