November 2015

The object in finishing all of these projects is so that I feel better about everything in general. When I get too many things going I start to feel as though I am being crushed, which is an awful feeling. Now you say but what will you do with all these finished pieces? Well keep them around until they are needed and give them away as necessary. It is always better to have a stock pile of completed items than have to start knitting from scratch every time you find out some one is expecting or moving out. For me it is about the process of creating something out of practically nothing that is also enjoyed, and at least I have something to show for my time spent watching TV instead of noting to show for that time.
Reading is a very calming and relaxing activity. I wish I could read more while on the treadmill that would make life more productive, but I find running and reading very difficult. Maybe I will finished the Outlander series that way.....this is quite easy to read while doing something else and I have the digital version so that should make things better.

FO's:

1. Corner to corner knit, just trying to use up spare yarn really. 
1. Using up spare yarn is all very well and good, but it induces the need to now buy more yarn, as I have used the skeins that I had planned on making an entire blanket out of. Ah well. I will live on.
2. Green Hat
3. Golden Mittens for Mom

Knitting I have on the go:

1. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole
2. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
3. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks
4. Reverie Beret (I have done so many of these I could do them in my sleep, but I have made 1 or 2 minor adjustments to make it my own)
5. Entrelac scarf, I do not think I am going to finish this per se... who knows
1. Good bye scarf. This is in the garbage. Entrelac was a a skill that I am glad I now know, but I think part of it was I hated the yarn, so this project has gone to knitting heaven. 
6. Feather and Fan Blanket
7. Mitered Square blanket in Parrot...I was crocheting this into something, but I did not like it, I still don't really like it but it will happen. 
8. Banana Bunches
1. This is currently being knit 4 rows every day in order to just get it out of the way
9. Hue shift in 5 colours not 10
1. I need more yarn for this one. drr

Crocheting:

1. Corner to corner blanket in red, black, and white

Books:

1. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies ****SPOILERS****
1. I feel I may have to be brutal here. I want to start off by saying I enjoyed it, but parts of it were a little too far fetched for me. All in all it was kind of a nice change, but I would rather stick to the original. (I do plan on going to see the movie though, which should be entertaining)
1. First: The fact that Mr. Bennet was having affairs throughout the Orient while he was there with his daughters training...or maybe this has rubbed off from Longbourn and Mr. Bennet having an affair with Mrs. Hill that aided in it not sitting well with me. Same with Mrs. Gardiner she had a liason with a young man from Poland she had known from her early days before Mr. Gardiner, and he knew about it, and knew that she had gone to see her former lover...WHAT?!?! 
2. Second: There is a ball joke, Elizabeth made a ball joke to Mr. Darcy...more that Mr. Darcy set her up for it...but was it meant to be romantic? Or was it meant to show his affection, and love for her? I have no idea, but it was out of place. What's more is Elizabeth UNDERSTOOD it. Highly inappropriate in the Miss Bennet I know and love. 
3. Third: Instead of possessing skills at the piano forte they all possess skills in the katana/deadly arts. Now a true lady of good breading in my opinion would be able to do both and have neither detract from the skill of the other, and the piano is such a bond between Miss Darcy, Eliza, and Mr. Darcy that it is essential to the story telling. 
4. Fourth: Charlotte, poor overlooked Charlotte. She is turned, but even a great zombie slayer as Lady Catherine has done nothing about this even though she is married to her clergyman...what sort of an example is this to set to ones parishioners? It is one that I distinctly do not approve of and find highly terrifying. 
5. I am sure there are more, and if bugs you that I did a numbered list and then stated the number, I am sorry, but I really felt as though it needed more attention. 
2. Heartless
3. Outlander
4. Pride and Prejudice

October 2015

Okay October, you did not get the better of me and I managed to finish a terrible book and get 2 knitting objects finished. Hurrah for me.
I have no idea what is in the cards for November, but let us hope that it is just as productive as October. I also have no pictures just yet, but I am getting there.

Knitting I have on the go:

1. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole
2. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
3. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks
4. Reverie Beret (I have done so many of these I could do them in my sleep, but I have made 1 or 2 minor adjustments to make it my own)
5. Entrelac scarf, I do not think I am going to finish this per se... who knows
6. Feather and Fan Blanket
7. Mitered Square blanket in Parrot...I was crocheting this into something, but I did not like it, I still don't really like it but it will happen. 
8. 10 Stitch Square Blanket

1. I am using up yarn from the first Hue Shift Afghan, it should be a good time, I hope it works.
2. I am onto the Navy Blue, 2.5 colours to go until completion.
3. I cannot think of anyone that would want this blanket at all, but there you go. 

