Sunday, November 26, 2017

YOP Week #22

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving if you celebrate it.  My company couldn't come so I made good use of the time although I still cooked my traditional Thanksgiving feast.  The thought of company coming got me cleaning and organizing which I am still doing.....on a roll here!  But what's great is the balance I seem to have achieved (and I hope it lasts) in taking care of maintaining the regular chores plus cleaning and going through things and clearing out.  On top of that I have the strongest urge to finish things.  All of a sudden it bothers me to have so much on the needles but despite that fact I managed to cast on another and ordered supplies for more!  LOL!
First, I am STILL working on giraffe....I took a few You Tube video's on pom pom making and I made one decent one but it was too large so then I tried the fork method for smaller ones but it fell apart so after messing around for way too much time I ordered a small pom pom maker which should be here this coming week.  This method worked good but it was too large for my project.
 Meanwhile I knitted the ears and linings and sewed them together and attached the horns and the tail..............

I had literally forgotten these socks!  I finished them finally..............
In going through things I also discovered the 2 kits I bought for myself last year for my birthday and Christmas which I never worked on!  So, I decided to get started.............these are the yarns for the hat below............I gathered everything together but realized I needed some needles I didn't have for several projects including my sweater..........so I placed an order for those..........the hat cannot be started yet for that reason..........
 This is the pattern....I may have shown it to you when I got it last year..............
 The other kit was this cutie pie...........and I was able to get started on it.........
One of the reasons I bought it was 1) I fell in love with it and 2) I thought it was a good foray into color work which is a goal this year in learning new techniques and increasing my skills..........
 I had the needles for this part which was simple................

 I knit the top and underneath of the head and then the ears and their linings.............
Now comes the challenging part...........the color work and there's a chart!  I have never read a chart nor have I done any color work in knitting.  I think I will be looking at some You Tube videos before starting this section!  Feel free to give me any tips or techniques if you have done this before as I think I may need them! LOL!
What I am loving about both these projects is that they use really nice yarn.....no acrylics here! 
I still haven't found the other 50 gram ball of this sock yarn....I know it's here somewhere as I remember buying them.  Do I dare start them with just one ball and pray I find the other?  Or maybe I should just wait as I also ordered a 'bare' skein of sock yarn to dye myself and I know once I dye it I will want to cast on socks with it right away!

  The CMB (Cozy Memory Blanket) did not get much attention this week.........but it got a little........
and I found more yarn for it in organizing my 'crafts room'..........I probably have enough for several of these CMB's!  Excuse the lighting as the sun was shining brightly and the weather has been gorgeous here which is great for putting up outside Christmas decorations which I have yet to do plus I still have windows to wash too!  But Christmas presents first! 
Are you making presents this year?  If so how is it going?  Every year I swear I won't do as much handmade but each year I must forget and I do it all over again!  I think that is the definition of insanity if I'm not mistaken! LOL!  But it will all work out and with all the Thanksgiving leftovers I haven't had to cook so things are getting done slowly but surely!
Please stop by our Year of Projects group on Ravelry
and see what these talented friends are doing!  Plus, feel free to join us and show us your creations if you so desire.  We'd love to have you!
Happy Trails!!!
P.S. I did try on my sweater again and I'm going for a few more inches in length before I do the bottom edging.  Which reminds me I still need to weave ends in my daughter's shawl!  There's so much to remember at this time of year!  And only a few more weeks before I need to get it all in the mail!  YIKES BATMAN!!!

22 comments:

  1. Such wonderful fun projects. Gosh I love utube. It is my go to for projects also. I have to go get more yarn for my socks cause I got to different dye lots. Got both from same bin and didn't look at them. Didn't notice it till I pulled out the other sock to make sure foot was same length. Now knitting a different pair for my DIL so will wear the others anyway, lol... Hugs, LJ

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    1. Yes, for us visual learnered, You Tube is a Godsend!

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  2. I love your projects - that fox is a cutie. And nice find those skeins of beautiful colours for the hat. I am making some wee sweaters and I might send them in the mail for christmas presents - no pressure though - I have other options too.

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    1. The hat was a kit so I got every color included that Blue Fiber is making in their new line which will be nice for planning other color projects. I think this might be the last year I 'make' presents....too much pressure...you are right!

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  3. You always have a lot going on. I never have a plan. And haven't thought about making gifts for anyone. Winter has finally arrived here so think I shall start making some cowls and scarves with yarn I've tucked away. It's a dark day here so perfect for cozying up with crochet and cross-stitch.

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    1. I try to balance my 'planning' with a relaxing attitude but it often doesn't work for me...a type A overachiever! LOL! I've gotten better but I still need to work on it!

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    2. I am a typical Type A, over achiever which I wish would stop! LOL! I'm getting better but next year no homemade gifts unless everything else is done and it would just be an add-on otherwise...no more! I try to stay balanced but sometimes I get in my own way.

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  4. I am sorry to hear that your company didn't make it. I know you were looking forward to their visit.
    You are keeping busy! I have all the Christmas Ornaments done...does that count? I might make Mikey a hat...we will see. I am catching up on lots of odds and end projects and enjoying it! :)

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    1. The ornaments certainly do count! Awww....Mikey's first Christmas...what fun to have a baby around at Christmas time! Glad you are enjoying.....I need to try that...lately it's been a bit much here on the homestead! LOL!

