Sixth Year of Projects - Week 22

Blocking is pure magic!!  I had two projects that needed blocking and made the time to get those done this past weekend.  One project - Celtic Myths Shawl - is a recent finish and did not languish long awaiting blocking to finish it off completely.  The second however has been waiting forever (or so it seems!)  For the past several years I have participated in an Advent Scarf Knit Along.  This December will be my fourth year!  Anyway, I finished the 2015 scarf back in December 2015 and have still not blocked it!  For shame!  Actually I did the same last year - I blocked my 2014 Advent Scarf in December 2015...  At least I am consistent!

So, blocking is magic!!  I use my colorful mats that I bought at Sam's Club and some T-pins and away I go!  I add a little Eucalan wool-wash to the water and let it soak for an hour or so.

Before

Soaking

Close up - before

After!

Before

Soaking

After!

In other news, my Coffee Cantata Socks have seen some growth in the past week!  Here is how they look now!  Again, thanks to everyone who encouraged me to continue knitting this project!  I appreciate the push!  Maybe these socks will be done before 2016 is done!!  At least I should have them done before the next round of Sock Madness begins in March 2017!  I need to free up my Addi Turbo Sock Rockets for more sock knitting!!

And I started an Advent Scarf this morning.  The pattern is being released four days early so that each day's clue is not too daunting!  The design is mosaic and I am eager to spend a little bit of time each and every morning knitting!  I will make a cup of tea and will work the pattern each morning.  I tried to buy an Advent calendar tea package (a different tea for the 24 days of Advent) but I was slow and missed out.  I ended up buying another tea sampler package and this one had 28 different flavors and types.  Bonus is that we will have the pattern coming out over 28 days instead of 24 and I will have just the right number of teabags to make it through!!  I am quite easy to please!!

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FO Friday January 15th 2016

Finally I am posting a FO Friday collection!! I have been neglecting this recently and there are a few things I finished up in the end of 2015 and already in 2016 (mostly carry-overs from 2015, but finishes none the less...)

First to close up 2015 I finished up (mostly) both of the Advent knits I was doing.

1) My Advent socks.  I ran out of the cream color for the base yarn so I ended them early and gave them to my sister for Christmas.

2) My Advent scarf - I finished this by the end of 2015 but it still needs blocking.  I need to get that part done!!  I'll post some blocking before and after pictures once I get that done!

2016 is off to a good start!

1) My first finish is 2016 is a new design that I completed the knitting on and now have the pattern up for testing on Ravelry.  This is the first of four designs that will be part of an e-book (and individual designs) which will be available later this year (hopefully not too late!)  The first design is The Four Seasons: Autumn.  This design is top-down and includes a mirrored cable design on each sock.

2) The second finish of 2016 is another design in The Four Seasons group.  This one is Spring and I still need to finish writing up the pattern and get it tested.  I am aiming to get the testing started this weekend!

3)The third finish to start off 2016 is a scrap blanket that I began in 2013 (nothing like taking things at a leisurely pace!!)  I had all the squares made up quite some time ago and began putting them together a few months back (and then put is aside again...)  Anyway a friend of mine at work is expecting a baby in February and some others at work planned a baby shower for her - perfect incentive to get this done!!  (and she loves it ♥ )

WIP Wednesday Update - Advent Calendar Knitting

And my Advent knitting continues!  I am enjoying this very much although I am falling behind...

Right now I am complete up to the end of Day 12 (half done).  With the end of the semester, grading final exams, and entering final grades I am a bit swamped!  Throw into the mix serving on two search committees at work, going through several phone interviews, and meetings I am a bit swamped.  And Christmas shopping (thank goodness for online shopping!) and preparing for the holidays, well I am - wait for it - a bit swamped!  Spending a bit of time each day working on some of my Advent knitting gives me a nice break, although doing two Advent projects was likely biting off more than I could chew.  I still hope to finish both before 2016 arrives!

Sock progress:

Scarf progress:

Unblocked, crinkly, and upside down...

