Friday 21 November 2014

Friday Finishes - and a New Challenge!

Joining with Chrisknits today for Friday Finishes.



Love, love, love dishcloths! I always have a stash of them knitted up, ready to be gifted or used myself. I keep all the little odds and ends of leftover cotton and use them to knit the mixed colour ones like the two at the bottom. That's about all I have finished for this week! Other than my little lantern children, who I have posted a few times as I love them so!

Now, does any else have this problem? This is a photo of a project that I found in the deepest, darkest recesses of a cupboard - and have no idea what it was going to be! I assume I removed the pattern book at some stage to use elsewhere, thinking there would be no problem, I would be able to remember what this was. Nope, no idea! I am looking at all that stocking stitch and thinking of all the hours wasted!

So I have implemented a new project organisation system, hoping that this will, well, keep me organised! 



I have purchased four of these plastic containers and am only allowed to have a project in each box on the go at one time. Four projects at once, that is the theory. Hopefully this will help to keep me under control!
How do you organise your projects?



And I am joining a new challenge - The Love Your Library Challenge at Snapdragon Crafts


Great idea! Here are the challenge details (from Snapdragon Crafts blog):

" .. when reorganizing, I came to the harsh realization that my knitting and crafting library is expanding at a rate that is much faster than my actual rate of making from said books. I don't even want to think about how few items I have created from my library of crafting-related magazines ... shudder ... I had heard about the craft book challenge, which calls for making one thing out of your craft book library each month. Unfortunately, I discovered that the craft book challenge was no longer active. So I am reviving it for myself, but with a few tweaks:

  • Knit/sew/craft at least one thing from your current library each month. (I include magazines and pdf patterns within my definition of "library," so don't limit yourself to just books).
  • I am setting the goal for myself of not purchasing any new knitting patterns this year, and trying to only knit from my current pattern library.
Want to join me? On the first of each month, post your plans of what you'll be working on that month as part of the "Love Your Library" challenge and post a link to your blog post in the comments of my "Love Your Library" challenge post. At the end of the month we'll post again to assess our progress and applaud our finished projects."

And what better time than Christmas, when we are all busy crafting, to take up this challenge? I can't even take a photo of all my craft books, magazines, patterns as they are stashed all over the place. Another challenge - to reorganise them all!

And imagine the time you will save? Hands up who spends untold hours on Ravelry, trawling the patterns for new ones, when you have thousands at home? Yep, I have two hands up for that one! And if I also do no more yarn or fabric browsing / buying, wow, I will save hours that I can spend actually crafting!

So please join in and post your progress at Snapdragon Crafts. Look forward to seeing you there!


8 comments:

  1. Hmm...that library challenge sounds interesting...I have several organizational things...I have a couple of large totes with the yarn and patterns ready..and then when I start the project, it goes into a project bag...and I can just grab that bag....

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    1. I think every crafter probably has more patterns than they could use in a lifetime - unless they have incredible self-discipline! I also have a project in a bag that is ready to go, just in case - never know when you might need some emergency knitting to take somewhere!

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  2. Off to join up in that challenge!!! I love the cloths done with the leftovers!! They have such a unique color. Thanks for joining in on Fridays!

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    1. Thanks! I just cannot discard any leftovers, even the smallest scraps. So this was a good way to use them up.

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  3. I don't quite have a big enough stash to worry about organization...I tend to keep several WIPs in paper shopping bags, scattered all over the living room!

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    1. Although I love my stash, sometimes I think it would be way easier if I could part with some! Or knit at super sonic speed, so I could move it out quickly!

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  4. Yes, I also have a very unreliable memory when it comes to longstanding UFO's. But trying to take better project notes lately since it does save time and prevent headaches in the long run. Really like your new system for keeping the projects neatly contained and organized. Mine is pretty much just throwing everything in the nearest basket.

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    1. I will just have to see how disciplined I can be! Organising for me tends to be coming up with a great idea and then letting it lapse after a while and going back to the plastic bag system!

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