Accomplishments of 2017

2017 Goals

• Knit 1 project a month, preferably, finish a languishing WIP - I for sure managed part one of this...part 2 see below
• Read 1 book a month, preferably, finish a book you started eons ago - SOO CLOSE
• Colour 1 colouring book page a month - nope
• Finish some art projects!!! - nope
• Make photo collages for posting on the blog, this should make them nicer, and make my blog look like I put more effort into it  - Getting somewhat better
• Start a podcast, she says with so much hesitation it could shake a house. - I have made 8 episodes
• Follow the tasks outlined in the bullet journal (I will not bore you with these) - Some of them yes, some no. 

Knitting:

The goal with my knitting was to finish 8 of my WIP's from 2016. Well I have frogged 2, and 3 are still waiting for either cast off or finishing. That makes 5, and that leaves 3. They would have been: Elise in Maroon, Feather and Fan, and the Banana Bunches Blanket. 3 out of 8 scary. 

Although I did manage to cast on and finish 46 other projects so I am quite proud of that accomplishment and I will take it.

1. A Navy Be Loving Hat
2. Blue, White, Pink Stripe - Be Loving Hat By: Melissa Simpson
3. Black and Parrot  - Be Loving Hat By: Melissa Simpson
4. Captain America Hat - Pattern from my head, one day I may publish it, no time soon. 
5. DinoTeal Socks
6. Find Your Fade
7. Be Loving Hat
8. Be Loving Hat
9. Be Loving Hat
10. Be Loving Hat
11. Be Loving Hat
12. Captain America Hat
13. Vortex Socks
14. Elise Baby Blanket in Pink
15. Purple, and Lime Green
16. Turquoise, and Lime Green
17. Hornless-Unicorn Hat!!
18. Strawberry Hat - or Tomato hat
19. Rainbow Hat
20. Dinosaur Hat
21. Dinosaur Hat
22. Dinosaur Hat
23. Hornless-Unicorn Hat!! The second
24. Hornless-Unicorn Hat!! The third
25. Hornless-Unicorn Hat!! The fourth
26. Charlie Brown Hat
27. Charlie Brown Hat
28. Turquoise Swirl Hat
29. Turquoise Swirl Hat
30. Black and Rainbow Hat
31. Black and Rainbow Hat
32. Turquoise, Lime, Purple, with Pom Pom
33. Watermelon Hat
34. Kiwi Hat
35. Red Drop Stitch Prayer Shawl
36. Elise Blanket - Maroon, Grey, Black, Purple
37. Heartfire Shawl
38. Reverie Hat
39. OMG Unicorn Socks
40. Hummingbird Arm Warmers
41. Myrna Socks
42. Corner to Corner blanket (crochet)
43. Banana Bunches
44. Fingerless Mitts for Candace
45. Hat for Katherine
46. Hat for Jennifer
47. Hat for Katelyn
48. Fingerless Mitts of Vanessa
49. Feather and Fan Blanket 
50. Midnight Shrug
51. Hat for Dylan
52. Be Loving Hat
53. Be Loving Hat
54. Be Loving Hat
55. Be Loving Hat
56. Be Loving Hat
57. Be Loving Hat
58. Be Loving Hat
59. Be Loving Hat
60. Be Loving Hat
61. Be Loving Hat
62. Be Loving Hat
63. Be Loving Hat

Books:

I pledged I would read 12 books this year. 

1. Harry Potter 1
2. Harry Potter 2
3. Call of the Midwife 2
4. Call of the Midwife 3
5. Anne of Green Gables
6. Anne of Avonlea
7. Anne of the Island
8. The Heir
9. The Crown

Art:

December 2017

Another year has come to a close. I would say I have done fairly well all things considered.
I should have also got another podcast episode out by now. https://youtu.be/kD-9-cIdoxA
A summary one if you will or what I have finished one. After I got back from England my world kind of fell into turmoil.