1. Banana Bunches
2. Optical Illusions blanket, but in 1 colour 
3. Hue shift in 5 colours not 10

Crocheting:

1. Corner to corner blanket in red, black, and white

Books:

1. The Fortune Hunter
2. Outlander
3. Longbourn
4. Heartless
5. Pride and Prejudice

September

September has been a BUSY month. I was in Milan, then I was at Spruce Meadows for 5 days and then at Chocolate School in Montreal for 3-ish days. So I apologize in advance for the lack of crafting. Reading I think will come out on top this month.
Chocolate school in Montreal was amazing. We made these:

Please do not drool on your keyboards, it is not good for them. 

Knitting I have on the go:

1. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole
2. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
3. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks
4. Fingerless Mittens: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fingerless-mittens-8
1. I have 1 complete and about 25% of another one complete, a matching pair is within my grasp. These are beautiful, I want to do them on smaller needles with smaller yarn, it will take longer, but they will be less thick. Sadly these ones are in black which makes them hard to photograph nicely.
   
5. Reverie Beret (I have done so many of these I could do them in my sleep, but I have made 1 or 2 minor adjustments to make it my own)
6. Entrelac scarf, I do not think I am going to finish this per se... who knows
7. Feather and Fan Blanket
8. Mitered Square blanket in Parrot...I was crocheting this into something, but I did not like it, I still don't really like it but it will happen. 
9. 10 Stitch Square Blanket
1. I am using up yarn from the first Hue Shift Afghan, it should be a good time, I hope it works.
2. I am onto the Navy Blue, 2.5 colours to go until completion.
10. Revontuli
1. This I made quite small to use as a sample, but I did knit it and get it finished this month so it does count.  I have not yet taken a picture of this one, soon. 
11. Banana Bunches
12. Mmario's wedding peacock
13. Hue shift in 5 colours not 10

Crocheting:

1. Corner to corner blanket in red, black, and white

Books:

1. Soulless - re-read from last year, but it was so good the first time that I had to read it again, and so I did in a week while in Italy. 
2. Outlander
3. Longbourn
1. All in all not a bad little book, but then again I have read worse. I have also read better. Somewhat tedious and I found that it took a while getting to the plot. 
4. Heartless
5. Pride and Prejudice
6. Grey - yeah I read it, it was just as bad as all the rest, and as far as I am concerned she should never have entered into the relationship in the first place. But what do I know.

August...

Knitting I have on the go:

1. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole
2. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
3. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks
4. Fingerless Mittens: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fingerless-mittens-8
1. I have 1 complete and about 25% of another one complete, a matching pair is within my grasp. These are beautiful, I want to do them on smaller needles with smaller yarn, it will take longer, but they will be less thick. Sadly these ones are in black which makes them hard to photograph nicely.
5. Reverie Beret (I have done so many of these I could do them in my sleep, but I have made 1 or 2 minor adjustments to make it my own)
6. Entrelac scarf, I do not think I am going to finish this per se... who knows
7. Feather and Fan Blanket
8. Mitered Square blanket in Parrot...I was crocheting this into something, but I did not like it, I still don't really like it but it will happen. 
9. Moss Diamond Blanket
1. This blanket was started so that I would use up some skeins of yarn that I had purchased for something else and then not used, now I need to buy more yarn to finish up this project evil curses abound. 
1. Went to buy new yarn, and there is on of this colour available at the moment...WHY DO YOU HATE ME!! Thank you Danielle for saving my skin, and having a skein of yarn handy.
10. 10 Stitch Square Blanket
1. I am using up yarn from the first Hue Shift Afghan, it should be a good time, I hope it works.
2. I am onto the Navy Blue, 2.5 colours to go until completion.
11. Banana Bunches
12. Union Jack blanket - made from a pattern for a pillow
1. More intarsia...woops 
   

Crocheting:

1. Corner to corner blanket in Green and Pink
1. Technically I have 2 on the go I will explain. The first one the dye lot of the pink has changed (GRRR), the second one I have run out of green. So I either need to take apart the first and use the green as part of the second pink one, and find something to do with the different dye lot of pink, or buy more green and find pink that matches the dye lot. Neither are that appealing....so it is in a bag waiting. 
   