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  5. You always amaze me with how much you get done. The giraffe is coming along just great and that fox is going to be a cutie. I also like the pattern for the hat. I finished a pair of socks will be a gift and I am finishing up a hat and scarf set, hopefully tonight or tomorrow morning. I just have a few other small things to be done before Christmas. Don’t try to do too much. It’s important to enjoy the process as you well know.
    Blessings always,
    Betsy

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    1. You are so right about enjoying the process! I did this to myself but next year....it's going to buying presents and not making. It's too much and I don't have time for my own cleaning and decorating etc. Plus, it comes at a time when it is finally nice enough to be outside and get work done. I haven't even washed my windows and they need it! Lesson learned....finally, I hope! LOL!

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  6. Your giraffe is wonderful, Sandra. It looks so perfectly knit. I'm going to enjoy watching the fox come together. Knitting softies mystifies me. Of course, I'm completely mystified still by anything other than a simple garter or knit stitch... The socks are beautiful, too. I still can't get over how you were so ready to throw in the towel on knitting - it seems not all that long ago. What was that about?!? lol I don't usually plan to make Christmas presents. Often, a gift idea will present itself and I'll go for it at nearly the last minute, but I've decided in recent years I'm not fond of putting that pressure on myself. I don't know if I qualify as a selfish crocheter, but I've learned that I'm happier making what I want to make, when I want to make it, and finding the purpose for it later. I'm starting to learn the art of politely ignoring the suggestions of others that I "ought to make" this or that. Or turning down requests to make things I have no interest in making. Okay... that's more than you were wanting to know when you asked, "Are you making presents this year?". It's just where my brain took me, friend. My answer should have been a simple No, but I'm enjoying seeing what you are making! :)

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    1. No, it was not more than I wanted to know, actually. It was exactly what I needed to hear. This week has been pressure filled and frustrating and that is not what I want my gifts to be about. It is too much and I do it to myself so I have pledged I will no longer make gifts unless, like you say....it 'presents itself' and it will be 'extra' not the planned and bought gift therefore no pressure. I have always said Christmas should be every day and that gifts should be sent when the feeling and opportunity arises so that is what I will do.....gifts will arrive at odd times of the year and not necessarily at Christmas...no pressure and what a surprise for the recipient with Christmas wrapping and all! LOL!

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  7. I love that knitted slouchy hat. I crochet them for craft sales. I want to expand my knitting this winter, so I need to order new needles soon. I can't start any new projects until after this Saturday. Then I can go crazy. Enjoy!

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    1. I needed a 'slouchy' hat to accommodate my 'bun' as I wear my hair up. I had to order needles too. Enjoy your new projects and going crazy....in a good way!

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  8. You are on a roll! I love the finished socks... that's still my favourite self-patterning colourway.
    I am terrible at pompon making... I gave the yarn and the pompon maker to a tween and she spent a happy couple of hours making me dozens of pompous when I was making mini hats years ago.
    The fox pattern looks fun. As for colourwork advice, the biggest danger is floats that are too tight! I usually go up a needle size or two for colourwork and, if it's in the round, I knit inside out. Beyond that it's a case of practice makes perfect.
    The hat yarn and pattern look wonderful. If it were me, I'd cast that on as soon as needles arrive!

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    1. Actually, in thinking back...I have done floats but in crochet and I got the knack of not making the floats too tight so I hope it will be the same with the knitting. It's the handling the 2 yarns with more needles that I'm afraid of...practice I guess...just like you said. Thanks for the tips and I will see about going up a needle size or 2 as I tend to knit tightly.

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  9. Sam! You have so much going on!!! The socks look great and so does the giraffe!! I love the slouch hat. I can't wear them because they ALWAYS fall down my head lol...As for the sock and the missing yarn? I think I'd be too nervous to start one without finding the other ball lol...but maybe you're more brave than me hee hee.

    Your company didn't come? I'm so glad you made your dinner anyway! We must celebrate, plus Thanksgiving food is so hygge isn't it? :)

    Alex and I, having similar family issues, only have each other. That's not a sad thing, believe me! It makes gift giving easier of course, we only have each other to gift! :) I'm going to make some PJ pants for him this year. I always try to make something. The last few years, I made his a few paintings that he loved. I'm not sure what to paint, but I'm giving the PJ pattern a whirl. It's a flannelette checkered pattern so I have to be careful about lining thing up. And I have to do it while he's busy doing other things! :) We basically live in PJ's so I think he'll really like them. I'm making a pair for me too!

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    1. I am so used to being alone and I always make a celebration dinner regardless. It's nice to have company but it's a lot of work too so it always works out for the best, I think. I think your gift ideas are great! I have TOO much going on and I have pledged to myself never again! LOL! Remind me next year at this time! LOL!

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  10. No handknit gifts this year except the cardigan I had knitted for my niece which needs to be blocked. I already warmed up the credit card on Amazon Monday; 2 birthday gifts and 5 Christmas presents have been taken care of so far.

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  11. wow lots of stuff you are into my friend!
    loved the giraffe :) looks cute !

    socks are awesome .
    best wishes for each project you are working on dear friend

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