Sunday, 8 July 2012

Year of Projects - Update #1: Off to a good start

The first week of this second Year of Projects has been productive, despite mainly working on Nuvem which is not included in my YoP list. As you may recall, my list is split into 2 parts - Projects and Stashbusting.

Projects:
I completed my first project, a Scrappy Noro Cushion at the start of the week. (Ta-dah post is here.) After procrastinating for a whole year and carrying it forward to this year's list, this was finished in just one evening!  Made entirely from scraps, it gets a big thumbs up which leads me onto the other progress made this week...

Stashbusting:
Yes, hexipuffs are back on the needles!!!! (If you are not familiar with the Beekeeper's Quilt and don't know anything about this project, you may like to take a look at these posts.) I started this long-term project last summer using DPNs and 'throwing' the yarn in the English style -  in fact, it was my first attempt at using DPNs. With another year's experience, I'm now using a long circular needle to make them using Judy's Magic Cast on, the magic loop method and knitting in the Continental style - they are so much quicker this time around. I used to average one every 45-60 minutes, but the latest additions have taken about 30 mins each, so I've caved in and decided to join in once more with Carole's resurrected One a Day group. The plan is to make at least one of these a day to use up the yarns I've stashed for this quilt and I'll update on my progress in more detail on Tuesday. The most pleasing thing about 'puffs I made over the last couple of days is they are entirely made from scraps of my own projects or leftovers from a blogger friend who kindly donated them. 

Despite the rain, we've had a lovely weekend. Here are some of the highlights:
Spiderman trying his hand at archery 
A crazy swinging husband
Nanna's facepainting stall at the School Fun Day
Heading out for a 'grown up' night with some old friends

How about you? 

33 comments:

  1. Yay! I love watching how other people use up their stash. Good to know about the different techniques for the Beekeeper's Quilt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it's made quite a difference changing the way I make them, although they look the same.

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  2. The Beekeeper's looks wonderful and a great way to use up stash. Also, congrats on finishing your carry over project..

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  3. Your scrappy cushion looks great and I've not seen the Beekeepers quilt before, looks amazing so looking forward to seeing your hexipuffs come together.

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    Replies
    1. It'll be a while before there are enough to make anything useful, but I quite like that about it - it's a "pick up and put down' type of project for me :)

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  4. I love that your scrappy cushion turned out to look like it was "planned" that way :) I have yet to give in to the addiction of hexi's but can't resist seeing pictures of everyone ELSE's hehe.

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    Replies
    1. I think it's harder to resist when you see some finished objects (there are some on the Beekeeper's Quilt KAL page on facebook) but to be honest, the individual 'puffs are just fun in their own right - Little Miss uses them to count and make patterns and all sorts of things - plus the basket just looks nice as it slowly fills up with them.

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  5. It's funny isn't it how some of the long awaited jobs are actually super quick when you finally get around to them. I'm glad you're back into the hexipuffs, it's one of those get on with it jobs that will be sooo worth it when done, then we'll be really jealous when you do your TA-dah......actually, now I think of it, when you finish your quilt you should offer it as a giveaway....good idea?

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  6. i kind of fell off the One A Day Wagon too, but have re-joined with Project: Stash's Wonder Blanket KAL. Looking forward to seeing lots and lots of hexipuffs!

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    Replies
    1. Well the OaD group stopped for a while so it was easy to fall off the wagon, but it seems a good time to start again. The KAL is a great project to use :)

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  7. Really like the hexipuffs. I started mine in crochet but think I will be needing to break down and buy the knitting pattern. I just like the look of the puffs better in knitting than in the crochet. Glad to see you are back to making them daily.

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    Replies
    1. Well you know, I generally prefer knitted fabric to crochet - I think you should just go for it. They are so cute.

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  8. Gorgeous photos as always, congratulations on the finish! I am so impressed by anyone who keeps going on the hexipuffs, I honestly think that is a vocation rather than a blanket. It is adorable though, and I love your choice of colours.

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    Replies
    1. Ha, thanks Kate. It's not something I've constantly worked on, but I come back to it in between other things, and I think that might be a good way to go into a project like this to prevent burn-out. They are quite addictive though - it's like a box of chocolates ... "just one more"...

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  9. It will be lovely to see you back in the one a day group.

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  10. There's something so satisfying about knitting little things from the stash, isn't there. Maybe by the end of this year's Year of Projects we'll see a finished Beekeeper's Quilt? I've yet to see one finished in blogland!

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    Replies
    1. I've seen some on the Facebook KAL group and that was a good motivator actually. I'm not making any promises on this - I originally set a deadline of November but that is NEVER going to happen so I'm not going to make any more predictions :D

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  11. Oh boy, so tempting to stash bust that way. I admire how you've tried different needle techniques. I'm a DPNs kind of gal myself.
    I love how your son went full out in face painting. Some children don't like their whole face to be covered in paint, like my girls. I want a go at that archery. It looks so fun!
    Good for you for having a grown up night out.
    This weekend?
    We got back Friday afternoon and I've been doing laundry. Yesterday we headed down the peninsula to attended our godson's 2nd BBQ and I bought a bike off of a friend. Today, was a lazy one, reading and knitting outside so my girls could play in the driveway + a good 2 hour nap.

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    Replies
    1. I don't blame you for a lazy one - I saw your photos and your trip looked wonderful. Must be nice to be home though?

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  12. I would rather poke my eyes out than use dpn's--magic loop all the way for me! Your hexis are so bright and pretty which should make for a gorgeous quilt. Hope you had a great grown up night--I remember when my kids were little how thrilling that was. :)
    *smiles and cheers*

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    Replies
    1. Yes - thank you - we had a lovely time (ok, we mainly talked about our kids) but sometimes it's just so nice to catch up with friends without constant interruptions :D

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  13. Im making little knitted toys for for my bump at the moment using my scraps. I love knitting toys they are so easy and cute to make. Then Im going to turn my hand back to hexipuffs again they are lovely.

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    1. Sounds perfect. I hope things are going well for you x

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  14. Haha, I agree with Kim - never will I knit on DPNs! Circular is the way to go :)
    Love your hexipuffs, and good on ya that you're sticking with 'em!
    xo,
    wink

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    Replies
    1. Well you know, I don't mind them - especially for really little fiddly things when the cable can get in the way, but mostly I do prefer circulars, simply because I never knit on straight needles (I don't own any) so they feel very natural.

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  15. I adore those hexi puffs they are just soooo cute

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  16. It's great to see what you're doing - and isn't is something that you finished that lingering project up in one sitting! (It's always the way!) I enjoy your posts and your energy. I also appreciate that you visit so many blogs and always have kind words to share. For me it makes this "community" a great place to spend my time!

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    Replies
    1. That's a very kind comment - thank you. I do try to visit as many blogs as I can, and I visit a lot more than I can comment on as the "captcha" images don't often work on an iPad.

      Lovely to have you here.
      x

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  17. Those hexipuffs are so cute, someday I will make a beekeepers quilt!

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