FO's:

1. Baby Beret - Hopefully it fits a four year old...
1. https://www.ravelry.com/projects/missacjames/childs-beret (pattern, I made up....really hope it fits)
2. Be Loving Hat
3. Be Loving Hat
4. Be Loving Hat
5. Captain America Hat
6. Wrist warmers for Sarah
7. Be Loving Hat
8. Be Loving Hat
9. Be Loving Hat
10. Be Loving Hat
11. Be Loving Hat
12. Be Loving Hat
13. Be Loving Hat
14. Be Loving Hat
15. Be Loving Hat

Need to Seriously Reconsider:

As a result of this being under this heading, it has been reconsidered. What does this mean? I shall tell you. 

First: it means that I have cast on a new Tardis Afghan, on smaller needs 4 mm instead of 4.5, this is making a bit of a difference, and it looks a fair bit better, I debated going down to a 3.75 mm but that seemed too small. (really should have done a gauge swatch, ah well)

Second: I did a much larger edging, the bottom has 20 rows of garter to it, and this is giving it much more strength, and the edges have 11 stitches of garter either side of the stockinette. It wasn't as painful to knit as I had anticipated, but it is far superior to the minuscule edging I put on the first blanket. Part of the problem was the excitement and anticipation of the amazing blanket and its sheer size I wanted to get to the Tardis faster. Lesson learned, take your time. 

Third: I am knitting in the ends as I go, this is making my joins much smoother, and also making when it comes time to weave in ends much less painful. 

Fourth: as a result of the fact that I already did a vast amount on blanket 1, I am pulling out the yarn from blanket 1 to knit blanket 2. So the first 20 or so rows of the grey specks are actually picked straight out of the first blanket and put into the second. It's nifty that they are already the right length to put straight where they need to go. 

Fifth: I am not following the pattern as strictly as I should be, but I am not making as many confusing adjustments as I did with the first one. This is going to make quite a difference I think and cause me far less worry. 

All that being said I am very happy with all of the decisions I have made in regards to re-knitting this, I was never going to make any progress on the old one. I did over this past weekend make significant progress and I do hope that continues. Wish me luck friends! I will need it. 

1. Tardis Blanket (the giant one) 🐸
• Smaller needles? Yes
• Larger edging? Yes
• Follow the pattern more accurately, do not get impatient with the process, as it is a process!

WIP's:

1. Hue Shift 5 colours
1. 1 quarter to go!!!
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)

Languishing WIP's:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
2. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
• Almost a 4 year sweater...it was cast on in January of 2014

Future Cast On's:

1. Lestrange Cloak

Books:

1. The Crown
2. Moll Flanders
3. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
4. DragonFly in Amber
5. Gone With the Wind
6. The Siren

Colouring Book Page:

November 2017

Sadly I feel like I have hit a knitting wall. My Christmas knits are finished, and I am desperately trying to finish some long languishing WIPS. The problem I think is I am better with the attention span of short term vs long term projects. I also do not want to cast on any new garments because I want to shrink ever so badly, and maybe soon I will. It may just be time for a knitting break, and use that time to dust off some other hobbies in my life. I will let you know how it goes.


I did manage to frog 2 projects. My Cable Mesh Pullover, and my Dragon stole. I feel amazing, it was a great idea, and I have no regrets. Feeling quite positive about the experience.

FO's:

1. Fingerless Mitts for Candace
2. Hat for Katherine
3. Hat for Jennifer
4. Hat for Katelyn
5. Fingerless Mitts for Vanessa
6. Fingeress Mitts for me
7. Feather and Fan Blanket
1. It does not look great, and its a strange shape, but I was over this knit. 
8. Midnight Shrug - the picture is not great, but it fits!!!!!!

