auntiec.wordpress.com

Am bogging down on how much I’ve got to do.  Here’s an inventory.

My updated Project List (December 4 - 21 days until Christmas):

• 12 pairs of socks to do  D, A, K, W, J, B, M-C, J, T, T, C, Work (4 pair completed – 4 socks of different colours on needles.)
• 1 happy hooker red hat (have yarn, ripped out last effort, need to re-start)
• 6 +2  kids hats (easy peasy helmet pattern, just add crochetted ears – sooo cute!) (D x 2, B, B, N, V)
• 1 poncho caplet thing for A – have got yarn but keep hating result…maybe crochet?
• 2 ideas for something else for 2 brothers in law (might end up being another pair of socks)

Completed: (Maybe this’ll help)

• J’s caplet (yummy pink mohair – will sew silky fabric at lining as slightly itchy.
• Mom’s socks – Red ones
• A’s Socks – Green ones
• J’s Socks – Orangy Ones
• M’s Slippers (ok, must sew up)
• S’s Slippers (need sewing)
• Blanket for Dylan
• So cute pink blanket for future girl baby (mutter, mutter…I was sure Dylan was going to be a girl…probably not something to share with his parents)

Projects for future consideration (or things to do whilst at Mom’s for Christmas)

• yellow crochet caplet for MEEEEE
• socks for MEEEE – self striping, hugely expensive, beautiful yarn (Maybe Santa will pay for this?)

I hurt my back in a dramatic (ok, not so dramatic) bending over to pick up my knitting accident.  Cripes.  I was fine one moment and then I leaned over and my lower back is SCREAMING at me.  I think I tore a muscle or something.  Youch!

Anyway, as a result of not being able to move, I finished a blanket for K’s new son Dylan.  I can’t wait to see the baby.   I had a lovely pink item already made up and ready to go but, oh well.  Note for next time, use the SnB pattern for all future babies and add a pink or blue embelishment added after sex is determined (Auntie C’s boy/girl radar is crap!  I’m 1 for 8 in predictions and should have known)

The pattern is from the Stitch n Bitch Knitter’s Handbook.  Picked a Bernat Cotton Acrylic in a nice creamy colour.  Really simple pattern.  Used 5.5 mm straight needles.

• Cast on 126 stitches.
• Seed stitch for 18 rows (k1, p1) – bottom border made.
• Body – k1 p1 5 times, then knit 53, purl 53, k1 p1 5 times.  Do this until whole length is about 14 inches. 
• Body part 2 – k 1 p1 5 times, then purl 53, knit 53, k1 p1 5 times. 
• Top border – seed stitch for 18 rows.  Bind off.

Very simple – very cute – very elegant. 

I know (knew) two people who are pregnant and K just had a baby boy.  8lbs 5oz.  Dylan.  J’s is due tomorrow. 

Knitting progress…not much.  Knitted at lunch but spent some time showing another lady how to cast on.   I have about 4 projects on the go so nothing finished but I’m not getting bored with just one project.

 C

House is somewhat less messy but still needs a good cleaning.  My best cleaning happens when I run home at lunch and do a 45 minute flury cleanup. 

After Brownies, I wanted to take a crack at a lacy pattern for a very elegant poncho.  Used a red heart acrylic but just wanted to see the result.  Might do nicely for A’s gift in a pink or similar.   HMMM…  Clean or shop for nice yarn for poncho?  Clean or shop?  Clean or shop?   I’ll let you know the result tomorrow.  (Actually, have a meeting tonight so probably neither will get done).  C

Eleven days in and I actually have 8 socks completed!  Not exactly 1 sock per day but pretty darn good, considering it took me three days to do the first one.

I’ve become a little obsessed with making things and my house is truly showing the lack of care.  

• Problem 1 – I came home from camp and immediately began knitting - completed the second orange tones verrugated sock last Sunday.  Result – camping bins everywhere!
• Problem 2 – Monday (Nov 23) -resolved to do a quick tidy before knitting.  Didn’t do said tidy.  I made a green sock instead.  Nice sock.  Loved watching Heroes.  No tidy.
• Problem 3 – Brownie night on Tuesday and had to unearth Brownie gear from under pile of Camping gear.  More mess created.
• Problem 4 – Girls night on Wednesday.  I made second green sock.
• Problem 5 – Thursday, attempted tidy but found my yarn bin – which quickly spread around room.
• Problem 6 – Friday – went to candle party (and knitted) – red tones verrugated Wool/Poly blend.  Nice sock. 
• Problem 7 - This weekend I should have cleaned.  Did I?  NO!  My house is a disaster.  I’m ashamed.  It makes me ill to look at. 

Answer – Clean tonight!  Clean tonight!  Not allowed to knit second of the fingering weight Bernat Sox yarn socks in lovely blue.  Clean Damnit!

 Cara

My updated Project List: (I guess I hope my family doesn’t see this)

• 16 pairs of socks (4 pair completed)
• 1 crochet Caplet (have yarn, need time – Happy Hooker pattern)
• 1 happy hooker red hat (have yarn, ripped out last effort, need to re-start)
• 8 kids hats (easy peasy helmet pattern, just add crochetted ears – sooo cute!)
• 2 pair phentex slippers (Found some in my last year’s pile.  Done!)
• 3 ideas for something else for 1 sister and 2 brothers in law (might end up being another pair of socks)

How’s that for a schedule?

My Project List: (I guess I hope my family doesn’t see this)

• 16 pairs of socks (2 pair completed)
• 1 crochet Caplet (have yarn, need time – Happy Hooker pattern)
• 1 happy hooker red hat (have yarn, ripped out last effort, need to re-start)
• 8 kids hats (easy peasy helmet pattern, just add crochetted ears – sooo cute!)
• 2 pair phentex slippers (not due until January so definitely on Christmas Break list)
• 3 ideas for something else for 1 sister and 2 brothers in law (might end up being another pair of socks)

How’s that for a schedule?

C

I’ve got a heck of a lot of knitting and crochetting to do if I have any hope of accomplishing my goal of handmade gifts for everyone.  Yesterday I wrote that I have about 15 giftees…well today I actually wrote it down and it is more like 25.  Huh.  That’s a lot of socks.  (and in negative amount of time to do them). 

So I’ve downgraded some of them to (will be recieving gift IOU before I leave on Christmas break – I always need something to do at Mom’s over Christmas).  Just hope I don’t run out of steam.

Budgeting for all this…I know handmade gifts are way cheaper (unless you count the value of time) but this Christmas is still going to cost around $140.  I know people spend thousands on gifts but I just don’t and $140 is a lot of money. 

Was at Yarn Forward last night and hoooeeyy, yarn, (good yarn) can be expensive.  I realize that good quality work deserves good quality yarn but next year I think I’ll watch the sales a bit better.

Weekend is here!  Can you guess what I’ll be doing?

C