Accomplishments of 2016

Overall looking at the year I think I have done so so so so so well. My knitting has 100% out shone my reading, by a long shot. I just prefer knitting right now, and I am going to be okay with that.
I have learned new skills this year, such as socks, 2 at a time knitting, magic loop, which I feel have all benefited me greatly.
I also managed to knit 3 or so projects which helped clear out some yarn from my stash, and I am currently working on some projects to aid in that some more.
I did acquire a huge stack of new yarn this year, but it gives me joy and I am going to accept the fact that one day I will get through it all and be so proud of myself for doing so.

Knitting:

1. Reverie Hat - January
2. Reverie Hat - January
3. Ashley Beret - January
4. Ashley Beret - January
5. Concentric Squares Blanket - February
6. Reverie Hat - March, Sad no picture
7. Drop Stitch Prayer Shawl - April
8. Mist and Glitz - April
9. Grammy's Mittens - April
10. Orthoganol Mitts - April
11. Reverie Hat - May
12. Grammy's Mittens - May
13. Odd Cowel - May, no picture (probably a good thing)
14. Black, Red, White Crochet - May, no picture
15. Happy Spring Leaves - June
16. Muse Top - June, it is finished, but I do not have a finished picture
17. Reverie Hat - July
18. Mina's Socks - July
19. Mina's Socks - July
20. Catamaran Shawl - July
21. Mina Socks (dark side of the moon) - August
22. Mina Socks (candy stripes) - September
23. HeartFire Shawl - September
24. Rory Socks - September
25. Merrow Hat - October
26. Merrow Mitts - November
27. Watermelon - Be Loving - November
28. Striped- Be Loving - November
29. Mount Airy Socks - November
30. Magnolia Pullover - November **** My First Finished sweater**** my second started sweater, first finished.
31. Watermelon Socks - December
32. Spiral Leg Warmers - December
33. Merrow Mitts - December
34. Merrow Mitts - December
35. Be Loving, Pink, Blue, White - December
    

Books:

1. Scarlet Pimpernel - January
2. Belle - February
3. Love, Rosie - February
4. Wives and Daughters - March
5. Moloka'i - April
6. Soulless Manga Part 1 - April
7. Soulless Manga Part 2 - April
8. Pride and Prejudice - May
9. The Girl You Left Behind - May
10. One with You - June
11. Me Before You - September

December 2016

Not a bad month over all. Got 4 things finished, and the rest is just gravy. I have done next to no reading as I cannot seem to focus. But I am hoping to get some other things accomplished along with the New Year. 

FO's:

1. Watermelon Hedghog Fibre Socks
2. Spiral Leg Wamers
3. Merrow Mitts
4. Merrow Mitts

Knitting I have on the go:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
2. Elise Blanket in Maroon and Grey
3. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
4. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.
5. Banana Bunches - So you can probably tell this keeps getting shoved aside.
6. Hue shift in 5 colours not 10
1. CO is 18 stitch maker CO 17 with a CDD (I keep forgetting what my cast on is, so here we go, never to forget)
7. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole 

Books:

1. The Crown
2. Moll Flanders
3. Call of the Midwife Book 3 
4. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
5. DragonFly in Amber

Hedgehog Fibres December 2016

From left to right, we have: Ravish, Waikiki, and Poison Apple. 

Ravish is a silk lace so soft and amazing. I love it. Sadly when I went to get the clubs the Twist was all gone. I did also snag the minis, but I have already stashed those in the Mini's bag, so I do not want to look through them again to grab the right ones. 

What I Have Been Watching Edition 2

Netflix and knitting, or colouring, or what have you. 

My reviews on anything are very vague. I can tell you I enjoyed it or not, but I hate to give away spoilers to what happens in the show, so they will stay vague.

Recently I have watched:

Broadchurch

So the first two seasons of this have been great. Just listening to David Tennants voice makes a girl feel better, even though this is a crime investigation show. 

What I really enjoy about this is the fact that it did take an entire season to investigate and solve the 'who done it' factor. It was a nice overall speed. 

Super happy with this one, and I want more! Bring me more please. 

Jane the Virgin 

I started watching this when I was tired of everything else. I must say it has been a whirlwind, and as I have said to a number of people if this much drama occurred in my life on a daily basis I would have hid under a rock with my knitting until it a) went away or b) I passed away due to the length of time spent under said rock. 

With that being said if you want to watch something that you do not need to think about, and where it reminds you all the time of what happened before then go for it. High drama, fast passed, and there is a lot going on, all the time. 