Need to Seriously Reconsider:

1. Cable Mesh Crewneck Sweater - Thank you Knit Picks - Frogged 🐸
1. Yarn is Star Fish Ridley Sock by SeaTurtle Fibre Arts in Twilight
1. I think too many things have gone wrong.....
2. The sleeves are going to be way too long once blocked
3. and I am trying to get down about 20 - 30 lbs and I do not want to end up with a gorgeous sweater that does not fit, at all, ever...and have wasted my time. (this goes for my other cast on sweater, and goes fro my currently waiting patiently to get cast on sweater...)
2. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole - Frogged 🐸
3. Tardis Blanket (the giant one) 

• Smaller needles?
• Larger edging?
• Follow the pattern more accurately, do not get impatient with the process, as it is a process!

WIP's:

1. Hue Shift 5 colours
1. 1 quarter to go!!!

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)

Languishing WIP's:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
2. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
• Just realized that this is officially the 3 year sweater...it was cast on in January of 2014

Future Cast On's:

1. Lestrange Cloak

Books:

1. The Crown
2. Moll Flanders
3. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
4. DragonFly in Amber
5. Gone With the Wind

Colouring Book Page:

October 2017

Currently looking at who is knit worthy and who is not. I have come to a fairly concise list, and I think it will be better for my overall general health. I also need to stop stressing about having so many crafts on the go at one time. I am doing them for my own amusement and to calm me down, not stress me out more. Its not really working.

Also, as per a previous blog post now that I have another quarter of the hue shift finished, I get to finish something else, it is either going to be the feather and fan or a few blocks of the illuminated lines pattern...or that dragon stole. All the options are open to me. I also have some Christmas knitting I should get started on, but they are such little things that I will hardly notice I have knit them.

I suppose you could also be wondering about all of the Be Loving Hats, well as they are headed off to charity its not so bad, and they are only being knit on the treadmill, it takes 45 minutes to knit the brim (1 treadmill session), and then about 45 minutes (another treadmill session) to get to where I am starting the decreases, and then I can knit with DPN's to decrease the hat into a point and weave in the final end on the treadmill, but these days for tension-ing reasons I take them upstairs and finish them there, about 30 minutes. I am all for continuing this project, it keeps me on the treadmill longer, and I get to see some results as the hats pile up.

Sadly all the treadmill sessions have yet to show up on me. One day.
I have also completed three circle skirts, go me! I have one that I would wear everyday if I could, but sadly that is not practical, as a result I made three more, with a fourth to follow. I am really pleased with how they turned out. I cut out my own pattern, pockets, skirt, waistband and all, and then got fabric and went to town.

FO's:

1. More Be Loving Hats - about 10 (total of 25 thus far)
2. Midnight Shrug
3. 1/4 of the Hue shift 5 colour
4. The Other Sock
5. Circle Skirt
6. Circle Skirt
7. Circle Skirt
8. 5 hair decorations for a friends wedding
1. Plus earrings and bracelets

Need to Seriously Reconsider:

1. Cable Mesh Crewneck Sweater - Thank you Knit Picks
1. Yarn is Star Fish Ridley Sock by SeaTurtle Fibre Arts in Twilight
1. I think too many things have gone wrong.....
2. The sleeves are going to be way too long once blocked
3. and I am trying to get down about 20 - 30 lbs and I do not want to end up with a gorgeous sweater that does not fit, at all, ever...and have wasted my time. (this goes for my other cast on sweater, and goes fro my currently waiting patiently to get cast on sweater...)
2. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole 
3. Tardis Blanket (the giant one)
• Smaller needles?
• Larger edging?
• Follow the pattern more accurately, do not get impatient with the process, as it is a process!

WIP's:

1. Hue Shift 5 colours
1. 1 quarter to go!!!

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)
2. Christmas Mitts for Candace

Languishing WIP's:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
2. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
• Just realized that this is officially the 3 year sweater...it was cast on in January of 2014
3. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.

Future Cast On's:

1. Lestrange Cloak
2. Arm Warmers for me 

Books:

1. The Crown
2. Moll Flanders
3. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
4. DragonFly in Amber
5. Gone With the Wind
6. Anne of the Island

Colouring Book Page:

September 2017

Well September has come to a close, and I think it is time to start considering Christmas knitting. I have a list somewhere, of who, and what, and how, we shall see how committed I stay to that plan. Finally finished the Banana Bunches, go me! I slammed my phone in my car door this month as well, so I highly recommend not doing that.

