Weekend Wind-up

Well, I'm back from my two-week hiatus. And you know what? I managed to accomplish what I set out to do...and then some!

If you recall from this post, my challenge to myself was knitting two items that wrap around the neck.
They haven't been blocked yet, but that is due to weather in Sasebo, which has been switching between raining and very high winds. I can't use the floor inside for anything thanks to three cats and a crawling baby, so blocking has had to wait.
But here's the Common Bean:

And the Windsor Warmer:

And I also decided to make a sock monkey. It's crocheted, so not technically a sock monkey, but it's still handmade, which is better than the cheap piece of yuck that I saw on a friend's baby registry. (Yes, the sock monkey will be a shower gift. Along with a diaper cake, because I'm a show-off like that.)
His ears aren't sewn on yet, for some reason they've been giving me issues, but here he is:

Pretty neat, huh? But wait, there's more! Since the expectant friend is also planning to use cloth diapers, I had to knit her some diaper covers as well:

So there it is. Two weeks of yarnalicious activity!
The next two weeks are supposed to be dedicated to motifs. Hopefully I can do this!

Weekend wind-up

It's Labor Day Weekend, so I can post this on Monday instead of Sunday (which is good, because yesterday I really didn't have a chance to write this.)

I've been thinking, and knitting, and planning, and I think I have a method worked out.
For now, anyway.

Here's the schedule thus far:

September 1-14 – Neckwear

Common Bean
 I actually have this one mostly finished, I cast on yesterday and now I'm just 12 rows away from binding off.
I'm using Berocco Voyage (love this yarn!)

Windsor Warmer
 This one, I've done a gauge swatch, but my size 7 needle tips are attached to another project (along with the 40" cable), so I'm trying to decide how I want to go about it. I may just choose a different project.

September 15-28 – Granny Squares

Beyond the Square : 13 motifs (or, a motif each day with a day off)
The nice part about this, is that I already have seven motifs made from this book, so to"close" this book I only need to create 13 more. (Curious about the ones I've already made? Check them out here, here, here, and here.

September 29-October 12 – Hats

Hurricane Hat
 I have the perfect yarn for this, and it will become a Christmas gift for my Aunt Sue. The yarn is mainly purple, her favorite color.

Little Nutbrown Hare
 I will have to do some digging to find a sock yarn that is not "too girly" to knit this for Clinton. We have "Guess How Much I Love You," and it's also the theme of Clinton's baby book. So I have to knit it.

Ballyragget
 I bought the book, "Contemporary Irish Knits" by Carol Feller, and then gained an undisclosed amount of weight while pregnant. I am too big for most of the sweater patterns in it (which is a bummer,) but I can certainly make the accessories.

October 13-26 – Children's Sweaters

Lizzie's Little Hoodlum
 This is in progress. I'm stuck on the sleeves. I don't like knitting sleeves. They are really, really boring.

Link's Greyson
 I've made this pattern for Clinton, now his cousin will get one.

October 27-November 9 – Neckwear

Multnomah
 I would like to make this shawl because it is very pretty. And I have a lot of sock yarn, despite not knitting socks.

One-Skein Scarf
 To balance out a full-sized shawl knit in fingering weight, I need something quick and easy. Plus, I've had this book for years and so far I've not crocheted much from it. 


So that's the plan. Of course, this is all subject top change without notice. Especially since I may have to stop and make a Halloween costume, plus knit a baby gift for my pregnant coworker...
But that all just makes for more blogging material, so it's all good.

Enjoy the holiday weekend!