Tag: current wips

Current Reads and WIPs

Current WIPs & Reads | July 2024

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Hello and welcome to a little post about my current knitting WIPs and current books I am reading. Yes, I am reading books, who would have thought?

Current WIPs

All yarn and projects laid out on a bed.

Trifle Wrap by Helen Stewart, this is a really exciting project since I am making it to wear on my wedding day next Spring. I figured it was best to give myself a ton of time to work on it between other projects that I need done sooner. I am using yarn from Cape May Fiber, Chelsea Luxe Yarn, and Sewrella Yarn.

Shell Cottage Socks by Helen Stewart, this pattern/sock is going to be used for Sock Week 2024 hosted by Knitty Natty. I decided I want to finish a sock before sock week so at the end I have a finished pair of socks. I am slowly trying to make my way through my Helen Stewart socks and this pattern is a great mixture of mindless and action. I am using yarn from Urban Girl Yarns, which is really an awesome sock yarn I have been enjoying very much working with.

Current Reads

For the first book I am about 5% from finishing, it is Who Censored Roger Rabbit by Gary K. Wolf, it is actually the book Disney took to create their movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit. It has been very interesting to see the characters I know from the screen and rewatches put in different situations and be a bit different. I do reccomend if you enjoyed the movie for sure, but keep in mind it is different. Disney took some leeway.

The second book I picked up this past weekend at a bookstore about an hour away from where I live. It is called People From My Neighborhood by Hiromi Kawakami and transalted by Ted Goossen. I read half of it in a single day, I love it so far. It is broken up into small chapters, where each chapter tells a story about someone or something that happened in the neighborhood. It also has a little touch of magic, giving this a feel of a magical realism. Also, it is great fun to slowly get bits and pieces of this town to slowly build your own picture.

Thanks for Reading! ClassicBhaer.com

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For the record: everything I’ve written here is entirely my own opinion.These views do not reflect or represent those of my current or past employers.

Current Reads and WIPs

Current WIPs and Reads | August 2023

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Hello and welcome to a little mid-month check in with the book or books I am reading and projects that are keeping me busy. I will say, I already finished a book this month…who am I?! But, I am still working on another that I believe will last me the rest of the month because it a TOME. As for projects I am, as always, working on a few.

Current Reads

American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, which is about J. Robert Oppenheimer. Yes, I did see the movie Oppenheimer and then promptly picked up the book the next time I went to a bookstore. This is a tome, but I am reading a little bit at a time and really enjoying learning a bit more about Oppenheimer. I can’t say that this is an aspect of history I really ever delved in, I never thought to look up who or whom created the atomic bomb and their stories. After seeing the movie, I became curious and as is customary, not everything can be kept in a movie so I am already seeing some information that is new to me.

Current WIPs

Completed ribbing on knitting needles on couch next to lemon themed yarn bag.

While I have about four WIPs or works in progress on the go, I am really focusing on two at this point in time. The first being Wyethia by Jessica McDonald (Ravelry | Website) This is a really nice shirt with lace along the bottom that I really would love to finish ASAP so I get some wear out of it before the weather cools off. As of writing this I am done with the lace, body, and have split for front and back. I am currently working on the back, so I don’t have a ton more to do. I am using Concept by Katia Cotton-Merino in color 59 (gray), which is 70% cotton and 30% wool.

The second project I am really just starting is my Tessellated Vest by Andrea Mowry (Ravelry | Website) for New York Sheep and Wool this year. I am using a kit I picked up from Farmer’s Daughter Fibers using pincycle Yarns Dyed in the Wool in the color ghost ranch (wool), The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers Oh Dang! in the color clay dreaming (alpaca suri silk blend), and The Farmer’s Daughter Fibers Spinster’s Daughter in the color willow creek (wool). My goal is to work on this and finish in time to actually wear it to the festival. Since I decided to work on the vest, I think I will be able to do it in time.

Thanks for Reading! ClassicBhaer.com

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For the record: everything I’ve written here is entirely my own opinion.These views do not reflect or represent those of my current or past employers.

Current Reads and WIPs · Let's Talk

The Book and Projects I am Taking On Vacation

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Four skeins of textured yarn surrounding a kindle with The Only One Left cover displayed.

Hello dear reader! Today I am going to share the books and projects I will be taking with my on vacation this year. Last year I went a little over the top with packing, I actually wrote two separate blog posts, Books I Took With Me On Vacation and What’s In My Project Bag, Vacation Edition. I only read one book the entire time I was there and as for the projects, I only worked on one as well. So looking back at this and reflecting, I don’t need to overpack again…or at least try not to. While looking at my shelves and yarn stash I ended up settling on what to bring with me, here they are!

