A Year of Projects Week 4

It's hard to believe we're already going into Week 4.  So far it's been good for me.  I've completed more since July 1, than I did in the last three months.

Today is the last day for Tour de Fleece.  I'm very happy with what I was able to do during this time.  This week I plied two yarns and filled two bobbins with singles.  I've got a bobbin on the wheel still, but it's unlikely I will get to finish it today.  I need to recalculate the yardage of the two new yarns as I misplaced the paper that has that info.

Crochet seems to have been my craft of choice last week.  I added a little bit to my Campfire Cardigan and started a new project.  It's the Lion Brand Crochet Openwork Shawl.  My husband and I have a dinner in a few weeks and I need something for the air conditioning.  This jumped out at me when I was shopping at Michaels.  It's the first time I'm using Lion Brand's Shawl in a Ball and I'm really enjoying it. I think the colors will be great against my black dress.

Well, I'm off to check out what everyone else has been up to this past week.  Enjoy your week!

 

Year of Projects Week 3

Week 3 and I'm already making changes.  The July KAL was not holding my interest so I've decided to swap it out for the Campfire Cardigan.  It's been a while since I've done a crochet project, I forget how much quicker I am at crocheting than knitting.  My daughter and I went stash diving on Saturday and picked out some yarn I had in my closet.  I'm using  Vanna's Choice by Lion Brand.  I'm hoping to only have to buy a skein or two to complete this project. Babygirl was very excited to help pick out yarn for this project.  Here's what she drew when I asked for her help with colors:

Here's what we picked out of my stash:

I started this on Sunday at my crochet guild meeting.  It currently looks like this:

The CGOA had a Chapter Challenge recently.  They challenged chapters to crochet 7x9 rectangles for Warm UP America.  My chapter participated and crocheted a lot of rectangles.  Since I wasn't able to participate in the crocheting of rectangles, I picked up a bunch of rectangles to sew together on Sunday.  Once we sew them all together the blankets will be donated locally. So, I've added a new project to my list.


This week was a productive week!  The Textured Shawl is finished.  Ends have been woven in and she's ready to wear!

Lots of spinning for the Tour de Fleece this week.  I filled all my bobbins with singles so it's time to ply.  Another Into the Whirled fiber club spun and an unknown green wool.  The Into the Whirled was the May 2017 'Merlin's Beard'. It's 4 oz of Merino.

Year of Projects Week 2

It's been a productive week. Starting at the top of my goals list with the Textured Shawl.  I've got 10 rows left.  I'm hoping to finish it this week.

ELF cap KAL: my knitting group is doing this as a KAL.  Five of us are participating.  We each took a skein of yarn from stash for this project. We've been switching yarns monthly.  On Friday I received my final yarn for the last section. I'd like to work on this this week and finish it ASAP.

Tour de Fleece:  I've spent the most time spinning this week. Ive been working with into the whirled fibers as I'm in a monthly fiber club with them.  Here's what I've spun this week:

Experiencing some technical difficulties with these photos....hopefully it'll be resolved soon!

A Year of Projects 2017-2018: Third Times a Charm???

Let's hope this goes better than last year.   I keep saying it, but I've really got to get my stash under control!  It's gotten to the point where I'm overwhelmed by it.  In January I got a new spinning wheel so now I've really started adding fiber as well.  Something has to give, lol.

I'm going to keep my goals short term, I work better that way.  As long as I can get some stash used up, I'll be happy.  I'll start here by posting quarterly goals.

I'm currently participating in a summer cal/kal in a stash busting group I'm in.  The goal is to complete 13 projects in 15 weeks.  It started in May, but I just joined in last week.  I'll be happy completing anything.  I've also signed up for the Tour de Fleece.  So for the month of July the goal is to spin everyday. (I believe there are 2 days of rest.).

