Crafting Pursuits

After a bit of a crafting hiatus in 2012, I’ve burst out of the blocks in 2013.

  

During the Christmas – New Year period I finally got my lacery socks completed (photo's to come soon).
 

And since the beginning of 2013, 2 projects have come off the needles already – my luxury cowl and mojo returned shawl (which has been getting a good workout at the office which the aircon set to freezing temperatures).

  

And now added to the mix is sewing.

  

In my early teenage years, the thought of making my own things appealed to me, but at the time I had no passion for the process, so after a couple of attempts, never gave sewing another thought.

  

Over the past two years though, I’ve had endless trouble finding things to fit properly. So late last year I decided to bite the bullet and buy a sewing machine, with the thought that I could hem or take in store bought items.

  

I’ve actually managed to fit a fair bit of sewing into the past few weeks, but have yet to hem a single item!

  

I spent my first day practicing stitches, and then moved on to making a few project bags and pouches, which turned out surprisingly well, considering I’ve never constructed anything before. And then I jumped into making a couple of skirts based on some great tutorials which take you through taking your own measurements and creating your own patterns. My first couple attempts are technically wearable, but not the best fit.

 

A third attempt was a circle skirt, which turned out to be really cute and I’ve had quite a few compliments when wearing it.

 

And my most recent creation over the weekend was this skirt (from Ottobre Spring/Summer 2009).

 

2013 Aims

In 2012 I had set myself the goal to knit more, blog more, and to find more balance in my life.

Unfortunately 2012 did not go to plan. I had trouble finding projects that I loved, so I struggled to finish things, blogging just didn't happen, I allowed work to take over my life again, and amongst other things, two family members passed away, all in all making 2012 a year that left me wondering when things would start going my way.

On a more positive note, 2013 has started in a much more promising way. 

I'm teaching myself to sew, which I'm enjoying immensely, I have sewing and knitting projects lined up which I can't wait to start, and I've already completed my first knitting project for the year.

My luxury cowl, made from Prism Symphony was a pleasure to knit.  With a fibre content of 80% merino, 10% cashmere and 10% nylon, the cowl feels beautiful against the skin, and the pattern Riverton Cowl was easy to follow and a super quick knit.

 

I've also been making more time for family and friends, and feel so much better for it.  So here's to 2013 being a year of creativity, balance and blogging!

 



Balancing Act

It's been awhile since I last wrote, essentially as I am struggling again with work/life balance.  I think it's pretty safe to say that I'm actually failing, and that lately it's been all work and no life.

After starting off well in January, my crafting has been dwindling, though I got some mojo back last week, and have finished my version of the Casu Cowl, have made some further headway on my Diagonal Lace Socks and am halfway through completing a Vintage Allure Beret.

Pics will follow sometime in the near future, as last weekend we had the unfortunate experience of being burgled, so I currently have no means of taking photo's. 

A big thank you to the lovely Sonia and the Richmond Knitters for helping me to keep my sanity in the first couple of days after we had been robbed.  Sometimes I think the bad things happen to highlight all the really good things in your life.

Hobby vs Business

Recently, people have been asking me why I don't set up a business selling my items, or alternatively, if I can make them something, which I have declined to do.

Firstly, because I got back into knitting as a way of creating some work/life balance - knitting on demand would turn my crafting into another job, and would take away some of the pleasure that I get from the process.

I also mainly knit for myself. When I do make something for someone else, it's because I have chosen to. Perhaps if I was a faster knitter, then I could justify using some of my precious knitting time on making items to sell, but instead I prefer to use what time I do have to make things either for myself, or for someone special.

If it was viable, then of course I would love to make some extra money from something that I love doing. But until someone finds a way to add at least 10 more hours to every day, then I'll stick with what I'm doing.

2011 Wrap Up

2011 has now been and gone.

There were some large and small changes throughout the year.

I made a concerted effort to get out more and spend time with people who enhance my life. I managed to attend most of the Richmond and Kensington SnB's, and love the group of friends that I'm establishing through these.

22 projects were finished during the year, and I made my first sweater and socks.

I attended Knit Camp in Daylesford, attended the Bendigo Sheep and Wool show, and Vogue Knitting in LA, and definitely want to continue to attend knit/crochet retreats and conferences.

My role at work has also changed, and I have made a promise to myself that I will not let work rule my life this year. As a result of this promise, I have also made a commitment to myself that I will find time for crafting at least 5 times per week.

Hopefully, that means many more finished objects for 2012!

Super Simple

I'm making a concertered effort to get all of my WIPs completed and was able to get two shawls off the needles last month. The first, Azzu's Shawl was a gift for a friend, and she absolutely loved it. It also served as my 'A' pattern for the A-Z Stash Down group on Rav.

The second was the 3S Shawl, knit with Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock Yarn (a new favorite). I absolutely love the colours, and bought several different colourways from the Eat Sleep Knit Black Friday sale last week.

