Crafting 2024: Update 1#

As I expected at the start of this year, I haven't completed many crafting projects so far this year.  This is partly because I've put aside a lot less time for crafting, but also partly because of my depression which that I wasn't really in the mood to do anything at all.  I have, however, managed to get a few things done over these last few months and I'm still happy to just let myself slowly work through the projects without putting any pressure on myself to do them at a certain time.  That being said, I have completed one project and have been working through another.

The Maggie Jumper

This jumper did take quite a long time to complete, not because the pattern was particularly complicated but because the stitching was so small that each row took a while to complete.  However, it is now finished just in time for.......some very hot weather that doesn't need a jumper.  I do love it though and it's very soft so I will be wearing it as soon as the opportunity arises.  

Quilling Christmas cards

I started this off really well, making about two cards a week, but then it fell to the wayside and I haven't made any more progress since.  I have still made twelve though, which is about a quarter of the total number I need to make before Christmas.  They are very beautiful and I got the kit off Etsy from the shop TillyViktor.  I would definitely recommend this shop for quilling things, especially if you're just starting out.

My plan next is to make a top using the Grogu fabric.  I have a style in mind, but I haven't been able to find a pattern I like so it's going to be more of a 'winging it' type of project.  After that, I'm going to work on the Field of Fucks cross-stitch, and I'll still be making Christmas cards alongside both of these projects.  So I haven't quite got through as many projects as I have done in the previous years, but crafting for me is all about doing something I enjoy and I'm fine with the idea of not getting as much done this year.  Maybe I'll speed up in the next half of the year, or maybe I'll only get four projects done, and that'll be fine too.

What is left on my list:

• Sew the Field of Fucks cross-stitch
• Crochet a crop top with leftover yarn
• Re-knit the Icelandic jumper in a larger size
• Knit matching mittens to my hat
• Sew a left-over fabric top
• Sew the Welcome to Erebort cross-stitch
• Sew a Grogu fabric top
• Sew the cropped trousers
• Crochet a long-sleeved top
• Sew the cut embroidered dress
• Sew an apron
• Knit the Underwing mitts
• Knit another vintage cardigan in simpler yarn
• Start crocheting a leftover yarn blanket
• Start sewing a leftover fabric quilt

Crafting 2024

Despite a number of other hobbies I want to focus on this year I am planning on carrying on with the crafting, especially some of the sewing projects I have on my list.  However, I'm not going to set any specific goals for myself this time.  Instead, I'm going to just work my way through my list, with no time scale planned, and see where I end up at the end of the year.  This is partly because of the previously mentioned other hobbies, but it's also because I don't want crafting to become a chore.  

Here is a list of the projects I'm hoping to work my way through over the next few years (though obviously there are many more on top of that):

• Quilling Christmas cards
• Finish knitting the Maggie Jumper
• Sew the Field of Fucks cross-stitch
• Crochet a crop top with leftover yarn
• Re-knit the Icelandic jumper in a larger size
• Knit matching mittens to my hat
• Sew a left-over fabric top
• Sew the Welcome to Erebort cross-stitch
• Sew a Grogu fabric top
• Sew the cropped trousers
• Crochet a long-sleeved top
• Sew the cut embroidered dress
• Sew an apron
• Knit the Underwing mitts
• Knit another vintage cardigan in simpler yarn
• Start crocheting a leftover yarn blanket
• Start sewing a leftover fabric quilt

It's quite a long list and there's no way I'll get them all completed by the end of the year or even the end of two years.  There are also a lot of sewing projects on this list, which means that this year will be a year of sewing, whereas last year was more about knitting.  It'll be good to get back into sewing as I feel like I have lost a little bit of skill on that front.  And that's it really.  This isn't a particularly long post, but then it didn't need to be.  I'll keep you updated on what I get done as the year progresses.

Crafting 2023 Update #4

I haven't done a lot of crafting in this last quarter and definitely not much of the projects I had originally planned to do.  Specifically, I haven't worked on any of the use-up projects, but at least with those projects I have everything I need to do them and can just pull out when I want to.  To be honest, it's mainly because I've been distracted by other things, but as I had no real goal for this year, crafting-wise, I guess it doesn't really matter.