Is it just me, but do they talk really fast in this one?

Don't Trust the B- in Apt 23

Another fast paced high drama show. Again easy watching, and some entertaining characters in this one.
It has made me feel very lucky that I do not have a room mate, and probably has put me off the idea entirely. The shenanigans they get up to are interesting though and living vicariously through them is quite entertaining. 

I have been watching more than just these three, reviewing more than three right now is just very hard. 

Hedgehog Fibres November 2016

I love yarn, yarny yarn yarn. 

Left to right: Seaspray, Waterfall, and Flowerchild. 

The minis are in the giant bag of minis. I will take a group photo of them. 

December Yarn Crush 2016

These gloves are STUNNING. I want to make them now and in every colour.

November Yarn Crush 2016

The yarn is awesome. not 100% sure if I am going to make a cowl with it or just wear it as a hank, as I feel it would work that way without even being touched by a pair of needles. 

Magnolia Pullover!

This sweater is stunning, and I wore it for the first time on Christmas day. And the tweaks I did to make it fit better make even better than I could have hoped for.

 

Project Bags :)

I have now started a fairly impressive little collection of project bags.

Just behold the gorgeous-ness that they are!

Christmas Knitting

The question is what do I need to knit for people for Christmas.

Candace:

1. Changed my mind, she will get Merrow Mitts :)
2. Pair of Boot Cuffs - Sage Green
3. Pair of Boot Cuffs - Burgundy

Jessica:

1. Pair of Mustard leg warmers

So this is the knitting list to get done before December 19th. It is December 7th as I am writing this, which is comforting, as soon as I have my other Watermelon sock finished I am going to get down to business with these!

November 2016

There is a KAL from October 1st to December 31st for colour work projects being hosted by Katie from Inside Number 23, so I am hoping this gives me some motivation to get the Illuminated Lines blanket complete. The motivation just is not there. I still adore this blanket, but I am not sure I can see myself finnishing it this year.
My reading passion has also gone out the window. You cannot have everything.

Mom sent me an email the other day with some patterns on it for hats for CHAS. They give them to pre-teens, teens at Easter as an Easter Gift, so I am going to see how many I can get going and see if I can get some of my stash gone of the yarn that I cannot remember for the life of me why I purchased it in the first place.



FO's:

1. Magnolia Pullover
2. Striped - Be Loving Hat
3. Watermelon - Be Loving Hat
4. Mount Airy Socks
1. I am so impressed with my success on these guys! I even did a FLK heel which was surprisingly easier than any other heel I have done to date. Everyone buy this heel. 

Knitting I have on the go:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
2. Elise Blanket in Maroon and Grey
3. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
4. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.
5. Banana Bunches - So you can probably tell this keeps getting shoved aside.
6. Hue shift in 5 colours not 10
1. CO is 18 stitch maker CO 17 with a CDD (I keep forgetting what my cast on is, so here we go, never to forget)
7. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole 

Books:

1. The Crown
2. Moll Flanders
3. Call of the Midwife Book 3 
4. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
5. DragonFly in Amber

Hedgehog Fibers October 2016

Octobers yarn came, and it is as stunning as ever!
I want to make the watermelon socks RIGHT NOW. But I have a watermelon project bag on the way from MinaMakes so I will wait until that arrives, because I want the watermelon socks in the watermelon project bag. Too perfect.

From left to right, we have October 1, 2, 3 then Foxgloves, Venus, and Watermelon. 

YAY!

How am I ever going to be able to knit all the yarn?

October 2016

There is a KAL from October 1st to December 31st for colour work projects being hosted by Katie from Inside Number 23, so I am hoping this gives me some motivation to get the Illuminated Lines blanket complete. You never know. I have been working on it for ages.
I really have the motivation right now to clear my needles. Mina (KnittingExpat) clears her needles for the end of every month, I am not 100% sure how she accomplishes this, but she has my admiration for it.

I was rather bad this month. I purchased rather a lot of yarn.....ah well. I will knit it eventually, and I have another new cast on. I must say it is flying, and I am quite pleased with my present progress. I am also being super careful, as I do not want any added 'design features' (mistakes) on this one.

My Merrow Mitts have taken on a whole new life, as I am knitting them 2 at a time in magic loop, which is impressive, and I am surprised as to how naturally this came to me. It lends to new hope to the fact that I might be able to do this with my Circlet Cardigan sleeves, at least then all your increases are happening in the same place.



