Here, finally, is Noelle’s Blanket pattern. If you’re a regular reader, you know that I finished this in the Challenge last month. What you don’t know is that I also finally finished writing the pattern. You can now make your own Noelle’s Blanket. Which is great! It is so much fun to see this blanket coming together as you make it.
Several good things have happened due to the Use Your Stash Challenges 2017, besides the obvious of using up stash yarn or finishing up projects. One of those things is it made me aware of several bad habits I have had. Had, because I am changing them and making new habits in my life.
Those pesky bad habits aren’t going to be comfortable anymore. Working to kick them out can be a struggle, but it is worth it when the new habit is one that I want to keep.
Struggling is what makes us grow. So, if there is a struggle in creating new habits then I can rest in the knowledge that I am doing the right thing.
Wait. Does that sound right? If it is hard, then are you doing the right thing?
The answer is Yes (most of the time).
This blanket has been a long-time coming. Making baby blankets for those soft little bundles of love is so much fun! It has been fun. I have several new baby blankets coming out soon which are quick and easy to make. My first project worthy of “giving” was a ripple baby blanket for a Sunday school teacher. She was expecting her first child and I picked out the yarn and spent nights crocheting it. Baby blankets are quick and less intimidating than full-size blankets.
This was so fun to make; I started it during the Use Your Stash Challenge 2017, so you have seen bits and pieces of it.
This post is titled Understanding Color Theory in Yarn, but the original title was Finding Your Passion. It was long. And wordy. Overall, boring. Already there were three strikes against it! Then I read over it again and realized there was no mention of crochet in it at all. What was I thinking?! Lately, I have been reading some really great, uplifting posts by some of my favorite blog authors and it resulted in me trying to be someone I’m not. Enough of the boring stuff; onto the crochet stuff! Well, yarn at least, and specifically, color theory in yarn. Continue reading Understanding Color Theory in Yarn
Today is the last day of the Use Your Stash Challenge 2017, and I’d like to share with you what I learned–and, of course, what I finished. Looking back at the 32 days of the challenge, I have to admit I thought I would use more yarn. I seem to have worked more on half-finished things rather than the huge yarn stash sitting in my studio.
So, the bad news is that I still have a large stash.
The good news is I’m no longer storing half-finished projects, nor letting them take up space in my mind or my storage bins.
To be honest, I feel like I have climbed Mount Everest. My creative juices are at an all time high! Yet, my crocheting muscles are tired. I haven’t crocheted at all today. I’m just really drained. Continue reading What I Learned and What I Finished
I may actually reach all of my goals for completing unfinished projects and I am super happy! Hubs is happy about all the projects completed, too!
The “WIPs-to-do” stack is definitely smaller and the yarn is being used in a very visible way.
I’d like to show you the two newest completions, and also a recap of my list of to-do’s which I posted at the beginning of the Challenge last month.
Continue reading Recap of Projects Completed During the Challenge So Far
The last few days have been a struggle. Completing more than I imagined has actually thrown me off track. That, and life. I have to admit, life has really been unusual lately, even for us. So, I took a day off. (Wow! That is amazing for me!) One of my New Year’s resolutions was to put clearer boundaries on family time and work time–mainly work time. The tendency to check email right before bed is not conducive to thoughtful emails and clear answers, nor restful sleep. It also hinders my creativity. I decided I needed a day just to sit and do nothing; a day to work on generating new crochet ideas.
Continue reading 10 Ways to Spark New Crochet Ideas for Using Your Stash
Keep going! Keep striving! Don’t give up!
How are you doing? Making any progress?
Look at all the beautiful things finished by the Use Your Stash 2017 Challengers!
Another day, another project in the Use Your Stash Challenge 2017! This one I have been putting off for at least two years–maybe more, considering the baby I made the first one for is now four-years-old. This is such a beautiful baby blanket, I couldn’t resist starting another one–but that was years ago. If you’re like me and find that staying on track isn’t always easy, this post will be an encouragement to you.
Continue reading Staying on Track: Use Your Stash Challenge 2017
Here we are, almost halfway through the Challenge, and I am thrilled that I have finished project #3, the Floral Pillow! If I never get anything else done during this challenge, I will be happy just knowing I’ve completed these first three projects that have been staring me in the face for so long. It feels good to see things moving out of the “Almost Finished” queue and into the “Completed Project” pile. Continue reading Project #3 from the Use Your Stash Challenge