Day 30: Knitting and Sewing and Finished Projects

I did some sewing last night, after putting up yesterdays post. I finished sewing Sean's Artemis badges, yay for one more thing on my list done.

I didn't do any more knitting last night. But when I started today, I was surprised at how close to what I wanted to get done yesterday I was, only took me about 10 minutes to get there. I was hoping to finish the hat today. I've managed to knit one of the i-cords and am halfway through the other. Should only be about another 30-60 minutes work, by the time I've woven in the loose ends. I was foiled by a Guinevere who is really teething. She let me look in her mouth yesterday, and I got a look at the bottom teeth, 4 are working their way up, with one of the lower molars being the most prominent. I got a look at her upper teeth today, and there are another 4 working their way out. Once again, one of the molars is really prominent, there is a blister where the tooth is going to come out, so I'm hoping it comes through soon. Until then, lots of cuddles and attention.

Day 29: Knitting

No surprises today, I worked on the hat. Not quite gotten as much as I'd like done on it today, but I haven't gone to bed yet, so there is still time.
Currently this is how it looks

I'm currently working on the decreases at the top to finish it off. Am having trouble, as I'm trying to work out how to do it on a circular needle, normally I'd use double pointed ones, but I don't have any 4mm ones. Excuse to learn something new.

I read a fantastic article online today, on the ideal number of knitting projects to have on the go. Apparently 5. I had a think about it. Sounds pretty good to me. I like having several projects on the go, I get bored with just one. I like variety too much. So I had a look at how many projects I currently have cast on. 4 it turns out. One of which is the hat, which is nearly finished. One of the others is a girls dress (sized for a 2yo), I'm thinking I'm going to frog it. I am not sure where I have put the pattern, I keep finding it then losing it again. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something. Also it's in acrylic, and while the colours are pretty, I'm reaching the point where I don't want to knit something for a child if it isn't in natural fibres. Even if I am over half way through knitting this dress. Which would bring me down to two projects. I'll probably frog it by the end of the month, just to have another project off my list. Which isn't a bad motivation for doing something.

I said in my post that I was meant to put up yesterday that my mission for November is to work on my sewing room. This isn't me saying I want to get it finished, I think that is unrealistic, but progress would be nice. Even a plan of exactly how I want it set up and what storage I want in there would be great. One of the reasons that I need it more user friendly in the near future is that I have several craft projects planned as Christmas presents for people, and I intend to get started on them next month. So I'd like a usable space to do that in. Because if I use the dining table I'll have to clear it up all the time, which takes time away that I could spend getting the project done. Or if I leave it there, it clutters up communal areas of the house, which really isn't fair on my husband, as we both have our own rooms (mine sewing/crafting and him computer) so that we don't clutter up communal areas.

Day 28: Knitting

I didn't end up posting this yesterday, so I'm doing it today. I remembered at about 11.45pm last night, while I was snuggled up with Guinevere, trying to get her to go to sleep. I wish I could have gotten a photo of the way she curled up to sleep, but it was too dark and I didn't want to risk waking her by using the flash on my camera.

I worked on the hat yesterday, most of the day, in between wrangling Guinevere as Gynn was doing a computer assignment.
This is what the hat looked like at the start of the day

This is what it looked like at the end of the day.

I'm quite happy, as each day I seem to be getting done exactly how much I aim to do that day. It'd be nice if I could get more done, but at least it leaves me on track for getting it finished on time.

I also 'played' in my sewing room. I say I played as all I did was empty one small bag and find homes for the items in it while Guinevere played on the floor. She usually plays under the table, as currently that is the biggest area of clear floor space. My mission for November is to work on the sewing room. I'd like it usable. Actually, it's mostly usable now, but I'd like it not to feel cluttered, so that I actually want to be creative in there rather than feeling totally overwhelmed by it.

Day 27: Knitting

Still working on the hat. I might be half way through it, I'm not sure. I did manage to get exactly done what I'd like to get done today. Hopefully I'll get some more done tonight, but with small child all energetic and all over the place, I'm thinking not.
Still, I got a sleep in this morning, that has to count for something.

Day 26: Knitting and Sewing

Wow, 26 days through the month already.

Today I did a bunch of knitting on the hat. Managed to get it to the point that I wanted to, so I was happy with that. My desire to knit had been warring with my desire to read, finally realised I could put my book on my tablet, meaning I had a big enough screen to see to read while I was knitting. Worked so well. Might have to make myself a little stand at some point.

