Holidays and planning!
Who knew that planning projects actually worked.
Mark and I were recently lucky enough to be able to take a summer trip to Italy. We had 10 days away from our office jobs and spent some wonderful time in the sun (with added Factor 50, plenty of water and a few Aperol Spritz!).
But July turned out to be a super productive crafting month and I think it was down to the holiday planning…
Knowing that I was going away focused my mind. I had a deadline knit that needed to be complete by 1st August, and I wanted to get that done before I went away so it was one less thing to worry about. I also needed some portable projects to take away with me, we had a number of train rides planned while we were in Italy so I wanted to have something to work on - this is the #Knit365 blog after all - knitting a little every day!
So I started the month with a list of things to do and a focused mind!
A Test Knit deadline
Test knitting is a great opportunity to support designers with their pattern releases and I’m super thankful that I’ve been able to join Stephen West’s test knitter list. I’ve made a few projects now and I love getting access to an early version of a pattern and working through it methodically.
Test knitting reminds me of being a beginner knitter, you studiously review every step of the pattern, you can’t take anything for granted and assume what is being asked by the designer. The more experienced I get as a knitter or crocheter it’s easy to take a shortcut here and there to make the pattern work for me. But test knitting requires an element of discipline - and swatching! I’m not generally a fan of swatching, but when it comes to test knitting I just do it automatically, I think it’s really important to ensure I can match the gauge of the designer.
In my everyday knitting though if there’s a shortcut to take, I’ll probably try to take it.
There is no such thing as the knitting police!
The pattern for this test knit has just been released in Stephen’s latest e-book and I really love my finished hat.
This is the Woolly Waffle Hat and I used a skein of West Knits Tandem in the Beatrix colour way for the main colour, paired with a skein of Weku Yarn’s DK base in their Masala Market colour way. This was such a fun project and a really speedy one too - there’s something super satisfying about a hat, and I think it only took me a few nights! Plus both skeins came from my stash so I was able to knit it up without buying any more wool - polish that halo!
Double Doll fun
Viewers of my YouTube will know of my love for the British brand Toft. Kerry Lord is the creative mastermind behind the Toft brand and has a tri-annual subscription for a doll club - Making Women Who Made History - and its been a great way to improve my crochet skills, as well as having that educational angle to learn more about historic women from key historical events. There’s probably a separate blog post all about the doll club when I eventually get caught up with the past editions that are waiting patiently for me to crochet them! I’ve added a link to the Wiki pages for both inspirational women if you’d like to find out more about them and their stories.
In July I was able to finish both Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman. Rosa Parks was started earlier in the month as part of my aim to work through the ‘back catalogue’ of dolls I have. I managed to finish Rosa before I went away but again, the upcoming holiday helped me focus to ensure I got her finished so that I could start the latest doll which fortuitously arrived the day before we went!
Harriet Tubman was the latest release (doll #2 for this year) and was started while I was in Italy, and for that reason I think she’ll always be a special doll to me and a visual reminder of a happy holiday.
Do you consider projects extra special when they were made away from home?
Planning, Planning, Planning…
It doesn’t surprise me that I finished my test knit, two Toft dolls AND been able to make progress on other projects. I love a list, I’m super productive when I’m able to tick things off my to-do list.
But three finished objects in one month is definitely an exception for me. And whilst the Toft dolls are only small, the detail that goes into them means they’re not usually quick projects (the fiddly hands take a lot of time haha!).
I received a lot of love from last week’s post about the Gideon Method for prioritisation and I’m already seeing a benefit at some focused crafting - at the time of writing this blog post I’ve nearly finished the knitting on Mum’s LoveNote jumper - just half a sleeve to go!
How was your month of crafting in July? What did you start? What did you finish? Join in the conversation below.
And if you’re not yet a subscriber, I’d love you to sign-up to join me here.
hello Martyn, glad the Gideon method is working. I am wondering what are you using to measure the time you are spending on one project: an app or just the good old clock and taking notes... ?
Hey Martyn, so proud of you for all you’ve accomplished in July. I’d love to do the dolls but postage from the UK always stifles my purchases. I can afford the kits but the added postage does me in.
In July I started Stephen’s Dustland Cardigan, and finished two shawls I’ve been working on, one of which was my Shawlogrophy—- love the pattern—— but hate the colors and yarn that I chose. Therefore it sat until I pushed myself to finish it.
I’m loving this Knit365 Substack it’s spending time with a friend getting to know one another—- thanks for sharing.
Can’t wait for MKAL, I’d love to know what yarn we need so I can start looking—- you and Irena make it so much more fun—- thanks again!!!!