Definitely a Schlump

 Mid-winter blues?  2020 hangover?  Stuck at home too long?  Whatever the cause, the lethargy is quite real. Trying to push through it, while having any sort of focus, is proving rather difficult.

I do know I used it as an excuse to replace my acrylic paints (I got rid of what I had the last time we moved); that and I had this idea for a raven-themed entry sign, but I hadn't the supplies to make it, (except for a wood circle I could use as a canvas that's been kicking about in our garage).

Can you paint your way out of a corner?

While waiting for paints, I bought a bag from Fibre Space because it made me snort:

I got banners for my ever-growing enamel pin collection:

The Spells pencil bag was from Evil Supply Co.   They no longer make them. :-(

I put a sleeve on one of the Ripple Crop Top Worsted:

And got out the yarn to cast on the next one:

Progress is being made on my Ladyhawke shawl and knitted sweatshirt as well:

I've even picked up Gaia's Garden again, albeit for rather short stints of time at a go, as my focus is prone to wander, (which is why I ordered paints).

I also convinced myself, for a whole three days, that if my house was dusted and orderly it would help.  Not so much.  I do feel less guilty about just sitting and knitting, but that's about it.

Zoe it wholly behind the sit and knit plan:

And now I'm knitting a sweatshirt.

 It was a pattern I bought before remembering, that as much as I like fuzzy, fluffy yarn in socks, in a shawl, as fluffy little toys...as a sweater, not so much.  I do have one, in mohair, and it's lovely.  The singe marks on one cuff let you know why it's not in standard household rotation.  

Then, during one of my marathon podcast listening bouts when my back or neck were giving me fits (a problem a little too often this year already), I heard one knitting podcaster mention she was living in leggings and sweatshirts, sadly ignoring most of her handknits.  

My brain very helpfully wanted to know, why not knit a sweatshirt?  Something soft, nice and over sized, but an upgrade from standard, off the rack sweatshirts. 

Then I remembered that pattern.  Why not just look to see if there would be a suitable substitute yarn somewhere?  Maybe something with some plant fiber content so it wouldn't be too warm to wear while working in the house or a cool Spring afternoon in the garden?  And could be worked nicely with three-quarter sleeves.

I may have found some Berroco Vibe on clearance, in Fern, one of the few colors left in any quantity.  It is exactly what I needed.  The yarn is soft, light and easy to work with.  The pattern is uncomplicated, once you cast on the correct size.

So...now I am knitting a sweatshirt, technically it's bespoke?:

The idea is that is will gently and successfully carry me through the last of a month I was done with once Inauguration Day was concluded with joy.

Yerba Mate Flowers and New Towels

 

My little yerba mate tree has beautiful little flowers!  Honestly, I had no idea what it was going to do, so it's been highly enjoyable to see what it does.

I bought new towels!  Mainly because Daughter bought new towels, in a lovely blue, proclaiming how soft they were, while not being overly pricey.  So I promptly went to see if they had a color that would suit.

I chose a bright green they had.  Is anyone really shocked?

Turns out, it is almost the exact shade of green as the accent tiles in our bathroom.  Definitely a bonus as we were due for replacement bath linens.  The bath sheets are not as big as I hoped, but still a more than serviceable size.

I finished my cream colored Trescao (only three more to go! Which is likely why I am knitting on something else entirely):

I am making these out of Berroco Remix Light, so they are comfortable, yet slightly fancy tee shirts, that will not look odd with the cycling skirts I am making.

I am about to get ready to start sewing the pieces for my Evie outfit (at least the first one).  The reading glasses and locket I already owned, (the locket does not have any pictures in it, but it does have art of the hemlock plant on the front).

I also bought a new tarot deck illustrated by a favorite artist of mine:

I haven't had the time yet to play with the deck much, but the artwork is stunning and makes me incredibly happy.

Really I have had everything bouncing around in my brain: from "yay! I have found the perfect deodorant!" to "what is wrong with being an anti-fascist exactly?" then rounding to "what color would Out of Cheese (redo from start) be?" 

 It's definitely been quite a start to the year.

Goji sprouts, knitting and a little fabric

 

Teeny, tiny, almost not there sprouts!  I soaked them in warm water before planting, like the instructions said, dropped them in dirt (couldn't really see where they ended up, those seeds are small), left the pot next to a big window and a heat vent.  Goji berry sprouts, in Idaho, in January.  I feel quite absurdly accomplished.

Managed to finish the first of the keep those joints warm fingerless mitts, winter gardening is a bit rough around here.  I pulled a couple of light fingering weight yarns out of the stash, one is alpaca, the other is wool, found a random free pattern that had sort of the right look/gauge and ran with it.

They are tightly knit and super warm!  The second one is already on the needles.

I've also made progress on the first Nott cowl:

Also knit at a super tight gauge, but with heavier yarn, so I can only manage about five rounds before my hands start to hurt.  Only three more to go, once this one is done.

I finished the body and front of one of four Ripple Crop Top Worsteds I have planned.  It's not really crop length.  The yarn is from Blue Moon Fiber Arts in their Ravenscroft colorway.

I've got one sleeve left on my second ( of five) Trescao tops.

Which I probably would have finished if I hadn't felt the need to cast on The Jumble Sale cardigan.  It is just the perfect thing to go with my Evelyn Carnahan  (scroll to the bottom)  inspired outfit(s).

The decision to put together said outfit is why there is now stripey fabric waiting to be washed:

The green will be a rather simple, self-drafted henley style top.  The striped stuff will be the ladies shirtwaist pattern.  As I already had this skirt pattern cut out (I'm adding pockets of course), appropriate shoes in my closet and accidently perfect eye glasses at hand, figured I may as well run with it, (I do absolutely adore the character).

I'm hoping the shirt pattern won't be too fussy to put together, as I would love lots of them.  Guess I will find out once the pattern actually gets here!  Not sure what buttons to put on the top yet either.  More pondering to do yet I suppose.

Of course this is the year I decide it's ideal to dress like an early 1920's adventuresome librarian.  Makes as much sense as anything thing else right now.

Happy First Tuesday in January?

 I lost the first few days of the new year to a rather unpleasant headache (my neck muscles have finally unclenched, mostly), which is entirely unfair as I stuck to water for New Year's to avoid that kind of start. 

My official number of completed knitting projects goal for this year is twenty ( I managed twenty five last year); the list I actually wrote out has thirty-eight items on it.  The list does not have any Dolores related items.  The fourteen Dolores kits I plan to complete this year are, apparently, an entirely separate list/goal/time stream in my head.  We shall see how things work out.

There are at least four patterns waiting for me to make muslins, that I might make garments that actually fit, about a dozen pieces (likely more than that) when the sewing is all done.  Once I get to them.  A couple of the patterns do need to be drafted from scratch, which does slow down the process a bit.

Which is likely why I checked the weather, went digging through my ever growing seed collection, picked out a lettuce, a kale and a tomato variety known for their cold tolerance, and plopped them in the surprisingly soft dirt in the pots on my sheltered porch.  

I may not see progress on the craft front as fast as I would like, but I may manage kale in February.

I mean, I've got vanilla and yerba mate in the dining room:

That is a pot of alpine strawberries I started from seed last spring in the background.

And yarn for another sweater will be here by the end of the week.  It's purple.