Also did some sewing. Worked on Sean's Artemis badges, have done two of the 6. So that project is now getting close to completion. Part of me thinks I should go all  out on the projects that are nearly finished, to finish as many as I can this month, but I feel too guilty doing that as I need to get the hat made by the end of the month. Also, I'm sick (again...), so I'm running low on energy currently. We'll see how the next few days pan out. I suspect I'm going to keep working on my projects in November. However, I have told myself I'm allowed to start a couple of new planned projects in November, so it'd be good to have more finished before then. I probably need to do a list of planned projects (with deadlines as some are gifts) as well as my unfinished ones.

Day 25: Knitting

I cast on a new project today. Actually, I frogged one I started on the weekend, did a gauge swatch and started it again. It's a hat for a friend's husband. She'd asked me to do it ages ago, we'd sorted a pattern and I'd got the wool, I was just waiting for a head size. Got the size at the end of last week, and found out it's for the start of Nov (if I don't get it finished it'll be for Christmas). So I'm working on that, trying to get it done. Hopefully it doesn't require too much thinking and is a quick knit.

Day 24: Knitting and a Finished Project

I finished weaving all the ends in on the baby blanket *happy dance*. I hate weaving ends in, yet I'm debating doing a blanket in stripes, I must be slightly nuts. The photo doesn't show off the gorgeous blue that the top strip is, but it shows I finished it :)

That was the sum total of my unfinished project work today. I did wind a couple of balls, in preparation for the next baby blanket I make.

I'm not too sure where my day went. There was a slightly grizzly child this morning (teething), so we had some singing and dancing. Then there was a nap, for both of us, till she came through and woke me up. It was her first sleep in her single bed in her room. I did manage to drop some camping bits from the weekend back to the friend who they belonged to. There were lots of snuggles in there too.

Day 23: Knitting

I nearly have another finished project. The baby blanket has been cast off. I ended up doing 12 rows in a different colour when I ran out of the charcoal, a nice blue that I got given. So two pattern repeats and the 4 edgings rows. All up it used about 140g of 8 ply wool. I still need to weave in the ends, but I'm so close to finished. That means I currently have 3 projects that are nearly finished. My goal is to finish those 3 projects and at least one other by the end of the month. 

I really enjoyed knitting this project. It was brainless to knit, but because it was basket weave it wasn't boring to knit. A friend who's just gone through her stash has give me a whole bunch of 8 ply wool in various colours to turn into more baby blankets. I'm thinking I may get a set of needles just for knitting them up so that I can always have one on the go. That said, I used 5mm needles, and I don't think I use them that much for other things, so I'll probably just use what I've got and only get another pair if I actually need them. That is one advantage of using interchangeables, I can just take the tips off if I need them for another project. I also like that I'm doing some charity knitting. I'm really wanting to cast on another blanket, but I'll see if I can restrain myself until the end of the month. I do have a hat I have to cast on, just need to confirm the pattern Then there are the other two projects I want to cast on and have the yarn for. One of which the yarn was a custom dye order. It's sitting there pleading with me to start using it. I just keep reminding myself, not till the end of the month, not till I've completed 4 more projects......

Day 22: Knitting

It's been a few days since my last post. I've been busy and out of cellphone range.
I did do project work on Friday (19th). I finished the trackpants for my husband and I finished the blue paneled skirt for myself. I also had a screaming child for a good chunk of the day. The only reason I managed to get packed and load the car for our weekend away was because a friend came over and helped me.

I spent the weekend at the Wellington Folk Festival. It was amazing!!! I want to write a whole blog post about it, but not tonight, as I'm too tired. I spent the morning packing up a campsite, and helping someone else with theirs. Then came home and tidied the house as we had people coming over. Good exercise however.

I didn't do much project work on the weekend, I forgot the right size needles for one project and the yarn for another. Plus I didn't feel like sewing, which was the other project I had with me. So I listened to music, sang, ate, squelched through mud in my new gumboots and generally had a good time.