This month I also created 6 1920's hair bands, and I think they turned out very well, even after some struggles and some minor issues.

Other than nothing exciting to report. I am making some progress in other departments, for example I have read a couple books, is audio book listening considered reading? Is it cheating? I an not sure but it has been good for me.

FO's:

1. Banana Bunches
2. And 3 or 4 Be Loving Hats

Need to Seriously Reconsider:

1. Cable Mesh Crewneck Sweater - Thank you Knit Picks
1. Yarn is Star Fish Ridley Sock by SeaTurtle Fibre Arts in Twilight
1. I think too many things have gone wrong.....
2. The sleeves are going to be way too long once blocked
3. and I am trying to get down about 20 - 30 lbs and I do not want to end up with a gorgeous sweater that does not fit, at all, ever...and have wasted my time. (this goes for my other cast on sweater, and goes fro my currently waiting patiently to get cast on sweater...)
2. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole 
3. Tardis Blanket (the giant one)
• Smaller needles?
• Larger edging?
• Follow the pattern more accurately, do not get impatient with the process, as it is a process!

WIP's:

1. Hue Shift 5 colours
1. I have started the 3rd quarter of this blanket.

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)
2. Midnight Shrug

Languishing WIP's:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
2. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
• Just realized that this is officially the 3 year sweater...it was cast on in January of 2014
3. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.

Future Cast On's:

1. Lestrange Cloak
2. Arm Warmers
3. The other sock

Books:

1. The Crown
2. Moll Flanders
3. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
4. DragonFly in Amber
5. Gone With the Wind
6. Anne of Green Gables
7. Anne of Avonlea

Colouring Book Page:

August 2017

As I was away for most of this month as well as June, my knitting has suffered, slightly. That being said, socks have been prolific and I have being working on a test knit project, which I am fairly sure I can show you.



Also, while away we met up with Jennifer who does a lot of embroidered cards etc, and because of that my embroidery bug is back. I finished 2 card fronts, one is in England, and the other is on my desk. Having completed these I stuck my head into my embroidery box and
saw what needed finishing. Starting with the most finished and working my way along to the least finished I am hoping to make a dent in these projects as they were my obsession ages back, but when you consider these versus knitting, at least you can wearing the knitting. Who wears a cross stitch canvas out and about? I do not, but that does not mean that someone out there is wearing cross stitch canvas socks, although that does seem impractical. I was also very pleased to discover that a project I thought was incomplete was actually complete!! As a result of this discovery I will be sharing these projects with you as well.

Along with all of that, I also participated in Heritage Parks Sheep to Shawl competition, this was a fun day out, and to make a shawl in a day from scratch making the yarn and everything was a great experience.





And on to the important news:

FO's:

1. OMG Unicorn Socks
2. Myrna's Socks
3. Humming Bird Fingerless Mitts
4. Corner to Corner Blanket
5. Hedgehog Card
6. Fountain card front
7. Hedgehog Card

Need to Seriously Reconsider:

1. Cable Mesh Crewneck Sweater - Thank you Knit Picks
1. Yarn is Star Fish Ridley Sock by SeaTurtle Fibre Arts in Twilight
1. I think too many things have gone wrong.....
2. The sleeves are going to be way too long once blocked
3. and I am trying to get down about 20 - 30 lbs and I do not want to end up with a gorgeous sweater that does not fit, at all, ever...and have wasted my time. (this goes for my other cast on sweater, and goes fro my currently waiting patiently to get cast on sweater...)
2. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole 
3. Tardis Blanket (the giant one)
• Smaller needles?
• Larger edging?
• Follow the pattern more accurately, do not get impatient with the process, as it is a process!

WIP's:

1. Banana Bunches
1. 4 more repeats and you will be out of my life!
2. Hue Shift 5 colours
1. I have started the 3rd quarter of this blanket.

