Back to basics

I still have made little progress on anything.  The pastime that was once my stress release has been pushed to the side.  Other things manage to override my knitting.  But, I started back on the second blue sweater.

I started on the first sleeve.  I had been knitting on my Boxy, and untangling the other half of the skein.  The yarn is Oceania, and it has 1440 yards in it.  That is an entire sweater.  Or almost.  I had to cut it, as my ball winder would not hold all of it, and it was severely tangled.  Not anymore.  Over this past week, working on it a bit here and a bit there (mostly at night while watching Netflix), I was able to untangle it all.  I have about 9 inches of the 22.5 that I need.  Almost halfway there.  Noticing the "almost" trend?  Yeah, me too.

Ravelry

I looked at my project page in Ravelry, and realized how little is there.  I have documented most of my projects here, but I have not added the projects to Ravelry.   I think that will be something to fix this year.  I have plenty of pictures and I should be able to reconstruct some times based on my posts.  Going forward though, I plan on keeping that page more updated to keep tabs on things.

To be honest, in a lot of ways, it feels like double work.  It probably is, to a certain extent, but I also recognize the value of it.  If I don't add my projects there, then people (like me) who look for things, may not find for what they are searching.  Or see how a pattern has been modified.  Or who knows what else.  It also leaves documentation, in one place, in an organized fashion (of sorts) of my own work, so I can review it and see if I modified something previously, and how, and if I would do it again.  

These days, I am a bit schizophrenic about my crafting.  I am jumping from project to project, not settling on any one particular thing.  I have so much that I want to accomplish, and yet I flit from thing to thing.  I finished the body of Little Man's second blue sweater.  I am working on the tail still for his dragon.  I started a sweater for myself, and I am working on a pair of socks for me too.  Then there is the quilt that I started last year, and although I have cut out several blocks, none are completely sewn.  I have messy bun hats for Etsy to crochet (which is a whole other set of issues), two sweaters for each of the Princesses, toys for them as well, Iced to finish for myself, and at least one other cardigan to make for me, and the Master Crocheter's course to finish.  With everything else (like cleaning, cooking, and homeschooling), it's a wonder I can remember my name.  But, I find that being busy is good for me.  And since there are no real deadlines for these items (other than the birthday things), there isn't any real stress.  Don't get me wrong - I want it all completed now.  I wish I could knit while I sleep (wouldn't that be great?!  All those projects completed in a fraction of awake time!), but for now those things will just have to be worked on bit by bit.  I am thankful that I have the ability to do them, even if they don't get made as fast as I would like.

Not quite as planned

I had been working on straightening up the basement and moving boxes around so that like things are together.  It is an attempt to find clothes for the Littlest Princess, but I am not having much luck.  I worked for about 45 minutes, took a short break, and was then asked to put together a Big Wheel.  That took almost an hour.  Then I got a phone call, had a call of nature, and now I am sitting outside, watching my girls play, and knitting.

I am turning more and more to my Boxy sweater.  I need to finish the blue sweater and dragon for Little Man, as we are approaching 2 months after his birthday.  Of course, mine is just around the corner (13 days and counting) but I don't generally make myself a gift.  I try to purchase one, but I would like a completed project. 

The garden seeds are beginning to sprout, but the insane weather isn't helping much.  The weather is schizophrenic at best.  It warms up like spring, almost summer, then drops down to winter freezing temperatures within a week.  I guess that is just springtime in Georgia.  What are you making?

Another beginning

I had tried to be good, and finish all of Little Man's projects but I have failed.  I was going to use a dk weight soy chenille to make a summer sweater, but the fabric was too loose, even on a US 4.  I think this would be better in a cardigan, where a looser knit fabric would be better.

I am using a light worsted boucle instead, for the summer sweater.  I also started a pair of socks.  It is a variation on the Dragonfly sock pattern; this being top down instead of toe up. 

I do not have much left on the sweater, to be honest.  Just a couple more inches and then the ribbing.  The sleeves should go quickly, but only when I get to them.  The dragon still needs a tail, wings, and a stomach patch.  Perhaps I will finish something this week.