Weekend Woolgatherings - 01/22/2016

So, what's everyone planning on knitting while we're all snowed in this weekend?

I, for one, will be knitting on my Duchess of Devonshire shawl designed by Kay of Bakery Bears fame. I cast it on last weekend after staring far too long at the yummy yarn I'd bought specifically for the project over Christmas. The yarn is Frabjous Fibers Cheshire Cat in the Little Busy Bee colorway. It's a beautiful bright green with hints of gold. I bought it looking for something a bit outside my comfort zone (ie: not something pink and sparkly) and I think this color will be nice on me come spring. So far, it's working up beautifully and I couldn't be happier.

Otherwise, I plan to do some minor cleaning around the house and overall just relaxing for a change. It's been a stressful few months for me and I'm kind of excited to get back to the way things used to be.

Oh, and I received a few more Yarn Crush boxes to review, so look forward to a video of those in the coming week or two. I've been chomping at the bit to open them, but have waited just for you :)

How about you?

2016 Knitting Goals

My resolution this year was to not make any resolutions. In case it's not obvious, I've already failed - just like the rest of the world.

But really, it's important for me to inventory what I accomplished (knitting-wise) in the previous year and set some crafty goals for myself in the year to come. There are so many patterns and techniques I want to try that it just makes sense for me to organize and prioritize.

And it gives me something to write about. But I don't know what writer's block is or anything...

So I may be a little late to the party, but here's what I've come up with for 2016:

• Knit 12 pairs of socks - That averages to one pair per month, which I feel is doable, and I'm sure I can use one or two pairs as Christmas gifts next year. Any time I can knock off two tasks in one go is A-OK to me. Plus, I have a lot of sock yarn, so this goal will be an excuse to busy through my quickly-accumulating stash. I've already got three going on the needles, so it's just a matter of finishing them and pushing through. Right? RIGHT?!
  
  Want to join me in knitting one pair of socks per month, but don't know how? Then check out this "Beginner Sock Knitting" class over at Craftsy.
   
• No obligation knitting - This is a new one for me and a bit difficult to wrap my head around. If someone asks me to make something, I'm going to say "no". I'm even going to put my Etsy shop in semi-permanent vacation mode. In the past few years, I feel like my knitting has almost exclusively been for other people. And not gifts I wanted to make for people (which is fine), but items that other people wanted; however, last year, I got into making things for myself and learning new techniques. It's not often I've had a chance to enjoy that because I'm constantly making the same things ad nauseam, trying to meet deadlines imposed on me as a result. I want my hobby to be fun again and I want to expand my horizons (Christ, that sounds so cliche, but so be it).
   
• Forge ahead with my unhealthy Stephen West obsession - So, did you guys know Stephen West hosts a class on Craftsy? If you did, have you signed up? Do it now, because I sure as heck am. I love all his shawl designs, I love his use of color, and I love the tutorials that accompany his patterns. It only makes sense that I should take this class.
   
• Stop hoarding - I never thought I'd say this, but I have too much yarn. Yes, you read that right. I collect yarn, which is not only an expensive hobby, but even worse if I'm not using it. The truth is, so much of my stash seems too pretty to use until I find "that perfect project", and sometimes, no project seems perfect enough. Well, enough of that. I'm on a self-imposed yarn ban until at least March, which should hopefully put me in a place to use what I've got and decrease the craft room clutter, too. Oh, and make room for more Rhinebeck acquisitions come October. I know what's important.

Well, there you have it. It's not a lot, and the only goal I put a number to is the socks, if only because it'll help broaden my techniques while busting stash. Overall, I'm happy with them, and am crossing my fingers I won't be too disappointed with myself when I review my short-but-to-the-point list at the same time next year.

Bring on 2016!

Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links to products I know you'll love!

2016 Vogue Knitting LIVE! Recap

This past weekend, I had the chance to experience the overwhelmingly-worth-it event that is Vogue Knitting LIVE! in NYC thanks to a bus trip organized by my LYS, The Knitter's Edge.

It was a great day, and I'd like to thank my October trip to Rhinebeck for helping to brace myself for hoards of people pushing/shoving their way through tight aisles to grab all the pretty. Of course, Rhinebeck is about 12x the size of VKLive (or something like that), but nevertheless - I came prepared with my list of must-see vendors and an idea of yarns I'd buy immediately if I came across them.

That doesn't mean I didn't stray from my path. Oh, no-siree-bob. For example, I promised myself I wouldn't stop by the Dragonfly Fibers booth because I gorged myself on their yarn back in October, but haven't yet knit any projects with it. Suffice it to say, I failed as soon as I saw they only had one lace-weight hank left of Lady Liberty, their exclusive VKLive colorway. Not being one to tempt fate, I bought it with no regrets.

After a long day, it seemed like I had spent my entire bank account on yarn, only to come home and discover that... well... I really hadn't brought much back with me. That's okay, though, since I'm supposed to be on a yarn ban (sponsored by my friend Erin and Clare of bobwilson123 fame) until at least March. Maybe I'll push it back a month. Or a year, even, until the hoarding gets under control. Er... or perhaps a decade, since I'm pretty sure my stash outlives my life expectancy.

