Off Kilter and Needing Re-Alignment--Attempt 29

LOL!  I might just scream if I don't laugh...  So I have tried to write the saga of the last three weeks over and over again during the last three weeks.  I have deleted, re-written and deleted more times than I can count.  I have sat here wondering if I can even write more than a sentence without being interrupted...  Just for the record, just writing this far, I have had to stop about 6 times already.

Since it has been so long since I posted last and recapping almost 3 weeks would take us next to forever...  Let's go quickly though life to get to crafts! 

The leak

I finally had some time off without Tater Tot and Nilla Waffer.  The first day of that week, my kitchen ceiling sprung a leak.  Three weeks later, I am still dealing with it, as I am trying to work on this post, my repair man for the hole is here patching the hole (he will be back tomorrow to smooth it and get it ready for painting).  So, my "Week Off" was spent having plumbers and insurance people in and out of the house. 

The hole

While dealing with the leak on my "Week Off" my mother in law needed some help with her car and shopping, so while my husband was helping her, I had to run support going back and forth across town.  I had to leave my plumber here on his own (he is a family friend) to do the repair work while I picked Cotton Top up from playing musical cars with my mother in law. 

We have also have had an engagement of some sort ever week.  My calendar for July and August are both booked or limit availability.  I am going to have to sit down and try to get some time off to do some house work at some point.  It is kind of hard to do things when half your downstairs is sideways with the leak stuff...

I have also had some issues with insomnia.  I was watching Nilla Waffer and Tater Tot on Monday and Thursday but that was becoming way more complicated than it needed to be.  Thursday just wasn't a good day at all for me-Thursday nights are when most of my church ministry activities fall.  The split in the schedule was messing up my sleep schedule.  After week one I had one night of insomnia, week two was 3 nights.  Now we have the days smooshed together and my sleep has more or less gone back to normal.

So, with all of that...  Crafting has been at a minimum to be honest...  Because no matter what I go to start, I have to stop ever 15 minutes...  It has been exhausting!

But, progress has been made on The Great Craftdown of 2018.  Just not nearly as much as one would hope for 3 weeks worth of not posting....

I have no idea what order these went in, but I am going to start with 12 cards got made to more or less finish out the Backyard Picnic collection from Michael's.  I have a lot of washi and die cuts left, but those are neutral stylewise, so they will get used in other places.  I did make three shaker cards this time.  I wish the pictures really showed those off.  They are much prettier in person.  They look so simple and basic in the pictures.

I also realized a few weeks back that I really don't have a lot of "Thank You" cards.  I really need to get more of those made so I can send those out quickly vs having to make one as I go.  I might come back with the washi and die-cuts and make a few more like the butterfly card.

I am kind of sad to be done working with this collection because it was fun but I am ready for something different.  The style was very similar across this collection, but it didn't feel like all of the images went together easily.  The washi was a dream to work with though.  I set up some scrapbook pages using just the washi tapes.  I can't wait to get some pictures of those and eventually work them into layouts on their own. 

As part of the craft room cleaning, I found a few leftover balls of Sheepish from other projects.  A single ball of purple here, a ball of variegated there...  I decided to pull one out to make these hats.  I will be adding a purple rib band to the smaller one.  I wanted to check the fit on Nilla Wafer's head before I finish it off though.  It should fit her head size though.  The pattern I used is Unforgettable Hat by Elizabeth Pardue.  It was very easy to follow and simple to make.  I have used this pattern before.  I love the ribbing on it.  The yarn is Bernat Sheep(ish) in Punkish. 

I really wish they hadn't discontinued this yarn.  I love it!  This yarn is like working with a roving style yarn that doesn't shed or get in your nose like natural wool like this does, there is no short staple fiber in the yarn.  It give you a beautiful drape and soft fabric as well.  I wish that someone would come back with a similar acrylic yarn.  It won't be the same without Vickie Howell's color choices, but it could still be nice to work with.

As I was cleaning my craft room, I decided that since there were holes starting to form on my main yarn wall, I should break down the boxes from Craftsy.  I got these as projects to work on after the move, but for the last year, they have sat there mostly packed up still.  My craftroom still feels half packed because I keep finding new boxes of things that should have gone in there or been unpacked into the room as a whole.