I did manage to do another two rows on the baby blanket today. I'm less than 20 rows from finishing it, and am determined to complete it this month. I have enough yarn left on the ball to knit another row or two. When I dropped a friend home after gaming I got to raid her yarn stash, and have acquired enough to finish this blanket, plus knit another 6, possibly more. Which is good. I like knitting the blankets, as it's a nice project to sit on the couch with. I also got a couple of skeins I'm not sure what I'll do with yet, one of which is a lovely tangled mess I need to sort out. There was also a brightly coloured skein of sock yarn, which is getting turned into socks for my husband's aunty as her Christmas present. I'll need to get started on those next month. But having the yarn is good. There was also the custom dyed yarn that arrived in the mail as I left on Friday.

But more tomorrow, or else I'll sit here all night rambling. Sleep calls.

Day 18: Knitting and Sewing

Today I did a little bit of knitting on the baby blanket. Only a couple of rows. That was the sum total of my work on unfinished projects.

I did zigzagged all the seams on the paneled skirt I'd made for myself. But I'm not counting that as work on an unfinished project, as I already considered that skirt finished. I wasn't able to do the edges on my machine as my machine is broken and isn't doing side to side. I know it needs to go in and get fixed/serviced, but I just can't stand the thought of not having it. I have borrowed a friends machine for a couple of days, which is why I was able to finish it. Given I really like wearing that skirt, it means it will last me that much longer.

The main sewing I have been doing today is on my new projects. I took advantage of my daughters nap to trace the pattern for a skirt. I almost always transfer a paper pattern onto lightweight interfacing, it's just that much easier to use and last longer. Once I had that pattern cut out I was able to work out if I could cut two skirts out of the same piece of fabric. Success!! I did make a bit of a mistake, I'd folded it to cut two pieces at once, but didn't have them lined up properly, so one edge of the pattern wasn't on the fabric. I'm just going to sew another piece in, it's a pieced skirt, so I'm not too worried. I think it's going to be a bit shorter than I'd like, so I'm thinking about sewing a bit of extra fabric to the top. I could add a different coloured band to the bottom, would look pretty, but we'll see how I'm going time wise.
I've also managed to cut out the track pants for my husband. The fun bit on those is going to be the pockets, I've never done pockets that are set into a seam before. Should be fun right?

Whoops, I thought I posted this on Thursday.

Day 17: Knitting and new projects

I didn't realise that yesterday put me halfway through the month. I have managed to work on unfinished projects every single day so far, which is a fantastic feeling.I know I've managed to miss a day of writing about it, and some of my posts are somewhat sparse or clinical. But that wasn't the point for me. The point for me was external accountability to help me work on unfinished projects. So far, success.

I've made it halfway through the month without starting on any new projects. I started a pair of pants for my husband for the weekend, the pattern is drafted, the fabric is drying, I'll hopefully cut and sew them tomorrow. I have also decided I'm making myself a new skirt for the weekend. We're going to the folk festival and there  is a calleigh (dance) on one of the nights, I'd like a skirt that twirls and fits well. It's a simple pattern, shouldn't take too long to make. The catch is I'm hoping there is enough fabric to make two different skirts, which means I'll have to copy the other pattern and lay them both out at the same time to see if I can make all the pattern pieces fit. Adding the meterage together tells me I don't have enough, but sometimes you can lay things out differently. So we'll see how I go.

I've also got a 'new' knitting project to work on this weekend. A friend asked me ages ago if I could make something for her partner. She's only just managed to get back to me with the measurements, and needs it by the end of the month. I'm glad I've already got the wool to knit it. I'll be casting it on tomorrow and working on that as much as I can.

It's strange, I thought it would feel really good to start something new, but it's kinda not. The things I'm starting are for specific purposes, not for the enjoyment of it. Sure, I'll enjoy getting the commission out of the way, my husband will enjoy having pants without holes and I'll enjoy being able to dance in a skirt that isn't too tight, but it's not the same anticipation of a new project. I think my mindset currently really is on finishing existing projects. I hope it stays that way long enough to clear the backlog so that I can enjoy new projects.

Day 16: Knitting.

Today was a good day, so gorgeous and sunny. Guinevere spent time playing on the balcony with a jam pan partially filled with water and some brightly coloured stacking cups. I got about 30 minutes of knitting while she happily played. I also had a friend over, who I hadn't seen in ages, so lots of chatting while knitting. The baby blanket is now getting very closed to finished. I need to do about another 8 rows (I think) of the pattern, then 4 rows garter stitch and it should be done. I don't think I'm going to have enough charcoal wool to do that many rows, so I'll have to look in the stash and find a colour that will go with it, so it will have a stripe at the top.

