Sunday, January 29, 2017

YOP Week #31

 
S P O I L E R   A L E R T  for my daughter Amy!!!!!  Do not go any further!!!!

 This was not a good week here on the homestead handwork-wise..............nothing was working out.......remember my Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Leuder?   I did the entire heel but it was inside out and yes, I noticed it but by then I knew I couldn't undo it but I thought I could live with it.....but in the end I couldn't and so I frogged the entire sock.....I don't know how to 'go back' that far and to be honest.....I was so disappointed in myself and my knitting skills after 'lo these many years' that I frogged the whole thing.  I could not understand as everyone and their brother has made these socks and loved them and not had any problems......so it is obviously MOI!  But 'the powers that be' were nice enough to think  "if she's going to mess up this much in life then we had better give her an extra dose of stubborness"...........and they did and so, I will cast on again....it just may not be today! LOL! I also definitely won't be entered into the Inside #23 Harry Potter KAL for January......but truth be told I probably wouldn't have made the deadline anyway as I had another whole sock to do.....woe is me!
 So, I picked up the Peace Cowl and couldn't remember where I was and ended up frogging it too! LOL! I think I just had too many things on the needles.  I really want to do some finishing up before any more new castons and I have some great ones coming up but I do not feel comfortable with having so many WIP's (works in progress).  Plus,  it is demotivating as I seem to get nowhere with that many projects.  So, I'm good with that and I learned something about myself...who knew at my age?
 "So,  what then?" you ask.  Pull out something that is close to being done and work on it as monogamously as possible..............my Cherry Heart socks.............remember these?  I was doing them concurrently too so both heels were done and I was on the foot of both of them.  I finished the one sock and plan to finish the second one today or at least by next Sunday.  These do not qualify for Yarngasm's Box of Socks 2017 because they were started in 2016 but that's okay as the object is for me to have lots of socks and I plan to.......... come 'hell or high water'! LOL!  I have had no problem with her pattern other than she refers back and then repeats and there's a pattern in the sock which is fine with me but this was supposed to be a 'first sock tutorial' and if I found it a bit confusing with all the referrals I can't imagine what a beginner would think.  But it is a great pattern and I will be making these again for sure!  There's no Kitchener stitch at the toe either and no gaps by the heel or gusset....woo hoo!  Obviously. she wrote a very good detailed pattern!
 Above then is the "me" project..............below is the "gift" project....yes, back to giraffe legs.......
 and this, my dears, is the new crochet project..............the basket for my daughter...remember I made one for her but could not find matching fabric with the Frieda Kahlo to line it with so, I decided to keep that one for me and make another one for her but this time I ordered the fabric first and then matched the yarns to the fabric! Brilliant I say, brilliant!  Here are the yarns............
 and here is the fabric..................her birthday is in July so if I play my cards right I should be able to accomplish this........
 When I went to Wally World the other day they had little lobster clasps like I originally was looking for...........I'll be making a few progress keepers this afternoon.............
 This week I got hooked on HueLoco's podcast and tutorials..........who I heard about from watching Joanna on the Stitching the High Notes podcast.....I printed off her project bag tutorial and hope to make one some for myself!  I can't wait!  I can't afford those project bags that are on Etsy not that they're not worth it.....most are gorgeous but I can sew my own and save the money for yarn! LOL! 
 She also has 3 different tutorials for dyeing yarn which I am very much wanting to do........she makes it sound so much easier than my Craftsy class!  I think I'll try her tutorials and she was a teacher so she is very good at explaining!  Be sure and check out her video podcasts and her tutorials if you are interested.....they are all FREE and who doesn't love that? 
That about wraps it up for this week....I hope you have had better luck with your projects than I had with mine but the Cherry Heart socks are really giving me my confidence back and I am thoroughly enjoying knitting them.
 Oh, BTW, I have a TIP for you all.  Remember when Miss Peeps chewed on my brand spanking new Karbonz circular needles awhile back?  The Cherry Heart socks were on them and they snagged the yarn and I had to really work on getting the yarn over several spots where she had chewed on the cable.....well..............after I finished the sock I thought I would try and see if I could, in some way, repair the cable.  I took a black emery cloth to the cable and "lo and behold" they are working again!  They're not perfect and you can still see where she chewed but I do not have to work to get them over those spots......it's pretty smooth and more like indentations now!  I was thrilled because I thought I would have to order new ones but now they are definitely usable again!
Happy Trails!

