WIP Wednesday - Stalled

Lately, I feel like I can't catch up.  The hardest part of September is getting back into the swing of school and work.  I lazed around during the summer only jump right back into a hectic schedule in the fall.

So today this will probably be pretty short because it's 10 AM and I still have a 2 page paper to write by 6 pm for class.  I have such good intentions not to procrastinate but alas I did.

In other news, I have been moved back to my old group at work.  Basically, the original move was the right decision but it was the wrong time.  It will be revisited after the holidays.

White Centered Granny Blanket

Another set of square ready to join!

Holy Cow!  I looked back at my last WIP Wednesday post and realized I haven't made much progress on anything in 2 weeks.  I realized with writing this blog that I have big spurts of productivity with some downtime in between.

On this project, I got all of the colored squares done but still needed to do the borders and weave in the ends.  So for the past two weeks, I have been working on the next set of 20 squares.  I broke this blanket into sections to make it seem less daunting and have had success so far.  As I finished bordering the 20th square for this section, I ran out of yarn.  I managed to find just enough ends to finish off the square but it was close.  So now to put the section together, I need to run to the knitting store and get the yarn I have on order.  I hope 10 balls of the white will be enough to edge 30 more squares and then the border.

Other Projects

Cherry Sundry has been my go to knitting project.  I have the first part of the pattern memorized and I basically repeat the pattern until I use 2/3 of the yarn by weight.  So while progress has been made, the pictures just look like a growing triangle.

Hue Shift Afghan my plan is as soon as I finish this Granny Blanket to get back to working on this.  Not only do I have two more sections to knit but I have to do some blocking to fix my gauge issue.  My gauge tightened during the second section and I am 0.5 inches off on each side of the block.  I did manage to order the Navy yarn I need for the border along with 15 other colors...oops :)

Diagonal Lace Socks I don't know if you recall these yellow socks I was working on.  In an effort just to get stuff done, I brought these out and started to work on the second sock.

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

Check out my new meme Movie Madness Monday

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Kryptonite

Hello all, as I was about to write "I have been quite busy lately" I realize that is more the normal than being bored or boring.  While I haven't done anything considered exciting, work and life keep me pretty busy.

I went home to my parent's (I still never know the proper noun to use now) house this weekend to visit with my Dad and Gram.  She has been staying with Dad for a 2 months now but it's weird to see someone else beside my mom around the house.

Anyway, Dad and I met up with my mom's best friend and her sister.  Aunt Becky and Aunt Francy are not  related but are as good as family.  My mom and Becky met each other since they were five.  She is super awesome and I always love hanging out with them.

Honestly I can attribute a huge portion of my Nerdiness to them.  Aunt Francy had me watching Mystery Science Theater 3000 and other science ficition shows as a child.  My favotite was when MST3000 did Gozilla vs Mothra!  Bring out the butter!

So between that and cleaning and sewing my weekend was pretty jam packed.

So following the weekending, I really cranked it into gear with my knitting.  Nerd Wars is on and I am determined to get a few things done each month.  In the mean time, I am also moonlighting as the team's blogger.  Check out my posts here.

Aside from being focused on some projects, I have to say that I am trying to get to bed earlier to get up earlier.  So far, not so good.  Ten, Eleven and Mid night come around and I am just so close to finishing my project that I just go a little bit more.  Crafting is really my Kryptonite.

So let's look at what's keeping me up late:

Superman Square

Will Superman save me from the Kryptonite?

After being ripped out once, I am really just ready to get this thing done.  I have some follow up work where there are gaps and holes but it's coming along.  I think it looks nicer in picture than in person but then again I see the holes that haven't tightened up yet.  This should be done tonight.

Diagonal Lace Socks 

Banana!

So this is my car project.  I have to go through a detour on my way home from work.  What is a 15-20 minute trek to work become 45 minutes on the way home thanks to a bridge backing up.  So I sit through a few lights and am at a complete stop between so I use the time to knit.  Now I wouldn't cast on in the car or do the gusset and heel but the foot and cuff sections are perfect.  To see what it looks like completed, here is the other sock.