Beads:

1. I need to by August 27, 2015 have completed 4 of these:
1. I wear mine all the time, and they will look gorgeous with our dresses, so I need to get on that, I am thinking I will film them, or at least take a stop motion video of the process so that in the future I can remember what I did ;)

Books:

1. Outlander
2. Longbourn
1. All in all not a bad little book, but then again I have read worse. I have also read better. Somewhat tedious and I found that it took a while getting to the plot. 
2. So the month is over, and I did not finish a book. But look at everything else I accomplished, and then do not judge me. I am at around 58% complete, and do plan on finishing it upon my return. 
3. Heartless
4. Pride and Prejudice

-A

P.S, Yes that is my blanket picture taking chair, it just works. it is light enough that it does not fight with the blankets on it and it is handy. I do have another chair I could use, but maybe for next year. 

Tardis the 3rd

After having one of these blankets sitting looking decorative for so long, and another one on and off the needles, because the yarn was too scratchy and re-purposed for the giant needle adventure I finally cast on again.

CO was 133 stitches, allow for 8 stitches of garter along the border.
I knit 16 rows of garter, with the corners being seed or moss stitch depending on your definition of either stitch, I find this helps the corners lie flat naturally, and it gives a slight visual interest as well.



Then 3 rows of stockinette stitch to get moving into the overall pattern. Now the lines of the Tardis were meant to be black, my pattern has them as black, but with the black backing I thought it would lose something, and I had dark and light grey.

I spent Sunday knitting this sucker, and did about 40 rows, I think it looks awesome and want to keep it for myself, but it just means I get to do another one.

One of my main problems I think with the other two that I have previously worked on is that there is all of the colour work on the outside of tardis, the starry night effect if you will, and while this is GORGEOUS, I do not think I have the patience for it. I really wish I did as the overall effect is stunning, but it is honestly just not for me, and I Think you can have an equally stunning blanket without it.

There is a verigated yarn that is grey and black that I would love to try out for my next one as the 'background colour' and I think it might just have the effect I am looking for, without the added stress.

This is what it looks like as of 04/05/2015...and I am so happy! It is just under 50% done, and I have left it out for the week so hopefully some determination and some love and it will be done quite soon. All the ends. At any given moment it has minimum 10 balls of yarn attached and at most about 31, I think is how many are attached right now. I may go mad, but at least my friend will be happy.

This is getting so close, I am so excited. I am at 72% complete. But did have to start another one because two friends are expecting bambino's on the same day. So exciting, and yet so crazy. The other one is at 55% done, but you can read about the process of that one on a different blog post. I have to keep knitting, I may go insane, but I have to keep going.



And this my friends is the back...yes it does actually look like that and it keeps getting worse. Unless I have an ends weaving session in which case it gets nicer again. WOO HOO.







May 18, 2015, this is off the needles the weaving has begun, and the insanity has started. The goal here is to get a picture of the two blankets side by side, so that we all think we are seeing double before I send them off to their new homes, this failed. One blanket has left, and this is on the finishing pile, as the ends are being woven in as we speak.

August 16, 2015, all of the ends are woven in and it has been dropped off at its new home, slightly over due but the high of getting it finished finished brings more joy than one can imagine.

Here it is all boxed up:

Red Currant Jelly

I really must take more pictures of things.

So I topped 8 punnets of red currants. Delicious, so glad I was blessed in not having to pick them.

Then they were boiled down with water and mashed lightly to keep the juices coming out. Traditionally jelly makers use a jelly bag, but I am sorry to all of you that stick with your jelly bags, bu my kitchen aide attachment is way better, and takes less time. It is the attachment that you would use if you were making tomato sauce, I then place a sieve over the bowl and let the liquid fall through. Remembering of course to empty the sieve occasionally. 

You then have lots of glorious juice to play with. 

I did 3 batches of 1 lt currant juice, 1 kg sugar, and 1 packet of pectin.

and I did 1 batch of 1lt currant juice, 1 kg sugar no pectin. 

I have found in the past that when I have not used pectin (first attempt at making currant jelly though) I have not had the desired gelling effect, but the pectin-less vs. the pectin filled turned out just about the same, Which was great. 