I also found out today that a skein of custom dyed wool that I'd requested got dyed today and will be in the post to me later this week. I can't wait to get it. It may mean casting on another project..... I do have a new project that I have to start this week. We're away for the weekend and my husband needs a new pair of pants, so I am going to make them, as I have everything that I need for them. Just need to draft the pattern of his existing ones and sew them up.

Day 15: Sewing

Another day that wasn't very productive project wise, but very productive in other ways.
Spent time with a friend I've not seen in ages, sorted out a new baby gate, sorted my husband's car into the mechanics (from calling insurance company to getting it towed).

The sewing I did was finding a project, Sean's Artemis badges, and gluing them onto the velcro backs, to give them more stability before I sew them together. Which is tomorrows plan. But we all know how well I seem to be doing with plans.... Still, progress.

Days 13&14: Knitting

Not a very productive weekend project wise, and I forgot to post yesterday.
I've done some sewing on the blanket, only a couple of rows each day. I have borrowed a sewing machine and overlocker off a friend, so that I can finish a couple of projects, so that kinda counts as planning on sewing. My machine currently needs to be repaired as it isn't doing zig zag, which I need for a couple of projects.
Socially it was a decent weekend, I'm nearly over my flu and my migraine aftereffects are nearly gone.
I know I didn't manage to post every day, but I've still managed to work on projects every day, and for me that is the main thing.

Day 12: All the crafts, and another finished project

I finished my paneled skirt!! And I'm wearing it!! I might need to take the elastic in a little more, but I'll wear it another day or two before I decide that. It's really nice and comfy to wear.
I'm really happy with this skirt, for more reasons that it's comfy and cost me about 50c to make, the fabric being a gift and the elastic was picked up really cheap. It's made from a piece of fabric/garment that my Mum brought me back from overseas somewhere, I don't recall where. It was a big loop of fabric that got worn around the body, was about 2m of fabric. I wasn't going to wear it the way it was intended, with the extra fabric kinda folded up and tucked in like you do a towel. So I turned it into a skirt. I used the selvedge edge for the bottom hem, so that I didn't have to hem it. It's not lazy, it's time efficient.... It does mean the hem hangs a little longer where the panels join, but I like the look of it. It's nearly ankle length, summery and twirly :)

  

Plus more knitting on the baby blanket.Only a couple of rows while Guinevere was happily playing with her jigsaw, aka throwing the pieces behind the rocking horse
Guinevere then decided a late nap was in order, so I've pulled out a cross stitch. Just a little one, the tatty teddy bookmark, it'll be easy to put on the back of the couch when she wakes up.

I sometimes wish I could sit down and just work on a project from start to finish, but it's not always possible. Sometimes due to small child and sometimes due to my love of variety. At least at the moment I'm trying to bounce between only a few projects, so that they get finished. I am making an effort to work on more complex ones when the little one is asleep, ones that previously I've been ignoring. I know I keep saying that my goal is to get down to only a couple of projects in each craft. I'm hoping that by reminding myself of that, I'll be more likely to get there. So far this month I'm two projects closer to that goal. I can see the end in sight for another three projects. Five down would be good progress on that goal. Putting it all down on here is a form of external motivation for me. So I'm thinking when this month is up I might do what I did last year with my 12 by 2012, and do 13 by 2013. Chances are there will be other things in there, like things around the house that I'd like to get done, but some of the craft projects will make it onto the list.

Day 11: Sewing and Cross Stitch

No knitting today, I think for the first time this month.

Today I started framing the two cross stitched samplers. One of them has been attached to the backing board and just needs something to cover the back. The other has the backing board cut out and is read to be attached. So not quite finished, but closer to finished than yesterday.

The sewing I did today was working on my paneled skirt. I'd originally forgotten about it, so I have edited my epic list from the start of the month and added it. I was originally going to put a zip in, requiring it to be fitted. It's why it ended up in the cupboard of unfinished projects, as I cut it too big. Today I decided I was going to put an elastic waistband in. So I have now sewn up the back seam, cut the elastic and ironed a casing into the waistband ready to sew.

I did some project planning too. A friend has asked if I can teach her to sew, so I was looking through my patterns and found one I'd like to make. It's actually the first new project that I have been tempted to start this month. I did want to make myself a couple of new skirts out of stash fabric. If my friend opts for that design, it'll make it easier to teach as I'd be making one alongside so I can show her on mine and then she can try it on hers.

