Changing the plan of attack

Attack of the never ending (and ever growing) WIP list that is. While stuffing stash yarn into freezer bags for their "time out" in the freezer, I came across 2 more crochet projects that I forgot about and had to add them to the list. On top of that, I got a bit bored with Paul's sweater, and bought a kit from a friend who is doing some destashing, and cast that project on Saturday. Ugggggggg - at this rate, I'll never get to the bottom of that list!

At least I've discovered that whatever project the spreadsheet picks out for me keeps my attention for about a week before I get bored with it. And, sometimes bringing up a different project from the craftroom appeases my urge to start something new. (Quit laughing, I said sometimes.) For instance, Friday night I was really wanting to dig around in the stash for some yummy yarn and cast on something bright and shiny and new. Instead, I spied the Sipalu bag that I lost interest in last Fall, and decided to bring it up. Yesterday, when I put it away again, I had knit all but the top border and handles. Another weekend and the knitting will be done and it will be ready to block and line.

So, I've decided to change my plan of attack. Instead of making myself finish the project the spreadsheet picks out for me, I will let it pick 2 projects for me to work on for a week. Unless I am completely enchanted by a project, I won't work on the same thing 2 weeks in a row. I'm going to try very hard not to cast something new on until I've finished at least 2, but preferrably 3 projects from my current WIP list. Hopefully, this new tact will have me completing some projects and not casting on so many new ones.

I took a break from the knitting for awhile this weekend and finished up a dress I had cut out last weekend. I'm fairly pleased with it, and will make another. I will change the pattern some though. The photo did not in any way, shape, or form show the cartoon model's boobs sticking out. The neckline on this thing falls just below my nipples, so I had to wear a cami under it. Next time, I will raise the neckline and probably bring the shoulders in some so bra straps don't show.



Although I have been casting on new projects regularly, I have been finishing some of them. This one was knit up in record time. 6 days from cast on to worn to work. I also wore it when I met my friend at our LYS to buy that kit from her, and while there wound up selling the last pattern book for this top to one customer, and the yarn to knit it to another. I absolutely adore this top. It's not too casual to wear to work, but casual enough to be paired with jeans and tennies for the weekend.






That kit I purchased? If you read Vogue Knitting, you may remember the Koigu jacket from the anniversary issue. 'A' bought it, then let it sit for over a year. Her hubby really wanted her to sell it and pay off some of the credit card lol. I started it while sitting at the LYS with her for some knitting and socializing time. Worked on it a bit Saturday night, but it is somewhat fiddly with all those little triangles. Not bored with the project by any stretch, but 37 skeins of Koigu in my bedroom along with the other 6 or 7 projects I had once again dragged upstairs was a bit much. The spreadsheet did not pick this project for me to work on this week, so I put it away to await its turn.



Friday night I finished up the felted pond turtle I started in September or October. Another project off the WIP list! She turned out rather cute once I needlefelted some outlining on her shell.



A photo of side 2 of the Sipalu bag. Already picked up all the stitches for the top border band, so when the spreadsheet picks this out, it will be all ready for some fair isle goodness.



No photos of this week's projects yet, but in a few days I will post some. The spreadsheet picked out the Silky Wool Vest and Ravenna Satchel 1.

Wish me luck!!

Basket O Shame

I found a group on Ravelry that is right up my alley! The Basket O Shame KAL. Details, rules, etc. can be found Here.



My long shameful list:

Flying Carpet Socks
Mermaid Jacket
Merging Colors Bolero
Felted Pond Turtle
Sipalu Bag
Moorish Stripe Socks
Roped Shell
Mary Tudor Cardigan
Lace Knee Highs
Asymetrical Jacket
Ravenna Satchel 1
Ravenna Satchel 2 (yes, before I had finished the first I actually cast on for a second sigh)
Islander Pullover
Zarah Pullover
Bamboo Socks
Scheherazade Shawl

Some of these have been languishing for more than 2 years. Yikes!! This list does not contain any of the crochet projects I have sitting around either, as they do not count in this Along. Quite sad, and I'm suitably ashamed of myself.

I did some sewing this weekend. Finished up this wrap top, and started the pants that will go with it. I love how the top turned out, but if I never sew with sheer chiffon again, it will be too soon! A bit too fiddly for my tastes.



The pants aren't far enough along to show yet, but here's a photo of the pattern envelope. I chose a brown for the main color, and blue for the contrast.



Another finished project this weekend too! I finally did the finishing on the bellydance halter. Instead of the beads I was planning, I decided to go with the tassels that the pattern called for. This will be fun to wear to class.



My new main project (chosen with the cool spreadsheet yet again) is the Merging Colors Bolero I started in summer 2007. I got quite a bit knit on it today. A shame I put it away when I did. It's a really quick knit, and I could have been wearing it for 2 years!



Mermaid has gotten some attention too. Even though I am allowed to change my "secondary" projects when I get a new main one, I chose to continue working on the 2 I chose last time.






