2017 in Review

I did less knitting, spinning, and crocheting in 2017 than I did in 2016.  My energy level has dropped some and I've been doing other things.  I guess that's why.

My favorite project for the year was the Yarnia blanket.  It came out a lot better than I expected it to.

My favorite new-to-me yarns came from Must Stash.

Happy fibery new year to all.

Stash Enhancement Saturday

The yarn for my Sock Arms sweater arrived yesterday.

The stripes arm color is Good Guys and is on the left.
The tonal body ranges from brown to pale pink and is called Star Lord.
The yarns came from Must Stash.

F O Friday

My Yarnia blanket is done.  It really is a blanket because it fits my bed.

WIP Wednesday

I’m still slogging away at blanket assembly.  It may require reknitting one or two squares.  One is bigger than all the others.  One is shorter than all the others.  It would be nice if the two could be used together to make two normal squares, but that isn’t going to work.

The gnome/Santa pillow is still in time out.

Frankensocks are up to date.

One project that has been rattling around in my head for a couple of years took a step forward this week.  It started with this book:

It’s all about finding inspiration for colorwork patterns.  Inspiration can be anything, from obvious things like nature to things like technology or architecture.  I’ve been wanting to try this out, but did not know what I could do with patterns once they were done.  A sweater sounded promising, but l try to avoid horizontal stripes.  Eventually I thought that a solid sweater with coordinating patterns on the sleeves would be good.  I didn’t want to concoct my own pattern and had not run across one that was suitable.

I got an email from Must Stash about sweater kits it is doing.  They are for a pattern I saw on Ravelry called Sock Arms.  Plain body with self-striping sock yarn for the arms, what does that sound like?
The size range goes beyond what l need, so Santa is bringing me one of the kits.  Well, maybe not quite for Christmas.  It will be here in plenty of time for Ravellenics.  At the rate this is going, my colorwork arms should be ready to do by the next Ravellenics.  The winter ones.

I’m still knitting

...posting not so much.

Apple blossom hat is drying.  Cat tried to barf on it, but I was mostly able to get it out of harm’s way in time.  

Meadow bed socks that were finished a couple of weeks ago.

The squares for the Yarnia blanket are done.  Now I have to arrange 48 squares and sew them together.  Fun.

I’m doing the Frankensock advent socks again this year.  Again, I’ll be making two pairs of short socks instead of one pair of long ones.  I’m not terribly crazy about the toes, but whatever.   Clues 1 and 2:

The fringed shawl pattern turned out to be a scarf. I don’t know if I want to finish it.

WIP Wednesday

Flying Fringe shawl.  It’s done with two strands of fingering weight held together.  It’s a stash buster project.  I would’ve loved to have done it as written with Hedgehog Fibres yarns, but it is still fun this way.  It will eventually have a whole bunch of fringe.

Nothing more done on the Santa/gnome pillow.

This week’s yarn fun

I made two squares for my Yarnia blanket.  Two more to go, then much assembly time.

I made a hat.  The cat briefly claimed it as a bed, so it didn’t get washed when it was meant to be.  Picture next time if I get off my lazy behind and block it.

I started a pillow.  I got bored after one pattern repeat and set it to one side.

I got a slipper kit at the same time I got the pillow yarn.  The pattern was a nightmare:  magic loop and steeks.  I absolutely loathe magic loop.  There is nothing magical in fiddling endlessly with stitches on a cable.  I have sworn off anything that is not fun whenever possible.  Therefore, this one is deleted.  The lesson is to check pattern details next time.  The cost of the kit was the same as if I’d just bought the yarn, so it was not so bad.

I started a different slipper pattern using some of the kit yarn.  It has embroidery, so some stash yarn will be used up.

Speaking of stash, mine was enhanced today.  I’ve been trying to limit my yarn purchases unless there’s a good reason.  This sock blank benefits the California wine country that was damaged by wildfires last month.  The vendor is Little Skein in the Big Wool.