Planning Projects

I have always been the kind of knitter (and crafter as a whole) that buys pretty yarn and then plans projects, usually then requiring more yarn LOL!  Hence why I have quite a lot of yarn in my stash :">

I also have a bad habit of doubting my own abilities hence why this year I was/am determined to tackle new things.  So far on the knitting front that means I have mastered magic loop; as a DPN lover I was very resistant to magic looping but now love it, started (but as yet not finished as I am finding them a tad boring!) a pair of two at a time toe up socks and learnt to knit continental style.  The rest of my goals are mainly spinning related but since I have still not managed more than 5 minutes playing they may take longer to achieve!

I have had several patterns queued on Ravelry for a loooong time, some of which I have never had the confidence to knit.  Well, I'm sat here matching my favourite stashed yarn to those patterns and am determined to complete them in 2013...if nothing else I need more shawls desperately!

My plans include:

StarLight Shawl in Wollmeise Pure "True Love" and "WD Versuch (Schwartz)"
Double Knitting which I've never attemped!

Koi Garden Shawlette in Kauni Effektgarn EQ
Entrelec, which I have again never attempted!

I also have several skeins of purchased handspun I'm attempting to find projects for and a gorgeous skein of Gradiance Yarns Silver Sparkle in Tropics which is destined to be a semi circular shawl methinks!

 

But for now, I really should finish my current WIP's...

Being Organised!

The last week or so have been busy!  A few afternoons of gardening, a new home ed science club last Thursday, we were invited to visit a home ed group on Tuesday and an Art In Empty Shops weaving workshop on Wednesday...lots of early mornings for me and the small ones so we have really appreciated the last two days of relaxing at home, especially given the miserable weather.

As a means to being more organised I now have my super fantastic Roterfaden Taschenbegleiter!  I was rather awkward when it came to the configuration as I wanted to keep both my iPad mini *and* Kindle Paperwhite in it as well as having room for notebooks etc.  It arrived this week and I am completely in love with it <3

I also have fabulous new skins for both my iPad mini and Kindle - both designs from the amazing Valentina Ramos, who's artwork I adore!

 

Unfortunately, the dieting has been rather screwed up the last few days with being out so much, we're all laden with colds and I haven't managed anything remotely crafty all week. Not all bad though as I do have some new yarn and am planning a purge of the stash and a future WIP planning session tomorrow!

Squeeeee! My new Kiwi is finished

My supplies finally arrived at the end of last week so this weekend I stole a few hours to finish my wheel.

A lot of wax, sore wrists and lime green paint/clear varnish later and voilà...

I haven't managed more than a few minutes playing yet as Oliver seems intent on helping.  I have dyed a bit more fibre though (and have a kg or so more of various breeds to dye!)

Spring Green Whitefaced Woodland

Fuchsia/Purple/Black Whitefaced Woodland

In other none spinning news, I am now completely loving continental knitting...even the Norwegian Purl that originally vexed me!  I sadly haven't done much of my current WIP's but I hope to get more knitting done this week.

It's a week today since I started my diet *again*  This time I have the added joy of the additional weight I put on whilst pregnant plus the more significant amount I put on whilst grieving!  A not too shoddy 8lbs done and many many more to go.  Just before I got pregnant I was down a huge 56.6lbs from my top weight.  I'm now down 25.4lbs from my heaviest and determined to achieve my goals this year!

Fibre...tis good for you!

For several years I have lusted over spinning as a new hobby.  On numerous occasions I have saved for a wheel and then chickened out last minute.  I have so little time for my crafting as it is and dislike spending money on myself (and hey, what if I suck at it!)

I have finally taken the plunge though and after deciding to go for the lowest in price of the few wheels I was coveting, just in case and to ease my conscience,  I got a huge box delivered from Wingham Wool Work.

An Ashford Kiwi 2, which sadly is STILL boxed as I am waiting the last of the supplies to finish it.  The plan is to wax all the beech and paint the wheel a kiwi green colour :-)

In the meantime, Carla and I finally dyed the merino we got together today.  My half was hand painted in a trio of Jacquard Acid Dye in Hot Fuchsia, Teal and Chartreuse.   Looks fabulous and hopefully will look equally as great spun.

In other craft related news, I've started the Yarn Addicts Continental Knitting with Norwegian Purl online course this week and am loving the new techniques.  I've learnt most of my knitting techniques via online video's so I'm finding the tuition fantastic.