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)

Languishing WIP's:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
2. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
• Just realized that this is officially the 3 year sweater...it was cast on in January of 2014
3. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.

Books:

1. The Crown
2. Moll Flanders
3. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
4. DragonFly in Amber
5. Gone With the Wind

Colouring Book Page:

July 2017

For July, my focus is hopefully changing a bit. I want to spend more time working out and less time knitting. That being said, I won't stop knitting entirely, but I think my project focus will change. I want to focus on shawls, socks, wrist warmers, hats, blankets etc instead of sweaters that might not fit as a result of the working out. Ergo my 2 sweaters are going into a temporary hibernation and will need some severe thought process before I pick them up again.

So that is where I am at, maybe as a result I will get some blankets and things finished, and see where that takes me. I would really like to get Banana Bunches completed (which I very much could if I just sat down and did it) and the hue shift I would also like to get done, even though it is a relaxing mindless knit that I can do when I am so tired I cannot function. I would also like to finish the Illuminated Lines blanket, so I think once the Surge shawl is complete this will become my Wednesday knit night knitting for the foreseeable future, which means that I could get 1 square a week done, this sounds like an excellent plan if I do say so myself.

FO's:

1. Surge
1. I made a few modifications to this, the panels that are in Yarn Ink Butterfly, are done in stockinette stitch instead of garter as I thought the speckles would be shown to best advantage with no texture, and I was right!
• I also just realized that I have a shawl already in these basically exact same colours, talk about sticking to a colour palette....

Almost FO's:

1. Cable Mesh Crewneck Sweater - Thank you Knit Picks
1. Yarn is Star Fish Ridley Sock by SeaTurtle Fibre Arts in Twilight
• Finally figured out the sleeves on this thing...and then took a break. Something went very awry, but I got a heck of a ways. 
• This is sadly where I am at with this. I am thinking of frogging the whole thing, and starting again, or maybe frogging to the cuffs and then starting again. There are multiple reasons:
1. I think too many things have gone wrong.....
2. The sleeves are going to be way too long once blocked
3. and I am trying to get down about 20 - 30 lbs and I do not want to end up with a gorgeous sweater that does not fit, at all, ever...and have wasted my time. (this goes for my other cast on sweater, and goes fro my currently waiting patiently to get cast on sweater...)

WIP's:
My life would be amazing if I could get one of these finished before I go away in June...maybe I can...maybe I cannot.

1. Banana Bunches
1. 9 more repeats and you will be out of my life!
2. Hue Shift 5 colours
1. I have started the 3rd quarter of this blanket.

Languishing WIP's:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
   
2. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
• Just realized that this is officially the 3 year sweater...it was cast on in January of 2014
3. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.
4. 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)
5. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole 
6. Tardis Blanket (the giant one)
• Smaller needles?
• Larger edging?
• Follow the pattern more accurately, do not get impatient with the process, as it is a process!

Books:

1. The Crown
2. Moll Flanders
3. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
4. DragonFly in Amber
5. Gone With the Wind

Colouring Book Page:

June 2017

Well hello there,
I have been quite the busy bee, I was away in Scotland for 2 weeks on quite the adventure. Just imagine I did 1200 miles in 10 days in a car, the poor car was glad to see the back of me I would think. Now back to my normal routine, with more exercise added in. Just need more knitting on the treadmill projects to do, this is a double edge sword really as it means more cast on, but I am going to see if I can get a jump start on hats for CHAS for next year.
Other than that not a lot has changed. I am just moving along at a steady pace, and keeping out of trouble.

FO's:

1. Rainbow Swirl on a cloudy day socks
1. These were my plane knitting, I was amazed I got the entire foot of 1 turned out in a 7 hour flight, go me!

Almost FO's:

1. Cable Mesh Crewneck Sweater - Thank you Knit Picks
1. Yarn is Star Fish Ridley Sock by SeaTurtle Fibre Arts in Twilight
• Finally figured out the sleeves on this thing...and then took a break. Something went very awry, but I got a heck of a ways. 
2. Surge
1. I made a few modifications to this, the panels that are in Yarn Ink Butterfly, are done in stockinette stitch instead of garter as I thought the speckles would be shown to best advantage with no texture, and I was right!

