Optimistic Crafty Resolutions

Welcome to February & belated Happy New Year!

I've been optimistically working on the agenda for 2015's projects. Since I  like to work on multiple things at once, and in multiple mediums, this is not an easy task! I do find the getting-ready-to-make- stage one of the most fun parts of making things though. It is not hard to come up with inspiration by looking at magazines, art exhibits, other people. I also find inspiration in material and patterns themselves. While some people have an organized process, I tend to just grab for what feels right. 
So far, tentative plans involve:
Sewing
I don't think I sewed anything in 2014, except finishing The Oranges dress from 2013 which I still haven't posted a picture of. So [sew] that has got to change this year. I would like to start with a simple black practical skirt. I have the pattern. I have the material. Somewhere under some stuff. And my sewing machine is under there too. Another goal: carving out a dedicated sewing space at home.
Knitting
I focused on a lot of knitting last year. This year will likely keep going. On the agenda, some small things to start: mittens, dish cloth, SOCKS - time to tackle my first pair! With knitting I will get out a bunch of yarn in my stash, lay it out and match it up to a pattern that calls for the yarn - or vice versa, starting with the pattern and then seeing what I already have to make it with.
Embroidery and/or Needlepoint - really want to do something in these mediums this year!
Crochet - a dust/sweeper cover, for sure. (No need for throw-away sweeper refills!)

What is on your to-make agenda? What are your sources of inspiration? ...Happy making, whatever you decide!
Optimistically,
Elisabeth

P.S.
Well, this has been a long post. Finishing it with some actually FINISHED knit items!!!

Pastel Color Play Baby Blanket/Throw
Michelle Hunter's book ... is SO MUCH FUN!! I highly recommend it for easy skill advancement with colorwork.

Coffee cozy cutie! I made this up by using an Oblique Rib stitch pattern found in a knitting stitch dictionary and using the cardboard piece shown as a template. 

Hat knitting links and progress

Hi! Wow, it's been a little while since I posted. Since then, my page views have now passed a whopping 1000! So thank you if you are reading this! 
Fall is upon us and I am getting inspired by cooler weather. How about you? I would love to do some sewing--absolutely obsessed with Prada's fall line! