Work in Progress Wednesday: February 1, 2017

Front

Back

     First of all, happy February, everyone. Here comes Saint Valentine's day and my mom's birthday! Don't tell her, but I'm hoping to finish a pair of socks for her birthday. I have until the 15th anyway. This week, I've been focusing on the Serenity, and boy have I knit a lot. I joined the fronts on Sunday night and have been cruising 'round and 'round since then. It helps that I knit while I read because I read a lot, in case you haven't noticed.

     I haven't knit on anything else, but please, let me know what you've been working on in the comments!

Work in Progress Wednesday: January 25, 2017

New Back

Most of hat was left after I ripped out.

New Front

     This week has been the week of the Serenity. I had to rip out the Serenity by Joji Locatelli because it turns out what I thought was a size US 4(3.5mm) needle was actually a US 3(3.25mm). After riping out the sweater, I swatched and ended up restarting the sweater with a size US 5(3.75mm) and am back to where I was when I ripped.

     I also worked on my Color Affection by Veera Valimaki some while I read when the Serenity was at the short row sections. I've only put in a few rows since the rows are so long now. but I did decide that rather than doubling sections 2 and 3 and having to bind off a gazillion stitches, I'm just going to do 1 1/2 times sections 2 and 3 and bind off half a gazillion stitches. In the photo, I am on the last stripe and I will start the short rows eventually.

     And the Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder in Knit Picks Stroll Handpainted "Gemstone" are coming along slowly but surely. I'm still getting the hand of Two-at-a-time socks so it's slow going.


     The last thing I've been working on this week is spinning. I've been spinning a lot more lately and am working on my Woolgatherings 50/25/25 merino/bamboo/silk.

     What have you been working on this week? I'd love for you to share in the comments!

Work in Progress Wednesday

     This last couple of weeks, I have finally finished all of my commission knitting and got to start something for myself. I knit another pair of Monster Pants, a matching hat and a ponytail hat (which are all the rage right now in case you didn't know.) I can't get the camera to pick up the absolute gorgeousness (Word?)

Cozy Neighborhood

of the hat, which is "Pam" by Brazen Stitchery in case you were wondering. So I'll include a photo of the yarn. I've been working on a pair of vanilla socks for a friend and an Owl Cardigan by Mari Chiba for me. I also have the Downeast by Alicia Plummer, the Cozy Neighborhood by Joji Locatelli, and the Serenity by Joji Locatelli going. The Cozy Neighborhood is a Christmas gift for Grace, and the Serenity is also for Grace. I'm hoping to get lots of selfish knitting done in the new year!

Downeast

Serenity

Owls Cardigan (or Ginny's Cardigan)

    I also just received a Knit Picks order! A skein of Stroll Handpainted in "Coffee Shop" and "Gemstone," three skeins of Stroll Tonal in "Heartfelt," four interchangeable cords (2-40" & 2-60"), and a 40" size 1(2.25mm) fixed circular (Not shown). I'm hoping to knit two at a time socks in the new year.

WIP Wednesday

This week, I don't have much progress. Okay, I did finish my mom's socks, but you'll have to come back on Friday for that. I've worked on my Julissa, which I won't bother posting a picture of because it pretty much looks the same, only 10 rows longer. I've also worked on my cousin's legwarmers, I'm almost done with the first one, and hopefully, they'll fit her. The yarn is Premier Yarns Wool-Free Sock in "Vegas Lights." The color is extremely hard to capture accurately, even in natural lighting and up close (right) but you get the idea.

No FO Friday- A Catchup Post

I didn't post for What I'm Reading Tuesday or WIP Wednesday this week, mainly because I haven't been feeling up to doing much of anything this week. I've come down with some kind of cold, stuffy nose, coughs, you know, the awful stuff. So I figured I'd at least get one post out this week, why not combine both Tuesday and Wednesday posts?

What I'm Reading
This week, I'm reading Manic: a Memoir by Terri Cheney, it's about a woman with manic bipolar depression, and let me tell you, it is interesting.

