On the Needles

Did you ever have any of THOSE projects that drove you crazy.  I actually have two going on at the same time.
This is the 4th restart of my Qwist Hat.  It is not difficult!!  My excuse is that I have a lot on my mind with a family medical issue.  I try knitting when I need a little distraction.  But I think I should stick with stockinet stich with no increases or decreases.


4th Cast On

Making a little progress.

Another project I have been fretting over for more than two years is the Great American Aran Afghan.  It started out as a class at a LYS.  We were going to do one block a month for 24 months.  I have completed 23 blocks but will only use 20.  None of the blocks are the same size even with blocking.  It was a frustrating project.  I thought I was a decent knitter but this project has undermined my confidence.  I am trying a crocheted edge to bring the blocks closer to size of the largest.  This project is not for the faint of heart.

 

On the Needles

I have been participating in Eat Sleep Knits (ESK) Yarnathon.  I am a Taffy Giraffe.  I wrote about it in this post.  I didn't need a 4th cast on but one of the tips broke on my circular needle!!!  In the overall scheme of things, needle breakage in the middle of the row is no big deal.  The past few months have been stressful with one of my DD receiving a cancer diagnosis.  Surgery was two weeks ago and she is doing amazingly well.  I have been her Mom-Nurse since surgery and enjoyed every minute of it.

 Picture #1 shows the broken needle.  Since I was in the car knitting (while the Big Guy was driving) I kept it carefully on my lap so as not to disturb the stitches.  Fortunately I had another pair of #4 circulars at home.

I had a few hours of knitting last night and made some progress on my Qwist Hat.  I love the little cable detail on the right side of the picture.

 

So life is looking up.  DD is recovering well and has a bright future ahead of her.  I am finally making progress on my Yarnathon project and I love it.

Stash Report

There hasn't been much movement in either my fabric or yarn stash.  While I am busy at my sewing machine, I don't have anything to show for it but next week will be a different story.

Nothing finished on the knitting front but I did do some major frogging.  My LYS asked me to do a KAL late Spring or early Summer.  I will be doing Architexture in Mrs Crosby's Train Case in French Chambray.  I hope to cast on this week even though I am trying to catch up with a few challenges.

Yarn in this week:  850 yards
Yarn out this week:  0 yards
Yarn in YTD:  850 yards
Yarn out YTD:  1480 yards

On My Needles

I want to participate in Eat Sleep Knit's (ESK) Yarnathon this year.  I wasn't very active last year.  This year I am on team Taffy Giraffe.  For the first quarter we can make any Melanie Berg pattern.  I chose the Qwist hat and hopefully Qwist mitts.  Other projects using ESK yarn may qualify for other badges. 

So the first time I came up short on my long tale cast on:

This will qualify me for the badge "The Big Short"

My next cast on I had more than enough yarn and made it a little further than the second picture.

The pattern is not difficult at all and is very pretty.  While trying to do this lovely project, I have been taking care of DD #2 who had major surgery this week.  Until I get into the rhythm of the pattern I cannot multi-task with this project.  Miss K went home today with her hubby and kids.  I will go out to their place Tues until the end of the week.  Hopefully I will be in a groove with the pattern.  I am not looking forward to a 4th cast on.

3rd CO for Qwist Hat
 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Judy's UFO Challenge 2017

In this post I listed 12 quilting UFO's I wanted to work on and hopefully complete this year.  Each project has a number and each month Judy lets us know which project to work on.  January was #3--Revolutionary Flare.  I managed to get it basted and started machine quilting in the ditch.  I still have quite a bit of quilting do but I will keep plugging along until it is done.

 

February's project is #9 which is Leftover Jelly Roll

My #12 is Labels for  finished quilts which I still intend to work on.  But I am going to change that to a Floral Jelly Roll quilt that I found and want finished.

17ufosin2017

One of the 17 in 2017 UFO challenges I found is Pomegranate and Chintz.  I love wing this blog and decided to join in.  I am trying very, very hard to finish my UFO's and limit my fabric and yarn purchases.  I managed 3 finishes for January.
Never-Ending Scarf:  I purchased the yarn in 2012. 

 Not only is it finished but it is my first Christmas present for 2017.

I have fallen in love with Julie Williams' Little Cotton Rabbits.  I hope this is the first of many little critters.








Wee Baby Blocks blanket was finished just in time for a our grandson's arrival.

I also managed to baste and start quilting Revolutionary Flare.



 I hope February will be as productive as January.  I am hoping to finish quilting Revolutionary Flare.