Getting organised to Complete a Crochet Project etc.

I have quite a few projects in the offing as always, currently I have a Joules kit entitled "Blooming Lovely" which basically is a wreath consisting of leaves and flowers which I am currently working.  

Once this is out of the way with though I am going to try and get some of the UFOs out of the way with and maybe work a couple of new projects at least along the way.  I will probably work a new project and then a UFO, mixing things up a bit as I go along without making the UFOs too onerous which will be especially needed once I start tackling the knitting to does.  Knitting is something I am painfully working my way through but from an absolute horror of it I am now happier doing this.  I do however need to be in the right frame of mind to knit as otherwise things go desperately wrong and I am not particularly skilled in undoing.

A few years ago I worked and crocheted many squares in grey, white and turquoise colours to make the equivalent of a single bed throw.  Most of the squares were worked but I had not decided on a finishing colour.  I have now decided that will be white in the first instance and have ordered 8 balls of 100g DK in white to hopefully complete this project in the first instance;  if I need to add more wool this can be ordered in due course.  I am not following a pattern per se which is why I do not have quantities on the wool.  It has been a long time coming getting to this project, but is one of the easier UFOs to actually contemplate finishing and getting stuck in on.  This will be easy to slot into my every day and especially if I sit down of an evening as it basically consists of trebles worked into Granny Squares and the border will be trebles and then maybe finished off with a picot edging for the final row.  Will see.  Still mulling on this.

It will be good to get this long-overdue project out of the way with and put up for use as required.  There are a few more unfinished blankets/throws somewhere as well. I am looking at each project and if I need to order more yarn or threads or materials in to complete things I am doing this before I need it so that I can set too as soon as the opportunity presents itself.  I am trying to get "all my chicks in a row" as it were so that I can seamlessly move onto the next project when the current one is completed.

There is also the Lemon, Green and cream single bed blanket that also needs looking at to finish it off.  That is more complete than the white, turquoise and grey blanket, so that could be the next crochet project I deal with on the crochet front.

I also have a very large blanket that I have crocheted but I am not terribly happy with it.  I may pull this down and start it again despite all the hours of work that have gone into it.  I noticed a flawed batch of wool at the beginning of the blanket right at the end of the project and it is niggling me so I think it will be a pull down and rewind of the wool and then a rework.  The wool is a lovely mustard-gold colour.  I am pretty certain that this will be what I do because of it niggling me and spoiling the blanket quite badly.  There is no other way around this particular project.  So it maybe that I will get it pulled down and all the wool re-wound and popped into a box for working later on in the year (or maybe sooner) will see how things pan out.  As I have so many projects to complete at the end of the day.

I do have a scraps of wool crochet blanket on the go as well. This is a long-term project where I work up wool every so often and then store the squares. Basically it is lots of little squares, worked with left-over wool, making something out of nothing really.  Not wasting anything.  The trick is to make the colour combinations work which can be quite testing.  I have decided that the finishing colour on this will be Navy blue to make the colours used so far pop that little bit more.  I am using up scraps that I create and sometimes when I find them from the charity shop or if friends donate any scraps.  As I have said I do not like wasting anything.

At the end of the day it will be good to have a selection of throws to cuddle into on a cold day.  I aim eventually to have a large and deep wicker basket/trunk to store them all in at the moment though the ones I do have are just bought out when needed.  One day I am going to have that house with a proper log fire to cosy up to; I miss having a proper fire so much.

Whilst my Mum was undergoing skin cancer surgery, I  had made my Mum a very large blanket rug to keep her warm in Wedgwood Blue and White which she loved. When she came out of hospital I had the week off work to look after her and gave it to her then. When Mum passed though I let my sister-in-law have that to cuddle into as she liked it so much.

So here I am getting slowly sorted on some projects and trying to bring things together again. My Mum was always crafting although her main loves were her hand knitting and her knitting machines.  My crafting is a little bit more diverse.

The grey, white and turquoise UFO crochet blanket will be started once I have my Blooming Lovely embroidery panel finished and framed.  I want that one out of the way with first as I want to hang it on the wall in the study/computer room/craft room as a cheerful saying to wake up to each day. You need colour and cheerfulness in every day.

Then it will be on to these two beauties. I have a love of Butterflies. They are only very small about 8 x 12 cm (3.2inches x 4.8 inches) but will go with some other embroidered and needlepoint items which have already been worked with Butterflies on.  As these are both counted cross-stitch I also have the option of working these in needlepoint as well for central cushion panels.  Making something else inspired from the kits but using a different medium and giving it extra work and turning into a cushion cover.  Well that is the plan in any event.

I am pre-planning for materials or bits I need as I go along.  It is a thoughtful and considered process which has me dealing with that particular moment and getting everything organised before I actually need it.  It is also helping me feel more organised and also budget for specific items as well.  When it comes to embroidery threads I have an awful lot of these and I also have some projects to come in due course that will enable me to use up some of this stash which is quite extensive.  However for instance, I do need a supply of Aida to work said projects on.  That will come in due course, but at least I am trying to tackle things head on.

I was hoping to do a little more embroidery on my current kit this evening, but that has fallen through the rafters a bit.  However come Saturday and Sunday now that will be a different matter then.

Apologies to those of you who are more into the cooking and preserving side of things, but crafting is a big part of me also, and I am trying to address a lot of things this year - those planned and those I am coming across in my tidying.  Let us see how things pan out.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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