Day Ten: Knitting and a frogged project

I didn't get around to framing the two cross stitches today, instead I did lots of knitting on the baby blanket. It's not about 80% done, which is a good feeling. At the rate I'm knitting it, about 6 rows a day, it should be done within a week. I did do twice that today.

I spent a little bit of time in my craft room today. Put a few things away, stared aimlessly around trying to work out what to do next. I have realised that all my non-acrylic yarns fit in the drawers intended for them without having to be packed in. This is because I gave quite a few balls of wool away recently, some to a friend I was teaching to knit, and some to a friend who's little girl was in NICU and needed pure wool for a blanket for her. Given that the wool I gave her was originally purchased to make her son a baby blanket (which he didn't need as he got given several others) passing what was left on to her after making a snuggle sack for her little girl was a good thing. Plus space in my wool drawers. I also gave her a couple of balls of cotton, for making a chemo cap for one of the nurses. All up, that was about 10 50g balls of wool out of the drawers, plus all the coloured 8ply ends of balls. I really need to knit up more of my stash yarn, as there is quite a lot there. Not nearly as much as I have fabric, but still, lots. I have pretty much got it to the point where all the yarn in there I love and is yarn I will use. With it all now fitting comfortably into the drawers, it's a good place to be in stash wise.

One other thing I did was frog my Monkey Socks. I hadn't done much of them, only about 2", but I realised I didn't love the pattern, so off the needles they were coming. Technically it's not a finished project, but it's no longer an unfinished project, so that is good.

Day Nine: Knitting and Cross Stitch

It seems that knitting really is my 'go to' craft currently. I think because it's easy to pick up and put down, it lives well on the back of the couch and Guinevere usually brings back the ball of yarn she's wandered off with.  I suspect I've also been doing if for so long that I can watch Guinevere and interact with her because I don't have to pay much attention to the knitting.

I was tempted to do more knitting while Guinevere had her nap, but instead I got out my cross stitch. I did check my epic list of unfinished projects to see which ones would take the least time to finish. I'm currently working on Jaliah's birth sampler. I could finish Shakana's first, as I only need to frame that, all the stitching is done. However, given the frames are the same for both of them I decided that I'd finish the stitching on both then frame them both at the same time. I've spent 40 minutes charting the last bit that I need to stitch, her name, birth weight and birth date. I forgot how annoying it is to chart things, having to rub out and re-do to make sure it's all in the right place. I have also managed to finish stitching it. Not quite another project finished, but nearly.

Tomorrow I plan to get both this and Shakana's samplers framed. I've got the frame already, they came with the kits. So close....

Day Eight: Knitting and one completed project

I finished a project today!!! One less unfinished project on my list, and I haven't started any new ones. Nor do I have any immediate plans to.
I sewed the handwarmers up. Yay, so happy to have finished one of the projects (repeating myself I know, but it's exciting)
Here is a photo of me wearing them.

 And one of Guinevere attempting to remove them.....

Actually, I shouldn't say attempting, she did actually succeed in getting them off my hand and onto her hand. Didn't manage to get a photo of them on her hand as she kept moving about.

Now to work out which project has the least time left on it so that I can get another one finished.

Day Seven: Knitting

I'm wondering if I should come up with more specific titles for each day, but given I'm not always working on any specific project, numbers seem as good as any.
Edit: I changed my mind, I'm now using the day, what craft I'm working on, and any other good things, like completing projects.

Today I knitted. I finished knitting the second blue glove. Now all I need to do to finish them is sew the edges up on both of them. Should take me less than 20 minutes, but I just felt like knitting today. I've also knitted another 7 rows on the baby blanket, and am into my third ball of yarn. I suspect that I'm not going to have quite enough to make it as big as I'd like, so will probably end up either picking up stitches at the other end and putting stripes at both ends, or just at one end. Or possibly crochet a border around the whole thing.  Who knows, I'll see what I feel like when I finish knitting it.

I'm so pleased with myself, I've managed to work on unfinished projects every day for the last week, and I haven't started any new ones. I have acquired a new one, from my  mother in law, two big bags of tablecloths and napkins to iron. Had I known they'd been tucked in a wardrobe waiting for ironing since my wedding over two years ago, I would have offered sooner. We found them while I was being shown (aka being allowed to raid) her fabric stash. I took one piece of fabric, some black sweat-shirting to make my husband some new track pants. I'm not planning to start them this month, but it is there for next month when a couple more projects are completed.