Sock #1

So that's what has been my focus this week, what have you been up too?

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams   

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Just Keep Knitting

Hello all!  It's another WIP Wednesday and I have so much progress to show.  My deadline looms but the stripes keep forming.  The boy was over on Monday and we ate and watched the Olympics and I knitted while we commented on the action.  While appreciative of my work he doubted his own ability and coordination.  He kept saying I don't know how you are doing it.  Or when did you switch colors (for the stripes).  

So here is the summary shot for this week:

It only fits on my couch now.

Gryffindor Scarf

I have 9 of 14 pattern repeats done. I felt like I was stuck on 5 forever but I am in the home stretch now. I just need to keep knitting (hence the title). One thing is the length keeps getting caught in the yarn but it is warm and I am told the recipient is super excited.]

Diagonal Lace Socks 

That little blog of yellow is my sock.  I put it down in favor of other Nerd Wars projects and just got back around.  I have the sock done and just working on the ribbing and the bind off.  I am going to attempt Jenny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off.  Hopefully the ladies at knit night tomorrow can get me going on the bind off.  Then back to the Judy's Magic Cast On for sock number 2.

After these I need to work on my superman square and something sparkly for Nerd Wars. I have to say that joining this tournament has really focused my efforts on getting stuff done. Deadlines definitely help.

So how goes it for all of you? Meeting your goals? Stuck in WIP Madness?

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Rockets Red Glare!

Happy Fourth of July! I love the Fourth, it reminds me of the picnics at my Great Grandmother's House.  My Aunt would chase me around with Super Soakers and there would a ton of food.  Granted we don't know how to have any sort of gather without a ton of food.  Has anyone ever noticed that the American holidays (July 4th and Thanksgiving) are all about the food?

Anyway this year is very subdued, since the holiday is in the middle of the week.   I am not going home for a picnic this year, instead I was supposed to go to the Pirates game and then stick around the city for the fireworks.  Alas, my plans have been thwarted by a migraine.

So we will see what the rest of the day brings.

As a bit of an update, I had a lovely birthday and it wasn't as bad as I worried about.

Now onto the yarny goodness that is WIP Wednesday!

Diagonal Lace Socks

These have gone to the back burner for the time being. I was working on them for Nerd Wars and the first month ended and I only got one sock done.  

First Sock almost Complete

I am still working on it and hope to finish the pair for the WIP challenge in August.

White Centered Granny Square Blanket
Well these have been a lovely diversion WIP and I had to try out all of the colors this week.  I just wanted to see how everything played together.  I do love these colors.

Don't they all look great!  I am so happy the colors worked out!

I also was able to measure the finished square with the white borders to get estimates for the finished blanket.  Now that I know the blocks are about 5" x 5" I realized that I needed more yarn so I bought more yarn.

Green Lantern Square

I started the next square in my Big Bang Theory/Justice League Series.  I cast on in late June but ripped it out because something didn't work right.  I then recast on in July and now it qualifies for Nerd Wars.  I am so happy with how it is turning out.  Check out how it's turning out!

Taken on Tuesday Morning!

Taken Today!

I should get this done this afternoon.  I am so pleased by how the pattern is working up.  I will share when everything is done.  The Flash is next!

Gryffindor Beanie

This is another one I started but ripped out and can use for Nerd Wars.  This is to go with the Gryffindor Scarf that I am working on.  As soon as the Green Lantern square is done this is next on the list.

So there you have it my WIPs for this week. I think I had a pretty productive week, how about you? For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Seams and Cuffs

Hello again! I don't know where the weeks are going but here we are 1 day away from the start of summer and 2 days away from my Birthday and I haven't determined how I feel about that.

I don't know where my 20's are going but they sure are flying.  I remember that I couldn't wait to be 10 and in double digits and the wait to 16, 18 and 21 were annoying.  Now 30 is knocking on my door and it's scary.