Christmas Cards /Quilling

This is where most of my time has been spent when I have been crafting.  I thought that this year, for the Christmas cards that I make, I would try quilling again as it was something I enjoyed doing as a child.  It probably wasn't the best idea as I ended up putting off making these for quite a while as I suddenly got nervous about them, thinking they would be too complicated.  However, once I got started it actually just clicked and I was able to get into a rhythm.  I did make some other styles of Christmas cards as well for items that were travelling a little bit further than the UK as I wasn't sure how well the quilling would hold up in the post for that long.

The Maggie Jumper

I have started my matching jumper to Ed's star jumper, but the size of the needles and thickness of the yarn means that this jumper is probably going to take me a very long time to make.  I'm also not able to dedicate that much time to it and just pull it out once I've completed everything else I need to do.  This means I'm only doing about two hours of knitting a week at the moment.  However, I should hopefully be able to give it more time now that all the Christmas cards are done.

King Cole Double Knit Shawl and Jumper (2793)

These are now complete and sent off to their new owner.  I really liked how they turned out and they were quite enjoyable to make.  It's always difficult to determine what the right size is at the best of times, but even more so when it's a baby that hasn't even arrived yet.  Hopefully, they'll work well once needed.

Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Society Hat

I of course brought some wool when we went to the National Wool Museum a little while ago and was looking for a project to use it on.  I had found this pattern on Etsy from the shop Swan Avenue and this was actually a hat I've been wanting to make since watching the movie.  It turns out that I'd brought exactly the right amount of yarn to do this, but there is some left over though not enough to make anything else so I'll be looking for more so that I can make matching mittens in the future.  No rush on that though.  I really like how it's turned out and I'm expecting to get a lot of wear out of it.

Fixing Ed's Trousers

A pair of Ed's work trousers ripped along part of the waistband, which they shouldn't have done as he hasn't had them for that long.  Rather than throwing them out and having to buy more, I decided I would just fix them using some of the leftover fabric I had stored away.  It's not the neatest fix ever as the original fabric was fraying everywhere, but there is no longer a big hole in his trousers, the joint is not particularly obvious when he's wearing them, and he should hopefully now get quite a bit longer out of them.

Field of Fucks Cross-stitch

I still haven't started this yet even though I had planned to.  I might try and start before the end of the year, but it's most likely going to be something that I start next year.

And that's everything.  Not a huge amount of projects completed and there are quite a few I had planned on doing this year that I never got around to doing.  However, that's fine as these crafts are things that I do to help me relax rather than because I need to make them for any particular reason.  I still have quite a long list of items I want to make and I'll just work my way through them over the next few years, depending on what we can afford.

Crafting 2023 Update #3

It's been a pretty steady quarter when it comes to getting some crafting done.  I haven't exactly stuck to what I had planned to do this year, with a few extra projects creeping in, and I think a few projects will be moving over to next year, but as I'm crafting for fun I'm not too bothered about it.

Completion and Use-Up Projects.

There are still a couple of projects to do on this list, but they are ones that will take a little while to do, especially the top, and I need to find some time that I can just set aside for them.  However, I am still planning on getting these done by the end of 2023.

The Maggie and Coddy Jumpers.

I have now finished the Coddy jumper for my husband.  I'd never knitted with cotton yarn before and it feels very different on the needles and through the fingers.  I will have to see how the loose threads do as they don't bind in the same way that wool does, but I'll just keep an eye on those.  Otherwise, I am very happy with how this has turned out and will now start working on my own jumper, which happily means going back to good old wool.

More Socks.

Not exactly surprising as these don't take too long to make, but I've finished the socks that my friend requested and I think they turned out pretty well.  Apparently, they also fit quite well, which I'm surprised at as I didn't really have their measurements to work from.

Double Knit Shawl and Jumper (2793).

One of Ed's friends is having a baby and when we were in a craft shop I came across some wool and knitting patterns that were on sale.  So, it seemed like a match made in heaven and a good enough reason to go all granny and make them a baby shawl.  There was also the extra wool to make the world's tiniest jumper, which is taking almost no time at all to make.  So I've now decided that this is the only size of jumper I'm going to make in the future.  If anyone requests a jumper I'm just going to make this tiny version of it and send that to them instead.