Not only have I managed to work on my unfinished projects every day, but I'm also finding that I'm getting more done around the house. For the past week the lounge has stayed tidied, I'm up to date on the laundry and the kitchen has been cleaned almost every night. I've managed to do some de-cluttering in the past week. Like tonight. I have a dish on my beside cabinet, it has jewelry and random things in it. When we change our daughter's nappy, she gets to pick something from the dish to play with, in the hope of keeping her still long enough to put a clean nappy on her. But some of the things she picks out aren't suitable (safety pins) or have smaller things attached (like bobby pins) that I then end up having to pick up off the floor. Tonight while my husband changed her I tipped the dish out, put all the things that shouldn't be in there into a jar to be sorted another time, and left what was meant to be in there. It took less time to do that than it did for him to change her nappy. Sometimes things really do take less time than we spend procrastinating about doing the.

Day Six: Cross Stitch

Have spent the day at my mother–in–laws. Did mean a sleep in as she took the little one when she woke up, which was fantastic.

Another day of what feels like not much project work, even though it took me the best part of an hour. I marked onto the chart with a highlighter how much of the promise eagle cross stitch I had done. I also did some stitching on it, only one strand, but it is still progress. The rest of the day I've been curled up in front of the fire with knitting and a book.

I was going to add a photo of the cross stitch design and progress, but I'm having trouble doing that from my tablet, so I might have to do that when I get home.

But for now, I'm going back to relaxing in front of the fire.

Edit:
I'm back home so I can add the pictures I took yesterday. Here is what the finished design should look like

And here is how much I have done so far. 

Day Five: Cross Stitch

I haven't got much project work done today. I have scanned and printed two more cross stitch patterns, to make finishing them easier, and that is all I've done on my unfinished projects The rest of the day has been spent playing with my daughter, napping and trying to tidy the house and pack in preparation for a weekend away. I will probably do some knitting or stitching when I get to my mother-in-laws tonight. I'll also be able to work on my more complex projects over the weekend (I've packed them to take with me) as she'll look after my daughter for me.

Roll on the weekend.....

Day Four: Knitting and Cross Stitch

I'm after some gratification today. Yes, I can see the progress I'm making on the blanket, but it is still going to take me awhile to finish. So I'm casting on the second hand warmer of a pair. It'll only take me a day or two, so it's an easy win. Plus it almost feels like starting a new project as I'm casting something on....

As you can see, I got a good way through, about 2/3 of the way, which is a good feeling. I also managed another 6 rows on the baby blanket, so continued progress on that. 

I'm going up to my mother-in-laws for the weekend, so I thought I would take a more complex project with me, cross stitch. So today I scanned and photo copied one of my patterns, and marked with a highlighter how much of it I'd done, all ready to be worked on. I never used to mark where I was, but given they get put down for longer periods of time now, I figure marking what I've done will make it easier to pick up, meaning less overall time to do the project, which is a win as far as I'm concerned. 

I like starting new projects, I'm shocking at finishing them. The last two things I knitted my best mate got given to her with the buttons not attached. The socks I gave my mother-in-law on the weekend, I finished knitting them a month ago. It only took me 5 min to weave the ends in, but I just hadn't got around to it. I am probably going to start new projects this month, even though I know I shouldn't. However, I'm not allowed to start any new projects until I have finished one. That isn't a 'finish one project and start as many as I like', it's a 'for every project I finish I am allowed to start a new project'. I am intending to finish more than I start. I'd like to at least get down to the long term projects. Which is most of the cross stitch ones and the tumbling blocks quilt for myself. Now, I'm not saying that I'm going to finish all the other projects this month. I don't think I have enough hours free to do that, but it's the end goal. Actually, that's the mid term goal, the long term goal is to finish all the big projects too.

Day Three: Knitting

Short post today. I know it is after midnight, but I'm still counting it as Wednesday as I haven't been to bed yet. I was hoping to have this posted earlier, but I was out later than expected.

It was a productive day.I cleaned the lounge and kitchen, washed a load of cloth nappies, plus baked melting moments and choc chip cookies. I then sat down with the baby blanket, a friend and a movie. I've done about ten rows on the blanket, which doesn't sound like much, until you realise that each row is 96 stitches long. I can see how much more I have done of it, have nearly finished the second ball of wool.