I really shouldn't have, since I haven't finished the Flying Carpet Socks I was allowed to cast on for finishing 2 projects in my WIP list, but I allowed myself to cast on a new project for finishing my 4th WIP. I purchased this yarn last weekend at Knitters' Mercantile's sale. It looks more blue in this picture to me than the beautiful purple it is. This will be the Silky Wool Vest from Boutique Knits. I fell in love with the pattern when I first saw it, and have been itching to make it ever since.



I think I'm going to need to add a new rule to my plan for this year. Until I finish the last newly cast on project, I won't be allowed to cast on another, even if I've finished enough WIPs. If I don't at least try to stick to this rule, I'll wind up with another long list of WIPs at the end of this year, even if it is half as long as last year's .

You win some, you lose some

I was in the mood to do some sewing this weekend, so pulled out a pattern and fabric I purchased in the fall and finally made the dress and jacket it was meant to be. Super simple pattern for both pieces. I'm thinking that I will make several of the dresses to go with the jacket, and may make another jacket in another color to coordinate with them too. I need to do a bit of work on the jacket. I need some bigger snaps where it attaches at the neckline. The ones I had just weren't strong enough for the weight of the jacket, even though the jacket is fairly lightweight.

I love the wide sleeves on the jacket. Very comfortable to wear. Got some nice comments on the outfit today at work.



The above would be my "win" ..... and below we have my "loss".

I had to completely frog the Yesterday Once More top yesterday. When I went to work on the right front, I realized that my starting chain wasn't for the size I needed :o( At least I haven't lost interest in the project. After seeing it almost complete, I want it even more than I did when I first saw the pattern. It worked up fairly quickly, so I'm hoping that I can have it back to the state it was in before its visit to the frog pond within a week or two.



I thought I was tired of garter stripes, but turns out they are great for movie knitting! I have just cast off for the first armhole on Mermaid 3. I adore this color combination and will get a lot of wear out of this fun colored jacket.



More sewing on the agenda for this week, along with some progress (finally) on the bellydance halter which is supposed to be my main project right now lol.

It's been a productive week

The WIP count is now down to 17! And, that includes a new project that I started today to reward myself for finishing 3 that were in the pile.

This afternoon after I met a friend for some knitting I put the finishing touches on Granite. It's a bit on the cool side in my office, so I might try wearing this to work on Monday. I really liked knitting with the Bamboo Tape and will probably get some more one of these days for another project.



As soon as Granite was finished, I pulled out Eerie and did the seaming and weaving in of ends. This one will definitely be worn to work sometime this week. Turns out the fabric I bought to make a skirt is a bit too much on the pink side to go well with this, but it may work with Granite instead. I might try sewing it up tomorrow and trying it.



There's another finished project on the sewing side too. This dress was done in just a little over an hour.



It was so quick and easy to make that I plan to make at least one more. The pattern includes a top also, so I'll make a couple of those too. I had to do some altering of the pieces on this one. I don't usually cross sizes on patterns but on this one I was a size 10 for the bust, size 12 for the waist, and size 14 for the hips. Yep, just as I thought, all ass and no boobs LOL.



I was flipping through one of my Interweave Crochet magazines and came across a great tunic I had been planning to make. I'm trying to be good and not buy more yarn (gotta save for that new serger ya know), so checked out Ravelry to see what others had used. Score! Someone was making the top using Saucy Sport and I had enough of that in my stash to start the project as a reward to myself for knocking 3 off the WIP list.



Doesn't look like much now, but I am completely enchanted with it so there will be lots of progress before UFOlympics has me working frantically to finish up 2 more WIPs.

WIP Status Wednesday

Not as much progress to report as Saturday, but there is progress nontheless.

Eerie has been holding my attention lately, and by all rights should be my next FO. I am almost done with the sleeve increases, and am about to start on the neck shaping for the front. Unless some other project takes my fancy this could be finished up by Friday. I certainly hope so, as I bought some great striped fabric for a skirt and I think this will go great with it.



The Moorish Stripe sock just about did me in last night. I worked an eye of partridge heel flap, and turned the heel. Next came the sole pattern and gusset decreases. The way this pattern is written just makes it so confusing to follow. Or, maybe it's just me. Anyway, I screwed it up at least 4 times before finally getting the pattern set. So all I have to show for an evening's worth of knitting is 3 rounds of sole pattern LOL. Now that the pattern is set, I'll hopefully be able to finish this sock stress free.



My craft room has become too full of knitting patterns, yarn, supplies, etc., and wasn't very conducive to sewing anymore. Hence, all the patterns and fabric I purchased many months ago have just been sitting neglected and ignored. Saturday afternoon I took the table apart, dragged it upstairs, and set myself up a sewing area in our familyroom/office. Hopefully this weekend Paul can install a light fixture above the table for me. A bit difficult to sew with the poor lighting in that room. I like my area so much, I actually finished an outfit. I put the final touches on the 2 pieces tonight.



The blouse is a bit too low cut for my body type, so a cami is a necessity. I'm not super happy with the neckline. I played with the rolled hem on my serger and probably should have done some more adjusting on the differential feed. It's a tad bit wavy, but will have to do.