Opposites

So both my Ravelry queue and my stash continue to grow.

In an attempt to try and get a handle on both, I have joined the Stash Down A - Z group.

Each month is assigned a letter and you choose a pattern from your queue (or a yarn from your stash) which begins with that letter and away you go.

This month was A, so the Azzu shawl that I was making for my friend Claudia fell nicely into the criteria. For B next month, I'm going to get myself organised and finish my Bandwagon Socks.

Of course, now that I have a plan to get both my queue and stash down, along comes the sign up to the Cookie A Sock Club for 2012. And having no willpower, I of course signed up :)

Holiday Yarn

As previously mentioned in my earlier post, one of the highlights of my trip to the US was drooling over all the yarn available.

I took advantage of the abundance of yarn at Vogue Knitting Live, Knit Culture and Wild Fibre to further increase my stash (not that my stash needed increasing!!!).  Here is the first installment.

Poems sock yarn

Fleece Artist

Wollmeise

Mini Mochi

Unfortunately the photo's don't clearly show the colour of the yarn, which is much richer IRL, but it's fair to say that there's a theme (with a couple of exceptions), and I mainly stuck with blues, teals, greens and purples.

Yarn Envy

I love knitting, but while I was in the US I came to realise that I love yarn almost as much - the colours, styles, variations. All hold such possibility. The potential of what a skein can become excites me almost as much as the knitting process.

And I will admit to suffering from yarn envy while away - the variety of yarn available and the ease of supply was staggering. Since returning home, I've been longingly stalking yarn websites and looking at all the pretty's.

Then yesterday my first installment of yarn from the skein sock club arrived, and some of that envy dissipated. While we may not have access to the same depth of variety as other countries, our indie spinners and dyers are amazing, and their products rival yarn from around the world

VKL Changed My Life

Vogue Knitting Live was everything I expected and more.

Thanks to John Brinegar, I will now be tackling garments with seams, without the disappointment of uneven finishing ruining the final look of the garment.

And thanks to Amy Singer I'm well on the way to completing my first ever pair of socks.


Wandering around the marketplace gave me a chance to fondle a huge variety of yarns (and admittedly several skeins made their way into my suitcase for the return journey home!)

And in Santa Monica, I fell in love with Wild Fibre, a gorgeous yarn store with a fantastic range, and once again, several skeins called my name (including one gorgeous skein of Wollmeise). Photo's to be uploaded soon.

Not enough hours in the day

I haven't had much knitting time recently - since finishing Dandelion, I haven't managed to finish anything (though I have started Owls (for me), St James (my sister)), and have looked for a quick blanket to knit up for a friend who I haven't seen for most of the year who dropped the 'I'm 30 weeks pregnant' bombshell on me earlier this week.

I think that I'm going to give Wool Leaves by Jared Flood a go. Wool Leaves Pattern
I only hope that my version will turn out as nicely!

One thing I have done in the past week is read 'The Road' by Cormac McCartney.  I was completely absorbed by the story, and can see myself going back to read it again in the future to pick up on what I missed this time around.

Vogue Knitting Live Part II

It's now all official - I'm signed up for my classes, I've got accommodation booked and my annual leave has been approved.

All that's left to do is book the flights, and get my 'homework' completed for a couple of the classes.  And even better, it's all only 13 weeks away!

If anyone has any yarn and/or sightseeing recommendations for either LA or Las Vegas, I'm all ears.

Vogue Knitting, here I come!

Dandelion KAL

One of the fabulous things at Knit Camp was the Goodie Bags all the attendee's received.  And one of the goodie's contained in the bag were some fabulous patterns by Jen Adams.

Jen set up a Knit Along on Rav for her Dandelion Beret pattern, so I jumped at the chance to sign up.  And after starting the beret last week, I'm now finished

You'll have to excuse the slightly blurry camera phone image - I keep forgetting to buy batteries for my camerea.

The pattern creates a gorgeous beret.  It will definitely  be getting a lot of wear this winter, and I'm already thinking that I'd like to make another beret in another colour - after all, a girl can never have too many hats!

Vogue Knitting Live

It's official - I'm off to Vogue Knitting Live in LA in September!  http://www.vogueknittinglive.com/

Best birthday present ever!  I'm already dreaming about all the fabulous yarn I can buy, and the classes I'm going to take.

Hello World

A couple of years ago I started a blog while I was in China, but never kept up with it, so I decided it was time to try again and start afresh.  Hopefully this time I will be more successful!

I'm currently excitedly counting down to Friday - KnitCamp!  Assuming that I escape from work at a reasonable hour tonight it will be all systems go in regards to packing, though I'm a bit worried that with all the yarn I'm wanting to take with me, there won't be any room for clothes!

I've also gone a little overboard, and signed up for all the classes - seems that I can't get away from my workaholic tendancies.  A couple of days away from work will be a welcome relief though.