Knitting...
Mar. 22nd, 2026 06:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
koshka_the_catI'm almost done with the first shoulder. It's nice to have the energy to knit!
Of course, I go back to work tomorrow...
Of course, I go back to work tomorrow...
koshka_the_cat
A rare public entry
Mar. 21st, 2026 08:23 pmchocolatepotJust wrote an AH answer for a question that I'd had open in a tab for very nearly two weeks. I love doing that, it feels so much more like an accomplishment if the unanswered question has been bugging me for a while; I get to feel relieved to finally have it off my plate. Hashtag ADHD life.
Likewise trying to organize my writing in terms of plates. The not-Fandom Trumps Hate piece is more than 75% done, so the Regency romance is going to abide for a bit while I just focus on this one thing. And then I will have it done and can stop feeling guilty about it. And then I might celebrate with work on an actual fanfic for a bit, get another chapter in of this very self-indulgent SVSSS genderbend, before going back to work that I intend to sell. (When will I edit Grand and Glorious Feeling? When will I publish Arrow Collar Man? I don't knowwwww, it's scary to put your work out there and depressing to sell like ten copies in six months.)
I will also be mailing out copies of Dandies & Dandyzettes very very soon, and having THAT off my plate and not feeling guilty about it anymore will be incredible. I think it will fix me.
SO many excellent things to watch these days. Serially, I'm most engaged with The Pitt (what a glorious mess!!), but I've been slowly watching the new BBC adaptation of Lord of the Flies, which is really excellent on multiple levels. So well done, strongly recommend it.
Have to go to Philadelphia for work next week. Have to DRIVE AROUND in Philadelphia for work next week. Have to drive around in DOWNTOWN PHILLY AROUND INDEPENDENCE HALL AND THE LIBERTY BELL. I am so pissed off but am coming to a point of resigned acceptance that a) I can't get out of it and b) I may very well cry in front of my deputy on those days. So it goes.
Likewise trying to organize my writing in terms of plates. The not-Fandom Trumps Hate piece is more than 75% done, so the Regency romance is going to abide for a bit while I just focus on this one thing. And then I will have it done and can stop feeling guilty about it. And then I might celebrate with work on an actual fanfic for a bit, get another chapter in of this very self-indulgent SVSSS genderbend, before going back to work that I intend to sell. (When will I edit Grand and Glorious Feeling? When will I publish Arrow Collar Man? I don't knowwwww, it's scary to put your work out there and depressing to sell like ten copies in six months.)
I will also be mailing out copies of Dandies & Dandyzettes very very soon, and having THAT off my plate and not feeling guilty about it anymore will be incredible. I think it will fix me.
SO many excellent things to watch these days. Serially, I'm most engaged with The Pitt (what a glorious mess!!), but I've been slowly watching the new BBC adaptation of Lord of the Flies, which is really excellent on multiple levels. So well done, strongly recommend it.
Have to go to Philadelphia for work next week. Have to DRIVE AROUND in Philadelphia for work next week. Have to drive around in DOWNTOWN PHILLY AROUND INDEPENDENCE HALL AND THE LIBERTY BELL. I am so pissed off but am coming to a point of resigned acceptance that a) I can't get out of it and b) I may very well cry in front of my deputy on those days. So it goes.
Yarn...
Mar. 21st, 2026 11:39 amkoshka_the_catI bought three skeins of yarn for the lacy sweater. One got me through just over half the back. The front is slightly less yarn than the back, so the next skein will easily get me through that. Then the lace peplum, cuffs, crocheted (ugh) neckline and belt and belt loops (also crochet, but I doubt I'll do that. I'll try...) are left. The peplum is almost as big as the back though. It's a half inch longer than the underarm measurement (or whatever I decide) and it's wider. The pattern calls for it to be the same width, but I'm two sizes bigger on my bottom half, so I downsized the top of the pattern and am leaving the peplum the same size, or maybe even a tiny bit bigger, so it's going to be 26 to 38 stitches bigger.
So I ordered another skein. It's always so hard to tell how much you need with old patterns!
So I ordered another skein. It's always so hard to tell how much you need with old patterns!
Decision!
Mar. 20th, 2026 05:08 pmkoshka_the_catI held up the skirt pattern to me again. Floor length. I don't want to deal with taking a foot off of it, so I'm using the Melisandre/linen skirt pattern. It was exactly where I thought it was, neatly labeled 30s scalloped yoked skirt. I pinned the yoke pieces to the base, and pattern! I'm going to add a half inch to the side back pieces because the linen skirt does like to unsnap, but that's not worth a mockup.