I had some problems with both the sewing machine and serger making this outfit, and got it in my head that I wanted to replace both. The sewing machine is 20 years old, and the serger is 15 years old. Both are pretty basic machines and I received them as Xmas gifts. I don't know the price paid, but knowing my ex neither cost more than $300. I had quite the rude awakening when I was pricing new machines. Nobody can say that I don't have champagne taste, since the serger and sewing machine I am drooling over currently cost $2500 and $8100 respectively!! Holy cow! I'd have to take out a second mortgage to replace what I have. The serger is a no brainer even with the hefty pricetag. 90% of my sewing is done on the serger and I really want the features the new one offers. That will be replaced first. The sewing machine on the other hand will probably just be a dream.

New Knitting Bag!!

This morning with my coffee I finished up the Mid Month Dishcloth. I stocked up on some Bernat Organic Cotton at the beginning of the year to make some face cloths for the bathroom, and I think I'm going to have to get more of this stuff. It is so soft and knits up like a dream.



Yesterday morning I finished up the seaming of the Haekelbeutel bag. I crocheted handles as the pattern called for, but just didn't care for them. So, off to JoAnn's I went in search of just the right handles and fabric to line the bag with.

I wound up with some bamboo handles, which I think work great with this bag.



And some green grass printed fabric for lining.



The handles are just heavy enough that they fold down along the sides when the bag is on the floor, allowing access to all the goodies stored inside.



And, boy does this bag hold a lot! I added pockets to both sides to hold pattern books and/or magazines, a long narrow pocket which can hold needles, and a cell phone pocket. The main part of the bag is currently storage for 10 balls of Jamieson's DK and the first 8 or so inches of the Lowry sweater. I'm now prepared for the UFOlympics!



I love love love this bag!! Someone on Ravelry mentioned possibly adding squares on each side between the points where the handles attach and making a single strap for the bag to turn it into a hobo bag. I enjoyed making this so much, I might have to try that with a lighter weight yarn. Not so sure an 18"+ tall hobo bag is quite my style.

3 new projects .... not being so good now!!

Tonight I put the finishing touches on the first outfit I've sewn in almost four years. The last thing I sewed was my wedding dress. Boy was there a lot of cleaning to be done on the sewing machine and serger! I only have a photo of the jacket right now, but maybe I can get someone to take a photo of the whole outfit when I wear it tomorrow. Next up on the sewing front is a wrap dress. That one shouldn't take as long. Might even have it done this weekend.



There has been quite a bit of knitting going on, even with the sewing distracting me a bit. One of my nieces wanted to learn to knit when Paul and I visited over Thanksgiving, so I looked up a yarn store in their area and bought her some ribbon yarn to make a capelet with. She's doing so good! When I left, she had 7" of her 44" rectangle done. By the time we got home and called to let the family know we'd made it ok, she was at 25"!! And thus, another knitter is born.

Since I had purchased her the yarn to make her capelet, I decided to pick up something to make my other niece and nephew something. Brian will be getting a "Basic Cable" hat from Stitch n Bitch Nation. I love the way the yarn I chose is working up. This won't take long at all ... will probably have it finished up this weekend.



Megan is getting a pair of "Marvelous Mitts". I had to cast these on 3 times before I got the color combination right! I purchased 2 skeins of Jitterbug to make them. One variegated purples/blues, and the other looked almost solid greens. When knit together, the project looked like a jumble of colors and you couldn't distinguish the pattern at all. What seemed in the hank like fairly solid green tones, knit up with some purple, orange, etc. So I frogged the mitt, grabbed the leftover purple I had from the Mermaid jacket and cast on again. This time it seemed like the green skein had even more purple in it. The pattern was showing up a bit better, but that bit of purple in the background was obscuring it just enough that I wasn't happy. Back to the frog pond it went. Next, I grabbed a skein of bright green Palette and cast on again using the variegated purples. Bingo! This time you can definitely see the pattern and the background. I'm quite happy with the mitts now, and hope Megan likes them.



I did manage to get quite a bit done on the Russian Coat during the trip. I've finished with the bodice pieces. Since the pattern resulted in a coat with a 44" bust measurement, and I'm a 32", I decided to try to make it a bit smaller by changing gauge. That route worked out ok until I took a good look at the sleeve length. Making each hex smaller resulted in sleeves that will be too short. I think I've figured out a way to add some hexes and triangles in the right sequence to lengthen them, and hope that they won't wind up too long now. We shall know soon.



I grew tired of the hexes, so decided to cast on for the skirt for the ride home. The circular I took with me is a 29" I think, so right now this looks more like one of those ruffle scarves than a coat.



Instead of taking one of the smaller projects I already have on the needles with me along with the coat, I decided to cast on a new project. I know! You don't even have to say it. At this rate, my WIP count will never get below 10. I chose to cast on Zarah from one of the many Elsebeth Lavold books in my library, and am using her Angora yarn to knit it in. I only did 1 repeat of the peplum so far, but I'm really loving this yarn and the pattern is pretty easy to follow.



Wish me luck finishing a couple of these projects before I succomb to the cast on bug again :o)