Something Non-Crafty

Oh the power of the internet.  I understand that this post has nothing to do with quilting, sewing, crafting, or my insanely adorable dog... BUT it has a lot to do with me.  I love otters, the new Sherlock Holmes (and the classic books for that matter but they don't have someone named Cumberbatch in them now do they?), and wacky/zany/irreverent/absurd things.  This post; "Otters that look like Benedict Cumberbatch" from Red Scharlach has all of my favorite things.  Also, did you know there is a website that just has pictures of otters?  We truly are living in magical times.

Chevron Intervention Time

Perhaps you remember this sweater that I finished recently.  The awesome Hollywood Herringbone Pullover by Kate Gagnon Osborn.

Then I recently attended a quilting workshop.  The pattern was a Jacob's Ladder Quilt but unfortunately half way through the workshop something just wasn't gelling for me and I decided that if I was going to put in the time to make a quilt I had to like the finished result.  So I scrapped the nine patch segments, rearranged the half square triangles, and am now putting together something that looks like this:

Finally, let us look at the knitting project currently on my needles.  The oh-so-awesome Delancey Cardigan by Alexis Winslow which I am doing as knit-a-long with a friend (I posted about having the yarn for this  a g e s  ago and finally took the plunge and cast-on).

Knitting this in Berocco Ultra Alpaca and so far it is coming out absolutely delicious!

Hmm, notice any striking similarities between these?  I obviously keep getting drawn to the zig zags.  Heck, it's even the background on my blog!  In my defense, I'm not the only one to jump aboard the chevron train.  Pinterest has been blowing up with chevron for awhile now.  Do you find yourself drawn to similar patterns, colors, or styles time and time again?  Do I need a chevron/zig zag intervention?

Knitting and Rules

Ruby knows that all rules are meant to be broken, like that one about not getting on the couch.

I've been gathering quite the to-do list lately, and also creating quite the long craft rules list for myself.

Anyone else out there create rules around their creating?  You know, rules like "I cannot buy any more yarn until I use up my stash" or "no new fabric/patterns until I make something with the last fabric I bought" or my current rule "I can't sew anything new until I make progress on that quilt."  Obviously my rules are meant to motivate me to complete projects, or use up supplies/avoid a yarn and fabric hoarding issue.  I have to admit that I don't like having multiple unfinished projects lying around so I try to bust through them before they start to stress me out.  However, today I caught myself thinking, why all the rules?  Isn't crafting supposed to be my fun hobby?  Why would I let my hobby stress me out?

So what do you think?  Do you make "rules" for yourself?  If you do, do you keep them or are craft rules meant to be broken (like when you REALLY need a skein of that gorgeous alpaca or a yard of that adorable Heather Ross print)?  Also, please tell me I'm not the only one who stresses themselves out over something that is supposed to be fun!

Absentee blogger

Oh my, a whole year? A whole year of blogger absenteeism? I have good reasons, I promise!

That whole getting married thing was very exciting but time consuming, I also got an awesome new job which has been keeping me busy, and I've started getting into fitness and working out more. All of this has combined to me having less time/energy to be crafty and also less enthusiasm to document said craftiness. I do have projects I've completed though, and I've started a whole new crafting endeavor: quilting. So as a way to force myself to be more creative and spend less time just watching Downton Abbey (can you blame me? the show is amazing!) I'm going to try to get back into the blogging. Here's hoping the next post from me is in a week and not in a year!

Now more pictures of my completed Hollywood Herringbone Pullover:

I have a few plans for upcoming posts so stay tuned for more deets on this sweater, a recently finished beret, some more folk mittens (it's not an addiction if I can stop knitting mittens anytime I want, and I can), recent sources of crafty inspiration, and my full day quilting workshop!