Much easier!
Much easier!
More progress!
Mar. 20th, 2026 04:00 pmkoshka_the_catThe left shoulder on the sweater is growing, and I wound the second 450 yard hank of lace weight yarn into a ball.
The 30s dress bodice is almost done. I have to hem the sleeves and finish the neckline binding. The pattern calls for facing the sleeves, but that was too stiff.
As expected, I needed to tweak it a little once I sewed it. It's too long waisted in front and I opened the sleeve seams a little more. It's basically a kimono sleeve, but it has a seam at the top and the sleeve is open over the shoulder.
I'll do the hand sewing tonight and start the skirt tomorrow. If it gives me any trouble, I'll just use the seahorse skirt or the 30s Melisandre/linen skirt. That one does have flare that the seahorse one doesn't. I don't think it will give me issues though, even though I did notice it has straight edges where the original drawing of the layout has curves. We'll see...
The 30s dress bodice is almost done. I have to hem the sleeves and finish the neckline binding. The pattern calls for facing the sleeves, but that was too stiff.
As expected, I needed to tweak it a little once I sewed it. It's too long waisted in front and I opened the sleeve seams a little more. It's basically a kimono sleeve, but it has a seam at the top and the sleeve is open over the shoulder.
I'll do the hand sewing tonight and start the skirt tomorrow. If it gives me any trouble, I'll just use the seahorse skirt or the 30s Melisandre/linen skirt. That one does have flare that the seahorse one doesn't. I don't think it will give me issues though, even though I did notice it has straight edges where the original drawing of the layout has curves. We'll see...
(no subject)
Mar. 20th, 2026 07:45 amtotchipandaI got nothin' this AM. I was full-ass awake until 330 AM. I tried to sleep just after midnight, lasted 10 minutes before realizing that I was really heckin' restless and just gave up. I'll sleep when I sleep. Which was 330. I managed to drag myself to consciousness at 6:50. Heckin' tired, yo.
Hoppin' mad all day yesterday. I put one thread into the cross stitch and otherwise just let myself rot.
Thank fuck it's nearly the weekend. I have Things To Do (tm) but I can't wait to turn into a mushroom and only interact with people BY CHOICE.
Hoppin' mad all day yesterday. I put one thread into the cross stitch and otherwise just let myself rot.
Thank fuck it's nearly the weekend. I have Things To Do (tm) but I can't wait to turn into a mushroom and only interact with people BY CHOICE.
Progress!
Mar. 19th, 2026 07:36 pmkoshka_the_catI cut out the 30s dress bodice! I hope it fits as well as the mockup did...
I also finished the back of the lacy sweater! The neckline is bound off and I'm working on the left shoulder. Of course, there's a lace peplum that's sewn on, but the body of the back is done.
I also finished the back of the lacy sweater! The neckline is bound off and I'm working on the left shoulder. Of course, there's a lace peplum that's sewn on, but the body of the back is done.
Halfway
Mar. 18th, 2026 04:27 pmatherleisureI’m halfway through the decreases for the ankle on my stocking. I’m making rapid progress, too rapid, in fact. My hand is a little sore from too much stiff knitting these last few days. I had been trying to do ten rows per day this week, but I’m going to give that up the next couple of days. I had a crazy idea I might be able to finish this stocking by Pt. Townsend, but I think that’s probably not tenable.
Sign
Mar. 17th, 2026 07:17 pmkoshka_the_catI made my sign for the next No Kings day today.
I knit a little.
I tried on my 30s dress muslin again. Maybe I'll start it tomorrow...
I knit a little.
I tried on my 30s dress muslin again. Maybe I'll start it tomorrow...
Success!
Mar. 16th, 2026 07:05 pmkoshka_the_catI bought cat toys today, and they like them!
Triple feathers on a wire and a thing with feathers that plugs in and wobbles on its own.
Sid loved the triple feathers so much that he jumped higher than I knew he could, landed on Tom and landed on and crushed a collapsible hut which I had to pop back into shape. Poppy was a fan too, if startled by his lump of a brother.
Will they still like them tomorrow? They are cats...
Triple feathers on a wire and a thing with feathers that plugs in and wobbles on its own.
