totchipanda

Roomie J ended up working yesterday so we did not see a movie, but we did catch up to what's currently available for Criminal Minds and like. It ended on a cliffhanger and we were very prepared to stay up and watch another ep, but there's no more! It's airing weekly, and is currently on break until the 12th. We have to WAIT like regular TV watchers.

Instead of trying to fix my sweater knit (I dropped a stitch RIGHT on top of a YO increase, so now I have to figure out how to pick it all back up, UGH), I wound up some yarn and started a new pair of socks. I still have to finish the last pair, but that's literally a kitchener graft and they're done, and that just didn't sound like fun, so new pair it is!

On Monday I took myself downstairs! My jacket looks great! I cleaned up my table (not that it was all that messy, really) and said to myself, we are going to fix these stays. I added 1" of length to the front and 1" of width at the bottom front, moved the tab-on-the-side-front-side on the side-back to the side-front piece (did that even make sense?) and prepared a side-back tab/gore/insert with the now-two-tabbed side-back, to match an example in PoF5. I did not CUT the side-back piece, but did cut new front and side-front out of cotton (which could be used as lining, if it worked), and pinned on a zipper to try it on. Without bones and the like, it seemed pretty good, so I cut new pieces. I'm out of the heavier linen I was using on the first two versions so the fronts got cut in a mid-weight. And I haven't gone back to it yet.

At work today, so I can print the pieces I need for the pattern test. I applied for another test, though I likely won't be chosen bc I never have been for that time period.

OH! I also retrieved the corkboard that had the WIP list pinned to it, and I actually did remember most of what was on it. Yay me! I'm still gonna update the entry here, just for funsies. I like putting strikethrough tags on lists, what can I say.

Finished sleeve #1 of the cardigan last night. That means I have just ONE MORE SLEEVE of the 5 I had at the beginning of the year and then I am DONE!!! And then I can start on new sleeved garments XD

On Saturday, I forgot to go to the pharmacy for my brain meds, and they were closed Sunday. I felt relatively ok on Monday morning so chose to wait until the end of the day to go get them, and that was a mistake. I was already kinda zappy and out of sorts on Sunday night, and by 4pm Monday I was really out of sorts, getting really anxious (there were a lot of loud teenagers at the bus terminal, I just wanted to run away so bad), and my tummy was doing weird things. Popped that into my mouth as soon as i could. I went to lay down as soon as I got home, also because I hadn't slept well the night before (two 2-hour chunks) and my whole body was EXHAUSTED.

Feeling much better today. Normal tired. Brain hasn't zapped in a couple hours. Sigh of relief. Never ever ever want to do that again.

My gift cards deliver on Mondays, so I got them yesterday. I had to leave work early for a mammogram (all clear; routine scan) and then once I got home, I ran straight to the store to buy the system and game. It cost me a whopping $7 of my own money XD.

I am about to lose all of my knitting time to video games (perhaps; I don't sit still well like that for too long) but over the weekend I did manage to finish my hat, block it and a one-skein shawl, both of which blocked beautifully, and put a full ball of yarn into my sleeve. I'm a little worried I wont have enough, as it's currently under half way finished, but I did need to put quite a bit of yarn into the short rows at the top, so it might be ok. Plus I have some partial lengths kicking around, and the sleeves are the last thing I need to do, the button bands and collar are already done.

And then I cast on a pair of socks with a matched set of self-striping turquoises and coral mini, because I wanted to make a second pair of socks from a pattern I tested a few years ago. Because who even am I if I don't have at least one type of each project on the go? (sweater, shawl, and socks currently on various needles. Clearly I need to another hat and a pair of mitts to that list)

On the weekend J and I ran some errands, mostly to pick up a GORGEOUS skein of yarn I had purchased (it was limited to 40 skeins, and I saw it then, and the next morning there were 16 left, so I snapped one up. By the end of the business day, it was sold out) and his desk which was a whole other saga. Then we braved the grocery store at 1pm, built his desk, and made the most AMAZING dinner.

I spent a couple hours in the sewing room, putting darts in my vest and then welted pockets OVER the darts (that was terrifying; also my lining fabric is horridly slippery and shreddy, 's what I get for using the worst polyester because it's in my stash) and cut heavy linen to interface the fronts. Now it's time to baste it down and I said lol nope! I'll get back to that soon.

The fandom friend I made this exchange with reminds me probably once a month how amazed she is that I agreed to this and then followed through on it, and that she still things she got the better end of the deal. I can't really describe how delighted I am to have had an excuse to do a thing I was planning to do anyway, this just gave me the right incentive to start it lol. Tailoring is a different skillset from dressmaking, it's utterly fascinating to see this coming together and that I'm the one doing it!

Still full of ideas about an early 1920s wardrobe. On the hunt for That Perfect Mix of things that feel good on my body and fit my vision of how I move through the world. It's not a very clear vision... but it's there, and once I can see it fully, nothing will stop me from achieving it.

I am back at work today. My work's rules changed to 24 hours symptom free, and everything cleared up on Sunday.