Then of course this is the first birthday without my mom.  She would call me right at the minute that I was born every year to wish me a happy birthday.  It makes me smile just thinking about it.  My dad is taking me to dinner this weekend but it's hard without my mom.

Well then, enough of this melancholia it's WIP Wednesday and I have progress to show you!

LEGO Block Blanket

I made marked progress on the LEGO blanket.  I only have 1.5 seams left and just couldn't get to it last night to finish it up for today.  I want to get this done soon so it's not looming over my head, though I need to go back and swatch and test wash to make sure the colors don't run.  I like to wash baby blankets one time before I gift them and I don't want to destroy the colors and white borders.

Everything is really squaring up with the vertical seams

Diagonal Lace Socks

For the most part, the sock part of the first sock is done.  I am just working the pattern on the leg/cuff.  I really think 2 more pattern repeats will be enough.

The color got washed out in the picture.

They really are yellow but the color is washed out in the picture.  I didn't realize that the image was wrong until I uploaded it.  I will try and take another picture later on tonight and replace this one.

I do like that you can see that there is variation in the sock that isn't apparent on the image below.

This is closer to the real color

White Centered Granny Square Blanket

I picked these up again because I was a bit annoyed with the Diagonal Lace Socks and the heel.  (I am not to proficient at wrap and turns)  Anyway, I wanted to see how the edging looked on the squares and started to putz with the join method.  

I think the edging looks great and I like the whip stitch through the back look of the edging to join them.  What do you think.

I also did most of the end weaving too.

So I think I had a pretty productive week, how about you?  For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Light at the End of the Tunnel

Hello everyone!  It has been a busy week both at work and in craft.  I can't believe how nice it is to be back on daylight.  I had a bit of a blip this week cause I couldn't sleep Sunday night and as a result worked from home on Monday.

Now for the update!

LEGO Block Blanket

I got all of the blocks DONE and the Horizontal Joins are all DONE!!!!  (And the peasants rejoice!)  This is a serious accomplishment and now to do the rest of the seams and get the border done.

Diagonal Lace Socks

The socks are coming along and I started the gusset.  I am really annoyed because I wanted to get 1 sock done last week but I keep working on them.

Overall the progress is pretty substantial and I can't wait to finish since I see the light at the end of the tunnel for both of these projects.

So I think I had a pretty productive week, how about you?  For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - It’s a sunshine DAY!

GOOD MORNING!  You have no idea how excited I am to be back working during the day.  Even when that  day starts at 7 AM.  Thankfully summer is practically upon us and waking up with sun isn't a chore.  I was supposed to work the swing shift this week (3p - 11p) but it got switched over the weekend.  As far as I know, I will be back on daylight for the duration, so keep your fingers crossed.

Now for the update, here is what I have done this week.

Progress Pic for 6/6/2012

There are 3 projects on the table, Diagonal Lace Socks, LEGO Blanket and White Centered Granny Square Blanket

I started the Diagonal Lace Socks on 6/1/2012 for Nerd Wars.

Nerd Wars is a ravelry group that divides members into teams and provides 6 categories a month for 3 months.  You gain points for completed projects that meet the challenge theme and that have a tie into to your team.  Of course all of the teams are based on nerdy culture!  I am on Team Bazinga which celebrates all that is awesome about The Big Bang Theory tv show.

I am working with a ton of yellow this week...

Anyway, this sock is using the Diagonal Lace Sock Pattern from Wendy D. Johnson and Candy Skein Yarn in Banana  I think the pattern looks like shooting stars which will help me satisfy the Scientific challenge.  What do you think?

The LEGO blanket is coming along.  I have 5 more blocks done and joined another row to the blanket.

The view from the back of the blanket.  I love this view too!

For the White Centered Granny Squares, I finished the blue skein and got 7 squares out of that and started the orange skein.  I really like how the colors are working together.  Debbie Bliss just has great yarn.

I think the Orange is my favorite so far...

So I think I had a pretty productive week, how about you?  For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather