2015 Knitter Goals (and some crochet, too!)

Okay, so I'm a little late to the party on creating my 2015 goals list. Part of that is procrastination (is anyone surprised?), but another part of that is making sure I was actually interested in the goals I wanted to accomplish. In other years, I've created a list of things to do that I didn't particularly want to do, or knew I already wasn't in the right frame of mind to get done. 

So this year, I took a different approach: I created goals based on what I've already started doing. I'm hoping this means I'll see a result - for once - come December 31st. I'm really good at accomplishing goals on the job, but not so much in my personal life, which is a bit more relaxed and flighty. I could use the structure.

Without further ado:

• Conquer drop spindling. I took a Craftsy class awhile ago and never quite mastered the art. I think the fiber I purchased in my first kit wasn't easy to work with, attributing to much of my problems. I've since purchased fiber packs from Etsy that seem to pre-draft easily, so I may be able to do something with this obsession that I was forced to give up due to wool issues.
   
• Learn counted cross stitch. I bought a couple beginner kits on sale at Hobby Lobby over the Christmas holiday. Many of the knitters I stalk also do counted cross stitch, and some of them (particularly the Once Upon a Time sampler) have me drooling. I'm not one to sit idly by and watch everyone else have the fun, so I plan to dive in.
   
• Add my stash to Ravelry. This is something I've started doing in the new year, and it's also something I've been horrible at updating in the past. I've realized that if I add my stash to Ravelry, it makes pattern hunting easier. For example, when I decide I want to make a pattern, the Ravelry pattern page recommends something that's already in my stash based on the necessary yardage. I don't have to look at the hank to determine whether I need enough, nor do I need to buy more yarn for a specific project (especially when I've forgotten that I own something). I get excited to add my stash enhancements now, plus time is saved in the long-run. I need to keep up the good work!
   
• Finish one freaking pair of socks. Do you know how many socks I've started and never finished? It's no question that I can make them; I just get so bored. I don't know if I need to find more thrilling yarn or a more interesting pattern, but I need to stop losing interest. It's driving me nuts. I don't want to be a sock knitter, per se, but I do want to finish a pair because I feel like that means you've "made it" in the knitting world.
   
• Start a "Cosy Memories" blanket. Yes, that is the British spelling. The name is given from the "A Homespun House" podcast and is based off this Knitted Patchwork Recipe pattern.
   
• Finish (3) of the following WIPs:
   
  • Corner Start Entrelac Blanket. Started as a gift for my Pop when he was placed in a care facility, he unfortunately passed away in December before I was able to complete it. I couldn't look at it at all during Christmas, but my Nannie would like it, so that's given me incentive to bring it out of its project bag again.
     
  • Mystic Spiral Socks. Because if I finish this one, I kill two goals with one project.
     
  • Mario Star Blanket. I was unexplainably into this for quite a few weeks in the early fall, but it got put on hold when my shop went crazy with orders and I needed to work on Christmas gifts. This is going to look awesome in the man cave, which is where my husband and I play all the Mario games.
     
  • Hitchhiker. I couldn't even tell you why I stopped knitting on this. I think I had to put it away because we had visitors one weekend and, you know, out of sight, out of mind with me.
     
  • Daffodil Filet Table Runner. This would be a total time commitment, and I'm not sure I'm up to the task. But it's still sitting there three years later with its original hook, so I should either keep going to frog the darn thing.
     
  • Creamy Textured Stocking. This one's an easy out if I'm getting nowhere. I ran out of yarn in the middle of completing the toe, so I literally only have about five more rounds of decreasing crochet before it's finished.
     
  • Tailgating Blanket. Won't be hard to finish as long as I just sit down and work on it. It's so stupid easy and looks great when done.
     
• Make a Zuzu's Petals. I have the yarn already picked out for this, so all I need to do is wind it up and actually make it.

I'm going to stop here before the list gets out of control.

Notice how there's nothing here about stash-busting. I just always fail at that, so there's no point in even trying. Plus, with my KnitCrate subscription, I automatically lose unless I make that an exception - which I don't feel like putting extra rules on myself when I don't need to. This is supposed to mostly be fun for me; I just want to be better at the "fun".

What are your goals for the new year? Have you started any and how are you progressing?

Finished: Lapidary

It's done, it's done, it's finally done! I've finished my Lapidary!

Started the day after Christmas, Lapidary by Brittany Wilson was the yarn and pattern kit that came in my December 2014 Indie KnitCrate. After two months spent working on orders for other people, I couldn't wait to knit up a project for myself. I don't typically make anything for my own wardrobe (which is horrible marketing if you're in the knitting business looking to turn a profit), and it super stinks when I want to make something, but have to put it off for weeks at a time.

Anyway, I was dying to get my hands on this project, and I'm happy to say I saw it through to the end. I knit on Lapidary almost exclusively for three weeks, a feat unheard of and often celebratory in my world. We experienced and fixed dropped stitches together, as well as sat through the new season of Downton Abbey and sipped many cups of loose leaf tea freshly brewed in my favorite glass tea pot. Lapidary is the first project I've successfully soaked and blocked, all using my new blocking mats from KnitPicks. Indeed, I finally felt like a "real" knitter.

And I think that's why I lost interest in blogging about my knits for some time: I wasn't doing anything new. Almost everything I knit or crocheted was for a custom order, and each of those orders are made from patterns I've used a million times. It all became a little monotonous. It's not that I didn't enjoy it anymore, but it wasn't worth talking about because I'd already said what I've needed to say about those projects. It was time for something different.

So I'm happy to say that Lapidary has launched me into a new obsession: shawls. It's what spurred me to join Grace Akhrem's Crashing Waves KAL, plus another KAL that's Instagram-only. I consider myself an intermediate knitter, but wasn't making any intermediate projects. I feel like I can now truly say that I'm intermediate and understand more concepts than initially thought. How cool is that?

I know I've been on a KnitCrate bragging spree lately, but I truly believe that without my subscription, I wouldn't have ventured into this world for quite some time yet. Or at least had the patience to finish something using techniques I'd learned and never implemented. I plunged in after seeing what the talented blogger/podcaster KnitFitch was able to create with less than a year of knitting experience - I was blown away. And now, I feel like maybe someone will be blown away with what I can make, too.

In fact, I'm kind of blown away with myself.

Yarn Haul: Pepperberry Knits and Knitter's Pride from Loop

How does a knitter sped the day before New Year's Eve? Why, yarn shopping, of course!

Nick and I were visiting my friend and her husband in Philadelphia to enjoy the delectable tastes of a modern Indian restaurant called Tashan. I should stop here to note that the food did not disappoint. Each couple split one of the larger entrees, while we all shared multiple smaller plates that were so good, you could kill for it (which we essentially did since it was all meat!) It's a fine dining experience right on Broad Street and worth a visit if you're in the area. End sidebar.

Anyway, I've mentioned in many earlier blog entries that my friend lives literally a block away from one of my favorite yarn shops, Loop. When Nick and I showed up (delayed by only 20 minutes on the Surekill), my friend and I decided to head to Loop while the boys stayed in and shared some beer. An ideal night in any crafter's book, if I do say so myself.

Now, Loop can be overwhelming because everything is so beautifully yummy. Their displays are organized, colorful, and represent my wet dream of a craft room (maybe someday). It's never easy to pick just one thing to buy, so I browsed for at least 20 minutes before resting my eyes on this mini skein bundle from Pepperberry Knits.

The bundle is actually their Lucy Fun Size Cowl Kit, 100% cashmere yarn that's currently only available to purchase through their partner stores (like Loop - convenient!) The bundle includes mini-skeins in various colors with enough yardage to complete a Lucy Cowl, whose most difficult feature will be the provisional cast-on. In other words, this is perfect potato-chip knitting with a gorgeous, luxury-yarn-induced end game.

Although there are several colorways to choose from, I selected Crazy Redhead. From my browsing on Ravelry, it looks like different versions of this colorway are available, so I just went with my favorite color combo (for example: you can purchase one combo that includes blue).

And because I can never have enough needle brands to experiment with, I also bought some Knitter's Pride Size 7 16" Dreamz fixed circulars. I didn't think I'd like them because their tips are relatively short for my preference, but I used them to knit up a custom order a couple days ago and loved the experience. They're smooth and light, making knitting fun and fast.

Hmm... I didn't think it would be possible to ramble on this much about one yarn purchase. I learn something new every day :)

Stay tuned for my Lucy Cowl once I'm finished with a couple KALs and my KnitCrate projects.

KAL: Grace Akhrem's Crashing Waves

If you follow me on Instagram, then you already know I'm participating in designer Grace Akhrem's knit-a-long for her Crashing Waves shawl/wrap. I thought I'd venture on over to my blog and invite you to do the same!

So far, the pattern is moving along just swimmingly and I'm having a lot of fun. I reached a point in my Lapidary (picking up stitches for the border) where I couldn't go on anymore and needed a fun distraction that still allowed me to knit - just not picking up something like a million stitches :)

I'm using madelinetosh prairie in Holi Festival and loving every minute of it! I have to admit that knitting a garter tab cast-on for the first time in lace-weight yarn was a bit of an adventure because the stitches were more difficult to see (and boy, did it ever look wonky with that open weave)! But it came out fine and I can add a new technique to my repertoire.

The KAL started on January 10th and ends on January 31st. As of today, we're only three days in, so it's not too late to join if you have access to some lace weight yarn in your stash or an LYS that carries your yarn of choice!

Plus, one lucky KAL participant will receive a pretty neat yarn and pattern prize combination (more details on the exact pattern and yarn coming soon - it will be good)! And two lucky winners will receive a pattern bundle prize. Your chances of winning are pretty good right now, so I'm encouraging you to hop on over and have some good old-fashioned knitting fun with us!

I'm an AllFreeCrochet Top Blogger of 2014!

So perhaps one of the things on my list of "Top News to Wake Up To" would be an email announcing that I'm a Top Blogger on AllFreeCrochet.com. My Really Easy Slouchy Beanie has made their list of Top 100 Crochet Patterns (and it's the first one listed under Crochet Hat Patterns, too)!

I've been doubting my abilities lately, mostly because I just put out a couple patterns that had a great initial response and then tapered off (that'll teach me to launch something right in the middle of everyone's Christmas gift-making extravaganzas). This news made my day, though, and maybe got me out of my designer's rut.

Many thanks to AFC for the honor; I'm enjoying checking out the other patterns, as well, and seeing a lot I haven't come across yet. You should do the same :)