mood blanket

W.I.P. Wednesday: WIPs of Every Kind

Nicky6 Comments

I didn’t think I’d have anything to show this week but not so great news at the Dr’s made me do it — ain’t that something?

We all know the therapeutic advantages of having a hobby and we know of knitting specifically.  (For those who don’t know, see two of my favourites here and here).  Yesterday’s visit to the Dr revealed that I need to have more surgery on my arm that I had minor surgery on in October.   The cyst keeps recurring so now he’s referred me to a surgeon.  I have that appt next week Tuesday … just awesome … not.   I felt kinda crappy after that visit but I’d started a sock on the subway on my way to the Dr. and honestly, working on it made me feel better.  I took a sick day today to get all the things I need to do re the surgery out of the way.  Dealing with that made me frustrated at the circumstances but it is what it is and having hobbies that I enjoy really made a difference in how I feel today.  They’re not diversions, but healthy opportunities for me to work through the frustration of having to deal with this situation while doing something relaxing and productive.

Wanna see?

On the knitting front, yesterday, I started this sock on the train.  The stares from knitters and non-knitters alike were funny.  One lady didn’t know needles with that small a circumference existed and she was amazed socks could be done one something other than dpns (double pointed needles).

Sick Day

I’m using a 9 inch circular since dpns (double pointed needles) still scare the heebie jeebies out of me.  I’m going to finish this pair.  I CAN. I WILL. I MUST!!!!!   I’m almost finished the leg portion then it’s time for the heel.

In commemoration of Earth Day 2014 (April 22, 2014), I hauled out the cartons my craft shelves came in so I could start cutting them up to make covers for the storage bins.  I call this W.I.P. — “Receive, Recycle, Re-use”.

Receive, Recycle, Reuse

I can’t wait to see if my vision for them will match what actually happens.  😀  Rather than tossing them and purchasing pre-made covers, it makes sense to use this resource and turn them into something pretty and more importantly useful.

In gardening news, my jalapeno pepper trees are looking beautiful.  All my plants are right now.  Even if I don’t get fruit from them, just having them grow is reward enough!  I see some transplanting happening this coming weekend.   😀

Jalapeno Update

And for the W.I.P.  I know you’re most interested in — my crochet  Mood Blanket — I’m going to go with the majority.  The results of the poll say that I should continue with the large granny square blanket but eliminate the white separators and only do one round per color.  Now it’s time to catch up!!!!

With all this going on, who has time to stay sad … right?  😀

Hope you’re each having a wonderful crafty week! 😀

WIP Conundrum

Nicky19 Comments

Okay, so I have a problem.  I kinda know what I want to do but your input would be nice.   It’s my mood blanket.  The thing is gargantuan now.  What’s even crazier, it’s that I’m a few weeks  😳 behind.  No excuses but you know … I’ve been having some life curve balls.  I want to be fully caught up by the end of this month so I decided to measure it according to the size of my bed.  Errrr … lemme show you my problem …

Mood Blanket 2014

It’s not much further on from the last time you saw it in February but that right there is my problem.  I’m eight weeks behind and the square is almost off the sides of my bed.  If I add another 32 rounds to this it definitely will be.  In the long term, we have 38 more weeks in the year.  If I multiply 38 * 4, I get an additional 152 rounds on this blanket.  Which means that it would be trailing on the floor around my bed as opposed to being the comfy blanket / spread I envisioned if I keep making it in it’s current style.  In other words — it’ll be toooooooo big.   Too big to be practical and too big to even wash in the largest washing machine in my building’s laundry room.  So what’s a girl to do?  I kinda know already what I want to do, but I need your help.

 

*cue music and insert poll*

Obviously, the last option is a joke … but the other three are viable ones.

Like I said, I kinda know what I want to do but it’ll mean so very much to me if you can help me out.  I think I set the poll to allow comments so feel free to offer up other suggestions if you think of any.

In other news, my Flax sweater.  Oh dear God in Heaven!  When I’m done this sweater, I’ll be wearing it!  Even if it’s summer.  The swatching is adding grey hairs to my head and I just can’t!  😀   So what had happened was … I swatched this thing … again … for the third time.   This time I went down a needle size.  And guess what?  The unblocked gauge is off by gazillions.  Okay … slight exaggeration … but my unblocked swatch is 17.5 stitches, 26 rows over 4 inches instead of 18 stitches, 22 rows over 4 inches.  I’m just waiting on the swatch to dry to see what kind of mods to make.   Sweater making divas, I need you when I come back with that blocked swatch okay?  Please and thank you.  😛

To cheer myself up … no, that’s a lie.  Because of my love for all colours bright and beautiful, I succumbed (I was weak Opal  😀 ) to magnificence of Knitpicks Stroll Neon sock yarn.  Yes … I did.  I got these:

Neon Gems

I picked myself up some eye searing neon.  Now I’m off to pick up where I left off with socks since I frogged this one:

First Sock

Yep.  I’m off to grab those 9 inch needles and finally finish my first pair of socks in screaming neon blue — aka  Razzleberry!   I feel some subway knitting coming on.

That’s all folks!  Nothing else to see yet!  😛  I look forward to your responses re my blanket.

Toodles.  Hope you’re having a crafty good Spring.  😀