Advent Calendar Knitting - Days 4, 5, and 6

More Advent knitting!!  I am having so much fun with this!  It certainly is a nice way to set aside some down time each day.  I haven't had a chance to update in a couple days so I am updating with my progress over Days 4, 5, and 6.

Socks: 
Day 4 - Sock A - We chose our color based on when we first joined Ravelry.  I joined in October 2007 (wow 8 years already!!) and the color for that year was red.
Day 5 - Sock A - Chose a color based on your favorite charity.  Two of my favorite charities (Doctors Without Borders and Samaritan's Purse) use red as their color - and since I just used red I needed to choose something else.  So I closed my eyes and grabbed a scrap stash and got a variegated lime green yellow. Lime green is a color for Mental Health Awareness - another good charity!!
Day 6 - Sock B - Today we were asked to watch a bit of the Norwegian Independence Day Celebrations and Ball. The first gown we saw was to be the color we use - I was late and didn't get to watch the live streaming version but clicked one of the links posted and watched for a ballgown. The first one I saw was a bright blue - I had just the scrap in my box of scrap stash!

Here is what my socks look like now:

Scarf:
Onward!!  I have five skeins of yarn that I bought for this project and I was not sure if it was going to be enough.  So I decided if one skein of yarn lasted through the end of Day 5 I would be safe since there are only 24 days.  So I ended up playing yarn chicken with my skein and I managed to win by 4.5 inches!!  So I am happy to know I will have enough yarn!!  Here is what my scarf looks like at the end of Day 6!

Advent Calendar Knitting - Day 3

The third clue for the sock was released the night before last.  Our color choice was selected by picking two colors we were wearing and then using an online guide to find a color that came from combining them.  I was wearing my pjs - bright pink with white and black sheep on them.  I selected the pink and white - combined just tones down the pink.  I have some extra yarn that is a bright and light variegate pink - perfect!!

The third clue for the scarf was also released and I happily knit through that!

Advent Calendar Knitting - Day 2

Yesterday was Day 2 of my Advent knitting.

Scarf: Today we added another 20 rows

Socks: Today we worked on the second sock.  I cast on, knit the toe, and then completed the clue.  This clue was fun - you entered a date (most people are using their birthdate) and then convert the numbers into binary code - use the base for the 0 and your color for the day for the 1.  To choose the color we had to convert the binary code into a hexidecimal which was then converted into a color.  I ended up with a dark tealy green.

Advent Calendar Knitting - Day 1

Yesterday was Day 1 of my Advent Calendar knitting and I am excited!!  I can not wait to see how these two projects grow!!

I got my tea brewed and settled down to knit for a little while before it was time to head to work and then came back to knitting in the evening once I got home.  I did manage to get my Day 1 completed on Day 1!!

Scarf: Here is my progress after Day 1

Socks: Here is my progress after Day 1

Advent Calendar Knitting - Preview

I managed to get myself signed up in time to take part in TWO Advent Calendar knitting adventures!  I must be crazy!!  The first will be a cable and lace Estonian scarf and the second will be a pair of colorwork toe-up socks.  I am so excited to get going.  The scarf is an off-shoot from the Sock Madness knitting group and the pattern is Cables and Lace Advent Scarf 2015. The socks are Sock Scrap Yarn Advent Calendar.  We will get daily pieces of the pattern each morning beginning December 1st.  

For these projects I have the following yarn:

1) Scarf - Frog Tree 

The true color is more blue. I hope to capture the color better later!

2) Socks - scraps galore!!

Some of my sock yarn scraps!  I probably have more...

We also have one early clue for each.

1) Scarf - the initial cast on including the first six foundation rows.  Here is what mine looks like:

Yes those are toothpicks pinning the edges down :)  LOL

2) The socks had the instructions for beginning the toe.  Since I just found the sock group yesterday I have not had time to complete the preliminary part.  I'll get that done today!

One of the goals of these projects is for each of us participating to spend a little time each day to relax and do something just for ourselves during this often hectic time of the year.  My plan is to spend some time each morning (preferably) with a nice cup of tea and my knitting.  I imagine it will allow me about 30 minutes each day to relax and enjoy my yarn.