Wips & Whimsy #4
Before we jump in... This post has been sitting in my drafts for a little while. Apparently my blog posts have decided to join my WIPs. They sit quietly, wait their turn, and occasionally glare at me from across the room until I finally give them the attention they deserve.
After the whirlwind that was the last few weeks, things have finally started to settle down.
Not in a boring way.
More in a "my days have found their summer rhythm" kind of way.
There hasn't been a mountain of progress on every project, but there have been finished blankets, new beginnings, favorite books revisited, art camp, family game night victories, and the first tiny steps toward what might become the biggest project I've ever made.
Let's catch up.
Current WIPs
It's finished!
Well... crochet finished.
It still needs to be blocked, but the last stitch has officially been worked.
Finding the right border ended up being more of a challenge than I expected. I tried several before finally landing on one that felt like the right fit. Sometimes the border makes the project, and this one definitely needed the right finishing touch.
I'm so excited to give this blanket to my nephew for his first birthday.
Wedding Dress Watch
This week marked the beginning of what will probably become the longest-running project on this blog.
Rosa asked me to make her wedding dress.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Thankfully, she isn't getting married until next winter, so there's plenty of time.
For now, I'm taking things one swatch at a time.
This week I completed my very first swatch using one of the yarns we're considering. My plan is to crochet swatches between other projects, mail them to Wisconsin, and let Rosa choose her favorite before I commit to hundreds of hours of work.
It feels like a slow beginning to a very exciting journey.
I also cast on the Katana Kerchief Tank using Happy Place Solid in Orchid.
This project exists for one very simple reason:
I want to wear it this summer.
It looks like a relatively quick knit, which is exactly what I was in the mood for after working on larger projects.
Everything Else...
The Cozy Comfort Blanket hasn't seen any love.
The Sockhead Slouch Hat hasn't either.
And honestly?
That's okay.
Not every project has to move forward every week.
Books
Apparently, I'm still in a rereading mood.
I finished my annual (or semiannual... who's counting?) reread of Pride and Prejudice.
Some books feel like old friends, and this one will always be one of mine. Sometimes I don't want a surprise ending or emotional devastation. Sometimes I just want to spend a little time in Regency England.
Then someone I follow online, Logan Reads, convinced me it was time to revisit the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas.
Apparently, I was very easy to convince.
I've already finished the first two books and am currently making my way through A Court of Wings and Ruin.
So yes.
I'm definitely still in a rereading mood.
Life Lately
Art Camp wrapped up this week.
I spend two weeks every summer as a counselor, and it's honestly one of my favorite parts of the year. I look forward to it all year long. There's something so refreshing about spending the day making art with kids who genuinely want to be there.
The pool has also officially become the star of the backyard.
Lainey absolutely loves it, and seeing how excited she gets every time she jumps in has made all the setup completely worth it.
Family Game Night
If you've been following along for a while, you'll know my family's relationship with Daybreak has been... complicated.
We've lost.
We've lost again.
We've questioned whether we were accidentally playing on some secret expert mode.
Well, I'm happy to report...
WE FINALLY WON!!
It was glorious.
I was riding that victory high when life decided to remind me that it has a sense of humor.
Someone nearby had cherries.
I'm severely allergic to airborne cherry, so after catching a whiff, I had to take a Benadryl.
Game night ended shortly afterward because I was no longer capable of remaining conscious.
Victory was short-lived.
But it still counts.
We also played Azul, which remains one of my favorite games.
Acquisitions
This week's acquisitions were surprisingly restrained.
No sweater quantities of yarn.
No suspiciously large Hobbii bags appearing on my porch.
Just a couple of different yarns to test for Rosa's wedding dress.
Choosing the perfect yarn just feels important, so I'm excited to start sending swatches her way.
I also added to my growing collection of paper strips for origami lucky stars.
The stars continue.
Always.
Looking Ahead
Next on the crafting horizon is blocking the dinosaur blanket, making more wedding dress swatches, and hopefully putting some real time into the Katana Kerchief Tank before summer slips away.
I also have a feeling the Cozy Comfort Blanket is going to start calling my name again soon.
Apparently, I have two crafting speeds:
"Let's spend hundreds of hours making a wedding dress."
and
"I bet I can finish this top before August."
We'll see which one wins.
May your yarn never tangle and your side quests be rewarding,
— Ally