WIP's:
My life would be amazing if I could get one of these finished before I go away in June...maybe I can...maybe I cannot.

1. Banana Bunches
1. 9 more repeats and you will be out of my life!
2. Hue Shift 5 colours
1. I have started the 3rd quarter of this blanket.

Languishing WIP's:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
   
2. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
• Just realized that this is officially the 3 year sweater...it was cast on in January of 2014
3. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.
4. 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)
5. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole 
6. Tardis Blanket (the giant one)
• Smaller needles?
• Larger edging?
• Follow the pattern more accurately, do not get impatient with the process, as it is a process!

Books:

1. The Crown
2. Moll Flanders
3. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
4. DragonFly in Amber
5. Gone With the Wind

Colouring Book Page:

May 2017

Doesn't time just fly? It is Year End Inventory here at the office again, and I cannot believe I leave for Scotland very shortly after that. It is crazy. Where does it just keep on going?

I also have to keep reminding myself that knitting is a hobby, it is meant to help me enjoy my time and relax, stay calm. Yet, it stresses me out because even though I do not set deadlines for myself and my knitting I get stressed out when I do not finish projects that I have promised myself I will finish. It is a vicious circle really, one that is almost never ending.

Also, a new podcast is up: https://youtu.be/-2jy7xBPW9s


How much knitting is too much knitting to take on a plane? I will be in a comfy seat, so I am very much for taking some knitting to keep my hands busy during the flight. I think I will cast on a shawl that has both full knit rows, and knit/purl rows. The other option is a gorgeous cardigan that I really want to make, but I am not quite sure. I think a shawl will be the correct option, as you only need to balls of yarn for it, not 4 plus...I do not know. Generally I take a crochet blanket, but that stitch is almost too repetitive that I do not want to commit myself to that, or I could take it for relaxing at night.

FO's:

1. Film Noir Socks

Almost FO's:

1. Cable Mesh Crewneck Sweater - Thank you Knit Picks
1. Yarn is Star Fish Ridley Sock by SeaTurtle Fibre Arts in Twilight
• Finally figured out the sleeves on this thing...and then took a break. Something went very awry, but I got a heck of a ways. 

WIP's:
My life would be amazing if I could get one of these finished before I go away in June...maybe I can...maybe I cannot.

1. Banana Bunches
1. 9 more repeats and you will be out of my life!
2. Hue Shift 5 colours
1. I have started the 3rd quarter of this blanket.

Languishing WIP's:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
   
2. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
• Just realized that this is officially the 3 year sweater...it was cast on in January of 2014
3. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.
4. 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)
5. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole 
6. Tardis Blanket (the giant one)
• Smaller needles?
• Larger edging?
• Follow the pattern more accurately, do not get impatient with the process, as it is a process!

Books:

1. The Crown
2. Moll Flanders
3. Call of the Midwife Book 3 - I am halfway there! 
4. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
5. DragonFly in Amber
6. Gone With the Wind

Colouring Book Page:
I am not doing very well at this, but the problem is that my desk is so covered in everything that I do not have the room to get the book out to colour...ahhh well. I am making great strides on my actual art pieces, that has to count for something!

April 2017

Heartfire Shawl

Well, the end of April has past, and I am astounded. I was not as successful for knitting in April as I was in March, but 20 hats is a lot to live up to, one cannot do that every month, but at least with hats over socks at least you do not then need to knit the second one. Which I see as a bonus.
I have also decided, especially now that I am using nicer yarns etc, that I should start putting the yarn type, name, and fiber content in my blog. I am also thinking about using Mina's excel sheet for this as well. We will see how long that lasts.

Hue Shift:
I have done a calculation, and it takes around 10 hours to finish a panel of the Hue Shift, so I am hoping that the 2 final panels get finished ASAP and I can get them sewn together and get a boarder put on it as well, then as it does not yet have a home, it will need to find a home, and get the ends woven in.

