it’s been a week of crafting mishaps
Each Wednesday, I post little snippets about what’s happening, and what I’m working on.
My crazy colorful sweater is coming along. It’s pretty slow going, and there was a bit of a hiccup when I realized I had vastly underestimated the yardage I needed (by about half) because I miscounted the number of rows I had to the inch. Luckily, I found more yarn, and I’m transitioning my colors now, so all should be ok. Fingers crossed.
And then I tried on my purple sweater and decided I hated how the neckline was sitting, so I cut it off, wound the yarn back up, and am going to re-knit it.
But at least I’m working off of the correct row count for this sweater.
So as sort of a consolation prize for the sweater mishaps, I cut the fabric for my first Archer button up shirt, and started sewing it together.
Unfortunately the fabric slipped, or wudged, or something while I was cutting (I mean, it’s not like I was being super careful) and the stripes don’t quite match at center front. But I’m making it anyway, because a) I want the shirt, and b) I’m planning for it to be an over-shirt anyway, so it’s not like I was going to wear it closed very often.
Once the shirt is all sewn together we’ll see how “off” the stripes actually are, and we’ll also see if I still don’t care.
At least there was a consolation prize for the consolation prize.
Two skeins of absolutely lovely yarn arrived from Toil & Trouble! I’m working up a new design in it, and I can’t wait to start knitting with it! Yay!
(But I’ve held off winding the second skein until my week of crafting mishaps comes to an end – just in case.)
PS. If you’re in the US have a fabulously wonderful Thanksgiving. And if you’re not in the US, have some pie anyway.
7 tips on crafting for yourself this holiday season
Personally, I’m going the “not crafting for other people this year” route, but I know that’s not always an option. And if you’re crafting for other people during the holidays, it can be hard finding time to craft for yourself. So I’ve put together some tips on how to craft for yourself, while crafting for other people, while making it through the holidays.
These are primarily knitting related tips, but they can translate into other crafts.
Tip 1: only craft for people who are really and truly craft worthy. Not everyone appreciates handmade, and that’s ok. Just save handmade for people who “get it.”
Tip 2: put the intricate lace shawl aside. I love my lace, but it does not make for good holiday knitting. If you’re making big & complex things for other people you probably should’ve started in July, and if the project is for you, I say put it away till January.
Tip 3: simple projects. Projects that you can work on while being around people, and projects that you can pick up and put down easily are the way to go. Simple knitting & crochet projects are excellent for this.
Tip 4: carve out time for yourself. Even if it’s just 20 minutes to work on a personal project.
Tip 5: split your crafting time into “time you’re crafting around other people” and “time you’re crafting alone.” This is kind of a combination/variation on Tips 3 & 4. You can designate your “crafting time around people” as personal crafting time, and then work on other people’s gifts during the time you’re alone – this works especially well if you’re trying to keep the projects a secret. OR you can designate the “time you’re crafting around other people” as “time to work on simple projects” and the “time you’re crafting alone” as “time to work on complicated projects.” Which ever works for you.
Tip 6: only craft for yourself. Don’t try crafting for people and jump straight to getting gifts made by other people. This is a sure-fire way of having time to craft for yourself & gives you an opportunity to support independent makers, and small businesses.
Tip 7: decide to make gifts at the very last minute. Every year I say I’m not going to make gifts, and then every year, a week or so before Christmas I change my mind. This means that the week leading up to Christmas is kind of a crafting nightmare, but the weeks leading up to the week before Christmas are all about crafting for me.
This year, the plan is (again) to not craft for Christmas, and instead to focus my crafting time on the self-made wardrobe, (and not being cold.)
But of course, that’s what I always say. So we’ll see what happens.
It’s cold, so I’m knitting some sweaters.
Each Wednesday, I post little snippets about what’s happening, and what I’m working on.
I’ve been wearing my winter coat quite successfully. It still needs a zipper, and some pockets, and a lining. Though it’s proving to be rather windproof (especially when I’m wearing layers), so at the moment the zipper is more of a priority than the lining.
Speaking of layers…
I started a new sweater. It’s another allover slipped stitch pattern. This sweater is a top down raglan pullover, using 5 different colors of yarn, which makes for a very hard to photograph project.
And the purple sweater I started last week is progressing. It’s knit from the top down, and I’m through the decreases to the waist, so I’m hoping to start the increases for the hips soon. Then it’s on to sleeve island.
I pre-washed and ironed the fabric for my first “Archer” button up shirt, and planned to cut the pieces last weekend, but that didn’t happen – hopefully this weekend.
And because I need a project that has nothing to do with the self-made wardrobe, my spindling kick continues.
Also!
Speaking of The Self-Made Wardrobe Project, I posted the 3rd Month Wrap Up over on selfmadewardrobe.com, you can read the post here.