So now I am the proud owner, maker of 29 jars of red currant jelly. I am also very pleased because there are only 2 jars that did not 'pop' of their own accord, so I plan on putting them in the dish washer this evening when I do a load of dishes and having them pop that way instead of boiling them. I hope it works. Also, GOD BLESS DISHWASHERS, and no I do not mean significant others, or friends that you have roped into the day just to wash dishs, actual honest to goodness electric dishwashers. 

There is something quite satisfying about taking large quantities of fruit boiling the fruit down, and the putting your rewards in little jars. Rewarding/relaxing as you can see the fruit of your labour, and enjoy the fruits of your labour as you eat them. 

Next on the canning list is crab apple jelly, and then mint jelly, and maybe some bacon jam...one day. 

Night

-A

July

July is officially over, isn't that amazing???
For July I finished, the Moss Diamond Blanket, it is a miracle! It looks gorgeous see:

This by now has already reached the baby that it was intended for, I do hope they enjoy it. 

I finished Persuasion, which is a good job done. I like Persuasion, I like the plot the ideas everything about it, and I like Austen, but maybe I am too much of a dialogue person, and this book really did not have as much dialogue in it as I would have anticipated, which was both fascinating and a slight let down, but I have read it now which is good.

Looking at my list it is really getting no shorter just longer....that is not a good thing at all.

Knitting I have on the go:

1. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole
2. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
3. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks
4. Fingerless Mittens: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fingerless-mittens-8
1. I have 1 complete and about 25% of another one complete, a matching pair is within my grasp. These are beautiful, I want to do them on smaller needles with smaller yarn, it will take longer, but they will be less thick. Sadly these ones are in black which makes them hard to photograph nicely.
5. Reverie Beret (I have done so many of these I could do them in my sleep, but I have made 1 or 2 minor adjustments to make it my own)
6. Entrelac scarf, I do not think I am going to finish this per se... who knows
7. Feather and Fan Blanket
8. Mitered Square blanket in Parrot...I was crocheting this into something, but I did not like it, I still don't really like it but it will happen. 
9. Moss Diamond Blanket
1. This blanket was started so that I would use up some skeins of yarn that I had purchased for something else and then not used, now I need to buy more yarn to finish up this project evil curses abound. 
1. Went to buy new yarn, and there is on of this colour available at the moment...WHY DO YOU HATE ME!! Thank you Danielle for saving my skin, and having a skein of yarn handy.
10. 10 Stitch Square Blanket
1. I am using up yarn from the first Hue Shift Afghan, it should be a good time, I hope it works.
11. Moss Diamond Blanket in Purple - for Paul
12. Banana Bunches
1. This is going so well, it is amazing. It is a four row repeat, which some say is tedious, but for me right now, and the amount of brain power I can extend it is great. 
   

Crocheting I have on the go:

1. Corner to corner blanket in Green and Pink

Books:

1. Outlander
2. Longbourn
3. Heartless
4. Pride and Prejudice
5. Persuasion

Yet to start:

1. Baby Blanket for Chris - Boy
2. Baby Blanket for Heather - Girl

These two are on the pile of things to start, but I have no idea what I want to knit for 

Bits and Pieces

With finishing all sorts of projects I am finding that I have ended up with a sizable quantity of bits and pieces of yarn. What am I going to do with them all? I really do not know. I have a yearning to make a scraps blanket, but will all of my scraps go together? Will it work? Does any of these even matter? Is there enough of a certain scrap to make a few more hats? A friend is doing Mom and Baby shows, so do I make a pile of hats for her to take to sell? Is that a possibility? I do not know.

Here are some of the pieces I have lying around:

I did start a 10 stitch twist as you may have noticed, and it has got me using up more of the ends in the far right bag, Just keep knitting, I love all the other bits though and am excited to one day do something with them.

This is my 10 Stitch Twist, square, fellow. I did frog and and decide to start with a pink middle I felt that it would be less solid and demanding than the red. We will see how it goes. 

As for the rest of the peices, there are quite a few different textures, sizes, lengths etc, and as you can see one great large ball of Unforgettable Red Heart Yarn, that I do have more of, I really want to do a stained glass type patter from this one, just need to either write a pattern or figure something out. So much wool so little time. 

Yarn Stash

So I organized my yarn stash over the break, and discovered that I could knit probably for the next year without having to go to the store to buy new yarn. Sadly, it has become slightly disorganized since this process, and of course it does keep expanding, and I should spend more time with it, but alas it does not.

