Reyna Shawl Finish

I posted this in-progress blocking shot on instagram the other day. This is the Reyna Shawl by Noora Laivola, and it is a very late Christmas present for my Mama. When it was dry, I promptly unpinned it, admired it, tried it on, then packaged it up and posted it. It was supposed to arrive yesterday.

I have NO photos of it, and I am taking solace in the fact that I know I'm not the only one who has been so eager to gift something that they completely forget to snap a photo. In fact, I've done it before, and I'm 99% sure I'll do it again. Still, UGH. Nonetheless, it is finished, and it is the fourth finish off my Q1 FAL 2017 list.

We dropped off friends at the airport this morning after a lovely visit, but now, life must return to normal, and I have laundry, homeschooling, and kidlet affairs to juggle. What does your Tuesday look like?

FIP (Friday in Progress?)

I'm calling this Friday in Progress, and sadly, Friends, I have little to report. Vanilla is apparently quite snug in my stomach and wants to stay put, a fact with which I am finally coming to terms--but I have been busy with lots of baby prep and even some resting. My freezer is full of ready-to-cook crockpot meals, everything for baby is laundered and put away, our homeschool is planned through the end of the year, and I've knocked a few other annoying tasks off my to-do list. I haven't felt a huge rush to nest this pregnancy--with Fava, I decided one weekend that our dining room table had to be completely sanded and repainted because there was no way I could bring a child into a home that featured a table that chipped--so I've been taking it slow. Which is good. Because walking slowly seems to absolutely wind me at this point.

And for some reason, my motivation to sew has been zapped. I picked up my middle son's big boy bed quilt from the long-armer, and I love the way it turned out. The boxy design is maybe larger than I expected, but I actually like that about it. I've yet to trim this bad boy or even start work on piecing the binding, but I do know I'm planning to bind it in the lime solid we used. My son is sooooooo excited for it to be done, and he's asked if he can sleep under it every night once I've finished. That does a mama's heart good.

I attached the binding to Vanilla's baby quilt, but I've gotten little done on the handsewing front. (I'm one side down as of this morning!) I really need to step on this, especially since I'm still planning to handquilt those friendship stars, but even as I type this, I'm yawning. Maybe something about that quilt just makes me sleepy?

I have been making some knitting progress on my mama's shawl. I went up a size in needles after my other shawl turned out too small, but even still, I think this is going to run on the small size if I just stick with the pattern. Thankfully, this one looks like it will be a breeze to just add rows until I'm content with the length. I'm enjoying the pattern and the look, and I'm thinking I might knit up a second one after I finish this one, but with much larger needles.

That's what's going on around these parts. How are you? 

Mustard Landing Shawlette

I had cast off my first shawl...ahem, shawlette, more on that in a minute...a few nights ago, and I decided last night was finally the time to block this bad boy and get 'er ready for this fall. Though the temps have been in the 80s for the past few days, apparently tomorrow is supposed to dawn with chillier weather full of wind gusts.

I used the Indigo Landing Shawlette pattern, which, for a first shawl attempt, was awesome. It had some fun detail, but it wasn't like a kajillion different types of lace. Definitely the right pattern for me!

This was only my second attempt at blocking anything. I did kinda sorta block my knit socks, which mostly consisted of letting them soak, trying to get as much of the hot pink dye out as possible. This time, I looked up a tutorial, let me shawl soak for thirty minutes, then carefully dried it as much as possible and actually blocked it. I had grand hopes that blocking it would shape it decently enough for me to wear it.

I woke up this morning, and my first thought was--shawl! I raced--okay, waddled--downstairs and removed the blocking pins. It had shaped well! And...

...it was still way too small.

My first problem is that I picked a shawlette pattern, which I didn't notice until I was about to cast off. (Go me! Super observant!) 

As for problem number two, well, I knit tightly. I always have. I don't know why. I even tried to be extra relaxed with this shawl, but nope. It still turned out too tight. And even though I added a TON of rows in an attempt to lengthen the shawl, it won't wrap around my shoulders, which is just SAD. I even knitted a gauge in an attempt to be responsible, which I NEVER DO. In the past, I've always gone up a size in needles, which hasn't been a terrible thing as I was usually making stuff that didn't require shape. Next time, I'll just trust my gut and use the bigger needles.

But, that doesn't mean it's not a super cute tiny scarf thingie. And if I manage to procure a shawl pin instead of using a hair clip, I bet it would look EVEN CUTER. So I'll definitely wear it, and the yarn washed up so soft and comfy, and it's warm. My husband even thought it was supposed to look like this, so it rings of intent. But I still want a shawl! And a shawl I shall (eventually) have. (If you know of a good shawl pattern, hook a girl up, will you? Keep in mind I am not a super advanced knitter.)

This is my second finish from my Q4 FAL list. Woo!

Latest Yarn Addition.

