Check-In Post December 9th 2023

[badly_knitted]

Hello to all members, passers-by, curious onlookers, and shy lurkers, and welcome to our regular daily check-in post. Just leave a comment below to let us know how your current projects are progressing, or even if they're not.

Checking in is NOT compulsory, check in as often or as seldom as you want, this community isn't about pressure it's about encouragement, motivation, and support. Crafting is meant to be fun, and what's more fun than sharing achievements and seeing the wonderful things everyone else is creating?

There may also occasionally be questions, but again you don't have to answer them, they're just a way of getting to know each other a bit better.


Today's Question: No question today.


If anyone has any questions of their own about the community, or suggestions for tags, questions to be asked on the check-in posts, or if anyone is interested in playing check-in host for a week here on the community, which would entail putting up the daily check-in posts and responding to comments, go to the Questions & Suggestions post and leave a comment.

I now declare this Check-In OPEN!

Comments

[badly_knitted]

Managed to knit a whole 70 row arm warmer, the first of a shorter red pair. I'll start the second one tomorrow night.

[wiseheart]

Wow, go you!

[badly_knitted]

Thank you! *bows*

[althea_valara]

Wow, excellent work!

[badly_knitted]

Thank you! I can get a fair bit done while watching TV, since they're basic single rib.

[otpcutie]

That’s awesome!!

[badly_knitted]

Thanks! Only trouble is, I already have four pairs waiting to be sewn up, and I'm supposed to be starting a new sweater... I'll get there in the end, I always do.

[otpcutie]

You got this!! 💖

[badly_knitted]

If I can just get myself organised and make it through December...

[yarnofariadne]

Ooh amazing, well done!

[badly_knitted]

Thank you!

[wiseheart]

Today I've baked the last six batches of Christmas biscuits. Now I'm up to 30, if I count the two different batches of financiers as different biscuits. And since the first batch was made with walnuts, chocolate drops and freeze-dried strawberries, while the second one with almonds and lemon zest, I can see them as different biscuits, right? That's my story and I stick to it, just because 30 is such a nice, round number!

I worked on them from 9.30am to 6pm, so I'm well and duly done in for the day. Tomorrow there will be cookie decorating, but then I'll be finished with the Christmas baking frenzy. It was great fun, but I'm glad it's over, too.

[althea_valara]

That's a lot of baking! Good job, and rest well -- you likely need it!

[wiseheart]

Oh yes, my old bones are protesting a bit.

[badly_knitted]

Excellent! And yes, they definitely count as two kinds. They'll taste totally different.

Enjoy the decorating tomorrow. What a feast of biscuits your friends are going to enjoy!

[wiseheart]

The decorating is the best part - even though it is time-consuming.

[badly_knitted]

I thought the eating was the best part... ;)

[wiseheart]

True, but that is not part of the baking process. ;)

[badly_knitted]

Ah, fair point!

[otpcutie]

They sound delicious, well done💚

[wiseheart]

They turned out well, so I'm content.

[yarnofariadne]

That's a whole lot of biscuits, well done!

[wiseheart]

Thanks. It's good to be done, but I enjoyed myself immensely.

[althea_valara]

I have a plethora of things I could be doing. What that actual means is that I've spent a lot of time today not doing ANYTHING, because I'm cursed with multiple choices and can't decide.

I did bring the crocheted hoodie to Stitch Club on Thursday and got the majority of it frogged. All that's left is the hood. So yesterday, I cast on for the Central Park Hoodie. I was too lazy to make a large swatch, so I'm starting with a sleeve (it's worked flat) and seeing if my gauge turns out okay. I don't mind ripping back a sleeve if necessary. I'm doing the body of the sweater in the Heathered Gray with intarsia cables in the Pagoda (deep teal). So far, it looks pretty good! But I am still on the ribbing so can't tell about gauge yet.

I have picked out a pattern for the nieces' and nephews' snowflakes this year. Started to make one, but I can't find the hook I usually use so I'm using a different one. This hook works well with size 10 thread, but since this is a "one round and done" snowflake (aka, SMALL), I'm using size 3 thread. Gonna need a bigger hook, so it's on order...

...along with yet more thread, this time in red and green because while picking out the snowflake pattern with mom yesterday, she said, "You should make snowflakes for your sisters as well". Well! I did plan on placemats for older sister, but probably don't have time to complete them. Snowflakes don't feel right for them, either, so.... I have decided to crochet poinsettias for them. I must be mad. Because it's already the 9th, and our family Christmas party is a few days BEFORE Christmas, so I don't have much time. But I'm gonna try my hardest! I'd like to make one for mom, too, but I doubt I have time to make THREE plants.

So, that's what I've been up to. I really should be crafting something right now, but I keep picking stuff up, working on it for maybe 20 minutes, then putting it back down. Sigh. But I think I needed an "off" day - I've been going gung-ho with my studies lately, and that's been a LOT of work.

[badly_knitted]

Well done with frogging most of the hoodie and starting the other pattern. I really like that design, and the colours should work really well. Hope your tension turns out okay.

You're going to be busy making snowflakes and poinsettias! Good luck with getting them done in time.

Good luck with your studies too, you've been working hard.

[wiseheart]

An "off" day can be a life-saver sometimes.

[yarnofariadne]

You really have a lot on your plate - well done on your progress, and take those off days when you need them! ♥

[glinda]

I finished a baby hat, and I’m about to cast on another one!

[otpcutie]

Woo!!

[badly_knitted]

Woohoo! How many do you think you'll make? Or are you just going to keep on until you're tired of making them?

[glinda]

Well I’ve made two for the friend that’s due in February, and I’m planning a catch up next week with a friend who had twins a couple of months ago, so given how quick these were to knit, I’m going to try to have another two ready for them when I see her. And now that I’m on a roll, I’m realising how many friends and colleagues are pregnant at the moment, and I’ve still got another ball of baby wool left after the one I’m on just now so I think the answer is that I’ll knit them until I run out of the wool and have a wee stash to grab one from whenever another winter baby appears!

[badly_knitted]

Sounds like an excellent plan! You're really in a roll with the hats, and I'm sure all the new mums and mums-to-be will appreciate them. Can't have too many hats to keep baby warm.

[yarnofariadne]

Well done!