16 comments:

  1. Sorry about the frogging, but for someone who doesn't like too many wips you do still seem to have lots on the go. When I am doing the peace cowl I have to do all four rows before I put it down so I know where I am the next time I pick it up. Maybe try it again with half the stitches. I have made two now with 159 stitches and they are lovely and a much quicker knit.

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    1. Oh, thank you for those tips! I did really like it and I liked knitting it. The reason I end up with so many WIPs is because gift giving season arrives and I have to put down what I'm working on and take up the gifts but this year I am trying to work on those 3 projects only...a WIP, A gift and a 'me' project. I hope that helps me catch up and keep the WIPs down!

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  2. I'm so sorry about all the frogging. I did that with my niece's lacy tunic last year. I couldn't fix the mess up and couldn't figure out where the heck I was so so ribbit. Did that for the tween's jumper too as I couldn't fix the missed raglan increase and frogged the bloody WIP. I'm glad you have other great projects to soothe the storm of yarn. I need to revisit Nicole's tutorial as I'm obsessed with how to make project bags.

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    1. I'm glad to hear other experienced knitters still frog occasionally or have problems. You rarely hear about it...they all seem to make perfect projects and never mention any problems except Jaclyn at Brooklyn Knitfolk will mention some occasionally. Thank you, not that I want others to have problems but I was really thinking maybe I just wasn't cut out to be a knitter but with my "gift" of persistence, I will "keep on keepin' on"! You will love her tutorials! I have yet to make one....every time I think I will sew something comes up....one of these days though!

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  3. I'm so sorry you've had to do so much frogging this week. I know how frustrating that is. But I do love your yarn and material for your daughter's gift. Gorgeous! I'm going to have to look up that website for the project bags although I can't sit at my sewing machine for awhile. Those prices scare me too!!! So glad you were able to fix your needles. It's so pray to have to replace them. Happy Sunday my friend.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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    1. Happy Sunday and week to you too! Yes, there's always a balance it seems with joy an disappointments so that's good!

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  4. Well after all these years I still try to limit myself to a couple of WIPs too - any more and I lose my place. It might be because I'm too lazy to take notes or count rounds or annotate patterns with my on-the-fly mods ;)

    I love the Freida Kahlo fabric! Good shopping! And yeah, it probably is a lot easier to match yarn to your chosen fabric than vice-versa. The basket will be gorgeous with all those vivid colours!

    Good job McGyverung your needles! Save the money for yarn;)

    Your Cherry Heart socks look great! I'd take heart in that and put the frogged projects out of your mind. Some days when my head is too full I can't knit worth a damn.

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    1. I love the McGyvering message...my grandsons love that show! Yes, my head has been 'full' and I think you hit the nail on head with that and too many WIP's!

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  5. You had a rough week. I hope this week goes better for you. I leave notes with unfinished projects...especially with beading...it helps me get back in the swing again:)

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    1. I think notes would be a great thing for me....either that or bread crumbs!

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  6. I ended up giving up on a project this week, too, and with less determination that you've displayed, so take heart! :) Your yarns look like they'll be a great match for that Frieda fabric. And yes, that was a brilliant idea you had to get the fabric first. I will learn from you. I can't wait to see your project bag(s). I want to make some (or one), but I never seem to get motivated to actually do it. Inspire me, friend.

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    1. I was going to sew yesterday but couldn't decide on the coordinating fabrics....that's the hardest part and I have plenty to chose from! I did manage to get started on the Frida basket though...I do love me some crochet! LOL!

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  7. Oh gosh, what a week? Sometimes it is best to just start again. Do sew your own bags - you don't have to worry too much about the right fabric as you can try lot's of different ones and have one for every occasion!

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    1. Thank you! I was thinking a little sewing would be good as I would have something to show for time invested! LOL!

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  8. I love those project bags and will look for them too. Love the creative way you've set up your photographs...with the sun and shadows. I did a post of books today and thought of you. Hope you'll give me a recommendation! Hugs!

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    1. I missed my Monday reading post....but will be "back in the saddle" next Monday! I'll be over to see what you are reading!

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