Whatcha Workin' On?

I'm moving right along on my Popcorn Delight afghan, though I'm at a stalemate until I stop at Michael's today to snag some more yarn. I've completed & joined 7 out of 15 squares now, and the ends are even woven in already! Knowing my tendency to get bored with a project of any size I'm really forcing myself to have tunnel vision so that I stay focused. Now I just have to decide what my reward for finishing ahead of deadline will be to bring me home!

My Venetian Vampires scarf is not moving along as quickly. Like I said...forced tunnel vision on the afghan. I've managed a pattern repeat and part of another, so all in all about 26 rows on it, this week. Still, progress is progress and the farther along I get on this the more I love the pattern, the yarn...heck, EVERYTHING about it, I guess :)

Both projects are currently packed up and ready for a little road trip, as we're leaving in just a couple of hours to take my youngest to Cincinnati for a post-op appointment. I have about 5 hours of crafting time in my future on the drive, unless I get bored and kick the hubby out of the driver's seat. I should be able to crank out at least 2 squares, regardless!

Whatcha Workin' On?

Well, first off, I'm still working on my Venetian Vampires scarf. It's been slow going, a lot of frogging, and even a day to dry out after my boxer stole it off the front porch while I was distracted and unwound the skein of yarn all over the front yard...through the mud...around the flower beds...yeah. You get the picture. I'm still pleased with it, though, and hope to make more progress on it this week.

I've got a friend getting married in April, so I've also had to start an afghan for her. Susan, if you're reading this AVERT YOUR EYES, GIRL!! I found this delicious little pattern on Ravelry, and immediately fell in love. It's called Popcorn Delight, by Aurora Suominen, and can also be found on her blog One Crochet Day at a Time. I'm using Red Heart Super Saver in Burgundy, and an I/9 hook, so my squares are coming out a little larger than 12"....about 13.5". I'm thinking 12-15 squares, joined in Priscilla Hewitt's Flat Braid Joining Technique. I have until the end of April to finish this project, but I'm still going to try to crank out a square a day to make it a little easier. If I accomplish that I may even try to add a fancy li'l border around it...we'll see.

Now I just have to convince myself not to start any new projects until I finish these two...as if!

Christmas in July?

Yes, it's a real thing. For a crafter on a budget, at least. July rolls around, and with it an internal clock with an alarm set to what I refer to as "panic mode".

Every crafter knows this alarm. It always hits early in July. You'll wake up one morning, roll over, and then the bells and whistles sound. You sit up in bed, eyes wide, pulse racing, and think to yourself "Oh crap, Oh Crap, OH CRAP! I only have 5 months to get stuff made for EVERYONE!! What am I going to make for the kid's teacher? The mail delivery person? My Mom? EGADS, what about my MIL?! I'm never going to please HER!!" And, thus, it begins. The rabid internet searches for patterns, digging through the stash to see what you have versus what you need to have, and (finally, yet always much later than you wanted) the actual starting of the crafting.

Me? I've done the searches and the stash stock. That leaves the digging in and getting started. I've got a new pattern being test knit on my needles right now (want a sneak peek?), then I'll be getting started. I woke up this morning and saw a massive influx of queuing in my friends' activity tab on Ravelry, so I'm guessing that my panic alarm was a tad bit early this year. I can't help but feel a little excited by this...maybe that means that THIS year will be the year that I actually manage to accomplish everything I need to! As for the rest of you crafters out there? I hope that your Christmas in July is filled with luck and prosperity this year.

Hugs & plenty of chocolate~

Jenn