12 Things in 2019 - End of Year Summary

At the beginning of the year I joined in a challenge to complete 12 craft projects in 2019.

My list of projects was as follows:

1. Highland cushions (sewing)
2. Xmas quilt 1 (sewing)
3. Xmas quilt 2 (sewing)
4. Hue Shift Afghan (knitting)
5. Colourwork stocking (knitting) 
6. CBTL (crochet)
7. Floozy cardigan (knitting)
8. Keep It Simple Shawl (knitting)
9. Hat (knitting)
10. Cat quilt (sewing)
11. Scheepjes Shrug (crochet)

12. Sparkle Punch Quilt (sewing)

It turns out it was quite an optimistic list. 
I completed 4 of the projects:

The Keep It Simple Shawl 

CBTL 

And Xmas quilts 1 and 2.

I also made progress on three other projects:

The Floozy cardigan, the Sparkle Punch Quilt and the Hue Shift Afghan (photo is my progress on the third quarter). 

Looking back to create this summary it's become clear that I didn't focus solely on the 12 Things. I've also finished a baby quilt, another CBTL, the Slam Dunk Quilt and a pair of socks this year and fiddled about with two EPP projects and made some tentative steps in clothes sewing. 

Do I have a favourite Thing? Nope, I'm the kind of person that my favourite thing is my current WIP or latest finish, often both. Having said that I'm enjoying the Hue Shift Afghan more than I expected to when I first received the kit. 

I've kind of enjoyed having a set list to work from, but I've also found myself feeling a bit pressured to complete more (12 Things feel like you should finish a project a month) . I think I will challenge myself to get things done next year, but not set myself a fixed number, more of that in another post. 

Even more crafting

I've set myself the challenge of completing 12 crafty projects in 2019 and they are by no means all small projects, so that should be enough to keep me busy and focused. 

Of course not!

As well as the 12 Things here are some other bits I've been working on in the last few weeks...

A baby quilt that's taken way too long to finish!... 

Some insanely bright socks... 

Another CBTL for a Xmas present... 

The start of a small EPP project to use some long term stash. 

You could say I've got to many WIPs or you could say I like variety in my crafting options. I'm not saying anything! 

12 Things in 2019 - June Progress

It felt like I got heaps of crafting done this month but when I review my actual progress on the 12 Things it doesn't seem so much!

Blocks were finished and layout finalised for the first Xmas quilt. 

A few blocks were knitted fot the Hue Shift Afghan... 

I am getting quicker at these so hopefully it won't take forever, although with 100 blocks and a border who am I kidding? 

I also finished the CBTL, but I haven't blocked it yet so no photos. I definitely think I'll get more wear out of it than the knitted version. 

July's plans are the Hue Shift Afghan and another Xmas top, if I can remain focused on specific projects! 

12 Things in 2019 - March Progress

I feel like I've made good progress with my 12 Things projects this month... 

The Keep It Simple Shawl is finally blocked. Now I just have to figure out how to wear it! 

The Sparkle Punch Quilt top is complete. I need to practise my intended quilting design on a baby quilt and then this will be the first quilt to go on my quilting frame (finally).

About 290 rows out of 450 of the CBTL are complete, although there is an increase on every other row so this may slow down as the rows get longer.

I have also almost chosen the designs I will use for my two Xmas quilts, I just need to check I have enough light and dark strips. Hopefully get these started very soon. 

The details of this challenge and the list of projects included in it can be found HERE

Crochet Between the Lines - Three weeks on

I've now been working on my first ever crochet project for the last three weeks and I'm pleased to say that I have completed 200 rows.

Unfortunately that isn't as great as it sounds as there are more than 200 rows to go and they increase by one stitch on every other row. Fortunately I'm really enjoying crocheting. 

Not enjoying so much unpicking the regular "yarn barfs" due to working both whirls from the centre. 

12 Things in 2019 - February Progress

Pleased to report that there has been some progress with my 12 Things in 2019 projects. 

The KISS shawl is finished, although not yet blocked (hopefully next weekend). It's been an enjoyable and quick knit once I'd got the initial set up done.

I've made an enthusiastic start to the CBTL. I've never crocheted anything before so am finding this a fun challenge. That being said it requires a lot of crocheting to finish it so my enthusiasm may wane a little!

And finally, but without any photographic evidence, I've done a small quantity of work on the Sparkle Punch quilt. Hopefully more will be done on that this month. There's a slim chance of a finished top by the end of March. 

Totally hooked!

A cheesy title for a brief post expressing my new found love of crochet (not as tricky or loopy as it seemed on previous attempts) and re found love of Scheepjes (is it odd my autocorrect has Scheepjes as one of its options?) whirls.

As you know I knitted the RBTL shawl last year and during making that I decided to do a crochet version as it seemed suitable for a beginner and would give me a chance to play with whirl combinations again.

I've had red velvet sunrise and rosewater cocktail ready and waiting for me to be able to start CBTL.

I haven't got very far yet but I'm enjoying making this, and there's the added fun of waiting for the fuzz buzzes to appear.

When one project finishes...

Actually the KISS shawl isn't quite finished but I've completed all the knitting.

It now needs a good blocking, but as I'm working away from home during the week now that will have to wait until 1) I'm at home and 2) have some spare time.

The drawing to a close of a project is obviously the perfect time to start another project or two!

I couldn't decide whether to start a hand sewing project or a crochet project, both of which will be slow growers, so I decided to start both.

I made some very initial steps on the Christmas Stars Quilt from Millefiori Quilts Book 1. I've been collecting fabric for it for a while so my now quieter evenings seem the ideal time to try and get to grips with it.

There are definitely a few techniques to get figured out and I mistakenly thought the small diamonds would see together quickly...I definitely made the right choice excluding this from my 12 Things challenge!

The crochet project is on my 12 Things list and as it has the reputation of taking a while to complete I wanted to start it early in the year...forgot to say the project is the CBTL shawl.

First steps with this was to check I could still do the necessary stitches (I think I can) and try and figure out which size hook to achieve the necessary gauge (I think I know). Hopefully I'll have more of this done by the end of the month (which is actually next week so maybe not).

At least I won't be struggling for things to fill my time in the evenings!