Here's my list of goals:
1. Textured Triangle Shawl
2. Continue ELF Cap KAL
3. Finish blue/brown socks
4. Spin everyday in July
5. Crocheted Shawl
6. 2 Water bottle holders
7. July KAL
8. Evergreen Tunic
9. Finish one UFO (tbd)
10. Baby washcloths
11. Open
12. Open

A Year of Projects 2016-2017: Week 1: Giving it another shot

Some local (and not so local) yarn shops have put together a Yarn Cruise this summer.  This is the second year they are doing it.  A group of friends and I have decided to participate.  We've purchased our bags and passports and have visited two shops already.  (Babygirl and I are going to visit shop #3 later today.)  The yarn cruise excitement has led to me spending some time in the craft room realizing how much I miss my knitting/crocheting.  In addition I've decided if I don't start knitting/crocheting my stash I'm going to have a big problem soon ;). The "office" has been overtaken by yarn and patterns.  I really need to get a handle on it as I may be needing the office to function as an office in the near future, lol.

In a round about way, this leads me back to  A Year Of Projects. I've done it in the past and felt I got more knitting/crocheting done while following along.  It also allows me to see what other crafters are doing out there.

                                          

I'm going to keep my goals short term as to help me focus.  I tend to want to start all.the.things, and finish none.  Hopefully by keeping focus I can get some things finished!

Short term focus for July:
1. Surprise knitting.  A gift for someone which can't be shared on the Internet right now.  It's almost done, pictures will be posted by the end of the month.
2. A River Runs Through It  - I'm doing this as a KAL with two friends from the Yarn Cruise.
3. One currently undecided UFO

Long term goals:
1. Use yarn from the stash!!
2. Get stash and pattern books organized

Things I'd like to make this year:
1. A sweater for me (maybe Antler)
2. A sweater for  Babygirl (maybe Antler)
3. A pair of socks
4. A sweater with the yarn from Ireland

A Year of Projects 2015-2016 Week 2

My first update and I'm already making changes to my list, lol.  I've decided not to participate in the Picnic Basket CAL afterall.  I think I'm going to replace it with my Celtic Cables Craftsy Class.  The yarn for that is already in my stash and summer vacation seems like a good time to start the class.

There was not much knitting/crocheting this week.  I managed to add a few rows to both my projects but that's about it.  Summer vacation has been busier than expected.  It should let up a bit after this week.

This week's photos:
Hitchhiker

Wrapped in Warmth

 I was able to get through my UFOs basket and picked two projects to complete this quarter.  There's no pattern for the orange project.  It's going to be a bag, I'm just making it up as I go along.  When it was started the goal was to use up the Orange yarn.

The next UFO up is the Stolen Moments wrap.  The yarn is Fishermans Wool by Lion Brand.  I dyed the yarn with Kool Aid a few years ago.

 

 

 

This week's goal is to spend at least 20 minutes a day knitting or crocheting.  It's the only way I'm ever going to get any of these projects finished.

 



 

A Year Of Projects 2015-2016

I'm trying to make more of an effort to spend some time knitting and/or crocheting.  A few years ago I participated in A Year of Projects for a while.  It really kept me on track and focused on what projects I was working on.  I'm hoping it will do the same this round.  My list is going to be short, at this point I'd just like to finish a project :).  I'm thinking along the lines of quarterly goals so I can focus on finishing, rather than starting a million (more) projects.

Year of Projects list:
1.  Hitchhiker - this one is a WIP.
2.  summer-flies- still need to decide on yarn for this one.
3. CAL starting July 6: Picnic Basket Shawl I'll finalize my yarn choice for this tonight.
4. Wrapped in Warmth- Yarn chosen from stash.
5. A pair of socks using the two at a time method (new technique for me).
6. Pick two UFOs to finish this summer

I will add more as I think of them/finish projects.

Current projects:

Hitchhiker
Started: June 1, 2015
Finished:
Yarn: Purgatory Falls Alpaca Farm (Mass. Sheep and Wool 2015)
          425 yards 70% Alpaca/20% Merino/10% Nylon
           Robins Egg
            Etsy Shop
Needles: size 2

Wrapped In Warmth
Started: July 5, 2015
Finished:
Yarn: Red Heart Designer Sport in Berry
Hook: CGOA conference hook.  I think it's an I, will have to double check.