#MakeMyQueue: Week 2... also Christmas

Week two, as most of the world knows, was also Christmas week. While Project #MakeMyQueue is still going strong, it was difficult finding time to knit while gorging on holiday foods, opening presents and getting drunk. My holiday was filled with family and laughter and my mom's amazing cooking which came out fantastic despite not having a stove in the house. Thank the heavens for wonderful neighbours!!!

Bolting

Metalouse

The two projects I'm working on right now are Bolting and Metalouse. Bolting is leftover from previous WIP's and Metalouse is the next project in queue. Going through my queue, I'm realizing that there are a LOT of shawls! While this isn't necessarily a problem, it will significantly slow down my wiping out the list.

But I think that will reflect positively in the finished pieces. I'm going to take my time and let them just happen. I don't have a need to crank out projects at lightning speed. I know that if I wanted to, I could. I've already done 100+ projects over the course of 2012!

2013 is going to be a "me" year. While I still plan on knitting and crocheting like a crazy person, there are certain areas of my life that need reinforcement i.e. job, personal, etc. Giftmas always seems to be a burden and I think next year everyone's going to get either the same thing or something small. That will allow me to focus on my projects and then also my life. We knitters need a break every now and again and I think that time for me is now. The things I make will probably be mostly for me and my store. The store is going to be a bigger priority and I think I'll be designing more as well!

This is exciting and scary at the same time.... so bear with me but it's going to be a great New Year!

-Kobuu

#MakeMyQueue - Week 1

Well I meant to write this post earlier but I never got around to it. After the first week of Project: #MakeMyQueue, I have completed three of the original 47 projects. This brings me down to 44 remaining!

Those three projects are as follows:

 

Project #1: Whimsical Elf Couture Cowl (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/whimsical-elf-couture-cowl).

This pattern worked up fairly quickly as I used Cascade 128 in Charcoal and Rowan Colourscape Chunky on size 10 1/2 needles. The buttons were a huge bonus as I got 6 of them at Joann Fabrics for less that $3! I knew that I was going to use the same yarns for Project #2 so I needed the extra buttons for that.

 Project #2: Marie Cabled Slouch (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/marie-cabled-slouch).

A crochet pattern, this one didn't work up as quick as I wanted. The pattern was a bit of a bitch and took some work and frogging. Eventually I figured out where the pattern wanted to go and was able to crank this out. As you can see, the colours match perfectly to the Elf Cowl and I'll be rocking that ensemble for Christmas festivities tomorrow!

Project #3: Cobblestone Mats (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cobblestone-mats).

Front

Back

This pattern was done in black and white acrylic. I've wanted to make these for a while but never got around to it. Honestly, for being such an easy pattern, I thought it kind of sucked. The directions call to use 4 strands of fingering weight yarn held together. Ok, well, that's going to use my good yarn to make nothing more than coasters. Not acceptable. Two strands of worsted is the same gauge (sort of) and so I made this. I don't like it and it doesn't look like the cool cobblestone mats in the pattern, so screw it. I made one. I'm calling the "project" done.

Going into week 2, I've cast on Metalouse by Stephen West (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/metalouse).

Colour choices are KP Felici Sport in Recess for the Main Colour and Stroll Fingering in Peapod for the Contrasting Colour. I didn't get much done, as you can see in the picture below, but at least it's started.

Also, I'm working on Bolting, also by Stephen West (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bolting). I'm really wanting to wear that one this winter if I can. The fourth of 5 skeins is being added tonight. Progress so far:

Thus begins my #MakeMyQueue project! I'm hoping to blog about it weekly so stay tuned for updates!!

-Kobuu

MAKE MY QUEUE

Wow...2012. What a year. I can't remember a lot but there's been some pretty nice things that have happened. Most importantly, as of today (12/20/2012) I have completed 100 projects this year!!!!

A HUNDRED PROJECTS!!!!