See Pictures of the yarn:

I followed the principle of putting all like colours or similar weights or brands in the same large ziploc bag (they are down at the bottom I promise), sat on them to remove excess air, and sealed them quickly.

The first two pictures are yarn that I have put on one side in order to complete another hue shift afghan, go me, I have to keep it going. Then there is a box of fingering, lace, and some more Tardis yarn. The in the very middle is a fair amount of yarn that I use for making those corner to corner blankets, I am thinking my next one should be pink, white, and red, or purple, red, and white. Then the black, wine bag, of yarn that has no use but is highly useful. And then on to the knit picks palette in Rainforest Heather which si for use on my Mesh Crew Neck.

There is one bag which is entertaining, it is my bits and pieces bag. Who knows if they will ever be used by anything, but who cares, they are there, and will remind me of what I have done. I may do a random blanket one day of the bits and pieces, but I shall wait and see.

Sadly, or maybe not so sadly, I did not manage to take a picture of all the skeins of yarn that are in my room, bu they are buried, so I did not want to go and un-bury them.

Just keep knitting, and wait until the stash goes away.

-A

Broken

Today was a sad nail day. They all decided they were going to come off. A bit heart wrenching but alas it occurred. And it will be an excellent to watch and track how they grow. So at present all 10 digits look like the four digits below.

Polish combo is OPI black onyx with China Glaze Point me to the party layered over top. I love this polish. If there is one polish that I could have buckets of and it might be this one.

Enjoy and I look forward to sharing my progress.

-A

June

I was away the first two weeks of June, so that put a bit of a damper on the finished pile. I did take with me a blanket to crochet though, so at least that made progress, yes I know another thing on the go. I really do not feel that my finished pile is getting all that larger, my started pile is just getting larger, its not fair, you feel me????

The bright side to this is because I have been away I have finished two books, The Heir, and DUFF. Both delightful easy reads, that were uncomplicated, yet engaging enough to read while exhausted before passing out somewhere on the English isle.

This month I also purchased while in England a set of 12 Bronte novels with an companion novel by Elizabeth Gaskell on the Bronte family, they are being shipped to me, and were published in 1911. Not as old as I was hoping but a full and complete set, that all matches and is bound beautifully in green silk, with gold embossing and illustrated.

Crafting will continue upon my return. But while I was meandering in downtown York the other day I saw a bobbin lace making kit, and did a wobble at the knees sort of movement, and decided do I need one? Maybe I already have one...can I do this using a different method??? Who knows, maybe if I managed to finish a pile of knitting etc, I will work on Bobbin Lace, the only problem is you do not get much return for your time spent. I will keep you posted.


Knitting I have on the go:

1. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole
2. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
3. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks
4. Fingerless Mittens: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fingerless-mittens-8
1. I have 1 complete and about 25% of another one complete, a matching pair is within my grasp. These are beautiful, I want to do them on smaller needles with smaller yarn, it will take longer, but they will be less thick. Sadly these ones are in black which makes them hard to photograph nicely.
5. Reverie Beret (I have done so many of these I could do them in my sleep, but I have made 1 or 2 minor adjustments to make it my own)
6. Entrelac scarf, I do not think I am going to finish this per se... who knows
7. Feather and Fan Blanket - this will be finished when it is good and ready to be finished, I keep picking it up and putting it down again, it is a do I have to project??
8. Mitered Square blanket in Parrot...I was crocheting this into something, but I did not like it, I still don't really like it but it will happen. 
9. Moss Diamond Blanket: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/moss-diamond-baby-blanket
1. This blanket was started so that I would use up some skeins of yarn that I had purchased for something else and then not used, now I need to buy more yarn to finish up this project evil curses abound. 
1. Went to buy new yarn, and there is on of this colour available at the moment...WHY DO YOU HATE ME!! Thank you Danielle for saving my skin, and having a skein of yarn handy.
2. Now that I have so much yarn, I think I am going to un-do it and then re-do it but wider. mmmhmmmm - DONE, it is now 130 stitches across. 
10. 10 Stitch Square Blanket
1. I am using up yarn from the first Hue Shift Afghan, it should be a good time, I hope it works.