Here's a full list of all my stash, starting with the Plymouth Encore tweed in the top left of the photo:

• Plymouth Yarn - Encore Tweed - 1316 (this yarn, as well as two free patterns, snacks, and water, were graciously provided to us by The Knitter's Edge for participating in the bus trip)
• KnitCircus Yarns - Greatest of Ease - Kaylee
• Loop - Bullseye Bumps - Double Rainbow
• Clara Dress Pattern
• Dragonfly Fibers - Squishy Lace - Lady Liberty (VKL 2016 Exclusive!)
• Hedgehog Fibres - Twist Sock - Genie
• Narwhal Needlework - Rogue - Mermaid Hair

Aside from the Marketplace, my favorite parts of the day were the fashion shows. Not only did they provide a nice rest from walking around in my ill-chosen heavy winter boots, but we were able to check out some new yarns and patterns from companies like String Yarns, Koigu, and Universal Yarn. 

Also, I didn't get a chance to take too many photos, but here's what I was able to snap:

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All-in-all, a fun but exhausting day! I was excited to come home, drool over my yarn, and then pass out comfortably in my bed. Now, if only I could decide what I want to knit up first...

I'm an AllFreeCrochet Top Blogger of 2015!

Woohoo! For the second year in a row, I've been named a top blogger on AllFreeCrochet!

You can check out the pattern (my Really Easy Slouchy Beanie) that helped award me this claim to fame by clicking here, as well as read a brief history of slouchy-hat fashion. The pattern currently stands at #9 AFC's "What's Hot" list.

PS: The pattern is also included in AFC's ebook: 14 Free Crochet Hat Patterns. Click here to download your copy.

Revisiting My 2015 Knitting Goals. Newsflash: I Suck.

Last year 'round this time, I put together a rather lengthy list of knitting (and some crocheting) goals I wanted to accomplish before the end of the year. Now that we've rolled into 2016, I decided to take ten deep breaths and look at said list.

...and I'm not sure if I'm proud of myself or disappointed.

I'll explain why I'm conflicted as if you care: It's not like I didn't accomplish anything, and I'm proud of what I finished. But there was so much more I wanted to do that got pushed to the wayside.

Why? Well, I'm slowly learning that I've been living my life for other people and not myself. Too many of my obligations (like housework) and personal interests (like knitting for family and friends) are easily put on the back burner because I spend a lot of hours answering to others.

Some of that is my fault because I tend to spin a lot of plates when I've got downtime and then have the pleasure of experiencing nervous breakdowns when everything crashes at my feet. The rest is just people maybe expecting too much of me. Which still isn't their faults; it's mine for trying to live up (or down) to others' expectations instead of my own. And as a human (read: I'm not perfect), that's a lot of pressure. It doesn't mean I can't try to be a better person, but it doesn't mean I'm infallible. Nor should I be.

My point being, this isn't the only thing I've disappointed myself with this year, and it served as a reminder that I'm not living my life the way I want to. Of course there are things we'll never escape (like laundry and dishes) and that's fine; that's life. But there are other things I've been so focused on this year that I've forgotten the little things I want to do for myself. Life's short, and I'm reminded of that every day when I receive email updates about a high school friend who's recovering from a coma after a serious car accident (if you're feeling generous, you can read more about that here and donate to her care).

I mean, WTF, people? You read that and have to wonder: how is anything else in life important other than truly living?

It's not like I've been miserable, but I haven't exactly been happy, either. How long should I force myself to exist only for pleasing everyone else?

So yeah, I fell into the insufferable trap of "being busy", and it's wreaked havoc on both my personal and business lives. I don't know what the solution is for that, but whatever it is, I'm done with it this year. I'm ready to take the bull by its horns and do something for me. Because check out what I accomplished (or didn't, as it so happens) when living for other people:

• Conquer drop spindling: I learned how. I'm not very good, so I wouldn't say I conquered it, but I did spend some mad coin on new spindles. Because apparently I'd rather have pretty things than know how to use them.
   
• Learn counted cross stitch: Nope.
   
• Add my stash to Ravelry: I got better at adding new stash as I bought it, but there's still a long way to go and I haven't added anything new in awhile. I give this goal a solid "meh".
   
• Finish one freaking pair of socks: Okay, this one wins. I finished four: Hermione's Everyday Socks, Vanilla Latte Socks the First, Vanilla Latte Socks the Second, and Rose City Rollers.
   
• Start a "cosy memories blanket": Yup. This happened.
   
• Finish 3 Designated WIPS: Not worth listing here because I didn't touch any.

But I did make about 40 headbands from the same pattern for my Etsy shop. Don't get me wrong; I've loved selling in my shop, but it leaves little time for me to pursue knitting endeavors I'd rather enjoy. There are only so many grey headbands with detachable flowers one can knit before going insane. Or in my case: more insane.

And I'm sad that it wasn't until last year that I put my knitting skills to the test and ventured into shawls, of which I've made several now and love making more than hats. But prior, I'd been knitting for 20 years and was still what I'd consider a beginner/intermediate knitter. Why? Because I kept knitting the same things. For other people.

Suffice it to say, I'm in a rut.

That said, I'm temporarily shutting down ye olde Etsy shop for awhile in the new year. Just until I've learned to like my hobby again. In the meantime, I'll be typing up a list of attainable goals that I'll force myself to stick to in 2016. Get excited...