So, since I finished a pair of socks, I started a pair of socks.  I’m using a free pattern called cubist socks.  They are turning out to be really adorable.  I’ve had to shorten the leg quite a bit, again because of my calf issue, but again that doesn’t bother me.

But then I broke my rule and started yet another project.  It’s short though, so maybe it doesn’t count in the grand scheme of things.  I decided to use up the leftover yarn from the Vogue stockings to make a beret.  Actually, I started using other leftover sock yarn, but I didn’t like how it was turning out–the acrylic yarn seems to be a better fit for the beret than the wool, making it much softer.

Yet, my projects were with me all the way.  On the field trip, I started my second Vogue stocking.  (No, I’m not quite finished with the first, but it was simpler to start the second one on the trip.)  At home, while I convalesced, I managed to finish the back of my Zarabel sweater.  And in between everything else, I finished the first sleeve for my Spanish Moss Coat and got the second started.

I’m at that point where I’m itching to start something new, but I’m trying to be good.  I kind of like this combination I’ve got going though: a pair of socks, which are easy to bring along places; a crochet project, to give me a sense of accomplishment, since they go so quickly; and a big knitting project that I can pick up and put down as I get frustrated.

My first Vogue stocking is nearing completion, but I need to finish a whole other sock before I can wear them.  I am getting very close to the point where I want to try them on to see if I need to add more to the length.  I’m not very tall, but my calves are wide, which often makes socks shrink lengthwise since they have to stretch so much widthwise.  It might not be an issue with these, though, because of the all-over lace pattern.

My Zarabel sweater is also progressing nicely.  I’ve reached the point of splitting the front and back in order to shape the armcyes.  The body of the sweater should be finished in the next week or so.  It will be exciting to try it on for the first time, but it will still be quite a ways from being finished as I’ll still have the sleeves to do.

And is it just me, or do sleeves always seem to take forever?  I think the problem is that I underestimate how long they will take.  The seem like a small thing, so much narrower than the body of the sweater.  But when you think about it, the sleeve head is usually about as wide as the body–er, half of it anyway–so the sleeves should actually take about as long as the body.

Which brings us to the Spanish Moss Coat.  I’m working on the sleeves.  Enough said, right?

So, three projects that I’m very happy with so far and am very excited to wear that will in no way be ready to wear within the next couple of months.

So, while I’m on row 50 of the Zarabel sweater, I still have miles to go.  And though I’m half way up the first sleeve, I’m still many hours away from having both sleeves done in order to start assembling the coat.

In similarly dull news, I made a mistake on my second Mojo sock and decreased the heel stitches WAY too quickly (as in every row instead of every other).  After mulling over it and wearing the socks for a while, I’ve realized that I’m just not willing to live with it, as it significantly interferes with the fit of the sock.  So, now I’m procrastinating on that because I don’t want to deal with ripping my work back and trying to pick up the stitches without completely ruining all that work, but at the same time, I won’t let myself start another pair of socks until I deal with it.

I’ll end on a good note, however!  After working on the lace pattern on the Zarabel sweater, I’m feeling confident enough to tackle the Vogue lace stockings again.  I really think I can do it this time.  Plus, the motivation is better now that the weather is warming up and I’m not so obsessed with warm wool socks.

Then, of course, there is the beautiful Sólás Caomh with the trim edge from my Aragon Tunic.

And one more photo, because my darling kitty is in this one…

That’s never been  more apparent to me than today.  My husband and I did about two hours’ worth of yard work in the early afternoon today.  When we had finally finished, washed up, and sat down to watch a movie together, I picked up the sock that’s nearly completed.  Wow, did my hands hurt!  I could barely hold those little size 1 needles.

I couldn’t possibly sit through an entire movie without anything to work on with my hands, so I got out my Spanish Moss Coat.  I was nearly finished with the second front piece, which meant that it was going to take a little more focus to keep track of my decreases than the sock was, but the larger size hook was something that my tired hands could handle.

So, now I’ve successfully finished the body piece of my coat, and have even started on the first sleeve.  The socks, unfortunately, will have to wait a couple of days until my hands have recovered.

It all started because I need more college credits to move up the pay scale at work.  There is a university that offers classes specifically tailored to teachers at the local high school, which is only about a quarter of a mile from my home.  This winter they offered a course in book making geared towards use in the classroom…a way to engage students in the learning process in addition to creating a way to display their work.  It sounded like fun, and was relatively inexpensive as far as college credit goes, so I signed up even though I didn’t know any other people who would be taking it.