The Book

The Only One Left by Riley Sager: I really fell in love with Riley Sager when I read The House Across the Lake last summer. It was a perfect summer read that kept me on my toes, engaged, but also had unexpected twists and elements I was not expecting. Since The Only One Left just came out on June 20th, I new I needed to read it sooner rather than later. So, I am bringing it along with me as I travel. From the description it looks like it is going to focus on a gruesome crime that took place in the early 1900s, from my impression that the individual is inspired by Lizzie Borden. The book itself takes place years later, when our narrator moves into the house the crime took place to take care of the one many believe to have committed the crimes.

Projects

The main project I am going to be bringing with me is Hedgerows Shawl (Ravelry | Website) by Fox & Folk using Chelsea Luxe Cozy in the color Spring Chicken. This is a fresh start project, I wanted a brand new cast on for my travels. Not only that, but this shawl is simple, beautiful and meditative. It is mostly garter worked from the largest edge to the smallest. It features an edging of flowers along the longest edge. I felt that this was perfect for travel, it only needs one set of needles and is a singular color. Plus, I am spending my vacation in the woods so creating something with wild flowers on it sounds like a perfect combination. I will admit, I am planning on bringing another project along with me, but I am unsure of how much I am going to be working on it. I am planning on bringing along a sock project that is more portable for when I am out and about. The sock pattern I have settled on is 04 Ipseitas by Emilie Hallet from 52 Weeks of Socks Vol. 2. At the time of writing this I have no idea what yarn I will be using or at least no idea what it looks like, I am in a sock yarn swap so I am planning on using that.

Thanks for Reading! ClassicBhaer.com

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Knitting, Crochet & More

Knitting WIP Parade

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Hello and welcome to a what is going to shape up to be a post on the longer side. Since I have been on the quite side and updating some things on the blog (I still have some things to do as well), I wanted to take a moment to share all the projects I am currently working on. So, if you are not familiar with what a WIP parade is. It pretty much is just showing all of the projects you are currently working on. In some cases others will take this as a moment to maybe determine to frog or unravel a project as well. I am not going to frog any of my WIPs I am talking about because I recently posted, Projects I Decided to Frog, but I will be evaluating my project priorities.


Coming Together (Website | Ravelry) by Lisa K. Ross

The start of a multicolored and textured shawl in a bag full of balls of yarn.

This is a gift project, they picked out the pattern and yarn in October 2022. I ended up casting it on in March. I am in the fourth section of it and I am enjoying the process. The only thing is I really need to pay attention while I am working on this pattern since the sections are so different and I am learning a lot of new stitches. I am planning on slowly working my way through each section and hopefully be done by October.


Intersections (Website | Ravelry) by Marceline Smith

The feet of two textured zigzag socks that are partially done connected to the ball of yarn and knitting needles.

These socks are my first socks I am knitting from the book 52 Weeks of Socks, I did a post a while ago called 52 Weeks of Socks | Series Introduction. I am still planning on keeping track of my experiences knitting from this book, but a lot of other things got it in the way. As with the last pattern, this as well as others from the book, I need to pay attention to and isn’t a pattern I can just watch tv or read a book while working on. I would really love to finish these by the end of the month since I only have the legs and cuffs to do at this time.

Test Knit Seashore Dress by TheLittleWolfKnits – Unreleased at this time

Start of a dress on the knitting needles sitting on a couch.

This is a really fun test knit I am flying through for TheLittleWolfKnits. I have never knit a dress before, but I am really loving the process so far. This picture is a little outdated at this point, but I finished the body of the body of the skirt as well as the bottom ruffle. It is shaping up to being a really awesome me made wardrobe piece. I am planning to finish this by Mid-July.


Ghost Whisperer (Payhip | Ravelry)by Park Williams

Start of a mohair (lace weight) shirt on the knitting needles.

This is a summer cast on that I have been wanting to make since the middle of Winter. I ended up casting it on during the last week or so of May and I am flying through. This is an older picture once again. I am actually on the back shaping currently. I am planning on finishing this project this month as well. I am excited to throw this over a dress during the hotter months.

Thanks for Reading! ClassicBhaer.com

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For the record: everything I’ve written here is entirely my own opinion.These views do not reflect or represent those of my current or past employers.

Bullet Journal & Planning

February 2023 Bullet Journal

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Hello and welcome to a little peak of my bullet journal. Last month I did not share my bullet journal because I decided to try something new and if I am being honest, I loved how it worked out. I was in a way worried about sharing because I am not using my bullet journal in a typical mannor, but blending two things together. I decided to make my bullet journal a hybrid with a commonplace book as well as a brain dump. A while ago I did an experiment with the idea of a commonplace book, Let’s Talk | Using a Commonplace Book. I really liked the idea of having a single notebook to just put whatever I wanted, but at the time I made it a separate notebook. This time around I wanted to simplify my life a bit and consolidate things a little by breaking things down by month and adding my random notes, quotes, and information. Along side or in-between that would be my habit trackers, weekly plans, and whatever else I feel like adding to my bullet journal at the time.

