(no subject)

I did, indeed, get sick, but not with what my roommates had. I THINK I had an ear infection, because my ear was painful, especially when I swallowed, and it was all down the right side of my neck and mouth. By Saturday, when I was realizing that I did not have whatever cough they did, I thought if it hadn't cleared up by Monday, I would go to the doctor. Thankfully, it DID clear up, and I do not have any lingering other-symptoms, like the cough that still plagues my roommates.

Went to work sick on Thursday, but went home early, crawled into bed, and stayed there until Sunday afternoon.

Vacaciones! I sewed up the sleeve mock-up, did a quick fit test with the completed-to-there dress, deemed it Acceptable and carried on. Sleeves were stitched and basted into the armscyes before I left for work. Tuesday morning I fitted them on the dressform, got into stays to test how they looked on me, and with one minor adjustment deemed them Acceptable and carried on. After a costco visit they got fully stitched and straps placed and stitched, and then removed all of the basting.

That means my Angelica gown is DONE, minus any of the extra bits that really make the look. My inspo gown has a small ruched trim on the neckline, which I think I will copy. Pictures still forthcoming because it was late, and then...

Downhil after that. I woke up on Tuesday at 8:30am and aside from a brief nap yesterday at 9, I have been awake util 6am this morning. Yes friends, if you're keeping track, I was awake for 45.5 hours and I do not recommend it. I don't think I've ever been awake that long before. Awful! Zero stars! Never go here again! I couldn't *do* anything because I was too tired, mentally, and I spent the two nights-into-early-mornings reading an absolutely banger of a Bridgerton fanfic that was 188k words. I am TIRED still, I only slept for about 5 hours total, but it's more normal and less... whatever that was.

I spent some time on Tuesday with my fountain pen and wrote out a big list of projects I want to consider. I'll write those in a different post.

Projects for the future (Knitting edition)

I forget WHY i was in an old notebook (the past couple days kinda blend together), but I saw a reference to Knitting Comfortably, a (large!) book about knitting ergonomics, written by an ergonomicist. It was about taking stock of your projects and diversifying needle sizes, stitch patterns, yarn weights, etc. I did start it, and according to my early Google doc, that was... 2 months before apartment flood/pandemic. So obviously that was NOT a priority.

It did get me thinking about future projects and what I want to be working on. I had decided some months ago that I wanted to work on a variety of things, and only one (or two) TYPES at any one time. So like, one pair of socks, instead of three or four. One shawl, instead of 17. One sweater, instead of several awwaiting sleeves. And I decided I need to hand write this list, so I refilled my fountain pen and started writing.

Definitely Yes Projects

Sweaters

Yellow Sweater (Cascade Heritage Sock)

I had picked out a pattern for this, but then the designer showed her ass online and I no longer care to support her, even with using patterns I've already purchased. I think I will make a plain sweater for every day wear.

Maema Cardigan (Ancient Arts Socknado)

Yarn purchased 2 years ago. I almost picked this up to start a couple months ago before realizing that I had some Big Projects upcoming and would not have time to work on this.

Throwback/Throwover (Patons Classic Wool)

Picked this yarn out and purchased it LITERALLY the day I was sent home. I have enough for the throwover version, but I kinda like the cardigan version better. But the cardigan version requires one more ball of yarn, which I do not have and kind of don't care about acquiring? (I can't get it locally, so it would need to be ordered online, and in which case I might need to buy LOTS of yarn to make the shipping worth it, and budget hasn't allowed...) Perhaps I do make the cardigan, but I plan for and attempt steeking? (for the non-knitters, it's securing and intentionally cutting your project, it's terrifying and something I want to do). Maybe I could eke out enough to put a zipper in instead of buttons? It's a thought.

Accessory Sets

I enjoy knitting socks, they're an ideal travel project, and I prefer shorter socks that cover my ankle but don't rise too high on my leg. 48 rows (12 ribbing, 36 pattern) gets me pretty close to perfect. But those also use only half of a full size skein, so what do I do with the other half? Accessories! I have one set of socks and mittens from the same yarn and it delights me to no end when I wear them at the same time. So I can do mitt/ens, a headband, maybe a smol neck thing like a cowl...

I made Roomie M a pair of mitts and matching headband, and I would like one for myself. So that's a definite yes, even if I haven't quite decided what yarns to use. I also want more fingerless mitts for those days when I want warm hands and available fingers, for some reason I have only ever knitted one pair, 10 years ago, of which one is missing.

Shawls

Ziggy (Yarn Ink)

This is a very lacy pattern and I like to let lacy items shine with a less complicated yarn. This also fits into "diversify" because I don't have a lot of lacy projects on the go atm.

In Progress

I currently have 2 shawls in progress (one was for a knitalong that has now ended and I am nowhere near close to finished; the other was purchased early lockdowns and it's not a very FUN knit, even if it is INTERESTING), one pair of socks, a baby blanket. One crocheted blanket I haven't touched in 2 years, and a scarf project ready to start, a large Grogu plush.

Maybes

I have 2 very colourful + 1 plain skein for a shawl project that I had started and frogged. Lots of single skeins that have no plans but perhaps may one day be more shawls (I really like knitting shawls). Two sweaters that were frogged. Another sweater-quantity that I had thought for a colourwork project, but that really requires a stickier yarn.