Sid loved the triple feathers so much that he jumped higher than I knew he could, landed on Tom and landed on and crushed a collapsible hut which I had to pop back into shape. Poppy was a fan too, if startled by his lump of a brother.
Will they still like them tomorrow? They are cats...
(no subject)
Mar. 16th, 2026 07:53 amtotchipandaEnded up booking the blood draw later on Friday, as first the clinic called to schedule another set of scans, and then my doctor's office to book a phone appointment. I was offered Monday, Wednesday... chose today just to get it over with. Sometimes technology is wonderful, my scans were already posted to my health account online, so I was able to review the report. (mumbles soemthing about how a gov't that is actively gutting health care and is basically Mini America shouldn't have access to this stuff, but public health care is great when it works, mumble mumble) Mysterious Object in Lefty Wot Can't Be Identified Immediately, scans to be booked at patient's convenience. So it's not an OMG GET BACK HERE NOW. I'm not surprised, as I always have to do the squish and an ultrasound bc my tissue is dense. If I understand the wording correct (which is of course in medical-ese) I didn't feel a darn thing lol. But the spot in Righty which is tender is there and unchanged.
Woke up Saturday with a HECKIN' sore throat, I was fine breathing but swallowing felt like eating glass. Did a couple threads of cross stitch but mostly laid around moping, playing silly games and napping. Sunday was Mucous City but being upright did calm a lot of it down, and I wasn't swallowing glass anymore. More stitching, more napping, more paying someone to bring me soup bc ahahaha no way was I gonna be able to stand up long enough to make it myself. I HAVE to sort out cat food today though, they are out of dry and will eat my eyeballs if I come home without it. The rest, we'll see.
In good news, i found the prescription for my IUD! Now I can get that ordered so I am ready for April 10th.
Woke up Saturday with a HECKIN' sore throat, I was fine breathing but swallowing felt like eating glass. Did a couple threads of cross stitch but mostly laid around moping, playing silly games and napping. Sunday was Mucous City but being upright did calm a lot of it down, and I wasn't swallowing glass anymore. More stitching, more napping, more paying someone to bring me soup bc ahahaha no way was I gonna be able to stand up long enough to make it myself. I HAVE to sort out cat food today though, they are out of dry and will eat my eyeballs if I come home without it. The rest, we'll see.
In good news, i found the prescription for my IUD! Now I can get that ordered so I am ready for April 10th.
To the Waist
Mar. 15th, 2026 09:25 pmatherleisureI spent practically the whole afternoon knitting. I got to the waist on the front of my swimsuit and knit a full inch (20 rows) of my stocking. I just have five rows left before the narrowing begins. After 220 plain rows, narrowing is very exciting.
Spring break...
Mar. 15th, 2026 06:40 pmkoshka_the_catSpring break is so nice. But I'm so excited for cataract surgery that is just want it to be April 7th! And 21st. I'm just reminding myself to enjoy being off work!
Great start!
Mar. 14th, 2026 08:42 pmkoshka_the_catAmy was un town for a game board convention, so I went and we also went to dinner. So nice to see her!
Performing some traffic maintenance today
Mar. 14th, 2026 01:04 pm![[staff profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user_staff.png){kind=small}
mark posting in ![[site community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/comm_staff.png){kind=small}
dw_maintenanceHappy Saturday!
I'm going to be doing a little maintenance today. It will likely cause a tiny interruption of service (specifically for www.dreamwidth.org) on the order of 2-3 minutes while some settings propagate. If you're on a journal page, that should still work throughout!
If it doesn't work, the rollback plan is pretty quick, I'm just toggling a setting on how traffic gets to the site. I'll update this post if something goes wrong, but don't anticipate any interruption to be longer than 10 minutes even in a rollback situation.
Bathing Suit
Mar. 14th, 2026 11:49 amatherleisureI spent yesterday evening working on the bathing suit. I finished the front of the shorts and started the front of the skirt. I'm about halfway through the stripes at the bottom. The shorts took a little more than half a ball of yarn, and I only have three so I might need more. I'll see how far I get with the first one and then decide.
Eyes!
Mar. 13th, 2026 06:01 pmkoshka_the_catMy left eye surgery is April 7, right eye April 14. March 31 was the first available, but my retina appointment was the 27th, and that seemed close. I'm sure whatever report he sends to the surgeon will be quick, but waiting a week seems safer. And it's just a week!