Materials

Spreads

Blog Calendar and Kanban Board

This month I decided to add a spread to see an overview of my monthly posts as well as a kanban board to better help me keep track of where I am in regards to writing, taking pictures, and scheduling items. On the left I just drew a calendar for the month of February and left it blank so I can write in my posts later on. On the right page I broke it down into four sections; ideas, written, photos, and scheduled. I also placed a few tabs where I can write the title of the post so I can move it across the page as the post is in different sections. I have used this type of tracker in the past and it really worked wonders for me staying on top of things.

Monthly Goals, Current WIPs, and Weekly Knitting Goals

The next two spreads are my monthly goals, current WIPs, and my weekly knitting goals. In regards to my monthly goals on the left-hand page I decided to try something new. I really love the look of little calendars as habit trackers and I wanted to give it a go. I decided to have a total of 5 trackers; reading, making, 10,000, no spend, and BUJO. I lined them all up on one side of the page and then next to those I added my goals and current WIPs.

Goals

  • Read 20 days
  • Make for 28 days
  • 10,000 steps 14 days
  • No spend 20 days
  • Complete 2 projects
  • Complete 1 book

Current WIPs

  • Oslo Hat (BF)
  • Hazel Neck
  • Underwing Mitts
  • Big Cozy Cardi

While all of that is on the left page, I decided to put my weekly knitting goals right next to this so everything I would need to reference goal wise is all in one place. I ended up doodling 4 trackers that look like binder or notebook paper. On each one I labeled it with one project that I wanted to work on throughout the month, not necessarily finish it. Then each line on the page was labeled a week by their numbered days, I ended up having a little of January and March in there, but I figured a little overlap is good than cutting anything off.

Weekly Spreads

Lastly, I am going to attempt to use some weekly spreads in here again. I am keeping it simple with each week having its own page. Then from there each day is labeled with the number of the day and a letter for the day of the week. Each day is then further divided into two sections labeled as, events and to do. I wanted to make sure I had a space to add a to do list, because I love a good to do list, so I broke things down this way.

Thanks for Reading! ClassicBhaer.com

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For the record: everything I’ve written here is entirely my own opinion.These views do not reflect or represent those of my current or past employers.

Current Reads and WIPs

Current WIPs and Reads | January 2023

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Hello and welcome to a midmonth check-in where I am sharing the things I am currently reading and my works in progress and share how I am feeling about each of them. I am happy to report I am finally reading a bit. Not nearly as much as I have in the past, but I am making some progress in that regard. Due to this, I am reading a few books that I am going to be talking about. On top of that I have two projects I am working on as well. Without more rambling, here are my current reads and WIPs

In progress knitting projects and my eReader on my bed.

My Current Reads

I am currently about half way through Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. I am buddy reading this with Misty’s Book Space and it has been really fun reading this book in small chunks and talking about it weekly. So far I am enjoying the book, the author has done a really good job with setting the mood and establishing the characters and setting. There have been a few things I could have done without, but over all I am enjoying it. I am very much in the phase of I need to keep reading to see what happens next, which has not happened in a really long time. I am very happy that it seems like my reading mojo might be returning.

The second book I am currently reading is Sundial by Catriona Ward, this was also a buddy read, but I did not keep up with it sadly. I am still reading it though and I will finish it! I will be a good buddy reading partner lol. I am enjoying this story, it is a horror thriller, but I am enjoying Ninth House a bit more at this point. But, I have a ton to read still so I am curious to see if I feel the same by the time I finish them. I think the main reason is this is more a thriller\horror where as Ninth House is more fantasy/mystery dark academia. Both are written well and, like I said, I am liking them both.

My Current WIPs

The first project I am really focusing on is the Sophie Shawl by PetiteKnit (Ravelry|Website), I started this project in December of 2022 and I would really love to finish it and use it. I am over halfway done at this point and the width of the shawl is getting smaller from here on out. I think I should be finishing it within the week. It is going to be more of a scarf than a shawl in my option. I am also enjoying making one half black and one half white, The second project I am working on, which is more of a background project is the Big Cozy Cardi by Andrea Mowry (Ravelry|Website). This is more of a long term project that I am working on a little each day. I am loving the pattern and process for sure. It is going to be a big oversized cardi with a mohair collar, so it is going to be super comfortable.

What are you currently reading or working on?

Thanks for Reading! ClassicBhaer.com

Links to my other socials!

For the record: everything I’ve written here is entirely my own opinion.These views do not reflect or represent those of my current or past employers.