I really enjoy making shawls, so while I couldn't sleep over the last three weeks, I crochet this shawl from the kits.  I had three balls of Lion Brand Heartland in Denali for it.  The pattern is Wrapped in Warmth by Kathy Lashley.  You can't get the kit anymore, but the pattern is available directly from the designer and the yarn is readily available at big box stores and online.  The pattern is super simple, but I really like working on things that give my brain a break but are still beautiful.

The only other things I have been working on are my scrap projects.  I did find more gray yarn, so I have been working on the granny square blanket in blue and gray.  I have 7 blocks left to go (I actually finished 4 already but I don't have pictures yet) before I do the final boarders and sewing.  I have decided to make it 5x6.  The block are around a foot square.  I did want something slightly larger for this project.  I thought that a real lapghan would be too small and make it look like a mess of mismatched blocks.  The more blocks you add though, the more intentional it ends up looking to me.

As I have been thinking about finishing up this project, I have been trying to work out seaming, boarders, layouts...I think I am going to block this as a blanket not as squares.  With the granny pattern, I feel like there is more wiggle room with the blocking.  It won't be flat until I block it, but I think it will be easier to smooth as a blanket vs as squares.  I am alternating gray final round with blue.  I am going to boarder the blocks with a dark charcoal Caron One Pound I have.  I will do a final boarder around the blanket with the Caron and then I will pick a blue to do the final round with.  All of it will stay in the granny square pattern established in the blocks.  It is a more masculine afghan; keeping it simple I think is also best since it is a donation blanket.


I also got some more hexies done.  I can feel the pull of getting these done.  I am so close...  I just need more scrap yarn!  I think I am at 330 total, I could be wrong.  I just need 70 more hexies!  Since I have been working on the shawl and squares, I think I have a bit more more to work with, but I really need more small balls of scrap to finish this blanket off!  I can't believe it has taken me over a year to get this close! 


I have considered this one's finishing as well.  I am going to block the hexies, whip stitch them together in off set rows and not add a boarder.

I uncovered a box of scraps in my workout room.  I didn't find many small scraps that would work for the hexies, but I do think I could do a rainbow blanket with what is in there.  I am thinking about doing granny squares in a rainbow radiating out.  Maybe for next year...  I don't know...If you are reading this, what do you think?  There is everything but blue in that box, but I have some balls of blue still hanging around.

That wraps up what I have been doing...  Like I said, for 3 weeks worth, it was kind of sad!  It has been hard to get things done with all of the interruptions...  Ah well...  On to next week's adventure!

There are no dorks here!

Like I said in my last post, I am working on cleaning my craft room.  I would love to be able to really move around in there and have my desk space back!  I am almost done.  I got the desk wiped down at least now....  It is really sad, there are some basics that I really miss about having a normal room.  Don't get me wrong, I love my craft room, it is just that it is hard to work around not having vertical space to use for my storage solutions.

I have an idea of where I want to go with my space once I have worked my stash down.  I just will have to go through some growing pains until I get my stash worked that far down...  I am just glad to be able to work in there again right now!  I am taking the victory!

While I was organizing the top of my "personal use" yarn space, I found three random balls of bulky yarn.  I have no idea where the blue one came from.  The pink was actually a ball I had gotten my grandmother when she said she wanted to try and crochet again.  The purple has been hanging around for about 10 years now.  I had some turquoise that I bought at the same time but that has all been used for different projects.

Of course, I am a dork...I couldn't just have random balls hanging around... So I brought them down to the study and found patterns for them!  I am sure that is what any rational adult would do...  Right?  No, just me then...

First I found, Rainbow Twist by Thao Nguyen.  This was an interesting scarf to knit.  It went super fast, but the addition of the large scale cable was a lot of fun!  The first twist gave me fits because I was so sleepy- I was knitting to stay awake at that point Monday night- I wasn't paying attention to where my working yarn was laying.  Once I got a good night sleep though, the next two cable pattern rows were a breeze.  If you are looking for a simple gift, accessory or have a random ball of super bulk yarn...  Make this scarf!  I used Wool-Ease Thick and Quick in Blossom.

Second I found She's a Betty Bonnet by Gretchen Tracy.  Holy Mackerel!  I am in love with this pattern!  I love the texture of this pattern.  I really wish that the pictures of my hat showed off the texture or the yarn showed off the texture.  When I started, it didn't look that bad, but by the time I was decreasing the crown, I realized that the texture popped on the back but not the front.  That is okay, I will remake the hat I am sure!  This hat was knit in Premier Serenity Chunky in Stormy.  I got Nilla Wafer to stop for 5 seconds to show off the split neck detail.