Crocheting I have on the go:

1. Corner to corner blanket in Green and Pink
2. Corner to corner blanket in Dark blue and Light blue

Books:

1. Outlander
2. Longbourn
3. Heartless
4. Pride and Prejudice
5. The Heir
6. Duff
7. Persuasion

P.S. I am trying to take more pictures of the things I do, but there are not enough hours in the day, I am sorry. 

-A

Ginger Preserve/Syrup Or what you will

While away in England we had the opportunity to taste a Ginger preserve, it was basically crystallized ginger in jam form, delicious. I found a recipe when I got home and so went to making some.

I started with about 4 lbs of Ginger, which was then peeled and cut up into both chunks and slices. This was then put into a sauce pan with about 5 cups of water and boiled/simmered for an hour and a half. The liquid is then drained off, and everything cooled.













Batch 1:
Measuring three cups of ginger chunks, and 1/2 cup of ginger liquid this was then boiled with about 5 cups of sugar, liquid pectin added, then simmered for a further 7 minutes. The smell of the entire process was amazing, and luckily with the amount of ginger I had I will be able to make another batch. WIN!

Sadly, and this seems to happen every time I use Certo pectin, my preserve did not set up, and I was treated to a delicious batch of Ginger syrup, which is still delicious. And would be amazing with Vanilla Ice cream, on french toast, crepes, or drizzled into hot water with a dash of lemon.

Batch 2:
Three cups of ginger chunks, and 1/2 cup of ginger liquid, with 5 cups of sugar, and instead of liquid pectin by Certo, I am going to use powdered by Bernat, and following the instructions as to when to put it in, and see if it makes it solidify any differently. I can confirm that it is slightly more solid, especially once it has been in the fridge, SOO EXCITING, and so delicious.


The liquid:
There was about 2 cups of liquid left over from all of this, so being in a waste not want not sort of a mood I poured this into my pan and added sugar...I do not know how much sugar, and I boiled it, and boiled it, and boiled it some more until I got a nice syrupy consistency. I think it will be great over ice cream or added to hot water for a delicious beverage. Then it was put in jars and left too cool, I hope it is delicious.

This drizzled over vanilla ice cream is amazing, put into club soda, or with lemon and hot water, the list goes on. I am so glad I made this, and I will be making it again.

-A

May

May by the sheer uselessness that was April has been pretty good. I got finished the two Tardi blankets that I was working on. Here you go:

Yes the ends are weaved in and everything too, pat me on the back, okay fine I will do it myself. I only managed to find a picture of one of them, but when I get another one I will put it up as well.

This is a busy month at the office, so other than getting these finished it has otherwise been pretty uneventful, AKA no reading has occurred, I will make up for that I am sure.

Now if you remember from the beginning all I wanted to do was hats...and now look at all the crazy things I have going on. I feel that I should do some socks, but I cannot start socks until I finish some more things!


Knitting I have on the go:

1. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole
2. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
3. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks
4. Tardis Afghan x 2 (Yes I have two on the go)..might soon have three, scary.
1. One of these I need to have finished by May, but the yarn is a bit scratchy so I just need to either figure out how to make yarn softer, or use the softer Yarn I have to make a different one...Thoughts?
5. Fingerless Mittens: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fingerless-mittens-8
1. I have 1 complete and about 25% of another one complete, a matching pair is within my grasp. These are beautiful, I want to do them on smaller needles with smaller yarn, it will take longer, but they will be less thick. Sadly these ones are in black which makes them hard to photograph nicely.
6. Reverie Beret (I have done so many of these I could do them in my sleep, but I have made 1 or 2 minor adjustments to make it my own)
7. Entrelac scarf, I do not think I am going to finish this per se... who knows
8. Feather and Fan Blanket
9. Mitered Square blanket in Parrot...I was crocheting this into something, but I did not like it, I still don't really like it but it will happen. 
10. Moss Diamon Blanket
11. Corner to Corner in light blue, dark blue, and white
12. Corner to Corner in pink, green, and white

Tardis the 4th

I started this glorious piece of work on April 16th 2015. As of May 16th 2015 It is off the needles and will be subject to various bits of torture in order to get it finished.
I am amazed that I did this much knitting in such a short time frame.





Some notes on this blanket:

1. C/O 141
2. Knit 16-20 rows of garter, corners are seed stitch
3. Knit 4 rows stockinette
4. Begin colourwork

The colour block on the bottom could have done with being 4 rows larger and maybe a touch wider, as it is a base, and is holding up the rest of the Tardis.

