Monogamous or multiple?

Morning all! How's your week been?

This week I wanted to talk about work in progress or wip's as they are known in the yarn community. Particularly I want to talk about the number you have on the go.

You see up until I discovered podcasts and the HPKCHC (Harry Potter Knit and Crochet House Cup) over on Ravelry I was a total monogamous crafter, right down to only having either a crochet or knit project on the go....or so I thought.

When I first sat down to write this that was how I thought, but if I'm 100% honest with myself it's not true. You see stashed out of sight at the back of my cupboard is a mermaid tail I started for Thing 2 two years ago!! Also upstairs in my sewing area I have a patchwork quilt started. Since both of these have been hidden away for so long they are most definitely hibernating and forgotten about. Oops!! 

As for before the wonderful rabbit hole of Ravelry and podcasts. Pre discovery I would pick what I wanted to make and the whole process, planning right through to completion, would be solely about that one item. Now, post hole and 'casts, I have found myself 100% enabled, casting on multiple pairs of socks, whilst also following along with a crochet alongs (CAL), and starting a new technique (brioche) to make Mr Lyvit a cowl to keep him warm whilst he trains for the London Classics.

That is just the Wip's! I have several more I want to knit, crochet and sew!! I know I know, there's probably some of you out there saying "What! That's nothing at all!" But you see I love to be organised and work through things methodically, one at a time. The trouble is I make a list of things I want or need to do so I don't forget and then the brain goes into overdrive, panicking I don't have enough time, or enough stash (oh I do, let's just say I hoard and am addicted). I have a physical list in my scrappy notebook, one in my creative notebook and one in my HPKCHC notebook! Then there are the planning spreadsheets and my Ravelry queue!! Soon I will need a list for my lists. The worst of it is I find myself panicking so much I subconsciously start distracting myself by browsing Ravelry, organising my stash or even window shopping and dreaming on Etsy and Instagram!

Does anyone else get like this? Do you find yourself distracting yourself from what needs to be done now by adding to your lists and planning, buying and organising the next project(s)?

Let me know your thoughts and coping methods. 

Mrs L

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Craft plans for 2018

Morning all! How are we doing?

I am a little late to the party but I wanted to leave my plans craft wise here as sort of an ownership/commitment to doing them. I have seen many blog and podcast posts doing the same thing and I like the idea. I don't like to make New Year Resolutions as such but I do like to spend the time review the past year and pencilling in the next.

My last post evaluated what I achieved last year on the crafting front so this one will focus on my dreams for the upcoming year.

Lets start with knitting shall we. This year I have already signed up to both of the Knitting Expat's sock alongs. They are all designed by Mina and look to be both interesting and a little challenging. Just after the New Year I sorted through and uploaded to Ravelry my entire stash of yarn, only to discover I have a rather large collection of gorgeous sock yarns, both commercial and indie dyed. Taking part in this Sock KAL will hopefully help to reduce that a little.

As well as Mina's KAL I have signed up to Kirstin of the Yarngasm Podcast's BoxOSoxKAL2018. Kirstin started this KAL two or three years ago and it has taken the sock knitting world by storm. The idea behind it is you get yourself a pretty storage box to keep all the socks in that you knit in the year. You need to knit a minimum of 12 pairs in the year to enter the prize giving thread on Ravelry in December, but just the thought of having a box filled with beautiful soft colours is enough of an inspiration to get me started.

Some of the socks I hope to produce are from the wonderful Sock Drawer Book written by Verity Castledine of the Truly Hooked indie dyer company. Over on instagram two of her fans have start the THKAL encouraging followers to knit one of her patterns a month, starting last September. Sadly I haven't managed to complete any yet but they are all in my queue in the hope I motor through them to catch up.

Apart from the many socks I wish to knit this year I would love to knit a few garments for myself, including the Well Water Hoodie by Suvi Simola

and the A Floral Affair by Hanna Maciejewska.

Both will be a challenge as I have never knit a garment before but I look forward to learning new things. Pretty aren't they!

I haven't planned my crochet wish list yet but it includes a few shawls, patterns still to be chosen, and more toys, including some baby items. No I'm not expecting, one of our extended family members is expecting her first in April. I hope to knit and crochet several items up for her and the baby to give to her once the little bundle arrives. I love giving handmade items, especially to someone so worthy.

This year I would love to also start and learn to sew my own garments. I know very little about sewing so I have signed up to Tilly and the Buttons first two online workshops. I discovered Tilly whilst watching the wonderful Inside Number 23 podcasts. Katie, who hosts the podcasts, is an amazing seamstress, knitter and all round creative person, who has inspired me in many parts of my life. I hope to draw from her inspiration for a handmade wardrobe and make my first skirt soon. I usually live in jeans and t-shirts but I'm fed up of having no real style or  clothes not fitting properly. I hope that by making my own i can learn what I like and what looks good on me.

Wow reading back through that small selection of what I would like to achieve this year I realise i may have stretched myself. I'm sure though that with a little planning and taking it one step at a time I will get there, even if it's not by December 31st!

If you have read this far thank you. I realise this is an unusually link heavy post. Normal service should resume next week.

Until then I hope you week is kind to you and you have plenty of creative time, in whatever is your chosen craft.

MrsLyvit
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End of Year Round Up

As I write this I realize I haven't written to you all in a few weeks. 

Things went really crazy there before Christmas and I took the week after to spend with my family, like a good mummy should. 

Once Mr Lyvit had returned to work I took some time with my morning coffee to upload most of my gift projects up to Ravelry, along with photos of those I remembered to take before wrapping. I quickly realised how much I had actually achieved last year. 

For those of you that like the statistics; In 2017 Yarn stash in through buying and acquisitions 19,855 metres Yarn stash out through making. 16,915 metres. 

I made a whopping 7 hats (including a design of my own, more soon!) 6 pairs of gloves, 23 stuffed toys, 4 Shawls, 2 blankets, 6 pairs of socks, and 10 other items including cloths, decorations and bookmarks. 

Round up of some of the makes

2018 should be just as fun and creative, but more on that in a future post.

Bye for now

Mrs L

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