I finished my second of three unsleeved sweaters! I got the majority done on Sunday, and yesterday I just had to finish the sleeve cuff and then do the button bands and collar. I played yarn chicken and lost. Had to rip the collar back one full row, and then used EVERY LAST SCRAP, including one of the tails from where I had joined a section and an extra-long tail from the other sleeve to finish the bind off. One of the longer strings from the original knitting had breaks in it, and it reminded me that Guido had "hunted" one of the balls when I brought the yarn home, carrying it into the living room in his mouth while crying that "I caught it!" cry he so rarely did lol. It should be fine.

Then I blocked it, which I NEVER do right away. Now that the tools are out, I'm going to block a different sweater tonight lol.

Since those two are done, there is one more left. The sleeves are fully cabled, which means I will have to do them one at a time. I have already put the collar and button band on, and it's been sort of blocked bc it got wet with ceiling juice when my apartment flooded. (I washed it already) I CAN DO THIS! I even pulled out a ball of yarn to start with! I might even start that tonight.

AND THEN!!! More sweaters!!! I already have yarn for two, an open cardigan and a buttoned cropped cardigan. I no longer support the designer, but the yarn was purchased for that specific project, so I may go ahead with it after all. I haven't decided yet. One designer I like just put out a new pattern today that she is hosting a knit-along for, so there's a good chance I'll hop onto that too. I don't tend to buy sweater quantities of fingering-weight yarn, but I have 2+1 of another set that I had started to make a shawl with and have since given up. It's not quite enough as written but... I might be able to make it work.

I'm free!! Free of the sidewalk! My car DID start on Tuesday (took 20 mins to defrost the ice enough to be safe to drive) and I had to go backwards first, but I escaped the street! I'm back on my driveway and I am STAYING THERE until the roads and the drive into the complex are drier. I picked up my roommate from her work and then we did a Costco run, where we found a giant squishy baby Yoda. Not the Squishmallow, but suitably large and squishy! I'm very pleased with it. And pleased to be off the street!

Hi-LAR-iously, I have a pick up note from Canada Post to go get a package from the drive-through post office (major eyeroll). I have until the end of the month to figure that out.

Last night I was feeling ambitious, but not ambitious enough for sewing, so I got my one-sleeved sweater and started knitting the remaining sleeve. I knew it had been awhile that it was in-progress but I had forgotten just HOW long. I started it December 2018, and I remember it being the sweater I taught myself how to knit continental on bc I had smashed my right hand on my steering wheel a few weeks earlier and cracked my knuckles open. I couldn't tension the yarn with my right hand anymore.

Sleeve #1 was started well in advance of its completion in August 2020. So I went to pick it back up and YEAH so EXCITED to GET THIS DONE. Did I note what size I was knitting? Of course not. I guessed I made a medium even though I said in my Ravelry notes that I was going to knit a smaller size.

Now, of course, my shape has changed since 2018 lol. Ah well. Let's get it sleeved and try it on first before making decisions.

My work project is almost finished, and in the long boring hours of coiling books by hand, I am back on my 1920s wardrobe bullshit. I have Plans for *all of the things*. I have energy for all of the things when I cannot work on them (of course).

We'll see how much of this happens, but I'm feeling inspired right now, so let's make a project list ;)

Sewing

• Work on the UFO list, I won't detail it here but it's stuck to a corkboard
  
• Green silk jacket to go with the matching silk petticoat
  
• Really work on my fit issues - full belly; square shoulders; full, low bottom
  
• Because I'd really like to get some fitted items made, like stays
  
• Finish my suit project. I left off with a waistcoat draft.
  
• Really make an effort to get the room cleaned and set up the way I want. Some day I'll get it finished and painted but for now, let's focus on layout.
  

Knitting

• Finish shawl
  
• Finish roomie's mitts
  
• More tiny socks
  
• Begin to make a dent in my sleeves (1/6 complete) before I'm allowed to make new sleeved projects
  
• Hat cast on for Christmas (I deserve it)
  
• More socks. I think I don't like wool socks until it's -20C out and then they are the best things ever.
  
• In that vein, more adventurous socks. I picked out a couple lace patterns I want to try.
  

I've decided to knit a shawl. I guess I hate my hands and/or shoulders lol. But I'm stuck on colours :( Most of my yarn is in not-substantial amounts and of course I'm in the midst of "don't buy anything!!" mode, so I'm gonna stick to stash. I have some large balls that I'd purchased a good 10 years ago for Hogwart's scarves, so I have untouched 1lb balls of yellow and dark green, and a chunky grey. I have some small-amount-taken-out 1lb balls of red and navy. Those 5 are my main choices for the main body colour since I'm all but guaranteed to have enough, and they are also choices for the stripe colour. In addition, I have some olive green, purple, and some black I could also use.

Ooh, right now I think I'd like a green shawl with yellow stripes (I might change my mind on the stripes, but green shawl, o yea) It's gonna take me awhile to get to the stripes, so I'll start with that and see where it goes :)

I also should really finish the project I started with the navy yarn, a navy shawl with grey stripes would be even BETTER (omg mid-Victorian Hogwart's Ravenclaw student!!!!)