I have to say that my crafting has slowed down somewhat this month. I'm not sure why that is, I just haven't been reaching for my knitting as often as I usually do.
Strictly Come Dancing is back on our screens so, just like last year, I decided to join in with the knitalong which is being hosted by Ali on her Little Drops of Wonderful podcast. I had a look in my stash and thought this yarn I was given in a swap I took part in on Instagram would look lovely knitted up into the Cha Cha Chevron socks, the official Strictly knitalong pattern from last year. I'm very pleased with my choice so far. I only knit these socks whilst watching Strictly Come Dancing or its sister show, It Takes Two, which is shown on weekdays but I've already completed the first one and I'm down to the heel on the second.
I've added the two gorgeous mini skeins I received for my birthday from Maggie from BlackCountry Wench blog into my scrappy blanket. These are from Beaker Button, a dyer I'd never heard of before. It's such soft yarn. Maggie also gave me this beautiful needle case for my birthday, I've opened it up so that you can just peek the gorgeous fabric inside, and the cute little hedgehog stamped on the back. Thank you, Maggie, such a thoughtful gift.
My crafting enthusiasm seems to be coming and going at the moment but there's no point trying to force it, a hobby is all about enjoyment so I'll pick things up if and when the mood takes me, I'm sure my mojo will return again soon.
I'm crocheting again, no cross stitch, and I have an itch to knit something bigger. Love your scrappy blanket.
ReplyDeleteI've got my crochet granny stripe blanket on the go but I haven't picked it up for a while. I really enjoy working on my scrappy blanket, I'm looking forward to opening up all my advent mini skeins and adding them to it.
DeleteI enjoy my crochet, but find little time to get any done. I've finished the storage box cover, which took a long time to complete and now I want to make a blanket for my daughter. I'm thinking how I can make something in a quicker, easier way. Best, Jane x
ReplyDeleteI find crochet square blankets more time consuming than blankets knit in stripes, such as granny stripes or ripples, so perhaps that would be the way to go. I really enjoy crocheting ripples actually, you get a lovely rhythm going.
DeleteI'm sure I'd drop a few stitches in all the excitement if I was knitting whilst watching Strictly but your work is coming along very well. I wonder who will be leaving this weekend.
ReplyDeleteThe pattern I'm knitting is very straight forward so I don't have to concentrate too much, but it's more interesting than a plain sock. We're starting to get to the really good contestants now, though there's still a couple of them who seem to be lagging behind the others so perhaps it will be one of them who goes this week.
DeleteSo agree! We do fun things, for fun. Forcing them, makes it more like work. -smile-
ReplyDelete🍂🍁🎃🍁🍂
That's true. It certainly becomes a chore if you're not enjoying doing it.
DeleteJust catching up & maybe the weather & world crisis's has an effect on our crafting mojos. Mine's been pretty lacking too. I love your socks and the blanket is coming along a treat. We've nothing worth watching on TV here at the moment, which doesn't seem to help with my relaxation of knitting or crocheting, & I seem to bury myself in a crossword, then get frustrated. Take care & have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteI think it's just my mood, which can be quite up and down at the moment, which is affecting my crafting. I'm really into reading again at the moment though.
DeleteYup You are 100% right My mojo is too much. I want to finish a hat, knit another mans hat, and start a new shawl tonight!
ReplyDeleteI hope you manage to get all that done. I love it when my enthusiasm for crafting is at a high.
DeleteIt does seem like our crafting "mojo" comes and goes. Sometimes I think I just need a little break from crafting!
ReplyDeleteI definitely think a break can be helpful. My mojo always returns again at some point so there's no point in forcing it when it just isn't there.
Deletelove the projects, ive just started a new scrappy blanket, but im just not in the knitting zone at the moment..
ReplyDeleteThe great thing about scrappy blankets is that they can be put on the back burner when you don't fancy working on them. I know my scrappy blankets are long term projects so I don't feel guilty if I don't add to them for a while.
DeleteThose socks are lovely! I know what you mean about fluctuating mojo - that's more or less how I've felt this month, especially when it comes to social media....I've been more off than on. My knitting mojo, however, is at an all-time high & the one site I've been on the most in the past few weeks is Ravelry. I've even joined a couple of KAL's, which is a first for me.
ReplyDeleteKALs are so much fun. I think they help to keep you on track with the knitting too. I haven't felt like working on very much this month but I've still kept up with these Strictly socks because of the KAL.
DeleteI love that sock pattern and the yarn you are using. I am very slow at knitting socks, I always want to knit them more but they don't knit up that quick for me. I agree about only doing crafting when we want to, I would never want it to become a chore. I definitely knit more in the cooler months than the warmer ones.
ReplyDeleteI knit this same pattern for the knitalong last year and really enjoyed it so I decided I'd knit it again this time round. My knitting mojo is often at it's peak during the summer months, which makes no sense really, I don't know why that is.
DeleteI really love your scrappy blanket, Jo. I am trying to work how you are joining the squares so neatly, very impressed with that. And the whole pattern is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
The scrappy blanket is fun to knit. The squares are made by picking up stitches along the edges of the squares next to them, which makes for a nice, neat join. It also means there's no sewing up which is a huge bonus for me.
DeleteDear Jo... Re: Your comment on my "Hibernation" post.... Since you dislike the long evenings/night of winter, and your Time Went Back already, wouldn't it be nice, to look more into the feeling.... of The Season Of Hibernation? -smile-
ReplyDeleteMy husband does not like long nights, either, so I understand.
And I did not like to face November!
So that's why I embrace The Season of Hibernation. And try to point all those nice feelings (of Hibernation) out to him too. To help both of us, realign our views.
Since Nov. and longer nights, come anyway.... I like to try to make them, more acceptable. -smile-
🔥 🏡 📚 🔥
It would be lovely to think of being able to hunker down over winter but that just doesn't do me any good. The dark evenings can darken my mood and I really need some sunlight and to be able to get outdoors in the fresh air, the shorter days and poor weather aren't helpful to this. I'm already looking forward to spring!
DeleteIt is great to have a nice, fairly easy project to work on, especially one which used up scraps! I am knitting a scrap blanket but mine is 'seedy sock' blanket - seed stitch (obviously) with one strand leftover sock yarn or minis and a strand of black sock yarn. I have had to pack it away for a couple of months to work on more important projects and I am really missing it. I do love crocheting granny squares too, but struggle to keep motivated to actually stitch them together and finish the project! The socks are lovely; do you know what the yarn is?
ReplyDeleteYour seedy sock blanket sounds lovely. The seed stitch gives a lovely texture and I can imagine it looking fabulous with the black strand running through it. I've used the join as you go method when crocheting granny squares, it takes off that 'stitch them together' pressure which I hate so much. I don't know what yarn I'm knitting my socks out of, it came as part of a swap and didn't have a label with it, but it's lovely to knit with.
DeleteYour choice of wool colours is sublime, how could anyone not enjoy working with such loveliness? (apart from me - who could not knit to save her life . . . {{grin}} )
ReplyDeleteAhhh, but you work with fabric and there's just as much loveliness there. It's great to have so much choice.
DeleteI do like your scrappy blanket, it's so colourful :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
It's a pleasure to work on it.
DeleteLove the colourway of your socks, your little skeins look ideal for the project in hand, nice they are soft, it makes it so much easier on the hands xcx
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying knitting the socks, I would love to know what the yarn is but I received it in a swap and it wasn't labelled. Mini skeins are great for scrappy blankets, I've got a yarny advent calendar so I'll have plenty more mini skeins to add to it in December.
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