Field of Fucks Cross-stitch.

By Fandom Cross Stitchery

I now have all the material I need to make this and I'm looking forward to getting back into cross-stitching.  I don't think it's going to take me too long to do either, so I should get this finished by the end of the year ready to start the New Year with the right type of sentiment.

Quilling.

This is a craft I did when I was much younger and I'm thinking I'm going to give it a go for our Christmas cards this year.  I'm hoping they don't take me too long to do as I am starting them quite late, but I'm just going to not put too much pressure on myself and enjoy revisiting this hobby, we can always buy the other cards if we need to.

I actually hadn't planned on doing as much crafting this year as last, but I seem to have done just as much.  I do really enjoy creating things, but it does mean that I'm not doing other things I enjoy, like reading.  It's unlikely that I'll get around to sewing the trousers and dress I had planned to do this year, but I don't exactly need them so they can wait until next year which is probably going to be a year of sewing in the way this year seems to have been the year of knitting.  Anything clothes-wise that I make now is just for me to enjoy rather than filling in my wardrobe.  If I do finish what I have planned for this year I will be very happy.

Crafting 2023 Update #2

I can't believe that that's half the year gone already and it definitely feels like I haven't managed to do as much crafting this year as I did last.  However, I am still enjoying it and to me that's the main thing.

Completion and Use Up Projects

Managed to cross off another two projects on this list -  the matching tie for my husband using the fabric I had used to make my dress and what was left over from my wedding outfit, and the knitted strappy top.  The top was made using a pattern from Kutovakika called the Lola top and I used the left over wool from the Guarnsey jumper I had made for my husband.

Socks, Mittens, and Cowl

These were a gift for a friend and I wanted to make her matching socks and mittens.  However, I ended up having plenty of wool left over so I also added a cowl to the mix.  It was a little bit of a challenge to make these as I didn't have any measurements to work from so I just had to go with the vague idea that her hands and feet are longer than mine.  I did enjoy making them though, and they helped keep me calm during our move to Wales.

The Maggie and Coddy Jumpers

I now have the yarn for both of these jumpers, which I brought with some of the money I had put aside after doing my tax returns, and I've started the Coddy jumper which is for my husband.  This jumper is made using a cotton yarn and it's been quite interesting learning to knit with this type of yarn as I hadn't done that before.  It definitely slips through your fingers a lot easier.  I did have to unpick some of it though as something wasn't quite right with the pattern section and I could see the black yarn through the white sections.  Once I've completed this one I'll move onto mine, where we're back to good old wool yarn.

The Jabberwocky Embroidery

This one is also completed and didn't actually take me that long to do, just a few nights.  It's not really my style, but I did enjoy doing embroidery again and it's reminded me that it's something I would like to get back to in the future.  It was a pretty good kit as well, with everything you would need to complete your project.  Right now it's sitting with the other sewing that I have completed but haven't gotten around to framing yet.

More Socks

I've had a request for some socks from a friend, so I've added this on as a little side craft that I do whilst I knit the jumper for Ed.  It's another one where I don't really have the measurements so I've having to wing it a little bit.  However, it's a relatively simple knit which means I can give my mind a little break from the more complex pattern knitting I'm doing at the moment.  I'm using my go to Voolenvine favourite socks pattern and the yarn is Regia 4 ply in Leaf.

I guess I've still managed to get quite a few things completed this year, despite it feeling like a slow year.  I don't think I'm going to get all the projects I had planned for 2023 completed, but I'm hoping to finish at least another three before the year it out.  It does all depend on what else is going on though, so we'll see.  Let's still aim for three.

Crafting 2023 Update #1

I wasn't sure how much I was going to actually get done this quarter, especially as I wanted to put aside  more time to read and keep up a diary.  However, I still managed to get a fair few things completed.

