I’ve increased my number of goals for this week because last night when I sat down to watch tv, I realized I most of my projects require greater thought than I am capable of while distracted by tv shows. In order to keep them moving, I need to sit down and get them to the next step. Also three of these goals shouldn’t take very long to do, I just need to make time to get them done. However, if I don’t then my current sock project should speed along.
For my first crochet project, I am making Inga’s Häkelbeutel, which luckily comes in an English version, because translating crochet instructions from German seems a little ambitious for a first project. This project requires 16 granny squares, which are then sewn together to create a bag where they are featured on a diagonal. Maybe I should be thinking of them as granny diamonds instead of squares.
Green/Orange/Blue Granny Square
I’m using leftover Red Heart Super Saver in a variety of solid colours. I’ve made 4 of each of the Green/Orange/Blue Squares and the Purple/Orange/Teal Squares and then 2 of the Yellow/Orange/Green Squares, and almost 2 (I’m on the last round of the second square) of an unphotographed Purple/Orange/Yellow Square. I’m using the same colour of orange for the middle round in the 5 rounds for all of the squares in order to attempt to tie everything together.
Yellow/Orange/Green Granny Square
I had meant to make a baby blanket for a long-time family friend as my first crochet project, but I wanted something I could keep and remember my early crochet days with. I justified making this bag by deciding I needed something to put the baby blanket into while I’m working on it. The baby is due in April, so I should have plenty of time to make both projects.
I recently took a good look at the projects I have in progress, and I’ve decided to frog two of them.
The first was the Knit Boobie, I finished the knitting and sewed it up and the shape is off, so I am ripping it out. My knitting friends haven’t brought up this charity project in awhile and I’m the only one who started one. If the topic comes up again I’m going to suggest using the Tit Bit pattern instead because knitting boobs in the round makes more sense to me.
The second project I’m frogging are the Boot Covers. This was a cool idea, but after more than a year of not working on them, it’s time to realize that I just don’t care enough to finish them. I’ve been wearing the boots without covers and I’m fine with them like that.
My resolutions from last year didn’t go very well. I did finish the 12 in 2011 challenge with 13 projects knit with stash, but I did not stick to my original list and stay focused. My goal of only having 3 projects in progress was pretty much a complete failure. Even more of a failure was my plan to knit a hat for charity each month. I did do better at documenting things in Ravelry, all of my finished projects from 2011 have photos and I documented all of my yarn that was in my under worsted weight stash bin. I wasn’t able to meet my unofficial idea of finishing 12 pairs of socks, but I did complete 9 pairs last year, and 5 pairs were for me.
This year I am again doing the continuation of the 12 in 2011 challenge (12 in 2012) but I don’t have a concrete list, my goal is just to knit more of my stash yarn. I have queued some projects that I would like to make, but others might end up taking priority.
My main goal for 2012 is to learn to crochet. Last April I was inspired to learn how to successfully operate a hook, by Suzapalooza’s Life I Love You Groovyghan. My friend Ang has learned to crochet and at the beginning of December she showed me how to hold the hook and let me work on the bag she was making for a little bit. I started this resolution a little early by sitting down with some YouTube videos on December 27th and starting a set of dishcloths to learn different crochet stitches on.
I crocheted 5 dishcloths and I finished weaving in the ends on Sunday. The bunch isn’t pretty to look at but they have helped me figure out how to hold a hook and work a few different types of stitches. The first was a square 20 chains wide in single crochet. The second a square the same size in double crochet. For the third I made a 5 round granny square using Kelly McClure’s pattern. The fourth I worked on at Ang’s house and she told me how to make a basic flower. The last I worked a 20 chain wide square with 7 rows of half double crochet, two rows of treble crochet, and then another 7 rows of half double crochet. The treble section resulted in unintentionally decreasing a few stitches across, so I think this one looks the worst of the bunch. This set counts as my first 12 in 2012 completed project.
I had two wonderful weeks of vacation between Christmas and New Years and then the first week of 2012. It took me a week to get back into a routine, so although it’s a little late, here is the information about my Christmas gift projects.
I knit Dad his customary Christmas socks this year using leftover Knit Picks Stroll Sport from his last 3 pairs of socks. I striped the Cocoa, Sarge, and Mink Heather in 1 row stripes and used the Mink Heather for the toes and heels. I came very close to running out of the tan yarn, but managed to finish with a yard or two to spare. These socks allowed me to accomplish my goal is knitting 12 in 2011 from stash yarn.
I picked Knit Picks Stroll Hand-Painted in Tree Fort for the Mathew’s second pair of socks. This yarn was smooshy and I loved watching the colours knit up. Mathew’s family traditionally receives “fun” socks for Christmas, so I wanted some brighter colours than the last pair of socks I knit for him. I knit these ones with a few more stitches around and ribbed the top of the foot and then all around the leg. While hand knit socks are always appreciated, getting Mathew’s socks perfect is a work in progress, so I have notes for next time.
My Mom made sweaters for two of our favourite kids, Annora and Everett, for Christmas using the Wonderful Wallaby pattern. Annora has just started dressing up her stuffed animals, so I used the leftover James C Brett Marble from their sweaters to make bear sweaters for her. I downsized the Wonderful Wallaby pattern, leaving off the pocket and knitting a collar instead of a hood. They turned out great, in fact I had planned to only make one but it was so much fun I knit a second. These sweaters counted as my 13th 12 in 2011 project.
It is tradition in my family, to receive an ornament for Christmas in our stockings. This year I knit an ornament for Mathew using the Cherry Ornament pattern in the Knit Picks Tidings of Joy Kit. This was with the yarn that came with the kit, Knit Picks Palette in Camel Heather, Edamame, and Pimento. It was a quick and fun knit to make, I’m sure I’ll try at least one other ornament from this collection for next Christmas.
I thought it might be handy to start listing goals for the week every Monday. This way maybe I will get some projects completed more quickly, since I often seem to stall out on the finishing stages. For my first week I’m keeping it simple.