Wow!  Did I have a blast!  While I have several ideas for how to incorporate this in my classroom (I’m thinking a poetry book for the eighth graders and a mythology report for the sixth graders), the course went beyond simple structures for children and got into the quality of books that I’d like to make for myself and as gifts for friends.

Now, I need another hobby like I need a hole in the head, so I’m avoiding paper stores and the clearance section of Michaels until I actually need to purchase supplies for my students projects.

But for now, let’s get back to my yarn hobbies, which is what you are really here for.  I’m making slow progress on my last mojo sock.  It should be finished soon-ish.  They are cute…not exactly my usual taste in socks, but I think the pattern works with the yarn.

I’ve also spent a little time working on my Spanish Moss Coat.  I keep pausing on this project because it seems like such a huge task.  When I think of all I have left to do, it’s a little daunting.  So, I’m trying to just focus on my current piece (which is the last body piece).  I still have the sleeves to make, assembly, and then the front edge trim.

My Veronica sweater is still sitting here next to me waiting for the hooks to be sewn on.  Yeah.  I need to get to that.

And, of course, since I have to have a dozen projects going at once, I’ve started two more.

The first is a set of Victorian manchettes (cuffs for a pair of underseeves).  The pattern is from my Riego book from 1850 and they will hopefully be worn with my Dickens Fair dress this year.  It took a little bit of trial and error to figure out a threat and hook size combination that would produce a cuff that fits my wrist perfectly, but I hit the right mix with size 80 thread and size 14 (0.9 mm) hook.  I’ve already made one major modification though: the pattern calls for each row to be cast off so that each row is crocheted from the right side of the work, but I am crocheting it back and forth.  While this may have already affected the shape of the poof-motiff, I simply cannot fathom weaving in all those ends after I finish the cuff.

I’ve also started crocheting little squares to put together for a charity blanket using my leftover sock yarn.  I’m using a pretty simple mitered square in single crochet, but in the back look only to give it a great texture.  I’ll have to make quite a few more socks before I have enough squares to make a blanket, but it’s fun to have the little squares to work on for when I need a break from my larger projects.

Today I finally managed to finish winding that 900+ yards of yarn for the sample I’m supposed to get finished in a couple of weeks.  I’ve actually got another skein of the stuff, but I’m not even going to think about winding it unless I absolutely have to!

Then there is the hoodie baby blanket that I’m still plugging away at.  (Why, oh why, do I fall in love with the knit baby blankets?  This is what I’m supposed to know how to crochet for.)  At any rate, I think I’m just going to knit to the end of my current skein before binding off and starting on the hood part.  I’m hoping that will go quickly because I know for sure that the border will take forever.

And finally, I’m working on knitting a kitchen towel out of leftover cotton yarn from my Log Cabin baby blanket.  It’s actually looking kind of cute for something I’m just winging, so I’m feeling a little proud of this project.  (Plus, I just got passed the halfway point, so it’s starting to look somewhat finished, which always feels good.)

At this point, I can pretty much pick up a project no matter what room I’m in, which keeps me wonderfully busy, but it means that my progress on all of them is starting to feel a little slow.  Fortunately, after this coming week, I have a week off of work.  I’ll be using some of that time to work on a sewing project, but I’ll at least get some pictures uploaded of all this other things I’ve been working on.

I bought Cascade’s Venezia Worsted, which is a little heavier than the pattern calls for, but it was just too lovely to pass up.  A blend of wool and silk, it has a beautiful sheen with a lovely hand.  I’m absolutely loving it.  I’ve got the fit in the shoulders and armscye perfect, but it’s a little tight around.  To compensate, I’ve done about four rows of sc down each side of the front closure (that pattern only calls for two rows down one side in order to create the button holes), and I’m going to use hooks instead of buttons.

I also did the collar before working on the sleeves, because I want to see if I can make them full length.  I now have one sleeve half done and have just started on the second with about two-thirds of a skein left.  I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

I’m also continuing to make progress on the hoodie baby blanket.  Slow but steady wins the race, right?

And then, as if I don’t have enough projects going on right now, I’ve also started knitting a kitchen towel with the leftover yarn from my Log Cabin baby blanket.  It’s turning out kind of cute and should also be nice and functional since the yarn is 100% cotton.