You can see my Rav projects page here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/kobuu if you want the proof but still. A hundred projects?! HOLY CRAP! First one was completed 2/13/12. I don't remember why I didni't make anything before that but I do know that at that time I was recently unemployed and rather depressed. Once I found the Hook 'n' Needlers of Worcester, my knitting really took off!

Completed 2/13/12

Completed 12/19/12

Originally I was going to post pictures going all the way back to the beginning but I don't really want to at this point. I have Ravelry for that! LOL. Really I am prepping for my next big goal that makes Ravelers cringe: making all the things in my queue.

Yes, three days ago, I came to the conclusion that I was going to "make my queue". I sat for about an hour, went through my queue project by project and really came up with a concise list of 47 projects that I really wanted to make. I figured that few people had ever done such a thing as to knit all the items in their queue so here was my chance at doing something cool. My 2012 goal was to knit 100 projects and I'm going to beat that again later today when I finish the hat I'm working on. But the "make my queue" project is going well so far!!!

The rules are as follows (but I made them for myself and feel that bending them is ok...)
1. Knit/crochet the next project at the top of your queue
2. Do NOT give up unless the pattern is completely hopeless
3. Do NOT add anything to your established queue. Once you start, no more deletes or adds!
4. You can still buy yarns or patterns but they can't make it to your queue (see 3)
5. KEEP GOING!!! Start more than one. Don't jump around, go in order! Keep yourself motivated by looking at the number of patterns going down.

The thing is, most people that are on Ravelry, myself included, have always just added things to their queues and said I'll make that some day. Well that day is here!! It's time to take those queues by their horns and tackle them to the ground. No longer will you feel oppressed by the ever-growing list of  to do! YOU WILL DO IT!!

Well that's my goal anyway. I'm already on the second of those projects so I'm hoping to be down to 45 today. That's going to be a bigger project so it'll take some time.

More as it progresses!!!

DO IT ALL - NOVEMBER

HAPPY NOVEMBER!!!

This is going to be a BUSY month for me!! Let's run this down:

First there's No Shave November. This is also called "Movember" in the idea that you grow a month-long mustache in support of Prostate and Testicular Cancer. While I cannot actually grow a mustache, I'll be support the cause and grow what I can! You can make a donation and support the cause on my "Mo Space" here: Kobuu's Mo Space

Next there's the #NovKAL hosted by Knit Along on Google+. This month's pattern is the Grace Lace beret which I'll be making a little bit longer so it's more like a slouchy hat for me. I am currently waiting on the yarn for this so I'll be starting this a little late...

Pattern is here: Grace Lace Beret

Then there's the #NovCAL which is 5 weeks of hat patterns hosted by Crochet Along on Google+. I am, however, only doing one hat. I will not have the time to do 5 in a month amongst other things. The pattern for week one was the Phannie beret which I actually made a few days ago (yes, in October).

Pattern is here: Phannie

And a picture! (Or two..)

Finally what I've been waiting for..... #NaKniSweMo!!!!!!

This is National Knit (a) Sweater Month!! Here's the breakdown:

I'm doing Brigade for Vic: Brigade Pattern

I'm going to be using Wool of the Andes Worsted in "Cobblestone Heather" which from the KnitPicks website looks like this:

 

I have 15 skeins of this stuff on hand for this sweater!

Today is Cast On Day. You can check out all the progress in TWO places. First there's the Page that I'm hosting: NaKniSweMo

And there's a Ravelry Group!: NaKniSweMo on Ravelry

Ok... I need to get back to work so that I can go on break later and then cast on!!

Take care, yarnies!

-Kobuu

POST!

Good morning my fellow Googlers and Fiberatti!

Well it's another day. I don't have much for pictures or anything as I've not finished any projects this week. I know, I know, hold it down. Normally I knit faster than this and have made at least something. Well, this week has been a bit weird and though I have a few projects going, I haven't finished either of them!

I have discovered a couple of new albums of music though, and that makes me happy. My past is filled with music and I've always enjoyed exploring new sounds and new music. Therefore, as a slightly off topic post, I give you my two most played albums of the week. This won't be a regular thing but I feel it's my obligation to share music that I love.

