#MakeMyQueue: Week 2... also Christmas

Week two, as most of the world knows, was also Christmas week. While Project #MakeMyQueue is still going strong, it was difficult finding time to knit while gorging on holiday foods, opening presents and getting drunk. My holiday was filled with family and laughter and my mom's amazing cooking which came out fantastic despite not having a stove in the house. Thank the heavens for wonderful neighbours!!!

Bolting

Metalouse

The two projects I'm working on right now are Bolting and Metalouse. Bolting is leftover from previous WIP's and Metalouse is the next project in queue. Going through my queue, I'm realizing that there are a LOT of shawls! While this isn't necessarily a problem, it will significantly slow down my wiping out the list.

But I think that will reflect positively in the finished pieces. I'm going to take my time and let them just happen. I don't have a need to crank out projects at lightning speed. I know that if I wanted to, I could. I've already done 100+ projects over the course of 2012!

2013 is going to be a "me" year. While I still plan on knitting and crocheting like a crazy person, there are certain areas of my life that need reinforcement i.e. job, personal, etc. Giftmas always seems to be a burden and I think next year everyone's going to get either the same thing or something small. That will allow me to focus on my projects and then also my life. We knitters need a break every now and again and I think that time for me is now. The things I make will probably be mostly for me and my store. The store is going to be a bigger priority and I think I'll be designing more as well!

This is exciting and scary at the same time.... so bear with me but it's going to be a great New Year!

-Kobuu

#MakeMyQueue - Week 1

Well I meant to write this post earlier but I never got around to it. After the first week of Project: #MakeMyQueue, I have completed three of the original 47 projects. This brings me down to 44 remaining!

Those three projects are as follows:

 

Project #1: Whimsical Elf Couture Cowl (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/whimsical-elf-couture-cowl).

This pattern worked up fairly quickly as I used Cascade 128 in Charcoal and Rowan Colourscape Chunky on size 10 1/2 needles. The buttons were a huge bonus as I got 6 of them at Joann Fabrics for less that $3! I knew that I was going to use the same yarns for Project #2 so I needed the extra buttons for that.

 Project #2: Marie Cabled Slouch (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/marie-cabled-slouch).

A crochet pattern, this one didn't work up as quick as I wanted. The pattern was a bit of a bitch and took some work and frogging. Eventually I figured out where the pattern wanted to go and was able to crank this out. As you can see, the colours match perfectly to the Elf Cowl and I'll be rocking that ensemble for Christmas festivities tomorrow!

Project #3: Cobblestone Mats (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cobblestone-mats).

Front

Back

This pattern was done in black and white acrylic. I've wanted to make these for a while but never got around to it. Honestly, for being such an easy pattern, I thought it kind of sucked. The directions call to use 4 strands of fingering weight yarn held together. Ok, well, that's going to use my good yarn to make nothing more than coasters. Not acceptable. Two strands of worsted is the same gauge (sort of) and so I made this. I don't like it and it doesn't look like the cool cobblestone mats in the pattern, so screw it. I made one. I'm calling the "project" done.

Going into week 2, I've cast on Metalouse by Stephen West (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/metalouse).

Colour choices are KP Felici Sport in Recess for the Main Colour and Stroll Fingering in Peapod for the Contrasting Colour. I didn't get much done, as you can see in the picture below, but at least it's started.

Also, I'm working on Bolting, also by Stephen West (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bolting). I'm really wanting to wear that one this winter if I can. The fourth of 5 skeins is being added tonight. Progress so far:

Thus begins my #MakeMyQueue project! I'm hoping to blog about it weekly so stay tuned for updates!!

-Kobuu

MAKE MY QUEUE

Wow...2012. What a year. I can't remember a lot but there's been some pretty nice things that have happened. Most importantly, as of today (12/20/2012) I have completed 100 projects this year!!!!

A HUNDRED PROJECTS!!!!

You can see my Rav projects page here: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/kobuu if you want the proof but still. A hundred projects?! HOLY CRAP! First one was completed 2/13/12. I don't remember why I didni't make anything before that but I do know that at that time I was recently unemployed and rather depressed. Once I found the Hook 'n' Needlers of Worcester, my knitting really took off!

Completed 2/13/12

Completed 12/19/12

Originally I was going to post pictures going all the way back to the beginning but I don't really want to at this point. I have Ravelry for that! LOL. Really I am prepping for my next big goal that makes Ravelers cringe: making all the things in my queue.

Yes, three days ago, I came to the conclusion that I was going to "make my queue". I sat for about an hour, went through my queue project by project and really came up with a concise list of 47 projects that I really wanted to make. I figured that few people had ever done such a thing as to knit all the items in their queue so here was my chance at doing something cool. My 2012 goal was to knit 100 projects and I'm going to beat that again later today when I finish the hat I'm working on. But the "make my queue" project is going well so far!!!

The rules are as follows (but I made them for myself and feel that bending them is ok...)
1. Knit/crochet the next project at the top of your queue
2. Do NOT give up unless the pattern is completely hopeless
3. Do NOT add anything to your established queue. Once you start, no more deletes or adds!
4. You can still buy yarns or patterns but they can't make it to your queue (see 3)
5. KEEP GOING!!! Start more than one. Don't jump around, go in order! Keep yourself motivated by looking at the number of patterns going down.

The thing is, most people that are on Ravelry, myself included, have always just added things to their queues and said I'll make that some day. Well that day is here!! It's time to take those queues by their horns and tackle them to the ground. No longer will you feel oppressed by the ever-growing list of  to do! YOU WILL DO IT!!

Well that's my goal anyway. I'm already on the second of those projects so I'm hoping to be down to 45 today. That's going to be a bigger project so it'll take some time.

More as it progresses!!!