Planning, excitement and following through

Hey guys!  I know that this post will be going up late.  I have been in a huge cycle of "moopies" the last week.  I am not sick, thank goodness, but the over cast weather and busy schedule has really caught up to me since last Thursday.  I have been missing workouts and not really doing as much as I want to.  My motivation has been slipping...

With that said, I did get work done on "The Great Craftdown of 2018".  I got the boarders on all of my blocks for the Harry Potter blanket.  I have them set and ready to block next.  It will most likely be the end of next week before I get them blocked.  I have a lot going on this week and the start of next week.  It is really hard to take blocking to a doctor appointment....  Then again, I do have some serious dedication to getting the crochet done before the end of the month...

My first post coming back this year I mentioned that I had worked on some things that I didn't get pictures of.  Well, guess who started weaving in ends this Sunday!  MOI!  This is the first finished shawl of the year.  Super basic Corner to Corner design using Premier Sweet Roll yarn.




I took my "leftovers" from the red shawl and made this headband and scarf.  Not that they are a "set" per se, but they will most definitely be work as one.  I was very surprised to not have more leftovers than I did.  These both worked up so fast!

The headband pattern is Last Minute Ear Warmer by Cathy Wood.  Go and check out her blog, not just for this wonderful pattern, but for her other patterns.  She also provides some wonderfully detailed picture tutorials of advanced and unique techniques for her patterns.

The scarf is Soft Check Stitch Scarf.  I was really excited by this pattern because unlike a lot of keyhole scarf patterns I have been drawn to, it didn't matter the length you went with the scarf.  So many patterns I have noticed don't start with the keyhole, they put it in the middleish or the end.  You can't move it easily around for your height or the number of wraps you want your scarf to have.  The stitch pattern will prevent you from placing it at will.  Not so here.  I was able to make it a longer double wrap scarf and keep the keyhole to secure it with.

The next thing I worked hard on finishing was another group of shawls.  The bright striped one is made with Hobby Lobby Sugarwheel yarn.  If you haven't tried it out.  Dive in!  I love the colors and it works up so beautifully!  The second shawl was made with Caron Cakes.  I know many of you have worked with it, so I don't have to preach to the choir on how much fun these are.  The last one was worked with a Paton's worsted weight that I had left over from a poncho many, many moons ago.  I have had it so long I don't remember which line it was a part of or the colorway at this point.



Since my Harry Potter blanket is on hold, I decided to cast on a Doctor Who Scarf with the left overs.  So far it is going well.  I know by the time I am finished I am going to regret all of the ends I will have left to weave in.  I can't help but to be excited and overwhelmed with this project.  It is quite the undertaking and I am only just starting it out.

This week I do have a progress report for the new baby blanket I am working on.  There is something to at least show for it at this point.  The color way is so pretty!  This is just another Corner to Corner basic baby blanket.  The yarn is Red Heart Plum Pudding.  I have no idea where I got it from or when I got it.  I know it has to be in the last 3 years.  It was hiding in a box in my workout area.  I have some leftover Red Heart in a box in there.  I saw it through the side one morning while trying to take my mind off of doing beginner's opposite planks.

I am very excited about my progress with yarn.  I really need to have an afternoon or two where I can go and work on some paper projects!  My paper addiction is one of the reasons I started doing this to begin with!  I guess I would have more paper storage if I work down my yarn stash as well though...

Finally, I have set my Lenten devotion this year.  My goal is to work up 2 hats for Clean of Heart.  I know they will be late for this Winter really, but they can use them next Winter.  I spoke with one of the lovely women who started this outreach in our area about leaving them at the church for her to pick up.  She seemed really happy to know that at least there would be a few extras they can have.

I also would like to finish 4 baby blankets for Birth Right here in town as part of my Lenten Devotion.  That is more of a hope vs "I am setting aside time for this".  I can also crank out a hat very quickly if my day is my own.   This gives me something extra to work out every day just in case I finish my hats early.

Well ladies and gents, this was a long post.  As always Chez Penny is always a busy place to be and my fingers are always busy with something!  I am going to try to come back later this week to answer a few questions I get frequently from friends and family.  Until then; Love and blessings to you all!