July 29th, 2014 marked the end date for my 101/1001 project... which I'll admit to have completely forgotten about. Despite this, I did manage to complete 25 goals on the list - I'd say a 25% success rate on a project I wasn't actively completing is pretty good, yes? In any case, I've decided to restart the project with a new list.

I've kept a few of my uncompleted goals, but for the most part it's a pretty new list. Mostly because a large chunk of the old one was unrealistic - I had a lot of travel goals on there that were never going to happen in the time frame allotted. The Day Zero website also has a 'someday' list function, so a lot of those goals went onto that list. I am, however, allowing myself to promote any of those goals to the actual 101/1001 list if I'm lucky enough to actually do any travelling! Also, at this point, I don't have a complete list of 101, but I shall add more as I think of them over the coming days. Feel free to head on over to the list in the navigation bar and make suggestions!

Pattern: Lacy Baktus by Terhi Montonen

Materials: Schoppel-Wolle Crazy Zauberball; 75% wool  |  25% nylon

Amount: 1 skein in Lilac Breeze; Approx. 419m/100g

Needles: US 3/3.25 mm

Start Date: 27 June 2014

Finish Date: 2 July 2014

Nothing like a road trip and some nice cosy down time with friends to shoot through a quick shawl in a week! A couple hours in the car, a high percentage of garter stitch, and no work in the morning; it's rare that all those elements line up so well, but I'll enjoy it when they do.

 

I bought two zauberballs (this one in the Lilac Breeze colourway, and another in Little Fox) on a whim quite some time ago and, during some stash diving last week, they resurfaced and made their way to my coffee table. Just in time for this month's School Librarian Knitting Group meet up and it was pretty well claimed by my friend Jenny. It was pointed out to me that it was, after all, in her colour, and who could argue with that?

I was surprised by the colour transition when I knitted it up, which, I suppose, is the fun of a variegated yarn. I had expected it to be darker with far less white woven through, but now that it's done, I rather like the effect and think that Jenny will make it work well. Now the real question will be whether she lets it sit in my house until Christmas or if she shall be knocking on my door before school starts back.

I kind of took the wind out of my knitting sales with my last post, undermining my own sense of progress, but I still have two projects to happily report as finished so I shall enjoy those.

Pattern: Honey Cowl by Antonia Shankland

Materials: madeline tosh dk; 100% merino

Amount: 1 skein in Golden Hickory; Approx. 205m/100g

Needles: US 8/5 mm Knit Pro Symfonie

Dimensions: Approximately 30cm in width and 55cm in length, unblocked

Start Date: 1 June 2014

Finish Date: 26 June 2014

(model: ren22a, image: smasharazzi)

It's an excellent on-the-go knit, with a quickly memorised four row pattern. Because of this it became my work knitting and was completed in brief snatches around the lunch table. It seriously knits up so quickly, with such a smooth feeling pattern that I could happily knit this pattern over and over again (so be warned, everyone in existence may be getting this for Christmas).

You know that feeling you get when you finish two projects in quick succession? The one where you feel like you're on the biggest of all rolls - watch out craft pile, I am conquering you! It's such a good feeling. Unfortunately, at least in my case, it's usually a misleading one. It's a false sense of success that, when looked at more closely, is revealed to be a complete lie.

While still enjoying this short-lived high I decided to lay out all my projects - I mean, if I'm going to fly through projects so quickly, I should capitalise on this and finish up everything in my cupboard, right? Right? With every incomplete project I piled up I felt that feeling of accomplishment drop away a little more, until all I was left with was a very unbalanced finished/wip ratio and a sad feeling.

But still, there is a part of me that really wants to reclaim that victorious feeling, and so I am going to own my crafting shame, list every incomplete item and vow to finish them!* On the plus side, they're all already under way so they should go past pretty quick right? Right?

Noro Striped Scarf

I'm starting off easy with something that is only newly started and so the guilt level is pretty low! I'm working on this one for Christmas, so there's no up close photo today, but it is sitting next to be right now and is my current take-everywhere knitting due to it's simplicity. I am very nearly 50% done.

No-Fuss Shade-Loving Shawl

I'm at the awkward part of this project where I'm still loving the beautiful colour changes and dreading the part where the stripes will get thinner. It's at this part of any project that I remember why I secretly hate using variegated yarn. I have three balls of Noro for this scarf, and I'm about 3/4 of the way through the first ball.

Geek Blanket-a-long

I had some ambition for this project. I loved it (still do) so much and foolishly thought I would get it done by Christmas. And then I learnt that I hate, hate, HATE double knitting. So much. Which is why I'm only half way through a single square. Ellen has suggested that I ditch the double knitting entirely and just line it with some fabric, and I'm thinking she's right.

Vivace Socks

As is the way with all socks, I completed one whole sock before the project languished away in the drawer. This should be a relatively quick finish, so I'm hopeful for this one.

2014 Mood Blanket

I almost didn't list this one here as it's ongoing for the remainder of the year, but I'm a little behind in my squares (thankfully I've kept a chart!) so it's here to prod me along.

Naturally Yarns Cardigan and Hat K611

Of all the projects on this list, this one is probably the oldest (I say 'probably' because that air of uncertainty makes me feel better than knowing it's been sitting there for nearly two years). I put it away because I got stuck on the finishing and put it away in frustration. I pulled it out again last night (right before I had dinner with the now toddler I initially cast it on for. Ouch.) and was annoyed to see that the finishing was actually quite easy and it's now nearly done.

Mysterious Lace Reversible Scarf

Okay, maybe this one has been in the drawer for the longest. I'm not really sure why this one was abandoned. I remember it being a relatively easy project. Unfortunately, I haven't done much on this one, so it's not much of a head start.

February Lady Sweater

This one is just a massive pile of garter stitch at this point - more interesting photos as I progress.

*Note that I sidestepped the whole 'by a certain date' part of that vow.