Pay it Forward 2011

You may have seen this posted on Facebook some time after the new year: 

Pay it forward 2011: I promise to send something handmade or homemade to the first five people to leave a comment here. To be eligible, you must also post this in your status, offering the same thing to five other people. The rules are that it must be hand made by you and it must be sent out sometime during 2011. Ready set GO!

Well, I decided to jump on the wagon and joined on in.  I have to make for Jen, Lissa, Erin, and Amy.  The fifth person never reposted, so I'm taking him off the list.

So, what do you make for two sorority sisters, a former coworker, and someone who is a member of your knitting club?  Dishcloths?  Hats?  Scarves?

New Year, well, a little late

I think I wrote a New Year’s resolution last year, and obviously it didn’t hold. It is yet to been whether this year will be different, but here’s to giving it a go.

I am committed to two things for this year. The first is to design more, and share the things I have designed. I have two patterns that I intend to share as soon as I can get them written up. One is a crocheted hat that features spirals rounding from the top all the way down into he ribbing. The second is for a 12 inch block I designed for my last round of NYOBE on Ravelry.

The second goal is to continue to knit from the stash. While the last couple years of stash-down have really gotten me far, I still have far more than I need. I’ve come to realize that it’s pretty wasteful to purchase yarn, hold on to it for 3-4 years, then sell it at a loss because I no longer want to use it. Doesn’t it make more sense to make a purchase and start up with the yarn while you still remember why you bought it? That’s my goal.

Here’s a picture of the stash as of mid-January.



I’ve actually sold off 35 balls through Ravelry’s ISO/Destashing Board. I’ve also made some purchases from those very same boards, but the net is a decrease. I’m hoping to show another picture at the end of the month with some real progress.

Pattern Writing

I have decided to spend the day (or the free hour I'll get during nap times) writing up three patterns I've been playing with. There are two crocheted block patterns (both for the block exchange I mentioned in my last post) and one crocheted hat. The hat is made with sock yarn and is for a baby, but could be for an adult as well. The hat will become a submission, once it's ready, that is....

Writing the patterns is not the hard part, the testing is. Once these are written, I'll have to make a couple to test myself. Then, once I'm happy with them, I'll find someone willing to try them out as well. A free crochet pattern isn't worth anything if you can't read it.

Not Your Ordinary Block Exchange

Ravelry has some really great groups. This particular one is an afghan block swap. Each member makes a 12 inch block for every other person in the group. There are 10-12 people in each group, giving you enough blocks for a 3x4 foot blanket to assemble by the end.
The group is using Comfort Worsted and we've selected a strawberries and cream color theme. I've completed 4 blocks so far. Here they are:

Spring Fling by April Moreland, done in two different color combinations. This one is my favorite so far!
New Year's Eve by Sherry Welch, made in a single color. This one feels a little floppier, but is very pretty. It seems like it was designed to be reversible, as it has some front-post and back-post crochets on both sides.And finally, one of my own. I have to call it a prototype as it's a little wonky in places, but I like it all the same. I'll be writing up the pattern at some point...


I've been toying with the idea of putting together a series of block patterns.

Rediscovery

In an effort to continue to use my stash, I've starting thinking about my stash of pattern books and magazines. According to what I've listed in Ravelry, I have 32 books, 65 magazines, and 7 booklets.

Of the books, I've used 9.

Of the magazines, I've used 7.

Of the booklets, I've used none.

It's time to rediscover the stash of patterns that I've accumulated.