yop2021

You start out giving your hat, then you give your coat, then your shirt, then your skin and finally your soul ~ Charles de Gaulle

I think we can all agree that decency is getting a bad wrap these days. The world feels harsh, angry and intolerant. Some of the most basic courtesies have been thrown out the window in the name of individualism and strength.

I work with someone who is like that — individualistic, often mistaking bullying for strength. It’s okay for me to say that he despises me because he does but honestly I don’t let that drive me crazy … anymore. I’m leaving him to wrestle with his feelings and work out why he does the things he does.

We were in a meeting recently and he made a proposal that everyone in the meeting disagreed with. He got more than an earful from the other participants of the meeting but I remained quiet. I disagreed as well but I thought he was getting more than enough heaping of dissent and didn’t think my adding to the chorus was going to add anything new or decisive to the conversation. I’m not sure what possessed him but when I went into the office 2 days after the remote meeting, he’d left 2 bottles of wine at the door of my office. I could have left them there but that definitely would not help an already tenuous relationship. In return, I’ve decided to give him a physical hat, a proverbial coat, shirt, skin and use what is in my soul.

Don’t be mistaken, I’m not a saint by any stretch of the imagination but as a woman of faith and for the sake of behaving in ways consistent with my upbringing, in this case, I decided to forgo the way I really wanted to respond in favor of doing the right thing. So as a thank you for the wine, I’m knitting him a hat. I’m about half way through and wondering if I’m going to be playing yarn chicken with this (help me Lord … LOL!). I aim to get it done this weekend so when I go to the office next week, I can leave it for him as a surprise. He likes taking winter walks, so this hat should be a good companion for him.

Pattern: Ribbed Watchman’s Hat (this link leads to Ravelry. Please note that the new interface has caused accessibility issues for some users).
Yarn: MadelineTosh Chunky in colorway Tart (yarn base discontinued)

The color is hard to photograph so take my word for it when I tell you the colorway is amazingly richer in person. The yarn base is divine so this knit has been an absolute pleasure so far. Is it just me or does everyone else love to see the stacks to ribbing pile up? Just so very lovely!!!

Hope you all are well, warm and safe. I can’t wait to see what everyone is up to this week.

Joining the YOP (Year of Project) blogging crafters for another Sunday (week 6) of crafting and blogging. ❤

let me explain …

Last year was a low production year for me in terms of knit and crochet. I didn’t do any of it at all in 2020. Outside of COVID, there were some personal things I had to deal with which left me with no energy for anything except spinning. As 2020 ended, I found myself being able to think about crafting again, planning projects other than spinning ones so I registered for the Sigma 21 project challenge in one of my favourite Ravelry groups. I like that you can set your own goals — fibery and non fibery. I also like that there’s a longer timeline to complete your projects so the pressure is less than with some other project challenges.

The challenge itself is a play on the sigma mathematical concept (sigma 5 means 1+2+3+4+5) so for the challenge, the setup is:

1 of item a
2 of item b
3 of item c
4 of item d

This challenge has gone on for more than a few years so rather than do Sigma 21, the group moderators circled back to 11 this year. Sigma 21, can you imagine trying to get through that in a year?!!!!! 😀

I’ve also started blogging again, documenting my makes here as opposed to on Instagram (if you’re interested, you can read why here) and thought my Sigma 21 project list would be perfect for my bloggy adventures with the Year of Projects blogging crafters group also on Ravelry. I joined the YOP challenge late so I appreciate that the group has two versions of the challenge running — one that’s on a calendar timeline, the second — a July 1st to June 30th of the following year timeline.

My Sigma 21 (but really 11) list is below:

1 — crochet blanket/throw — In Progress
2 — read at least 2 non-crafty books per month (25 as the minimum yearly goal) 2/25
3 — pairs of knitted socks
4 — knitted adult garments for me
5 — new techniques — intarsia, brioche, steeking, short rows, yarn embroidery
6 — destashed items per quarter (25 as the minimum yearly goal)
7 — weeks to organise paper clutter (end date 2.28.2021)
8 — new recipes
9 — completed Craftsy classes
10 — create at least 10 created by me rolag packs for spinning
11 — (x2) handmade gifts for my Hope Holders

OTHER GOALS

Spin 21 skeins of yarn — minis or full skeins 12/21 already completed here so I’m increasing this to 30 handspun skeins for 2021
Sign up for Moderate Merino but work towards 12 months of cold-sheeping
Learn to use my rigid heddle loom and make at least 6 items
Knit/crochet exclusively from library patterns.
Create container garden for balcony
Add all stray yarn and fiber to Ravelry db (Completed)
Create non Rav Excel sheet of all spindles

I love lists — I like making them, I like working through them but life sometimes gets in the way of my crafty lists. My goal this year is to do as much as I can from the one above.

On to the current project … after all the spinning I’ve done last year and recently, working on my crochet throw has been a joy. I started this throw a week or two ago but decided when I was almost at the end, that I wanted it wider. I’m currently 1/3 the way through version 2.0 and am loving how it looks. This is a project I can’t wait to see what the F.O. (finished object) looks like.