Elise Blanket:
There is a slight problem here, the last couple of times I have gone to purchase more of the maroon, it has not been on the shelf. I am as far along as I can get under the present circumstances. I find this frustrating, but I am not going to put energy into worrying about it, I am just going to make progress elsewhere. - Update: I have got new yarn, you will be coming off the needles soon!


FO's:

1. Heartfire Shawl
2. Elise Blanket!!!!!
3. Reverie Hat - Mustard

WIP's:

1. Cable Mesh Crewneck Sweater - Thank you Knit Picks
1. Yarn is Star Fish Ridley Sock by SeaTurtle Fibre Arts in Twilight
• We have a minor problem, I cast on the first sleeve, and got going, the pattern made sense, I felt really good, everything was running along swimmingly, and then I counted stitches last night, and there were 23 stitches on one side, and 10 on the other...and we had 22 on both sides before...and I have increased by 6 stitches...HOW DID I DO THIS?!?!? I am going to work on either the body or the other sleeve and see if this happens again. 
• I did the cuff of the second sleeve and things appear much better
• I have also done a huge portion of the body! The body is going far faster than I could have anticipated. 
2. Banana Bunches
1. 9 more repeats and you will be out of my life!
3. Hue Shift 5 colours
1. I have started the 3rd quarter of this blanket. 

Languishing WIP's:

1. Illuminated Lines Blanket: Thank you Knit Picks
   
2. Circlet Cardigan: Thank you Knit Picks - so pretty! I cannot wait to see this finished.
• If I could get this finished for Scotland that would be amazing!
3. Feather and Fan Blanket - This really is if I am desperate for a change.
4. 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)
5. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole 
6. Tardis Blanket (the giant one)
• Smaller needles?
• Larger edging?
• Follow the pattern more accurately, do not get impatient with the process, as it is a process!

Books:

1. Re read of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2. The Crown
3. Moll Flanders
4. Call of the Midwife Book 3 
5. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
6. DragonFly in Amber
7. Gone With the Wind

Colouring Book Page:

March 2017

I realized something at the end of February and it is the best news I feel I could share. The big news is: everything I have cast on this year is cast off!!! I should have a party.
As a result of that realization, and as a result of this too it is truly and honestly time for me to crack down on my New Years plan of trying to finish the pile of languishing WIP's. That being said, we have a problem... I think I have turned into a human hat knitting machine. See below for more details.

Elise blanket knitted on the knitting machine,
edge is knit by hand. 

Also halfway through March my knees were giving me jip, and like any good person I took my knees to the physio, and was told to stop running for a couple of weeks, so now I can walk for a maximum of 30 minutes on the treadmill, and then have to take a long break. Mr. Physio why are you trying to torture me? Anyway, all for the sake of the knees, I need them to get better.

In other news the treadmill's motor is being stupid, and by stupid I mean that it has taken to sparking when in use...just what I need a fire.






Here is the current plan now that panel two is complete.

• Elise
• I have actually made great progress on this, about 5 or 6 inches, this is amazing. 
• Third panel of Hue Shift
• I may just case this on as it is such mindless knitting, once the hats are out of my life. 
• Banana Bunches
• I cannot decide if I am enjoying this knit right now or not. So much cabling. I prefer lace to cables, that is for sure. 
• Fourth panel of Hue Shift
• Feather and Fan

Interspersed in all of this of course I hope to finish a few squares of the Illuminated Lines blanket which should help get that going.  This should mean that 5 of the 8 sad WIP's should be gone. As for the 3 remaining, well who knows, but I will come up with a plan.

Just kidding: instead I will finish 20 hats....for the children spending Easter in the Children's hospital. I have knit around 40 hats for them, and a couple went to some friends that saw them and just needed them for their own kiddos. I am also amazed that the ends are all woven in. 