I'm missing so much work this semester. Twelve days, at least. Oh well, every one has been needed. My first eye is scheduled the day after staff development day, the second one is during state testing.
I'm getting multi focal lenses inserted and will probably need reading glasses. Between surgeries, I'll wear my glasses with one lens popped out. That will be fun in middle school! Any bets on how many times I need to tell them why? ;)
I'm missing so much work this semester. Twelve days, at least. Oh well, every one has been needed. My first eye is scheduled the day after staff development day, the second one is during state testing.
I'm getting multi focal lenses inserted and will probably need reading glasses. Between surgeries, I'll wear my glasses with one lens popped out. That will be fun in middle school! Any bets on how many times I need to tell them why? ;)
(no subject)
Mar. 13th, 2026 07:57 amtotchipandaBoobs: Squished. Just need to book that silly blood draw now. (someone please remind me)
At home, I lazed about for a time, and right around 5pm, when I would normally be getting home, I picked up the cross stitch. I feel like I didn't do much with it even though I spent like 4 hours? Only three threads worth. IDK. I was watching The Pitt, I had a cat, I ordered in dinner, it was fine.
I wanted to go grocery shopping after, since I was already out, but I just couldn't be bothered. So I still need to do that. I will see how I feel over the next couple days, but I can't put it off too long as the cats are nearly out of food!
Do NOT want to go back to my desk next week just to have boss breathing down my neck. Theres a task she's wanted me to take over for months but she refuses to let me have it fully. I'm not pushing it bc I am planning to be out of here much sooner rather than later. Did not hear back from the other company so my search resumes anew. Again.
On Wednesday I cut out the Lucille trousers from the grey wool on the full width as indicated in the pattern. I think I have enough in yardage and offcuts to make a skirt too. So weekend plans are some chores (they need doing, alas) and some sewing, and hopefully get the fabric for K in the wash so I can get that cut out too. And a whole lot of cross stitching!
At home, I lazed about for a time, and right around 5pm, when I would normally be getting home, I picked up the cross stitch. I feel like I didn't do much with it even though I spent like 4 hours? Only three threads worth. IDK. I was watching The Pitt, I had a cat, I ordered in dinner, it was fine.
I wanted to go grocery shopping after, since I was already out, but I just couldn't be bothered. So I still need to do that. I will see how I feel over the next couple days, but I can't put it off too long as the cats are nearly out of food!
Do NOT want to go back to my desk next week just to have boss breathing down my neck. Theres a task she's wanted me to take over for months but she refuses to let me have it fully. I'm not pushing it bc I am planning to be out of here much sooner rather than later. Did not hear back from the other company so my search resumes anew. Again.
On Wednesday I cut out the Lucille trousers from the grey wool on the full width as indicated in the pattern. I think I have enough in yardage and offcuts to make a skirt too. So weekend plans are some chores (they need doing, alas) and some sewing, and hopefully get the fabric for K in the wash so I can get that cut out too. And a whole lot of cross stitching!
Finished Items
Mar. 12th, 2026 06:08 pmatherleisureI just got back from a week-long business trip. I took plenty of projects to work on in the evenings and over the weekend.
I finished the 1896 bag for bathing dress etc.
I finished the March bookmark I started when we were visiting my in-laws at the holidays. I started the April one but only made it as far as the border.
I made a lot of progress on my 1880's cotton stocking. I gave myself a 10-row per day quota to meet and did so nearly every day. Some days I did more than 10 rows. I now only have 25 rows until I get to start the decreases.
I made good progress on the cross-stitch that's for a gift. The top half is finished, but there are a lot more stitches in the bottom half than the top half so I'm really only about a third of the way finished.
I started another knit 1930's bathing suit. I am working on the first part of the shorts for the front.
I finished the 1896 bag for bathing dress etc.
I finished the March bookmark I started when we were visiting my in-laws at the holidays. I started the April one but only made it as far as the border.
I made a lot of progress on my 1880's cotton stocking. I gave myself a 10-row per day quota to meet and did so nearly every day. Some days I did more than 10 rows. I now only have 25 rows until I get to start the decreases.
I made good progress on the cross-stitch that's for a gift. The top half is finished, but there are a lot more stitches in the bottom half than the top half so I'm really only about a third of the way finished.
I started another knit 1930's bathing suit. I am working on the first part of the shorts for the front.