patelyne | Entries tagged with wip

So this year I set a knitting goal to cut down on my WIPs, and to work towards that by picking one of those projects each month a focus on.

Last month I worked on my plaidness monster scarf, and ended up adding about 12” to it. That might not sound like much, but it’s basically doubled the size of it, so I’m counting it a win.

This month is my Hue Shift blanket. I only have three squares left before the color part is all knit, and then I’ll need to seam the quarters together and start the border. I’m hoping to finish this project before I lose steam on it again, because I’d really like to be able to actually curl up in it.

My other main knitting goal this year is to get at least two of the three patterns in progress finished and released out into the world. Some of that timetable rests on what happens with the independent designer program I was working with, but the least I can do is have the writing, sample knitting and testing done while I wait for news.

I’ve done my edits and a second knit through on the pie potholder, and I’m really happy with how it’s working.
(original on the top, updated below)

Next up is to get my hands on the orange yarn I want for the pumpkin pie variation, and write-up/knit that. Then it’s down to typing the pattern and passing it on to my tester.

I always underestimate how long these steps take. I had hoped to be closer to done by now, but it’s looking like the end of this month is more realistic.

February is a short month and the second half of last month wasn’t very kind to me though, so we’ll see how much I can actually finish.

For today I’m taking a lazy afternoon, and enjoying watching the snow fall.

So - Project Hot Mess
It’s time to answer the question - What is it??

The pattern is Owl Pillow, designed by Sol Maldonado

No one guessed exactly right, but honestly? I’m not sure it would have been possible unless you’ve seen the pattern before. It was a lot of fun to see you all try though if only to see how many active knitters are hanging around here - *waves* Hi All!

For the project update - I was hoping to get it finished by the end of the weekend and ummmm.....

I’ve still got a ways to go. But it’s not nearly time for bed yet, so there’s still a chance I’ll get close!

Only having two more gifts that needed knit sounded so damn easy...until I actually looked at the calendar and realized I was down to two weeks.

Most of the time I’m okay with not being the fastest knitter. Enjoy the process and all that jazz. But when it comes to a time crunch, I really wish I was one of those super speedy knitters that can crank out a project in a couple days. Alas, I am not.

If I can finish this gift by the end of the weekend though, I should be back on track for an early finish -

About 50 rows left before the main part of this project is finished. After that about another 30 (much shorter) rows. Any guesses about what this hot mess will become?

(I’m almost resenting the five hours (5?!?) I’ll be spending at Other Half’s work party tonight. I was already not really looking forward to it, now I’m thinking about all that lost knitting time too)

Edit: Is it mean to ask for guesses, when I’m pretty sure no one could? I am just really enjoying this part, since I’m missing out of the surprising the giftee part because I let her choose it!

Current Mood: determined

Quite a change from last week, when I only worked on one thing. This week I flitted from project to project, with an attention span no better than a fruit fly.
( managed to get the text -even if its format free - and add the pictures back in, but ran out of steam before redoing all the links. Why? Because after previewing to make sure the pictures looked okay I lost EVERYTHING I had added back in and had to start over. *insert more whining and crying here* Hoping this little bit of cross posting is better than none at all? )

This past week I only worked on the playmat for my nieces. Mostly because my motivation was still running high on it (new project and all) and also partly because my brain didn't want to focus on any complicated patterns due to having a cold/flu/horrific-alien-plague.

( pictures and stuff behind the cut )

In another long overdue update, I've made some progress on my playmat.

I had to return that library book, but not before I managed to find used copies of both The Knitted Farmyard and Knit an Enchanted Castle for really cheap. They include nearly all the things I wanted to make from the Knit a Fantasy Story book, even down to using the same photos an wording. The patterns are jumbled around a little, but they're there with the exception of just a few. I'm thinking they must be included in Jan Messent's Knitted Gnomes and Fairies book, but I'm not sure.

( Anyhow, this is where I'm at right now- )

( does one warn for big ass pictures of a little sock monkey? )

UPDATE -- Okay, so I think I have all of yesterday's formatting issues cleaned up.
Sorry about that!

Just like last week, daily posts were on my craft blog under the TDF tag for Tour de Fleece
(including some gratuitous pet pictures mixed in with the spinning updates)

( And if you click through this cut you'll see the quick-ish recap right here )

So this was the first week of the Tour de Fleece, and I spun spun spun all week long. I have a giant progress post almost ready for tomorrow, but since I did manage to sneak a few non-spinning things in this week I decided to post them separate today.

( Things I done-did )

Current Mood: sleepy

( Cutting to be kind - Big pics of the latest Shlanket square and mystery toy progress behind the cut )

Last post ended with this teaser pic of the Sherlock blanket I’m working on, now I’m here to show off the bunches of photos and share the links that go along with it. All the links (like most of my knitting links) go back to Ravelry.