I have decided to do duplicate stitching to come out with the lettering regarding the words "Police Box, Public call" as knitting them in seemed stressful and unnecessary especially having to place them backwards. I will let you know how that goes.   I decided against this for multiple reasons. I will explain: It got tricky to do working on the black....and then I decided that I did not want to drive the point home to viciously, because I was sure that people would get that it was in fact a police box, so there you go. 



I am about 50% complete on weaving in the huge number of ends that have occurred as a result of this project. The ones I am having a hard time with are the ones that occur around the wraps, they are inevitable, when you do not know how much yarn you will need, but they are also a PAIN. Getting very close. I am going to start with the ones where there are two ends that are in the 'middle of the work if you will, then do the ones around the wraps. 

Made a bit of a mistake, but we learn from them do we not? That I should have knit Police Box into the knitting, as originally planned and not put in afterwards. I think at this point I will weave in the ends contemplate the words further and then just sent it off to its new home sans lettering. 

Blocking time, if I figure out how to rotate this I will.

May 16, 2015: This little beauty has all of its ends woven in and it is blocked and sitting in a box ready to head off on its great adventure living with the Clark family. I am thrilled chuffed and every other possible version of excited possibly known to man. 

May 19, 2015: this beauty is on its way, so it is now safe to post this....I think.



Oh the relief of having this completed is just somewhat overshadowed by the hatred of the one I started first not being finished yet, but it will be complete soon. 

*Mental Note: when joining a yarn of the same colour knit two stranded for 6 stitches, this will reduce the weaving in time. 
*Mental Note 2: Hold the yarns very tightly together when doing intarsia, and then you do not get loose stitches on the attached, or wrapped, sections of knitting. 

-A

To Accomplish

So, I spend a decent amount of time knitting, but I also spend a decent amount of time wondering what I should work on next. That list is about as long if not longer:

1. Heart Wood Collection: Mesh Crew Neck
1. Yarn - yes
2. Needles - yes
3. Pattern - yes
2. Giant Knitting
1. Yarn - yes
2. Needles - yes
3. Pattern - needs developing/finding
3. Giant Crocheting
1. Yarn - yes
2. Hooks - no
3. Pattern - maybe
4. Hue Shift Afgahn #2
1. Yarn - yes
2. Needles - yes
3. Pattern - yes
5. USE UP ALL THE YARN
1. Like any good knitter I have stashed away quite the stash of yarn. I want to use some of it up on goodness knows what so that I can clear out that corner, and feel less like it is going to devour me one night in my sleep. Also I want some new yarn, but to get new yarn I need to use the old yarn
6. Knit a pair of socks - A good new challenge for me 
1. Yarn - maybe
2. Needles - yes
3. Pattern - no 
7. Knit a pair of mittens
1. Yarn - maybe
2. Needles - yes
3. Pattern - no

I also have some other accomplishments that need doing:

1. Chris Baby Due in August - Girl
2. Paul Baby Due in July - Boy
3. Heather Baby Due in November

Will all of these people get a blanket, that is yet to be determined, but we shall see. All in all I just need to get some stuff finished or I am going to feel like I am going mad. 

-A

April...

I started another corner to corner blanket, and I am enjoying this pattern far more than the other pattern that I was following, We will see how that goes to get the border on. These are so mindless, and handy to have around in case someone you know is suddenly 'expecting' and have not told you.




Oh that Tardis Afghan, it has a post all of its own here. It must be in the mail before May 8th or so (approximately) I so want to take it down to her personally but I do not have time for a 9 hour flight I really wish I did. I have on the whole enjoyed working on this project, I do plan on doing a couple more and putting them in a corner to have around in case there is another surprise baby. Its sooooo gorgeous and I love it so much.
I decided to start another one because I realized that two friends who enjoy Dr. Who were both having babies, so I did two...I got 25% of the second one done in one weekend, so I am at 60% with that one, and 72% with the other.

For reading I am re-reading the first book in the Outlander series, that being said the first time I read it I started where the half season in the show cut off, as I needed to know what happened, but I thought I should read it in its entirety. So this would count if I had finished it.

Sadly my finished rate this month has been nil, but I have got so much accomplished, so it was not a wasted month when all is said and done. The Tardis blankets have made astounding progress, and that is what counts for a lot. I think after I finish these Tardi, I will once again tackle the Illuminated Lines blanket, I do want it finished.