Completion and Use Up Projects

This is where I put most of my focus this quarter and I did manage to get most of these done, which is really satisfying.  The only thing I slightly changed is that I secured the pompom on the hat better rather than make it smaller.  I just like the ridiculous over sizeness of it.  The only things I have left to do involves using up the fabric and wool I have from previous projects.  These are:

• Making a matching tie to my dress
• Leftover fabric top
• Crochet crop top using left over wool
• Knitted /crochet strappy top using left over wool

The Hobbit/ Lord of the Rings Cross- stitch - Riverdale

This is now complete and I love the way this looks.  I've stored it with my Hobbiton one and they'll need to be put in frames at some point.  I'm still not sure how I want them framed though, so they might just sit together for now whilst I make that decision.  I have another cross stitch I want to finish first before I move on with this series, but I plan to get back to it by the end of this year.

Icelandic Jumper

I wasn't planning on finishing this one so quickly, but I actually managed to get it completed in this quarter.  It was just such an easy jumper to knit and I might make another one in the future.  The only issue I have is that, even though I did all the measurements etc it did end up being tighter than I had originally planned.  I don't think it has anything to do with the instructions in the pattern but more to do with the type of wool I used and the fact I can never get this measuring thing right.  It's still very, very warm though, despite being on the tight side.  This didn't end up being quite the free project I was hoping for as I did have to purchase a couple more skeins of wool, but still cheaper than it would have been otherwise.  The pattern is Afmæli by Hélène Magnússon and I would recommend it as it was very easy to follow.

There is another project I'm working on at the moment, but it's a gift for someone so I'm going to put it into the next update.  It has kept me sane though whilst I was moving, with all the things that activity brings.   And that is mostly what I craft for if I'm honest.  I love the products that come out of my hobby, it's very satisfying, but I mostly do it because it keeps my hands busy and my mind calm.  Cost wise it's been pretty good with me only needing to buy a few supplies this time, but the projects coming up will be a little different.  However I plan on using some of the money I will hopefully get back from my tax return to get some of the products.  This means, that as that money has already been accounted for, they'll basically be free as well. 😃

Crafting 2023

This year I'm not going to give myself a set amount of projects to complete.  Partly because crafting in 2022 almost became something I felt I needed to do and I want it to remain an enjoyable hobby, and partly because I want to have more time to read more and to work towards gaining a secondary income.  So this is my list of things I'd like to do and I'll get through as many as I feel like this year.

Completion and Use Up Projects

I've already written about these in a previous blog and they're mostly little projects to finish off or fix a project I've basically already completed.  A couple are also about using up material I already have.  I've actually already finished a few of these so what I have left is:

• Fixing the jumper arm
• Resizing the hat pompom
• Changing the length of the strap on the dungarees
• Adding attachment to the top and bottom of the dungarees
• Socks for me
• Making a matching tie to my dress
• Leftover fabric top
• Crochet crop top
• Knitted /crochet strappy top

The Hobbit/ Lord of the Rings Cross- stitch - Riverdale

It's time to complete this, hopefully in the first half of the year.

Field of Fucks Cross-stitch

This is a pattern I brought a while ago off Etsy from a shop called Fandom Cross Stitchery.  I think it's hilarious and want to get it completed this year so I can finally have it up to cheer me up when I'm having a bad day.

Icelandic Jumper

At the end of last year my Mum gave me a bag of wool that she had gotten to while ago but never used.  When I saw it the mix of colours made me instantly think of Icelandic jumpers so I went searching for a pattern and found this one called Afmæli by Hélène Magnússon.  Though I vowed I would never do a colour work jumper again here I am preparing to make another one. 

The Maggie and the Coddy Jumpers

Speaking of other colour work jumpers, I would still like to do these sort of matching jumpers by Arne and Carlos from the Rowan magazine, issue 69.  I've worked out that if I buy the wool recommended, and I've decided it might actually be worth doing that at least one, I need to save up around £175 which is seven of my weekly spends so I'll bear that in mind whenever I want to buy something else.

Cut Embroidery Dress

When I was watching the Korean drama 'It's Okay To Not Be Okay' Go Mun Young wears a dress that was made of either a white cotton or linen with cut embroidery on it and it made me wonder if I could maybe make that.  I'll need to find a pattern for the dress and try and find some cut embroidery patterns to go with it, but it would be interesting to give it a go.