( click the clicky )

I love a good KAL, it's the reason I'm such a joiner when it comes to crafting.

It is a great resource, especially if you're trying something new, to have a group (usually including the designer) that you can turn to if you have questions or problems. It's fun seeing how changing the yarn types and colors can make the exact same pattern turn out so incredibly different. Sometimes you get to knit patterns that haven't been released yet, or pay patterns for free which is always nice. And doesn't everyone having a built in audience who is just as interested in what you're doing as you are in their projects?

The only problems with good KALs are that Rav has so many of them and I have little willpower to resist them. Not a really awful problem to have, except it's done some major adding to my WIP load.

As of this month I am involved in 3 KALs.

( More of what I'm working on right now )

You ever have this problem?
You are getting close to a project’s end and then you see something that is going to keep it from being the perfect finished object you imagined.
Then your knitting slows. Slooooooooows. And it’s like … you don't have to accept it isn't going to be what you wanted if you don't actually finish it. So you procrastinate.

Maybe you cast on a couple new projects.
Did I mention that I’m now in a Hurricane Hat KAL and another mystery toy KAL, both started this month?

Maybe you get a sudden interest in finishing other lingering projects.
Guess what - I finished the end weaving on the three finished preemie hats in my WIP post -
and I took all of Sunday and knitted that pink and yellow gift baby hat I mentioned.
Check out the swirly cute-ness, modeled by my slightly big headed doll:

I was almost ready to work on one of my other projects in the WIP box, or finish pulling all those pics of my cell phone from the Alapaca farm to post here.
But eventually even I had to accept that you just need to suck it up and just face those problem projects head on.

What was I stalling on? That cute and impossibly bright summer top for my older niece. The first one just sailed by easy-peasy. The second one seemed to, but then things started to go wrong. And I was so excited to make these shirts (the pattern is just perfect for them) which only made me more irritated with myself for having problems.

I suddenly was running out of every yarn I reached for. And the colors weren’t at the store anymore. I ended up having to change my color choices a few times.
I started out wanting a multi bottom, solid belt and multi top. By the time I got to the belt I realized I wasn't going to have enough multi left for that, so I decided for a yellow belt and top.
And speaking of the belt - the button mods I had notes copied down for looked like gibberish when I sat down to follow them.
After finally figuring out what I was doing and getting through the belt, I wasn't having confidence in having enough yellow for that. Soooo it got a blue panel in the middle.
I was happy with how it looked, coordinating but not too matchy with her little sister's. But when I got to 3/4 done with the straps I ran out of yellow. At least I was doing them two at a time, so they ran out in the same spot. I thought about changing to blue at the bottoms, but that might have stood out too much.
(and if you’re still following this, I give you a gold star)

I let the shirt sit for days. In very-nearly-almost-done limbo.
I did have a little bit of the multi left, not as jarring a color change as a block of blue and matching the bottom. I thought it might not look so bad, and couldn’t think of a better option.
Finally I decided to go for it. Figured I had nothing to lose, and it's not like garter stitch is all that hard to rip back.

And you know what? In the end I actually like how the shirt came out.

The color change that had me so worried is right where the straps cross, so it's just about the best spot to run out if I had to.
I might even be able to pull it off as intentional. At least I’ve decided not to talk it down to my sister before sending her the shirts.

Oh, and now that I’m feeling more accomplished by actually finishing things I’ll be starting on that Alpaca pic post … or maybe I’ll just work a little on these KALs first

Current Mood: accomplished

Remember when I said there was going to be a couple posts about my epic sized WIPs?
This is first one of them.

So there is this book called Knit a Fantasy Story, by Jan Messent. Ever since I heard about it, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy. It’s a toy pattern book from the late 80’s, so expect some cheesiness in the photos but it is very worth it. There's a section with a farmyard, a castle and then fantasy creatures. I have a thing for play sets with lots of pieces, and these toys look like a great gift idea.

Sadly this book is no longer in print. Since I couldn't find a used copy for a decent price, I requested to borrow it through inter library loan. It took over three weeks, but it finally came in.
(I have since found out you can buy separate books that cover each of the sections. From the Amazon previews they might even have the exact same contents, but I'm not sure. I have a feeling I'll find out about a couple of them at some point.)

I'm starting with the Farmyard Fantasia. It's an excerpt from the book The Knitted Farmyard (by Hannelore Wernhard). Except that's kind of a bad name because, until you get to the accessories, there isn't a whole lot knitted about it. Still I am super excited to be working on this. So excited that I'm actually planning on making two versions of the farmyard.