FO's:

1. Merrow Hat
• I love this hat. It comes in second to the Reverie hat, only because I know I can knit a Reverie hat in about 6 hours, this took a bit longer. I may also take a repeat out of this one if I were to complete it again, it was almost too slouchy. 
2. Merrow Mitts

Knitting I have on the go:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
2. Elise Blanket in Maroon and Grey
3. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
4. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.
5. Banana Bunches - So you can probably tell this keeps getting shoved aside.
6. Hue shift in 5 colours not 10
1. CO is 18 stitch maker CO 17 with a CDD (I keep forgetting what my cast on is, so here we go, never to forget)
7. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole
8. Magnolia Pullover - Knit Picks
1. This is absolutely stunning! The front is complete and the back is 4 repeats away. 
9. Mountain Airy Socks

Books:

1. The Crown
2. Moll Flanders
3. Call of the Midwife Book 3 
4. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
5. DragonFly in Amber

HedgeHog Fibres September

Every time this yarn gets here I get HAPPIER. Really I do. I have absolutely no idea what I want to make with these guys, but they are just so precious that I do not want to waste them. I this back the first one and the middle one I think would be a great pair of contrasting toe and heal socks, but I cannot bring myself yo knit just socks with this amazing yarn. So for now it sits waiting for me. 

I supposed you want to know what they are called. 

We have September 1, 2, 3 then FlowerChild, Goosebumps, All That

September Yarn Crush

I am thrilled with this months patterns, and the magazine. There is a sweater I want to start RIGHT NOW! Please :)
Alas I will not be starting it as I have to finish my Circlet Cardigan which has been on the needles for far to long, and alas it is something I need to get finished

Back to the box, I am sad there is no 'Full of Yarny Goodness' sticker this time round, but I will survive. The colour of the yarn is stunning, and I just cannot contain my happiness about it. It is such a stunning colour I am going to save it for a knitted shawl though instead of a hat and pair of fingerless mitts That being said I am using some other yarn from my stash for these items and as soon as I am finished typing this I am off to go cast on the hat.

September 2016

Oh September, you were an interesting month. I got three things off the needles though so that is a bonus. Two of the items were started in August and finished in September and the Rory socks were started and finished in the same month I am really pleased.

FO's:

1. Mina Socks
2. Heartfire Shawl
3. Gilmore Girl KAL Rory Scarf insipired Sockys
1. This taught me the skill of toe up socks. Which do I prefer? I really have no idea, but I think investing in second pairs of 9 inch circulars might be an idea so I can knit 2 at a time. I am not a magic loop person, or I just need to practice and grow into the skill

Knitting I have on the go:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
2. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
3. Elise Blanket in Maroon
4. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.
5. Banana Bunches - So you can probably tell this keeps getting shoved aside.
6. Hue shift in 5 colours not 10
7. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole

Books:

1. The Crown
2. Moll Flanders
3. Call of the Midwife Book 3 
4. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
5. DragonFly in Amber

What I Have Been Watching

For me knitting time means movie/TV watching time. Ergo it would follow that I have watched my fair share of programs while knitting/crafting.

Galavant:
A fun little show with an intriguing premise. I am not 100% sure it was executed in the best possible manner, but the songs are fun, and the handful of recognizable actors and actresses are a nice addition. It is watchable, and well worth watching, but I feel a good musical deserves to have the odd catchy tune that you find yourself humming in the shower or while doing some other monotonous task, they are too complicated to even hum after the fact let alone sing.
I say watch it, enjoy it, but don't leave feeling enriched, or as though you have wasted your time.

Maleficent:
I have debated on and off watching this, but never was tempted to go and watch it in the theatres. I was taken aback to find I thoroughly enjoyed it. A nice twist on a classic fairy story, and a twist I was not in any way expecting. Without giving the story away I cannot say much more. Just go watch it, and call me in the morning.









Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries:
I am not the first person that will jump up and go YES PLEASE I NEED A MURDER MYSTERY. I would meekly walk in the other direction if something of that sort happened in my vicinity. However, the costumes, and Miss Fisher make the experience delightful although somewhat predictable. Watch them in short bursts and then stop for a while. They do tend to have a structured formula. Something dire happens, Miss Fisher is called, then tells them to call jack, or the other way around, and then they investigate a murder, and utilize a good cop bad cop, or female cop male cop scenario that plays out to the end where by they figure out who the murderer is and that person gets put away.
I just wish they could figure out a way for our two leads to get over themselves and admit what everyone who has watched this show can see.

