Stash diving

I always have too many WIPs on the go. Always. One of the reasons for this is my disorganised stash and supplies; I have a dig to look for a particular yarn/hook/circular needles, and various skeins jump out at me as being perfect for X project or just too beautiful to ignore any longer. So I pull them out, get started, and add even more projects to my list.

Bonny gave me an idea to help with this. Yesterday I took out my whole stash mountain and grabbed whatever appealed to me most, then I matched them to relevant patterns, and caked them so they’re ready to go. With labels, because I know my memory.

So now I can wrangle my WIP list down to a more sensible number, then just grab the next ready-to-go project and start. No stash-diving required, so no getting distracted!

The only problem now is resisting the urge to start them all immediately…

Hannah

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Sock it to me Monday 39

Ah DPNs, how I missed you!

This almost-sock is the work of just two days, and it fits me like…well, like a sock. You have no idea how relieved I was when it slipped onto my foot with no problems.

At this point I think I have to admit that I’m just not a sock-circular-needle kind of person. I can see the benefits and I get why some people like them, but I shall be sticking with my trusty DPNs from now on. Especially after having a dig through my craft bag and discovering that I have at least three sets of them, which means I can have three pairs of socks in the works at a time! You know, because I really need some more items on my WIP list…

Hannah

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WIP Wednesday 20.10.21

Current WIP count: 8

I had a look back through my WIP list this week and I couldn’t remember why I had abandoned the crochet fingerless gloves. The answer, of course, was ends.

180 ends.

Clearly they’re not going to sew themselves in so I had a word with myself and got on with it. So far I’m 5 down, 175 to go.

This might take a while.

Hannah

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WIP Wednesday 06.10.21

Current WIP count: 8

The pug progresses, although I’ve already decided that this isn’t the right colour for his wee body (it’s more grey in real life) so I’m definitely making another one when he’s finished.

Let’s call this the practice run because I already have some tweaks to the pattern I want to try, mainly to deal with the massive holes in the tummy and where the legs join the body. I might end up with a pug army by the end of this!

Hannah

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WIP Wednesday 22.09.21

Current WIP count: 7

My mojo has been missing for so long I had to dig through the memos on my phone to find my WIP list, and there are things on there I forgot I’d even started.

I think it might be on the up again though, as the other day I was minding my own business and suddenly got a massive urge to cast on a sock IMMEDIATELY. So I skimmed the top of stash mountain, found two sort-of-coordinating skeins, and started a pair of shortie socks.

The cuffs and toes will be a Blue Raspberry mini skein from Mothy and the Squid, and the main colour is (I think) from Hand Drawn Yarn. Possibly called Thistle.  They’re not as high contrast as I usually go for, but it’s so good actually wanting to knit again after all this time that I’m enjoying it anyway.  Fingers crossed it will last!

Hannah

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FOs all over

Remember that test knit cowl I was doing the other day (or maybe ten years ago. I really can’t tell) with all the cables? Well I finished it.

Then I kept going and made an ear-warmer.

And then there was just a teeny bit of yarn left so I finished up with a headband.

They are SO warm and cosy.

I also managed to finish the jumper in time for posting tomorrow, and I love it.

Although I was mad at myself when I got to the end and realised there were 32 ends to sew in. Single-colour jumpers from now on!

And finally, my Diagon Ally socks are finished. The pattern isn’t as obvious in the darker yarn, but I still love them.

Blocking to follow when I’ve sewn in the ends and we’ll see what effect it has on this cottony sock yarn.

This brings my WIP list down to a slightly more sensible 6. I feel like I might have given myself a case of finish-itis; crossing all these WIPs off the list felt good and I really want some more of that. I’ll let you know how it goes!

Hannah

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WIP Wednesday 25.11.20

Current WIP count: 8

It recently came to my attention that there is less than a week of November left. ARGH!

My friend’s little girl has a birthday at the beginning of December, and I was always planning to make her a jumper, so I started a Good Old Raglan (Rav link) immediately.

It doesn’t look like much yet. I’ve got loads of spangly yarn in different colours so I’m planning some big, chunky stripes from blue to purple to pink. Keep your fingers crossed that it works out as I’m imagining.

Hannah

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WIP-ing on a Thursday

Current WIP count: 7

Having a job isn’t helping me keep track of days at all, so no alliteration for today’s post title. I’m sure we’ll manage.

