YOP Update

Hello all you good people.  It has been a while, again, since I posted here.  I have not been ignoring my blog.  I have been trying to get to the main computer in our house so I could do a proper update.  Ya know, with pictures and stuff like that?  So today, I have gotten a chance to get to my main computer and I am so excited.

First off, let me tell all my fellow YOP bloggers, I have been reading all of your blogs on my tablet.  I am impressed with the amount of creativity that is in our group.  I have a hard time commenting from my tablet, and for that I am sorry.  But know, I am reading and loving all the photos of craftiness and of the scenery that has been showing up on several of the blogs.

Well, onto what I have been doing.

I have been knitting.  Since the week after Christmas I have been burying myself in knitting and loving every minute of it.  I think retirement is going to be wonderful for me.  Yes, I still do household work and cook dinner each night, but..................there are lots of stolen moments when I can pick up my needles and do a few rows in between all the chores.  After dinner is over, I sit quietly with my husband and knit while he plays the TV.  We are getting into a nice little routine.

I do have a finished item:

Please pardon the cruddy picture.  A photographer I am not and have never claimed to be. This was my first finish of the new year.  They are my car socks (again) and made with Naked Sock yarn in the color Castle LIght.  The purple is really almost a neon purple in this and the photo does not do it justice.  I have made some adjustments to the original pattern. Having done other sock patterns, I take what I like from each and incorporate that into this pattern.  On these, I made the heel flap 2 inches long.  It seems to give a better fit for my ankle and foot.  The heel that is on this orginal pattern is my all time favorite and I have used that heel on other patterns.

On my needles now is:

Another pair of Snoqualmie Fall Socks.  These are for me.  I was so hoping the stripes would match on these and they started out great, but then I came across an area where the factory had spliced yarn together and that threw off the whole striping sequence.  Oh well, I will have shoes on and I will be the only one to know.  I started these on Thursday and plan on having them done yet today.  This is the fastest pattern I have ever knit.  Normally, it takes me almost 3 weeks to complete a pair of socks and these will be done in about 3 1/2 days.  The yarn is Diversity by Plymouth in the colorway Denim.  This is a memory yarn and it is so soft and fun to work with.  I have to remind myself to loosen my tension up with this yarn though.  Memory yarns need a looser tension.

I have also started doing all my socks in magic loop again.  My tension is a bit tighter in magic loop and truer to the gauges asked for by most patterns.

After I finish these socks, I am going to cast on a pair for my hubby.  He has been asking for another pair and I have promised him that he is next.  I will do his two at a time so I make sure they are identical in length.

I have not really worked on much more than socks.  I did work on my Daughter's log cabin blanket for a few days but got bored and put it back in my UFO pile.  

I looked at my list from the beginning of this years YOP and am kind of impressed.  Let's take a look see:

2015-2016 YoP list

Socks

Once again I can not tell you how many I will do.  But these are my favorite items to do during the hot summer months here in the desert.  I do know that I need to have 2 pair completed before Christmas as they are gifts.  I already have 1/2 of one pair done and have started on the other pair this week, just to get them on the needles for the road trip.

5 pair completed so far

Shawls

Diving In  (this is already cast on, also for the road trip)

Clapo-ktus

Diving in is in my UFO pile and Clapo-ktus is still in the thinking process

SWEATER

Cancun Boxy Lace Top

After I frog the sweater I started, this is what it is going to turn into.  It even asks for the fiber that I already have in my stash.  But I will be making this longer, as at my age, no one wants to see my tummy.

This is also in my UFO pile.  Probably should get it out before the hot weather hits so I can wear it this year

Sewing items

Tea Bag Holder

Another gift for Christmas this year

Finished a few days before Christmas and it is loved and being used

Crochet

Mermaid Tail Afghan

I have had a request for at least 2 of these for Christmas.  Now that I am not on yarn restriction, I can purchase the fiber for this and get going on them.

She loves her tail, although it took her a few minutes to realize what it was.

Wood Work

Staining and decorating treasure box for Wedding in October

Done and done..................the box and the wedding.

I think I have done fairly well this year.  I did not cram my list full as I have done in the past and for that I am thankful.  I will be casting on hubby's socks today sometime and will have those as we take another road trip this week.  So I will be looking for a pattern that is kind of easy but not boring so it can be memorized quickly.  I really don't want to do another pair of car socks for him.  So off to the patterns in Ravelry to see what I can find and download to my tablet.

I will not be on here next weekend, so until next time...............Happy Crafting!