Look out next time when I let you know what else I am watching!

August Yarn Crush

I just noticed that I was behind the  8 ball with this one. I absolutely LOVE this yarn, I want more just like it. The urge to dive right into this project is tearing at my fingers. But I need to finish something. I promised myself that. Also I want to investigate the pattern as the shawl is a touch on the small side and I would love to be able to have a larger shawl. I am a tall person a long shawl looks more proportionate.

The little sheep necklace is also super adorable.
I apologize for the sad quality of this picture, the glass that covers the lense on my camera on my phone is busted, ergo, my pictures are the tiniest bit sad.

August 2016

I was away for 2 weeks of August, so my knitting was somewhat halted, as I want to knit on planes, but I do not want my needles to get taken away from me.

Also, you have probably noticed that my reading has taken a back seat to everything else. It's not that I have not been reading, it is more that I have been re-reading books to read the newest release of a series of books, but I do not think I can count them towards this years reading tally, as they are re-reads.

But my project bags came from MollyKleinDesigns. She was such a sweetie and they were wrapped up gorgeously! So pleased with this package.
Visit her shop here.

FO's:

1. Dark Side of the Moon Socks

Knitting I have on the go:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
2. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
3. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.
4. Banana Bunches - So you can probably tell this keeps getting shoved aside.
5. Hue shift in 5 colours not 10
6. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole
7. Heartfire Shawl

Books:

1. Moll Flanders
2. Call of the Midwife Book 3
3. Me Before You
4. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
5. DragonFly in Amber
• I read some reviews on GoodReads and it appears that people are not too taken with this, I am actually quite enjoying it, it is a good simply easy going read that is fairly easy to pick up and put down. 

HedgeHog Fibre August Club Installment

This is somewhat of a happy sad post, it is the last installment of my 3 month Hedgehog Fibre club installment, and boy am I glad I did it! The colours have been amazing. I have no idea how people bring themselves to actually knit with them, I just want to stare at them and figure out all the different colours that are going on at once. 

From left to right we have, August 1, August 2, August 3, Magic Potion, Witching Hour, and Cat's Pajamas. 

They must have such great fun naming these yarns. I wonder are they named after they are dyed or before?

I am still debating if I want to sign up again for September-December, that should be popping up quite soon if it is available. Fingers crossed I am not on the plane while it happens. 

Socks The Second Pair

These went surprising smoothly. I am also so pleased with the colour combination. And to boot they fit.

• 12 rows of cuff ribbing
• 9 rows before heel
• Heel
• 57 rows
• Then I began the decreases for the toe.
• 58 row is a decrease
• 4 rows to next decrease
• decrease
• 3 rows
• then decrease constantly to 8 stitches

I have discovered that I need a boat load of practice on Kitchener Stitch, I just do not know what it is about this, but I cannot get my head around it. 

I think these little guys look pretty cool. I am happy with the cuff, but could do with a couple more rows before I get to the foot.

July 2016

Well, my monogamous knitting is going very poorly indeed. As I need knitting for all sorts of occasions, which makes things far more complicated. Knitting to do while I:

• Talk/knitting with a group
• Watch TV
• Am able to focus on exactly the task at hand

I have also decided I need to read more, currently my goodreads tells me I have read 11 of my pledged 12 books this year, 23 are graphic novels, so do those count? I think that as they are in a series they should count as 1 book.

As far as the books go should I start reviewing them as I read them? Or review what I have read in the past? Not 100% sure really, could be a plan. 

FO's:

1. Reverie Hat - I find these easier than a pair of socks and they use sock yarn, so that is a win win. 
• Sea Tutle Fibre Arts - Dark Side of the Moon - Ridley Sock
2. Catamaran Shawl - Thank you Knit Picks and SeaTurtleFibre Arts
1. I started this three times. Ah well, it will be amazing. 
• Concrete - Ridley Sock
• Charcoal - Ridley Sock
3. Mina's Vanilla Socks
4. Mina's Vanilla Socks

Knitting I have on the go:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
2. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
3. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.
4. Banana Bunches - YOU ARE NEXT.....
5. Hue shift in 5 colours not 10
6. DragonStole: 

Spinning:

1. 2 Ply of Poppy Seed (fibre spun into lace weight) and Charcoal Lace

Oh and this happened! It looks so god, I am super pleased with the result.

