A Year of Projects Update - Week 31

I have very little knitting to report on this week.  That is not to say I have not done any, just it's been on two projects and one of those I cannot show yet. 
What I can report on is my dress - or should I now say dresses!  I made a second Coco dress this morning.
I have made the Coco dress before, but it has never looked brilliant as I have always used what I now believe to be the wrong fabric.  I bought some fabric in the Christmas sales - some jersey and I love the way this looks.  So I have made two.  First up the red one

I have worn this a lot already - unknown for me, I have only ever worn a dress on a night out before.
And now I have a blue version

Now I just need a little cardigan to go with them!
Otherwise this week I have mostly been working on Penguono.  I cannot tell you how much I am enjoying this.  I love the construction, being little sections which magically fit together.  I love the fact you can use all the colours and all the stash.  I can't wait for it to be finished then I can plan my next Stephen West.

I have also been working on the test knit but cannot show that so that is that.  I hope everyone has a brilliant week.

A Year of Projects Update - Week 30

I seem to have done quite a lot this week, except wear and photograph the dress I made last week.  I shall definitely do that for next week!

I have some FO's this week.
I finished Chuck (and have sewn in the ends at the time of writing).  I love it, apart from the fact I didn't quite have enough yarn to make long sleeves which is my preference.  I will see if I can get a modeled photo of that next week as well.

I also finished the first three tiny socks for my advent garland.  I am very excited by these and already have the next three lined up.

I am going to leave the long tail until I know what I am going to do to suspend them all!
WIP's
I have been working a little on my new year sock cast on - just a simple pattern I'm making up as I go.

I have done a lot on Penguono this week as well.  I actually can't wait to have this done as I think it will be fabulous (in a wear around the home type of way!)

Finally this week I have started another test knit for Ruth at Knitterarium.  I've only just started these so have very little to show even if I could show you, but here is the yarn!

It is my son's 10th birthday tomorrow (where did that go?)  - he decided he wanted a tiger cake for some reason, so here we go.

A Year of Projects Update - week 29

I am late again!  The weekends keep disappearing on me.

Lets get on with it.
WIP's
I am making great progress on Penguono.  This is the first Stephen West pattern I have attempted and I love it - it's so addictive and it's like stripey socks - you just want to get to the next bit.

I have also made a start on my little socks for advent next year.  I want to make a garland of socks in which to house next year's yarn advent calendar.  I've nearly finished these first three.

I am also making reasonable progress on Chuck.  I'm about half way along the sleeve but I want to make long sleeves on this one.

I also started and finished a dress (sewn) but I didn't take photos yet so I'm going to include that next week.

I think that is it for this week.  Next week is my son's birthday (next Monday) but hopefully, I will be able to get this done!  Hope everyone has a great week.

A Year of Projects Update - week 28

Back to school this week, so slightly less done, but it was a short week of work so can't complain.

WIP's
Most of the things I have worked on this week have been new cast on's (I hang my head... no not really - it will all get done eventually!)
The only thing I have worked on that was pre-Christmas was Chuck.  I am now making my way down the first sleeve.  I am hoping to get this done very soon and be able to wear this sweater to Unravel.  I was asked last week what Unravel was - it is a small yarn event near where I live.  It is the closest one to me and in reality the only one I can get to. 

I also cast on and cast off a second pair of Tchaikovsky mitts.  These are exactly the same but a bit bigger than the ones I knit for my gran.  Reason being I mistakenly knit the child size the first time but thought since they fit me ok that they would fit gran as I was sure she had smaller hands.  What I didn't factor in was the fact she has arthritis and her knuckles are quite swollen.  So I didn't say anything at the time as she loved them and kept saying she loved the colour even though I was sure she would have to force them on.  So I have knit her a bigger pair and will send them to mum next week to give to her.

I have been making great progress on Penguono - It is brilliant and I can't get enough of it.

Finally, but with no picture, I cast on some little socks that I am knitting as a garland for next Christmas.  I want 24 to hold next years advent calendar!

I also received some fabric that I got in the sales and cut it out for a coco dress.  I might be able to get to sew that up next week so may be able to show it then.

That is it for this week hope everybody has a great week.

My Garden Project - January 2018

I have dabbled in the garden for a few years.  Before we had the boys I did it more seriously, but then the boys and working full time has taken it's toll.  Also, Darren has fallen out of love with the garden so I thought this year I will make the garden my project.

Planning
In planning this project I need to think about what I want from the garden.

• Produce - I would like to produce some of my own food - I am under no illusions that I have enough time to become self sufficient, but if I can cut down on the veg that I buy in some months that would be brilliant.
• Soft fruit - I would like to sort out the raspberries and strawberries
• Patio - I would like to take down the decking and create a patio area, in time to build a barbecue.
• I shall create a page on this blog with my overview of the year with tasks that need to be done
• I shall try to check in once a month with my progress.
• I have made an outline of tasks each month here.

Inspiration

This book:

I got this a number of years ago, and so I am going to use this as a basis of my planning.
Ultimately, I would like to build a barbecue in the garden
Something like this:


So that is the start - it is the start of January so I haven't done anything beyond planning.  I shall check in at the start of February and share any progress.

A Year of Projects Update - week 27

A very happy new year to everybody!
I am a day late in posting this as we were busy yesterday.

I am not usually one for making new years resolutions as I don't tend to stick to them, but I am a member of the Ravelry group for the Yarniacs podcast and they have an ongoing thread for that quarter's goals.  I made a few goals yesterday an I thought I would share them here and I have updated my YOP list that you can see here.
 My goals for this quarter are:

• only buy yarn for a specific project
• go to Unravel, but keep the first point in mind
• only buy patterns when ready to knit them and try to knit from some of the books recently purchased
• finish the three sweaters now on the needles
• continue with the wardrobe architect project and bear that in mind for future projects
• make alterations to the clothes in the alterations pile
  

So we shall see how that goes!

Works In Progress

I have started some socks from the yarn in the advent calendar on Christmas day.

I am making up the pattern and just doing a slip stitch when the colour changes.

I have also cast on Penguono as I couldn't wait any longer!

I got Best Knits - Westknits for Christmas and want to knit my way through this book.

I have also made significant progress on Chuck but now I have been distracted with Penguono.

I think that is it for now - I wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year!