Mrs. Collins Makes Stuff

 Well, hi there! New month, new me? January is always such an unusual month. For me, it is always a hodge-podge of new hope, holiday hang-over, and a blend of excitement and dread for what is to come. January is usually a very busy “selfish making” month since I tend to knit for others from October to December. I kind of flip-flopped it this year and knit very little for others, and during the holidays, and started it in January. There is only one finished object, and, duh-duh-duuuuh! It’s not even a knitted one…

Finished objects:

The self-drafted game bag. I sewed this using one of the Husband’s blown-out pair of jeans. There is a separate post for this, so I don’t need to say more.

New cast-ons:

Zipper Sweater- Men (sadly, this was cast on twice…)

Works in progress:

Home Camisole

Travel socks

Shatar vest

Goals for next month:

Start work on an upcycle sewing project

Cast on a decadent birthday knit

Shrink Harris so it fits the Father

Put together other crafts to alternate with knitting

Get/ keep everyone healthy

 So yeah, not too much to report on the finished object thread. I decided to knit the Father a new sweater for his birthday. You know, one that actually fits him… I decided on the Zipper Sweater by Petite Knits. I bought yarn and the pattern and started to mark it up, then realized that even though it says Unisex, there is actually a whole other pattern for men. I was pretty ticked since this wasn’t a cheap pattern. I want this sweater to fit him, though, and be a sweater he loves, so I bought that pattern, too. I did all the right things. I measured dad, I swatched, I washed and blocked the swatch, and I measured my before and after to ensure accurate gauge. Everything was tuned in and on point. I cast on the neckband from hell (8 inches of 1×1 ribbing) then started the yolk. I separated for sleeves and was about halfway down the body. I was stoked! I was totally going to finish this in time for his early February birthday. I was going to see dad that night (1/17) and wanted him to try it on to ensure that this one fit. I took it off the needles and held it up. Oh girl, it didn’t look good. I tried it on, just to confirm my suspicion, and of course, it fit me just like it was made for me (36″- 38″ bust). It was, in fact, not made for me. It was, in fact, absolutely peeing in my Cheerios. Because I love to live in denial, I still had dad (42″-44″ chest) try it on, just in case it had grown 8 inches around during the workday. It did not. So while we were sitting there chatting, I unceremoniously ripped the entire thing (including the 8 inches of ribbing) out. I had to restart the next day. And then… my elbows started being assholes again. I don’t know what it is about my elbows discriminating against sweaters for my dad, but they sure seem to. The pain started when I was working on Harris last January, and just piped back up while knitting on the Zipper. What the hell, elbows? So I started again and am highly doubtful that I will finish the sweater in time for his birthday in February. Hopefully, I can figure out how to shrink Harris and can at least return that to him when we get together to celebrate. In the middle of all of that crazy I did my cute little sewing project and I am still ridiculously proud of her. It has sparked a desire to sew another small upcycle project. More to come on that next month. 

 So, January started out kind of okay. It wasn’t blazing trails, and as I have waxed trepidation in my end-of-year and New Year posts, I was going in under the radar. New Year’s Day was very chill, and I was off of work that whole week till the following Tuesday. I spent time with the Mother and went to spend the night with the Father. We were finally able to go to the holiday mini-golf place without being rained out. The three of us had so much fun. It was great to spend time with my dad and play games and such. Feebs loves going to see her Papa! That following Monday, I finally got to have lunch with Mr. N! It was so great to see him. The last time I saw him was at Mrs. Teeters’s memorial. I was pregnant then, so you know how long that’s been. It was such a nice catch-up. It is funny how little you can know about a person, and they still have such a huge impact on your life. That man basically got me through high school, and I never knew things about his private life. He turned 80 at the end of the month, which was another kind of crazy. That week began, and by the end, the world turned on its ears. There was major work and parental drama, the Husband found out he had to have surgery on his eyes to keep from going blind, and Feebs got an urgent appointment with a head and neck surgeon since it turned out that she does have sleep apnea. Her appointment was scheduled for the following Wednesday. That weekend was MLK, Jr. weekend, so I got to see Sister #2, which was delightful. I always feel bad, though, because I end up dumping all over her, and she just sits there and listens. When I ask what is happening in her life, she keeps it very short. Poor thing is liable to stop meeting up with me. That evening, we had dinner with J & L in Benicia. It was a beautiful evening. We enjoy their company so much, and they always make us feel welcome. Fast forward to next Wednesday, I had to leave work early so that I could take Feebs to her appointment, then take the Husband to get his right eye lasered. Feebs was scheduled for surgery to have her tonsils, and possibly adenoids, removed on 1/31. I figured we would be a few months out, so I was quite shocked that it was scheduled so soon. Feebs and I went to Ms. H’s house that weekend and caught up with her and Hon. It was a pleasant, though short, visit. The next week was the Husband’s second eye zap, Feeb’s pre-op appointments, and getting myself caught up in order to take the week of her surgery off. We were supposed to go to an in-law’s baby shower that weekend, but we wanted to keep Feebs out of big groups in hopes of keeping her healthy before her surgery, so we opted out and sent a gift. Oh, and she did her belt testing that week, too. She is now a camo belt and pretty nervous about having to start sparing. Everything else was just prep for the big day. Feebs was the first surgery of the day, so we had to be there at 06:30 for an 08:00 appointment. She did fantastic through the surgery. She came out of anesthesia really well, and we were home by 11:30. The first day went really well. (We are still in the healing process, as I write this, but no ill effects to report.)

 January is gone, and now we move on to February. I feel like we got a lot done in that month. There were some big learning moments (almost too many) and some scary health stuff, but we overcame everything. The Husband’s eyeballs are squared away now, and Feebs is recuperating nicely. I am very hopeful that was the end of exciting medical stuff for 2024. I need my people to be healthy and well. 

 I am incredibly happy that I get to post a Bingo card update in this post. A Sewing Bingo card update!!! I think my new goal is to work on one sewing project per month. I don’t even care if I finish it in that month. I don’t mind the thought of sewing WIPs. In fact, I kind of look forward to them. So here we go, update #1!

Loves,

M