Books:

1. Moll Flanders
2. Call of the Midwife Book 3
3. Me Before You
4. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
5. DragonFly in Amber
• I read some reviews on GoodReads and it appears that people are not too taken with this, I am actually quite enjoying it, it is a good simply easy going read that is fairly easy to pick up and put down. 

Other (Lifestyle);

I don't really want to get into this too much on here, but it is part of my life, and as much as I prefer crafting in the general terms I need to find the same joy in working out. So I downloaded a 5km running app, and I started this month. Just thought I would share some progress.
Alas, I have given myself a stress fracture in my right foot.... so the progress here has been less than stellar.

Yarn Crush July 2016

Yarn Crush July is here! I want to cast on RIGHT NOW. But then again I need to finish some things. The Medusa Nebula colourway is delightful, also just want to cake it to see what it looks like caked. 

The only thing that is stopping me from casting on is that the cast on is 631 stitches..... :( that worries me a little bit. Off to finish a shawl as if it is not finished today I will be behind. 

Did Someone Say Chrome?

This is a picture from their site. 

All the rage right now are the chrome powders to mirror finish nail application systems, which means of course I had to get a set.

In your little box, you get 6 colourful chrome powders a base gel, a top gel, and a fancy crystal filled applicator.  See below. I also purchased an extra chrome powder in silver, as the silver does not come part of the standard kit.



My overall impression is that this is so much fun, they look gorgeous, and I am so pleased. Application takes some time to perfect and patience, but it is worth in the end as the results are gorgeous.

And because I like to experiment I have some tricks for you.  These kits all recommend using a base of black gel, no rub polish. Which I did not have.
I started out using my OPI Nail Envy base coat, with a coat of OPI black (non gel) polish. I painted all of my nails then did some with the base gel and some without. Nail Gel Test 1 (this link may or may not work for you), this is a video of my first experiment.

It worked GREAT on a couple of fingers, but sadly as we have learnt before gel topcoat on regular polish results in crinkling, you can see a bit if the video. I wore them for a day, it was a long day, the house was painted, and my nails SUFFERED. If you are going to stick to regular polish, remember my golden rule wait at least 12 hours before applying gel top coat, it will save you some grief. I also tried one nail with Seche Viete UV top coat, and it crinkled as well, will it crinkle a day afterwards? I have yet to try this. My pinky nail is still in perfect condition, it did not crinkle either, but I think it is the nail that gets the most time to dry.

I then tested with Gel. I used Gelish Uno, and a Finger Paints Gel. The Uno cures without without the sticky layer, FingerPaints has a sticky layer, but I got that off and moved on.

Make sure the layers are thin, and are applied smoothly, any ridges, bumps from either the nail polish or the nail will show up when you come to put the chrome on.

After your base colour is applied you apply the base gel.

Left Hand

On my Left hand, I applied to the ring finger the base gel, and to the other 3 fingers I did not. I honestly cannot see any difference, and having worn them for 2 days I cannot see much of a difference at all as to how it wears.
Not sure if you can tell, but I blended about 4 different chrome powders on my ring finger, I wanted to see if I could get an oil slick appearance.

Right Hand

On the right hand the only one that has base gel on it was my thumb, and again it made no difference to application. Actually I might go so far to say that application was easier without it.

Then I applied the supplied top gel and away I went. To bed.

I do want to try Sech Vite's UV top coat with the Uno gel to see where that leads me, and see if you must use their UV top coat.

I know that using a normal top coat is a NO NO. As it makes the chrome powders cloudy and there is no mirror finish, which defeats the purpose.

I am super happy with the finish, and really glad I own them. I cannot wait to start playing. As it is micro powder, they are a bit messy, but you just need to lay down a cloth before you start and wash your hands afterwards. Lets see how long I can wear them before a) chipping b) peeling c) tip wear (this is my curse).

As for removal, I will continue to recommend the bowl of boiling water, with a bowl of acetone set in it, then soak your nails in the acetone and rub the polish off with a remover pad, or an orange stick depending on how stubborn it is.

HedgeHog Fibre July Club Installment

These came! They are beautiful, no regrets and no looking back from 'investing' in this club. I have no idea, what I am going to make, but I am going to wait for the last installment to come before I make any final decisions.
The next major consideration is do I subscribe again for about the rest of the year? Probably going too :)

So from left to right we have: Harissa, Agave, Candy Floss, July 1, July 2, July 3. 

Picking a favourite out of these would be like picking a favourite cheese (that is an odd reference I realize, but one that does make sense). 

. 

I want to cake one just to see what it will look like but I will wait and save that joy for another day.