The Jabberwocky Embroidery

This was a Christmas present and I thought it would be interesting to try as it's been a while since I've done this type of embroidery and it is a craft I was thinking of getting back into in the future.  This is a kit made by The Fabled Thread and the colours are beautiful.

 

Ankle Trousers

I love my 1940s trousers and I wear them all the time but I do sometimes think it would be nice to have a slightly fitted pair that fall just above the ankles.  I've already found the pattern I want to use, Simplicity S9376, so if I have the time and the spare cash this would be something I'd like to make.

For most of these projects I already have the materials needed and so they shouldn't cost me anything to make.  At least not for the first half of the year.  The other items I will probably need to save up for before I can make them, but that is probably a good habit to get into anyway and should stop me from spending money on other things I don't really need or want.  Regardless, it's a good variety of crafts to keep my brain and hands happy throughout the year and I'm looking forward to it.

Crafting Goals 2022 Update #4

First of all, Merry Christmas.  I hope you're having a good day.

This has been quite a year for crafting for me.  It was a very ambitious list that I'd given myself and I even added to it along the way.  Though I haven't actually managed to complete it, I'm still amazed at how much I did actually manage to do.

The Wrap Dress

This was from the pattern Butterick B6554.  I really love how this dress looks and feels on, and I absolutely love the pattern on the fabric even though it wasn't initially what I was looking for.  It's nice to also have a dress that fits me properly and doesn't flash parts of me at unexpected moments.  The only issue is that,despite making the top part already and doing a practise run that went well I still managed to get the bust darts wrong and had to do them again, which means the inside isn't as seamless as I wanted.  If I'd had more fabric I'd probably would have redone that part, but I'm still happy with the outcome and I plan on wearing this quite a lot.

Guernsey / Gansay Jumper

This is a Christmas present for my husband, at his request.  It's a really interesting pattern (from Frangipani), but the size of the needles required are quite small and that meant that, despite doing a lot of knitting, there hasn't been as much progress as there normally would.  That has meant that, despite my best efforts, this isn't completely complete for Christmas and he has had to open it with needles still in the garment.  However, it shouldn't take me much longer to get it completed, hopefully by the end of the year.  Despite that length of time the process has been quite interesting due to the Gansay jumper specific elements such as the false seams, and the gussets under the armpits and around the neck to give that extra space and movement for a jumper that it meant to be quite fitted otherwise.  I would recommend trying this jumper, especially if you're interested in the history of garments.  Just make sure you have plenty of time to make it.

Christmas Cards

(I completely forgot to take photos of the finished cards before I sent them all away.)  Speaking of Christmas, my decision to make the Christmas cards using paper crafts this year definitely saved by quite a lot of time but was still quite enjoyable.  Mostly it gave me the opportunity to use my brain in a different way to create a design.  It's been a while since I've done something like this and I think I might also start making birthday cards in this way in the future.  I do need to make sure this doesn't turn into another money sink though, so possibly a bit of planning first.  Still I think they turned out pretty well.

The Hobbit / Lord of the Rings Cross-stitch - Rivendale

My plan to get everything done before December so that I could concentrate on just doing this cross-stitch went completely out the window when I realised that the Guernsey jumper would take as long as it has.  This has meant that I haven't actually touched this cross-stitch at all this quarter and it has remained the same as before.  I'm not sure I'll get to it at all this year so this will probably carry on to the next where I plan on it being one of the first things that I finish along with some smaller completion projects.

And that's it for crafting in 2022.  Getting all of these crafting projects done did mean that there were some other goals I had for this year that I didn't complete as a result.  The highlight this year for me was making my wedding outfit and even though I had planned on shortening the skirt afterwards to that I could wear it other times I just haven't had the heart to do that yet.  Though I am partly glad on that now as I've now changed my mind on the length I'd like it to be.  Still, every time I open up my wardrobe and see the skirt I get to think 'I did that'.  I have started to think about what I'd like to do next year for crafting, but I haven't completely decided yet.  All I know is that it'll be a lot less than this year and will mostly involve using up products I have rather than buying more.