(C) Goodreads

On the outside, Terri Cheney was a highly successful, attractive Beverly Hills entertainment lawyer. But behind her seemingly flawless façade lay a dangerous secret—for the better part of her life Cheney had been battling debilitating bipolar disorder and concealing a pharmacy's worth of prescriptions meant to stabilize her moods and make her "normal."

In bursts of prose that mirror the devastating highs and extreme lows of her illness, Cheney describes her roller-coaster life with shocking honesty—from glamorous parties to a night in jail; from flying fourteen kites off the edge of a cliff in a thunderstorm to crying beneath her office desk; from electroshock therapy to a suicide attempt fueled by tequila and prescription painkillers.

With Manic, Cheney gives voice to the unarticulated madness she endured. The clinical terms used to describe her illness were so inadequate that she chose to focus instead on her own experience, in her words, "on what bipolar disorder felt like inside my own body." Here the events unfold episodically, from mood to mood, the way she lived and remembers life. In this way the reader is able to viscerally experience the incredible speeding highs of mania and the crushing blows of depression, just as Cheney did. Manic does not simply explain bipolar disorder—it takes us in its grasp and does not let go.

(C) Goodreads

And Me, Myself, and Them by Kurt Snyder. I only started this book last night, so I really don't have anything to say about it just yet.

(C) Goodreads

During his second semester at college, Kurt Snyder became convinced that he was about to discover a fabulously important mathematical principle, spending hours lost in daydreams about numbers and symbols. In time, his thoughts took a darker turn, and he became preoccupied with the idea that cars were following him, or that strangers wanted to harm him. Kurt's mind had been hijacked by schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder that typically strikes during the late teen or young adult years. 
In Me, Myself, and Them, Kurt, now an adult, looks back from the vantage point of recovery and eloquently describes the debilitating changes in thoughts and perceptions that took hold of his life during his teens and twenties. As a memoir, this book is remarkable for its unvarnished look at the slow and difficult process of coming back from severe mental illness. Yet Kurt's memoir is only half the story. With the help of psychiatrist Raquel E. Gur, M.D., Ph.D., and veteran science writer Linda Wasmer Andrews, Kurt paints the big picture for others affected by adolescent schizophrenia. Drawing on the latest scientific and medical evidence, he explains how to recognize warning signs, where to find help, and what treatments have proved effective. Kurt also offers practical advice on topics of particular interest to young people, such as suggestions on managing the illness at home, school, and work, and in relationships with family and friends.

(C) Goodreads

WIPs

Julissa by Vanessa Smith (RHSS "Country Rose")

I am LOVING this pattern, I can't wait to finish it and get to wear it!

Vanilla Socks (Deborah Norville Serenity Sock "Amethyst")

I literally have like 30 rows left. Why I haven't buckled down and gotten these done yet, I have no idea.

Featherweight by Hannah Fettig (Lost City Knits Oak Barn Merino Lace "Cocksure")

As you can tell, it needs a serious blocking. I've got about 5" on the first sleeve left to knit, and half of the second sleeve.

MKAL Spring 2014 by Cheri McEwen (RHSS "Soft White" "Glowworm" CSS "Black")

I haven't worked on this this week, but I think I forgot to show it last week.

WIP Wednesday

I've been working on a few things lately, not as much as I'd like though.

Socks for my mom in Premier Yarns Serenity Sock "Amethyst"

I added a few more square to my sock yarn blanket...

Almost finished the back of my Hana Hou before I ran out of yarn.. Seriously, I was shaping the shoulders!

And some leggings for my cousin in Premier Yarns Wool Free Sock in "Vegas Lights" which will be frogged and reknit in a larger size, but they're beautiful!

Reading:

I just started this book last night, but so far, so good! 

WIP Wednesday

Hello everyone, I know I've been gone for a VERY long time, but I will be getting back into blogging!! I have been working on some book review posts mainly, but decided to post a WIPW post!

Knitting

I've been knitting on another pair of barter socks, which I'm almost done with, in the orange, blue, brown variegated handspun on size US 1(2.25mm) needles. I've decided cuff down is just my cup-of-tea.