FO's:

1. Pink Elise Blanket, knit on the knitting machine
2. Vortex Socks
3. Reverie Hat - Flowerchild - HedgeHog Fibres
4. Be Loving Hat Collection


1. Purple, and Lime Green
2. Turquoise, and Lime Green
3. Hornless-Unicorn Hat!!
1. I want to keep it so much, because it is amazing
4. Strawberry Hat - or Tomato hat
5. Rainbow Hat
6. Dinosaur Hat
7. Dinosaur Hat
8. Dinosaur Hat
9. Hornless-Unicorn Hat!! The second
10. Hornless-Unicorn Hat!! The third
11. Hornless-Unicorn Hat!! The fourth
12. Charlie Brown Hat
13. Charlie Brown Hat
14. Turquoise Swirl Hat
15. Turquoise Swirl Hat
16. Black and Rainbow Hat
17. Black and Rainbow Hat
18. Turquoise, Lime, Purple, with Pom Pom
19. Watermelon Hat
20. Kiwi Hat
5. Red Drop Stitch Prayer Shawl

Partially Finished:

1. 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)
2. It takes about 25 minutes per little square, so around 10 hours per quarter. Not too daunting but it gives me an idea of how long it will take to complete. 

Languishing WIP's:

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
6. Dragon Stole: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dragon-stole 
7. Tardis Blanket (the giant one)
• Smaller needles?
• Larger edging?
• Follow the pattern more accurately, do not get impatient with the process, as it is a process!

Books:

1. Re read of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2. The Crown
3. Moll Flanders
4. Call of the Midwife Book 3 
5. Worlds of Ink and Shadow
6. DragonFly in Amber

Colouring Book Page:
She is too funny, I have made great progress elsewhere, and that is what counts.

February 2017

I watched Yarnhoarder's podcast at the beginning of the month
and she has a KAL going on that I would quite like to participate in, which is a shawl KAL, I only have one shawl on the go at the moment (Find your Fade) but I plan on entering that into her KAL. The other KAL I am going to enter is the Find your Fade KAL which until today I did not realize ran until the end of March, so I am very pleased to have learnt that. 
I may even enter in the box of sox's KAL that Yarngasm hosts, but do I really want to be committed to knitting 12 pairs of socks in a year? Maybe it will happen, I will keep you posted. 

I have uploaded my very first podcast episode which you can find here: https://youtu.be/H4CZN_dZ9M8
And the second one here: https://youtu.be/5K5a5eOSlTk

Also this month we have chosen the bridesmaids dresses for Danielle's wedding, that was a slight ordeal, but we did it, I am fairly pleased with the dress that came out of the decision, and you never know once it gets here and I see it on in the right size I will probably be even happier with it. Thus far I have lost 8 lbs so I am hoping to see if by the time it comes I will have lost quite a bit more than that. Who knows, but I would be very happy if 40 lbs had just walked away (Doctor Who joke in there). 

My knitting this month has been rather prolific, on new cast on's, but not quite so much with the languishing WIPS. I did complete a couple of rows on the Hue Shift. Now that Find Your Fade is off the needles I am hoping to get to business on the languishing pile. This pile will shrink. Also lets hope the knitting mojo comes back, as I have made no progress in that department.














FO's:

1. Find Your Fade Shawl
2. Blue, White, Pink Stripe - Be Loving Hat By: Melissa Simpson
3. Black and Parrot  - Be Loving Hat By: Melissa Simpson
4. Captain America Hat - Pattern from my head, one day I may publish it no time soon. 
5. Blue, White, Pink Edition 2
6. Purple, Lime Green
7. Watermelon the second
8. DinoTeal Socks

WIPS:

1. Merrow Mitts - Sweet Georgia Hummingbird - I think I am going to frog this one, as the pattern is doing too much to the yarn, and you lose the beauty of the yarn. 
2. Vortex Socks

Sadly no books have been read, nor any colouring book pages completed. What a sad state of affairs. But then again these are my hobbies and putting too much pressure on myself regarding my hobbies seems rather pointless. 

Happy February all!