I know many of you guys don't know me at all, I also haven't been blogging for years, so you would have never had a chance to learn this Carrie fact...  I adore split neck hats!  I really wish there were more designs out there for these!  The bun hats took over the last two winters, but I will be honest, the split neck is better!  You can wear a low pony tail, scarf and collar at the same time you head stays warm and dry!  There isn't bulk on this style of hat, no fixing your hair to wear this style hat and it stays put on your head!  I know, I am still a dork...  This isn't helping my bid out of dorkdom...  I have made a few over the years, but She's a Betty and Lomond Hat by Littletheorem may be my favorites!  Go get some bulky yarn and needles!  RUN!  KNIT!

So for the third yarn I went with Zombie Killer Slouch by Luciana Young.  The name was eye catching enough!  I couldn't resist this hat after that!  My biggest issue with this hat is that this style doesn't look great on me.  I think I have made one that looked okay on me...years ago...super thin yarn... extra long slouch...AKA, too much work!  This hat however was simple, fun and easy.  It was great for a lone ball and not wanting to over think while working!  This took no time to work up!  I am sure I can find it a good home!


I then took the pink left overs and made a heart applique...  I have no idea what I am going to do with that!  It will hang out until I have a use for it.  <shrug>  Who knows, I might just throw it on a blanket or hat down the road.  I don't make a whole lot of yarn embellishments normally, but I like having them to use when I want one.  It is one of those odd things, you just don't think to make them until you need them normally-well, me at least...

I still had some scraps of all three left over.  Guess who has two thumbs and started another scrapghan!?  Yep, this time a C2C blanket.  It will take me years to finish this blanket!  I haven't worked that much with bulky yarns for the last year or two or 5...  But, I have no random bits going back into the craftroom! I actually pulled 4 random bits balls and added them to this blanket!

One of the things I have been working on is using my scraps as I go.  I know you have seen my hexies and the gray/blue blocks, but it has gone deeper than that.  The Dr. Who Scarf was mostly made from the Harry Potter scraps.  A lot of the donation hats from Lent were made with scraps that were going to just clutter up or were already cluttering up my craft space.  It is perfectly good yarn that I love to work with, but because it isn't a whole ball, I don't think to go and work with it!  Until I have my yarn stash more under control, I won't see these balls in my room.  So, I am trying to work through them now while I see them!

I had this post mostly ready to go up Friday, but I couldn't find time to finish...  In my pictures of my mostly sorted craftroom, you will notice a blue bin on the top of the big yarn wall.  The one on the left hand side...  Yeah, so I didn't go through it while cleaning.  I thought it just had my leftover cakes from a crocheted cocoon sweater, some old straight knitting needles, bits and bobs that were yarn related but not sorted...  NAH!  I found a whole group of Vanna's Choice (stray balls are in the blue bin on the right) including GRAY, 1.5 balls of GRAY!  I was over the moon!  I can go back to my 12 inch granny square blanket!

I also found 2 more balls of Bernat Softee Chunky (vintage) that will become a crochet cable "book bag", another ancient WIP- lace fingerless gloves and some bits that have homes!  So even as I am posting this post, my craftroom is already changing for the cleaner!

I have some plans for the extra large One Pound skeins, so as those get used, I will pull another extra large bin in and sort my large group things into that on top and use my cubbies for smaller quantities and some of my paper supplies that need help in staying organized (boxes only go so far...).

On to paper crafting.  I had to move my paper crafting back upstairs (that is what is on my desk under the window) because Nilla Wafer is older and wants to play with Grandma's stuff A LOT more!  Tater Tot likes to watch, Nilla Wafer wants to take supplies and do her own thing...  So, not a lot got done aside from moving things up to my craftroom.

I did get my second page mostly done for my first scrapbook ever...  I am having a problem making the second page's pictures pop and lift off the page more.  I wish the picture did them more justice, but I haven't stuck them down yet.  I have embellishments planned, but I need to get the pictures fixed.  I am in search through my stash of a navy blue floral...  That should get finished tonight though.  Then onto scrapping our morning at the Jean-Talon Market.  I already have produce papers pulled for those!

Last week was super productive and some how I did manage to actually make things to show you!  This week is packed full already.  I don't know how much time I will end up having, but I am excited to see!

Take care you guys!