1. Owl City - The Midsummer Station:
This album is the next in line for Owl City. The solo voice on this is Adam Young and the latest collection of songs is something from the past and present. I would say about half of them are just bubblegum and sugar. Really, just catchy tunes and things that you can dance to. The other half, however, is a mix of interesting sounds and melodies. "Shooting Star" is probably my favourite track and then there's "Take it all Away". The beats are different and the lyrics moving. He's even slowed it down with "Silhouette" which is kind of dreamy. Overall though, it's a great disc to throw in and just let play. Start to finish. Really nice.

2. A Silent Film - Sand and Snow:
I had NEVER heard of this band before and I know nothing about them. I was driving with Vic one day and "Harbour Lights" came on XM. I thought, hmm I really like this sound! I made a note in my phone and when I was home I looked them up. Oh man, I was blown away! From beginning to end this album is ethereal and magic. The songs are moving but not weird, if that makes any sense. The first song "Reaching the Potential" is odd but beautiful and it makes you think. Then "Danny, Dakota & the Wishing Well" is like an epic story of young love triumphing through the battle scars of life. Also, the beat in that one makes you want to dance but the message doesn't which is an interesting juxtaposition. "Harbour Lights" is a melodic ode to a lover. Lightly catchy, it's an extended metaphor where the lead repeatedly says "you were my rock by never my stepping stone". It's interesting and wonderful and I just love it.

Ok...that's enough from me today. I promise the next post will be knitting or something. Just thought I'd share!
-Kobuu

#WIPWednesday : Blogged

My, my how the time flies! I cannot believe that it's nearly the end of September and that I haven't blogged since August some time.

Xmas knitting has been pretty much my main focus for the past few months. I have plenty of yarn so I have no worries of running out. Just wish I had more time in every day to devote to actually getting things done. My biggest complaint is that I have work, then driving, then home. My weekends should be a time to go out and have a good time but my hours are usually spent getting projects done. And Vic wonders why all I do is knit! LOL

Well, at least I can say that I have more than half of my holiday knitting done. My dad and sister are definitely all set. As is Suzie. I have some friends that I want to make things for but I haven't figured out what I'm going to make. Being knitters themselves, it's hard to pick out that thing they wouldn't make but that you can make within a specific amount of time. It's like one of those verbal math problems that doesn't make any sense...

My Ashton shawlette is what I've got for today. Each row, though, is going to take a significant amount of time to get through. Here's hoping I get time to do so today. Ordered my wires for my sweater and I'm really hoping they just show up today. Even if they don't, the lovely Kristina will be letting me borrow hers! Need to get crackin' on those sleeves!!

Other WIP's: Vic's tie, TARDIS cowl (which may be getting frogged in favour of something else), Hitchhiker's shawl, James' hat (that's my CEO), REALLY want to cast on Bolting again...

Pictures? Nah. I post enough pictures to my stream. Or I would have to NOT do that and leave them for a blog post which is silly. And yes, Kristina, that was a split-infinitive, however, as a Latin scholar, I would argue that it's also tmesis and therefore wonderful. :)

-Kobuu

#WIPWednesday - Blogged!

Just a quick update today as I need to actually get cracking on some work. After making two adult sized hats already this week, I needed to get back to Xmas knitting. Last night I picked up my lace shawl and sunk myself into my work. I was able to get another whole section repeat done and start the 3rd. Two more and then on to what will basically be the end.

Hats!:

<- This one went to Vic.

This one is going to the tattoo artist that will be inking me during the Boston Tattoo Convention->

The lace shawlette is a bit trying but if I focus, I'll get there:

And those hats are so easy and delicious, I'm making myself one too! Here are the colours:

Rather than all one, I'll make each repeat of the pattern alternate in colour. I've made this pattern three different times now so I understand the construction well enough to start experimenting.

Ok, that's it! Gotta get back to work now!

Take care, Yarnies!

-Kobuu