Knitting I have on the go:

1. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole
2. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
3. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks
4. Tardis Afghan x 2 (Yes I have two on the go)..might soon have three, scary.
1. One of these I need to have finished by May, but the yarn is a bit scratchy so I just need to either figure out how to make yarn softer, or use the softer Yarn I have to make a different one...Thoughts?
5. Fingerless Mittens: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fingerless-mittens-8
1. I have 1 complete and about 25% of another one complete, a matching pair is within my grasp. These are beautiful, I want to do them on smaller needles with smaller yarn, it will take longer, but they will be less thick. Sadly these ones are in black which makes them hard to photograph nicely.
6. Reverie Beret (I have done so many of these I could do them in my sleep, but I have made 1 or 2 minor adjustments to make it my own)
7. Entrelac scarf, I do not think I am going to finish this per se... who knows
8. Feather and Fan Blanket
9. Mitered Square blanket in Parrot...I was crocheting this into something, but I did not like it, I still don't really like it but it will happen. 

Why is my list not shrinking???

-A

March....

March was a huge month for me. I finished 3 blankets, and the yoke of a cardigan which is amazing, I am so proud of myself, but keep in mind as well that I also had all of these on the go and had weekend blitz's where I finished them.

The Op Art Blanket is now complete, see all the pictures below. I am quite pleased with how this turned out, and I like that it is a blanket knit in the round that turns into a square as opposed to one that is a circle, I am sure there are not as many people out there as me that appreciate round blankets. I may put a soft snugly backing on this one, as it got quite thin during blocking, but it is off the needles so it counts as finished.

I Like Lime is also now completed. Thank goodness for that. I am a tad angry with myself that I am finishing all of the easier projects first and leaving some of the harder ones for later, but I think that is a general survival instinct that we all encounter. So pretty, I love the patterns in this book. I have yarn for Blueberry Bobbles, which will be a new project, as I have yarn, but not for a little while.








This one to the right does not show off the colour, but it shows the pattern better.


I also finished the Yoke of my Circlet Cardigan this month. This project was started in January of 2014. And I just finished it on March 1, 2015 that is crazy but it looks gorgeous. Really hoping that it fits by the time I get it finished, it would be heart breaking if it did not.

I am really tempted to do the body just in stockinette stitch but I think it would loose some of the luster that it has as a result of all this cabling.

I also managed to finish 'Jane Eyre's Daughter' by Elizabeth Newark. Not one of the best books I have picked up, but it was interesting to see where one persons interpretation of the next generation goes. Some plot points are far too similar to the book that this was based on, but it did have merits in that it was still quite gothic in its themes. It was also great to find out what the mystery of this one is, not a lot of spoiler posts out there for this one, or I need to look harder?

I have no idea what I am going to tackle next, I think it is Tardis time after that with bits of Illuminated Lines and the Circlet Cardigan. After much deliberation I am going to use the softer yarn, am I going to have as much colour work in it? Your guess is as good as mine on this one.

Knitting I have on the go:

1. I Like Lime: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/i-like-lime
2. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole
3. Opt Art: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/opart
4. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
5. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks
1. Yoke
2. Right Arm
3. Left Arm
4. Body
6. Tardis Afghan x 2 (Yes I have two on the go)..might soon have three, scary.
1. One of these I need to have finished by May, but the yarn is a bit scratchy so I just need to either figure out how to make the yarn softer, or use the softer yarn I have to make a different one...Thoughts?
1. One of these got turned into the Giant Knitted blanket that you will see on here, using the huge needles, where vampires shrink at the sight of them :D 
7. Fingerless Mittens: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fingerless-mittens-8
1. I have 1 complete and about 25% of another one complete, a matching pair is within my grasp. These are beautiful, I want to do them on smaller needles with smaller yarn, it will take longer, but they will be less thick. Sadly these ones are in black which makes them hard to photograph nicely.
8. Reverie Beret (I have done so many of these I could do them in my sleep, but I have made 1 or 2 minor adjustments to make it my own)
9. Entrelac scarf, I do not think I am going to finish this per se... who knows
10. Feather and Fan Blanket 
    
11. Mitered Square blanket in Parrot...I was crocheting this into something, but I did not like it, I still don't really like it but it will happen.