Keeper of the Progress Markers

I don't usually use progress markers. I love them, think they're cute, but most times I just don't use them.

A lot of the stitch marker sets I get come with a progress marker. So, I had 6 or 7 of them in bags. Not being used. Then Carrie, of the Creative Obsession Podcast had an episode where she shared a gift she made that was specifically for progress markers. She used a metal sock blocker, single crocheted around it, wrapped some yarn around that, and hung progress markers from it. Perfect!

Instead of using sock blockers, I bought an embroidery hoop and yarn from Red Heart. I singled crocheted around, wrapped some yarn around that, and made a tassel. Then I added my progress markers and the lsg4life key chain. It took around an hour to make, and I am pretty darn pleased with it. Today I even added another progress marker that I found with a skein of sock yarn.

You can check out Carrie and the Creative Obsession Podcast by clicking HERE! Her podcast is full of knitting, quilting, painting, and so much more. She is crazy talented. And very sweet.

She also dyes yarn! Check out her store by clicking HERE!

Six Months of Knitting

Hello! Once again I am such a slacker. I had planned to write this post in the beginning of July...it is now more than halfway through. Oh well, best intentions and all that.

As I wrote in my post about what I've read during the first six months of the year, this list is what I've knitted or crocheted. Like with the reading list, I wanted to keep track, have something to actually look at, and really see what I managed to accomplish. The reasons for doing all this? I wrote about it in the reading list post if you feel like checking it out.

Now, some...most of the projects on this list I have written about already. There are some waiting for me to get better pictures, etc. etc. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to write about them all. Until then, enjoy The List! 

1. Henry's Blanket (crochet)

2. Irene's Blanket (crochet)

3. Henry's Socks

4. Blue Tweed Socks (Knit Picks Tweed Sock Yarn)

5. Ziva Socks (SeeJayneKnitsYarn)

6. Scrap Granny Square Dog Blankie (crochet, leftover yarn)

7. Anti-Valentine Socks (Stranded Dyeworks)

8. Coffee Shop Socks (Knit Picks Stroll)

9. Bill & Fleur Socks (Norah George)

10. Weekender Sweater (Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Tweed)

11. 12 dishcloths for Easter gifts ( Lily's Sugar and Cream)

12. Castiel Hat (Hedgehog Fibres)

13. Graham Hat (Berroco Vintage)

14. Mermaid Socks (Norah George)

15. Concetta Cardigan (Miss Babs Yowza)

16. Crochet Comfort Shawl (Caron Simply Soft)

17. Barnsider Socks (Wicked Ewe)

18. Inversible Socks (FibreNymph Dyeworks)

19. Peter's Blanket (crochet, Bernat Blanket Yarn)

20. Dad's Father Day Socks (West Yorkshire Spinners)

21. Ashley's Shawl (crochet, Bernat Pop) This shawl has an actual name, but in my list I only wrote it down as Ashley's Shawl. When I write about it I'll have the actual pattern name.

22. Crochet Coasters (Lily's Sugar and Cream)

23. Ester, Ernie, & Enid Chickens (only one, made out of scrap yarn)

24. Playing with Mom's Makeup Socks (The Budget Knitter)

And there you have it! 24 different projects made in the first six months of the year. In amongst the list are two sweaters, four blankets (of varying sizes), and Eleven Pairs of Socks!!!!!

That makes for 6.33 MILES OF YARN knitted and crocheted by me in the first six months of the year. I'm kinda proud of that.

Playing With Mom's Make-Up

What?! Another pair of socks! I bet you didn't see that one coming. This pair of socks was actually the last knitted item I finished in June, and the last knitted item of the first six months of the year.

The yarn is from Will Spargur of The Budget Knitter. I first came across Will on YouTube when his crafting podcast came up in my recommendations. This colorway is Playing With Mom's Make-up. It is 467 yards of 75/25 Superwash Merino/Nylon.

I love the way this knitted up. Such a happy color combo, and very soft.

You can check out The Budget Knitter Etsy shop by clicking Here!
The Budget Knitter on YouTube...click here!

What I've been reading; The First Six Months

In February of this year I found myself filled with anxiety and the feeling that I had loss my sense of 'self.' With three kids at home, that I mostly take care of alone, my needs, wants, expressions get pushed to the wayside. For the majority of the week I am the sole 'adult-in-charge' and I feel a bit like I am always in crisis mode. 

My personality, my quirks, the little things that used to make up me have up and left so that the 'shit, this needs to be taken care' part can be front and center. If asked about myself I felt like the only thing I could come up with would be that I have three kids, I knit, and sometimes, if I have the time, I read. 

Unfortunately, the town we live in does not give me options for 'finding myself.' We are within 20-30 minutes from Grand Rapids, so our town has almost nothing because 'You can just go into GR for that!' Yeah, that doesn't work when you have three school age children, a limited budget, and no one to babysit. 

So, in an effort to show myself that parts of me might still be in here, I decided to keep a list of every book I read this year. I can look back and see the things I read for enjoyment, or learning, or as a pick-me-up. I re-read a lot of things. For example, one of the books on the list is like book 8 in a series, so I re-read the series before reading the new book. Plus, in May, when I was feeling exceptionally bad, I re-read a lot of books and fanfiction. Didn't add any of those to the list. Just new books. New-to-me books, with one exception as I will note below.

1. You've Gotta Get Bigger Dreams

     -Alan Cumming

2. Prairie Fires-The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder

    -Caroline Fraser

3. Call Me By Your Name

    -Andre Aciman

4. Know Not Why  (Kindle Book)

    -Hannah Johnson 

5. Omega Required (ARC Kindle Book)

    -Dessa Lux  (I was given an Advance Reader Copy for free to read/review)

6. The Shape of Water 

    -Guillermo Del Toro & Daniel Kraus

7. Just a Bit Shameless (Kindle Book)

    -Alessandra Hazard 

8. Raven Black

    -Ann Cleeves

9. Tommy's Tale

    -Alan Cumming

10. Not My Father's Son

    -Alan Cumming

11. Introducing Mr. Winterbourne (Kindle Novella)

    -JoAnna Chambers

12. The Year of Living Danishly- Uncovering the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country.

    -Helen Russell

13. Identity

    -Milan Kundera

14. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie -A Flavia de Luce Novel-

    -Alan Bradley

(This is my one exception. I read this book when it first came out. My mom got me hooked on the series. As a librarian she came across awesome books and hooked me up. I always wanted to own this series, so I am buying them as I can afford them. Plus, I am about three books behind and Alan Bradley has a new one coming out in January. I decided to buy and re-read the ones I read and buy/read the ones I haven't. I'll be caught up by January for the new book!)

15. The Glass Castle

    -Jeannette Walls

16. Knit One, Girl Two (Kindle Book)

    -Shira Glassman

17. Rainbow Place (Kindle Book)

    -Jay Northcote

18. Toil and Trouble -A Know Not Why Halloween (Mis)Adventure- (Kindle Book)

    -Hannah Johnson

And that is where June ends. I am currently reading the second book in the Flavia de Luce series. And knitting the sweater-that-never-ends. 

I also have a list of everything I've knitted in the first six months of the year. I'll add that here soon.

Instagram

I am on Instagram. I post a lot of pics of knitting (obviously), some crochet, my dogs, and that one time, about Stars on Ice.

You can find me by searching for @nerd_knitting. Or by clicking Here!