30 makes in 30 days

As i look towards November I am looking for projects that can be used as gifts. As I looked through Pinterest for inspiration I remembered a craft challenge from years ago called 30 makes in 30 days.

There are three ways to approach this challenge, 1: Churn out quick and easy projects as fast as humanly possible, 2: Take the opportunity to finish existing projects or, 3: A mix of old and new projects.

I plan on using option 3. I have so many projects on the go there is bound to be 30 projects close to finishing or at least i can dust off and make some progress on some forgotten projects. I am hoping to finishes some tissue pack covers I started two years ago and perfect my chunky bandanna cowl recipe.

Another idea I have been working on for a few years is mini stocking Christmas tree decorations with a fun size chocolate bar inside.

An accidental make I churned out a few months ago was a pencil case. I was trying to make a project bag and got the dimensions wrong. I cut down the fabric and decided it looked about pencil case size. Unfortunately I forgot to write down the measurements so I need to measure the finished pencil case before I can remake and improve my pattern.

My last Idea is wash sets. A will put together a hand knit wash cloth, home-made soap, and a home-made bath fizzer. I will wrap them in a home made wash bag if I can find the time and fabric.

I also have 1 shawl, 10 scarves, 2 hats, 3 cowls, 3 pairs of gloves, and a few more pairs of socks to make for the ever growing list of people I knit socks for each Christmas.

 

Keep an eye out for my list of fast and funky challenge patterns and let me know your favourites. 

 

Handmade Christmas 2018 is on, What are you making this year?

Happy crafting.

Finally Finished.

In December 2016 I brought a yarn advent calendar from Stardust Homemade crafts (shop here.) and decided to start a cozy memory blanket. Almost 2 years later I have Finally finished adding the 25 mini skeins into the blanket, just in time for this years advent calendar to arrive. As i was starting a new blanket I choose to put the squares in a row, i didn't think about the size of the square which has made the blanket a lot wider then one person needs, but that's what you get for not planning and measuring.

As the weather cools and podcasters pick up there cozy memory blankets i noticed the difference in square size. As I watch the collection of blankets I wonder, What size are the squares? What size are the needles? How many stitches? Which gave me an idea. Why not put all the information in one place? So that is my newest project. Whenever I have a few minutes and don't know what to craft I will grab some needles and yarn and start putting together a table of yarn weights, needle size, stitch count, gauge and finished square size.

I love knitting blankets in squares, so each square can be a different colour and/or pattern, unfortunately I hate sewing the squares together. The cozy memory square are join as you go making life so much easier.

Now to finish the strawberry fields yarn mini skein club I purchased November 2016 till march 2017 for the second row of my cozy memory blanket and only managed to knit 15 of the 25 squares.

I can't wait to wrap up in my finished blanket, and start work on one for my mum as she's been dropping the worlds most subtle hints “Isn't that pretty, I love the colours, and it looks so warm, Its nicer then my Blanket.”

What not so subtle hints do you get for hand crafted items?

Happy crafting.

Making the most of my craft time.

With more projects then there is hours in a decade I find it hard to finish larger projects. Its not always possible to spend and hour sat at the sewing machine or on the sofa knitting. As I watch podcasts I find myself wondering how podcasters manage to work full time, cook, clean, look after kids, and knit a Jumper.

I'm hoping the answer is little and often. Each day when I get craft time I aim to work at least 1 row on a large project, 5 rows on a smaller forgotten project, and if I have any time left I work on which ever project is most interesting. This way all my project get a little attention with out the pressure of having to find large chunks of time to work on the larger projects.

I have been using this plan for about a week and have already managed to finish a blanket, A scarf and a hat. Not bad for a weeks work.

Happy crafting.

Creating space for creativity.

As my pile of finished objects grows the brain space it was taking up is being filled with creativity. So many ideas for new designs I don't know which one to start with. I have ideas for socks, scarves, blankets, cardigans, and jumpers.

The combination of cooler weather, increased craft time, and a stitch dictionary has made an enormous difference to my mood. As I craft like a machine I am reorganizing and sorting my supplies. With a cleaner tidier craft space when I want to craft I have more time working and less time tidying, searching and cleaning.

Maybe this year I will finally manage the me made Christmas I have been failing to achieve for 4 years, or maybe a huge pile of half finished patterns waiting to be written up.

However you craft, don't forget to have fun.

Happy Crafting

Climbing WIP mountain

With Projects piling up, and more new starts then finishes, I need a way to complete the started projects while starting new ones. While watching the Bakery Bears Dan said he rotates projects so all of his projects get worked on. Kay's response was I work on the project that calls to me most.

I woke on the project that shouts loudest and forget the rest, unfortunately the loudest most interesting project tends to be a new start. One possible solution I tried is a combination of Dan and Kay's Knitting plans. Everyday I pick and older unloved project and a newer more exciting project. I force myself to work 10 rows on the older project and reward myself with time spent on the newer project. So far this seems to be working. Since starting this new knitting plan I have finished 2 pairs of socks, a scarf, and almost finished a blanket. The best part is I have only started one new project.

Will I ever get WIP mountain under control? Probably not, but at least I will have fun trying.

Happy Crafting