I've also cast on a Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig in Lost City Knits Oak Barn Merino Lace "Cocksure" on size US 6(4mm) needles. I have just enough yarn for this project, hopefully I make it to the end. The project isn't really holding my attention, since it's all just stockinette, but I really want the finished cardigan, so I'm going to power through. I'm knitting this for the Classic Must Knits KAL with Molly of the A Homespun House Podcast and Kristen of the YarnGasm podcast, and the A Night Bird Cardigan KAL with Clare of A Night Bird Podcast.

I've also been knitting on another pair of socks for my mom, they're in Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock "Tourmaline" on size US 1(2.25mm) needles. I really, really love this sock yarn.

Spinning

I've been spinning up the gray Merino fiber too, I finished part of it today. It's going to stay as a single (cobweb-lace weight) and fulled. Before fulling/washing the skein was 341 yards, hopefully it's at least 300 yards when it's dry.

Reading

I've started reading Allegiant by Veronica Roth, but I'm only on page 40 so far. I'll let you know how I'm liking it when I get farther in.

That's all I have for this week, I'll try to get a book review post out this weekend! I'll try to post more often! Check out Tami's Amis for more WIPW posts.

WIP Wednesday

This week, I've only really worked on one project that is still not finished. I started my first pair of Cuff down socks and am actually really enjoying it! It's in a variegated handspun on size 1(2.25mm) needles I still have about 1 1/2" of leg to knit then I'll do my very first heel flap and gusset.

I'm also reading Passion by Lauren Kate, it's the third book in the Fallen series and I'm really enjoying it!

That's all I have for this week! Check out Tami's Amis for more! :)

WIP Wednesday

   This week has been focused on trying to finish wips. Which means that I'll have some things to post for FO Friday! First up, Socks on a Plane by Laura Linneman in Knit Picks Stroll "Cobblestone Heather" on size 1(2.25mm) needles. I finished the first sock last week, and I'm almost done with the second.

   The only other thing I'm working on right now is my the Joyful Sheep "Superhero"

Teaming up with Tami's Amis this week, check out her blog for more WIP Wednesday posts!

Bread Baking and WIP Wednesday and other stuff

This week, I meant to post for Knit and Crochet Blog Week, but I never got around to it... but, I did get around to finally making some bread! I've been planning to make some for weeks now. Tonight I made two loaves of honey white bread from this recipe.It turned out really, really delicious!!

I'm also getting some knitting done, I have a whole sock!! I've sock... but a sock nonetheless! It's Socks on a Plane by Laura Linneman in Knit Picks Stroll "Cobblestone Heather" on size 1(2.25mm) needles. I'll cast on the other sock tomorrow.

I'll also be casting on another pair of socks for my barter partner, just plain vanilla socks on size 1(2.25mm) needles. The yarn looks like this (see photo below), I believe it's her handspun, handdyed yarn! I love working with it. This is the last pair I made her out of the yarn, and I will be doing the exact same this time around too. Except that I am going to try cuff down magic loop instead of toe up at least once..

I've been working on the Hana  Hou to this week, it's being knit in my handspun, the joyful sheep "zebra" on size 6(4mm) needles. This is the right front...

I also cast on a Honey Cowl in Cartoon Simply Soft "Gray Heather" on size 8(5mm) needles for my aunt.

I'm doing some spinning, trying to finish up projects that I started, but only spin half of the fiber, my the joyful sheep "superhero" being one of them, I pulled out out to spin on.

I got a few things in the mail this week, on of the things being this awesome giveaway prize from the Knowledge of Water blog! I've already used the mail polish, lip balm, and the buttons! 

This gorgeous piece of fluff is from my barter partner, it's my "payment" for making the socks :) I can't wait to spin it!

You haven't seen Molly for a good while, so I thought I'd show you a picture! She's gotten so big!

Oh! And some other news!!! On June 1-8 I'll be cruise around Mexico, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica for my 16th birthday! My birthday isn't until September, but I get to take the cruise in 18 days!!! This boarding pass was for our previous room, we upgrade to a corner balcony room! :)

So this post didn't get out until today, Thursday, but I had a lot to share and didn't get around to typing it all up yesterday! The bread making was done yesterday though! :)