March isn't the most craftiest of times

Mostly because I'm so daaaaaamn busy.

And April's not looking so good either (in fact, I think my work load doubles in April. woot.)

Still, I finished my colorwork cowl.

This is a free pattern by Lion Brand, I think--called Hanna's Cowl.

This is v1 of the cowl, which I knit in 2013.

It looks ok in this picture but it was actually about 5 feet in circumference, which is far too long for my short frame. It also curled badly--not in the least because I knit too quickly in an eagerness to finish it in 13 days because it's really cool looking.

In 2014, I ripped it out. *sigh*.

So, this Feb I re-cast it on. far fewer stitches for the cast on, so it wasn't enormous. End result?

pretty! but too short (can't wrap it, alas) AND it still curls.

So, my choices are to a) rip it out AGAIN and knit it a third time to make it longer, but not too long (just right). b) leave it as it is and just fold it and be happy with it, or at least accept it for what it is or c) fold it (like in the image), then pick up stitches on the top edge and knit a seed-stitch band so that it stays folded and doesn't roll and is double thick and has the appropriate edgings on top and bottom.

I'm leaning for c, but I might yet convince myself that a is the right option.

I also finished a pair of socks for me and cast on another pair that turned out to be for me (I was knitting them on a plane. by the time I got to try them on they fit me and I wasn't gonna go back).
I ripped out 1 hibernating WIP (I don't know what possessed me, this yarn is hideous and I don't want to work on it. Wait, what if I added it to my shoulder cozy?) and made a wee cat toy out of the cast on edge, which broke instead of ripping back. And I am spinning the last 1oz of my 3-braids-of-blue fiasco from Spin the Bin 2015.

Between hibernating and active WIPs, I still have 15 things on the needles, and there's no counting the spinning projects in progress. *deep sigh* Don't get me wrong, I am not by any means a monogamous knitter and I love having things casted on so I can work on them when I want--but 15 feels overwhelming, and I really like having FOs. Maybe I could just *try* some monogamy. And I kind of like the idea of clearing my needles off--don't I *want* all these things? yes. yes I do.

still, some of them are epic (two blankets. a lace shawl. two sweaters that should actually fit me) and other ones require a lot of thought to fix because something's wrong (mittens+monsters; mawata mitts; witchy mitts; triangle of +2 luxury). Maybe I can just finish a few things and see how I feel.

Or maybe I'll hide from all the grading and research I need to do and cast on a third pair of socks tonight and watch x-files.

oh, I mean, really a quick list of yarn things

Oops, this is a knitting blog, not a work blog. Let me plan yarn at you, I know you all love that.

Fiber on my spindles:
1) half-done peaches-and-bruises (want to clear this off fast to start something new)
2) green laceweight (not even done with the first half. this takes FOREVER)
3) witchy bits on my turkish spindle--not a lot here but it's spinning up skinny so it's also taking a while
4) gradient of bits from Phat Fiber: also very slow work

That leaves the crappy spindle and the heavy plying spindle free, but I can't really work on either of them, darnit

Fiber waiting to be worked on:
1) navajo ply the rainbowy sparkle stuff
2) add extra twist to rainbow rambouillet
3) add extra twist to first blue crescendo skein
4) add extra twist to fresh LeM in corsair
5) finish spinning and then ply last half of romney/longwool cross, brown shot w blue and green
6) plying the sparkly batts with the Loop fluffy stuff Nebula

Fiber I want to be working on:
1) Ponds batt
2) Finch batt
3) brand new finn fiber from TWF
4) black and purple Highland Handmades
5) spinneretta's crocus stuff

stuff on my needles:
1) pair of sister socks #2, both at once
2) red laceweight shawl
3) colorwork cowl
4) edging of blanket
5) brown gradient scarf
6) Garter Squish in random wool

stuff waiting to be worked on:
1) Harvest sweater --pick it up and think about it
2) yellow mittens -- knit a third one so that the colors match
3) small purple laceweight shawl--finish and frame or what?
4) witchy mitts --thinner stripes?
5) cat mittens -- probably frog
6) takoma--figure out if I want it to be something else
7) silk mitts--pain in the ass to kit--spin instead?
8) Fwoosh thing--fugly. maybe make the weirdo cowl instead of a huge ugly wrap

stuff I want to be working on:
1) hat for Jake
2) hat for L
3) red honey cowl for me
4) mitts for aunty judy
5) new socks for me
6) new socks for twin
7) socks  for J
8)  a completely different sweater than takoma out of the takoma yarn

*sigh*

a quick list

1) make agq graphs as a function of type, redshift, and field, with error bars
2) calculate average agq for types and redshifts
3) make a table with types, avg number of gals within 0.5 Mpc, and Agq and errors (ala wold+lacy00)
4) make a few plots that describe the sample
5) draft damn poster, send to jake, mark, mark2, carol, pallavi, etc
6) call to cancel shot
7) do bills
8) do travel stuff online
9) work on kz from various papers/markemail
10) work on normalization from various papers/markemail

I keep trying to work on those last bits 'cause they've been on my mind a lot but right now 5 is most important and for that I need 1-4

oh, yes, and 11: resist temptation to knit all day.