Sunday, October 25, 2015

YOP Update - Inspiration Strikes!







In last week's post I was rather down and out and had been for quite a while, but oddly enough soon there after a turn around occurred.  I cast on for yet another project (I think my current WIP count is 14 - yikes!) trying to bring back a spark of excitement to my knitting.  This has been my tactic all month, but this particular time it actually worked! Yes, inspiration has struck!  I started on the ever popular Baa-ble hat pattern which Donna Smith wrote for Shetland Wool Week 2015.  I loved it the moment I saw it, but I didn't really need another hat thus I let the pattern languish in my favorites section on Ravelry.  Then, early this Autumn I realized I had two of the four colors of Jamieson's Shetland Heather Aran I needed and on a quick search through Ravelry stashes I found the other two colors.  I purchased them thinking it will be a fun project to start someday, maybe after Christmas. 

Now, I'm not sure why I pulled out this pattern and started, but I am so glad that I did.  It was as if the hat knit itself it went by so fast.  After finishing the hat I really wanted mittens (I love matchy matchy sets of things) and upon weighing out my leftover yarn I thought I'd have enough.  So, I plunged right into to knitting mittens following Donna's chart and making up the general pattern as I went along.  The coolest thing happened - I had just, and I mean just enough yarn to finish with a scant 3 grams of blue Highland Mist leftover.  I simply love it when that happens!

I now have this lovely new hat and mitten set and all that is lacking is a scarf or cowl.  Well, I was pulling out the yarn I purchased from Kate Davies Seven Skeins Club (another attempt at bringing on some inspiration as the yarn come with 7 corresponding patterns) and what do you know?  The green and cream skeins match the green and cream colored yarn used in my hat and mittens.   Can we say new project?  Yes, we can!  I started Kate Davies Cochal honeycombed cowl pattern yesterday and am hoping to finish today.  We'll have to see though, as the house and laundry are in a bit of a state since my knitting has taken over again.  Maybe I'll achieve balance one day ;)

My Year of Projects list is growing instead of getting smaller, but I am just too pleased to be inspired again to mind much.  If you want to see the other YOP participants you can find them here.  Have a great, and hopefully, inspiring week everyone!

9 comments:

  1. I think the hat and gloves are wonderful. I love the matchingness if them. The scarf is going to be awesome with them too. Glad you got your mojo back.

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  2. I think the hat and gloves are wonderful. I love the matchingness if them. The scarf is going to be awesome with them too. Glad you got your mojo back.

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  3. The hat and mittens are just darling and isn't it amazing how one project can be the spark of inspiration to re-ignite the knitting bug and I love how when you finish the cowl you'll have a matching set! Ruth

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  4. Brilliant set! Love it, and the blue yarn really suits your eyes :)

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  5. The mittens are genius! I don't wear hats, but mittens are a must. Looks like my queue just grew!

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  6. Oh look at all those sheep?! They are gorgeous and I love the cowl. Glad they brought the spark back.

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  7. Lovely! I have the yarn I want to use in this same hat pattern. Maybe your photos will prove to be inspiration to me. :^)

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  8. Oh Ann...mittens to match that awesome hat... (sigh) And a cowl, too. I love how inspiration strikes. All of these things look amazing.

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  9. Excellent knitting! I really live all three items. You know, I left the retreat slightly bummed also. I had to keep reminding myself that Stephanie does this for a living and for me, it's just a hobby. I took away a lot of good information from her, but I left a lot on the table too as I want knitting to be fun and not stress me out that I may be doing it wrong. Your obviously doing it right because your finished objects are beautiful!

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