I have finished the first sleeve on the boyfriend’s jumper, but haven’t picked up stitches for the second one yet.

If you think that sleeve looks a bit long then you’re right. The boyfriend and I like our jumpers and coats to come down past our wrists, for maximum warmth and snuggly-ness. He has tried it on and approved.

The blanket is coming along nicely, with four squares now finished.

I’m dithering a bit over that latest square. It’s all very red and orange and part of me wants to sub in some more yellow in the second one, but I also want to stick with the pattern and keep both squares the same. What do you guys think?

Hannah

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Decisions, decisions

Today I have another quiz from Karen, and this one feels particularly relevant to me at the moment (read: all the time because I’m a WIP-fiend).

Are you a one project at a time crafter or do you like a variety to suit your mood?

I feel like there have been times in the dim and distant past when I was a monogamous crafter, but generally my WIP list sits between 5 and 10 projects at any one time. Partly because I both crochet and knit, but mainly because there are too many beautiful things to make and I can’t possibly stick with just one.

It does seem to work out that I usually have one large and one small project each for knitting and crochet, and then a few others sneak in when I see something I really want to make.

Do you reward yourself along the way with a new project after reaching a certain goal?

Sometimes, but only if it’s a really big/complicated project and I need a bit of extra motivation. I’m a bit too easily distracted by the new thing so it doesn’t always work…

How do you decide which project to work on? Do you require that you work on a less loved project before you work on the one that is really firing you up?

Since lockdown started I’ve only been working on projects that I feel like making (mostly socks) – there’s too much stress involved in just existing at the moment, so craft time needs to be something I enjoy.

In the before times I did used to hold exciting projects back until I’d crossed a few things off the WIP list, so maybe I’ll get back to working that way again one day.

How do you know you have too many things going at one time?

I started keeping a WIP list for just this reason. After a year or two of using it I know that once the number of projects hits double figures I’m going to start getting overwhelmed.

If you had to chose between a project that is nearly done and a new exciting one which would you pick? Are you a process crafter or a project crafter?

Well it depends. If the nearly-done project is socks then right now I would probably go for that. I’ve still not got over the I JUST MADE A PAIR OF SOCKS feeling every time I finish. Otherwise I would probably get distracted by the shiny new thing.

And there you have it. Feel free to join in if you fancy it!

Hannah

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Thursday WIP-ing

Current WIP count: 9

Aside from socks I’m mainly working on my Beachcombing CAL blanket at the moment.

I frogged and redid those top and bottom wavy rows so. many. times. That’s how I got a couple of weeks behind, but I’m catching up now. The hope is that I can fly through these simpler rows and be ready to do the final week on time.

We shall see!

Hannah

xXx

September Review

My plan for September was to finally get some WIPs off my list so I could knock it down from eight WIPs to four.

I managed one of those things.

After what felt like forever with nothing, I managed four fairly big finishes:

There was my boyfriend’s Lego blanket.

A baby blanket made with the leftover bricks.

My Changing Tides blanket (nope, I still haven’t sewn the ends in).

And FINALLY my beautiful Flax Light

The baby blanket was a new addition so that got my WIP list down to five, but…then I got a bit of start-itis after being inspired by BonnyKnits, and cast on something new.

This is Changing Staircases by Dragon Hoard Designs, it’s free on Ravelry, and the yarn is Leaf Green Rainbow by Mothy and the Squid. I regret nothing.

So now my WIP list is sitting at six, which is an improvement so I’ll take it.

I think for October I’ll aim for getting it down to four again. A few of the projects are close to finished and should be easy to cross off, but I’m also going to start making for Christmas so I know there will be more added on.  I just have to resist all the Halloween crafts that are popping up everywhere!

Hannah

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I’m on a roll

I finished the final rounds of Changing Tides last night. That’s two WIPs off my list in one week, and it feels goooood!

Yes, I’m ignoring all the ends. Since this is a blanket just for myself there’s a high possibility the ends will never get sewn in. I’m okay with that.

Look at all that texture

In the beginning I wasn’t sure about the mish mash of colours, but they actually seem to work okay, plus I’ve used up a good chunk of the acrylic in my stash so I’m doubly happy.  I’m looking forward to snuggling up under this now we’re in pre-Winter (those outside of Scotland may know it as Autumn), as it’s really toasty and has a nice weight to it. I’ve always wanted a weighted blanket!

Now on to Flax Light and hopefully I can get that finished as well before too long.

Hannah

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