I'm thinking that I'll definitely get this blanket finished this month. I think in my mind I was hoping I'd be able to post and say 'yay, look what I finished', but with the size of some of my projects, that just isn't practical. It's all about progress, and getting more of them done. Hopefully by the end of the month I'll be in the habit of working on them each day and will continue doing that until I'm only working on a couple of projects (a simple and a complex) in each craft type. 

Day Two: Knitting and Sewing

I like that this month started on a Monday. There is something about the start of the week being a good time psychologically to start something. I know I could start something on any day of the week, but Monday just seems easier.

A friend came over today, with a knitting machine for me to play with. Looking forward to using that to make some baby blankets with. But, that isn't an unfinished project, so while I will start using it this month, it doesn't count.

Today I have done more work on the baby blanket I posted a picture of yesterday. I suspect this project is going to take awhile to get finished. It really isn't an 'instant gratification' project. I've also managed to cut out a little more of the cushion covers. I would have cut more, but I don't seem to have big enough pieces in the bits I found. So I need to look through the stash for more. It's just plain black calico, I know I've got more of it somewhere.....

Part of me thinks I should work on one project until it is finished. It's a nice ideal, but often not practical. Some of the unfinished projects I have are a bit complex, not ones I can just pick up and put down. Which is something I need to be able to do when crafting around a 13 month old. So I actually found myself in the situation of having to find projects I could do around her. I think that is one of the reasons that knitting seems to be my primary craft currently, as I can put it down on the back of the couch easily.

Not only did I manage to work on unfinished projects today, I also did a little decluttering. Not much, just a few bits from my craft room went into the paper recycling bin and a few unfinished projects went off the table and into the unfinished projects cupboard, but baby steps right.

Day One: Epic list of projects and some knitting

I was actually a little worried that today was going to a write off, which would be a very bad way to start a month long challenge. I had a late night last night, on very little sleep, and had to get up early this morning to take my brother to an appointment, which took a lot longer than expected.

First off, my list of unfinished projects. These are ones that I have started, it doesn't include the ones I've got planned. If I included those it would make the list twice as long...... I think this is all of them. There may be more. If I think of or find any, I'll just edit the list.

Knitting

• Black baby singlet. I started this before my daughter was born, she's now 13months old
• 'Travelling Woman Shawl'. This was originally for me, I'm now planning to give it to my mum. 
• Sophie's (niece) dress
• Monkey socks. For myself, I may frog them and make something else with the yarn. 
• Blanket for NICU/SCBU
• Blue diagonal eyelet gloves, second one in pair

Sewing

• Nigel's hood
• Nigel's pouch with arms on it
• Tumbling blocks quilt, long term project as it's being done by hand
• Cushion covers (set of 5) for Opal. 
• Whirligig ball for Lorelie
• Advent calenders x2
• Gynn's dressing gown
• Guinevere's hoodie
• Travel high chair 
• Guinevere's chair
• Rug/quilt made with furnishing samples
• Paneled skirt for myself 
• Sean's Artemis badges

Cross Stitch

• Andrew and Rosie's napkins, I've done 4 of the 8
•  Butterfly bears for Opal
• Wizard and Dragon for Ivan
• Tatty Teddy bookmark
• Tatty Teddy school girl
• Promise Eagle for Mum
• Buddha for Paul
• Rapunzel shoe for Ellen
• Blue fairy for myself
• Birth sampler for Shakana (niece)
• Birth sampler for Jaliah (niece)
• Blackwork purse for myself

There seem to be more cross stitch projects than anything else, I think that is because I'm really not doing that as much as I used to. I would say this means I shouldn't buy any more cross stitch stuff, but thinking about it, I haven't been buying much. I have only bought threads to complete projects, plus two new small kits, one is completed, one is for a friend.
I thought I had more knitting and sewing projects, especially knitting ones. I did finish a pair of socks yesterday, all I had left to do was weave in the ends. I gave them to my mother in law. I also finished two sewing projects that I'd been working on for years in the last month, a set of 5 cushions for a friend and a quilt for my niece's 5th birthday.

So far today I have done several rows on the baby blanket.

I've also found some of my black fabric, hopefully enough to do the cushions for my sister. If not, I'm going to have to tidy some of my sewing room....... That alone could take me all month. 

Anyway, it will be midnight in 8 minutes, so I'm barely scraping in on posting this on the first. But I managed it, I'm off to a good start :)