The yarn on the left is a skein of glorious hand-dyed yarn that my amazing mother-in-law bought for me in Alaska many many many years ago. (It may be over 10!) I have technically been knitting for a long time, but mostly squares and rectangles. This yarn was so glorious and beautiful that I didn't want to knit it up in a plain ol' scarf. It needed a majestic project. I needed more skillz. And I needed more comfort with a pair of needles in my hand.

After knitting up my first pair of socks, I figured I would attempt a shawl, and while I was unpacking, I pulled out my lovely beautiful Alaska yarn. I think it's meant to be. I teamed it up with this yummy mustard color from a the most amazing LYS that I visited yesterday, and I'm in business! I'm always super inspired by Alia and Samantha's knitting (and sewing!) adventures, and after watching them churn out so many lovely shawls, I want one too!

Hot Pink Socks!

I made some socks. While riddled with mistakes, they are definitely wearable, and I'm not sure I'm ever taking them off of my feet because they are soooooo comfortable.

Dear Hot Pink Socks, 

I love you. Be mine forever. 

Love, Audrey

I have no idea what kind of yarn I used to make these. I went into the yarn store, riffled through their sock yarn collection and was mildly disappointed at the demure, quiet, and respectable selection that they had. Tucked in a bottom cubby behind lots of other skeins was one powerful skein of self-striping hot pink glory. Honestly, the store was probably thrilled to see the skein sell--it obviously didn't fit in with any of the other yarns.

Also...these are totally my first finish from my FAL 2016 Q2 list. YES.

Q2 2016 FAL List

Friends, Q1 saw three finishes--almost four!--from eight proposed WIPs. I am pretty stoked about those finishes because they were well earned. And this quarter has a list just as exciting as Q1, if only because I have about a kajillion baby quilts to finish. (This list only has the three I've planned so far!)

1. Negroni shirt for husband 

I completed a muslin that was waaaaaay too big. 

I need to make another before proceeding.

2. Hot Pink Socks
One sock is knitted; I've turned my heel and need to finish up.
DONE

3. Midnight Mystery Quilt

Top needs borders, baste, quilt, bind

4. 241 Tote for Me
Planning to use some C+S and other prints; materials gathered
This will probably not happen. But I can dream.
DONE

5. Baby Quilt for Mel
Fabric cut; needs assembly
DONE

6. Baby Quilt for B
Fabric and pattern assembled

7. Baby Quilt for A
7/9 blocks made; need to sash and join

8. Quilt for K
blocks done; need to sash and join

I'm linking up! Are you? 

Q1 FAL List 2016

Can I add about twelve exclamation points to this post's title! O to the M to the G, I am so excited to be starting off 2016 with another delicious FAL list into which to sink my teeth. Can you feel my excitement? Better yet, do you share it?

1. Frozen Watermelon Quilt
Top done, needs to be basted, quilted, bound
DONE

2. Dad's Star Quilt
DONE
Top done, needs to be basted, quilted, bound

3. Negroni shirt for husband
THIS IS SHAMEFUL. I have done NOTHING. (Mostly because I'm terrified.)

4. Hot Pink Socks
One sock is knitted; need to start and complete the second

5. Midnight Mystery Quilt

Blocks are done; need to finish assembling top, baste, quilt, bind

6. 241 Tote for Kim

Pieces are cut
DONE

7. 241 Tote for Me
Planning to use some C+S and other prints; materials gathered

8. Dress for Me
By Hand London's Anna pattern; delicious yummy voile from Fancy Tiger Crafts

I'm linking up! Are you? 

Checking In.

There is something about starting a new quarter that really makes me review what plates I have spinning. (And wow. Do I have a lot of plates spinning!)

I have two major long-term projects in progress--my Gypsy Wife quilt and my City Sampler quilt. As I'm handquilting my GW quilt, I imagine it won't get much attention until the fall. It's just too hot to sit underneath it and stitch away. My CS quilt needs 4-5 yards of background fabric to set the blocks, and I don't want to start setting them until I can devote my full attention to that project. Since both of these projects are for me, they are low on the priority list.

I have two quilt tops waiting for action. The first is my Memaw's quilt top, pictured above. Call me crazy, but I'm considering tying this one. As for the second, my daddy's quilt, I just finished it--pics on Friday!--and I'm waiting to make a decision on how to quilt that one as well. It might be headed to the long-armer to save me some time--I'd like to have it finished before I see him next.

I have a bunch of small projects in the works, including this pair of socks--my first!--that I cast on a couple of days ago. I also have an EPP table runner, a set of four placemats, and a small pincushion to finish up.

Then there are the new projects waiting in the wings. My fabric for the Midnight Mystery Quilt is almost ready. (I need to purchase and cut a bit more lime.) I have another baby quilt to start. I have a dress, a shirt, and a couple of bags to make. My oldest son will be attending a homeschool co-op that starts in a month--should I make him a backpack?

Eep! There is never enough time, but I'm definitely feeling it today! If your to-sew/WIP list a kajillion miles long?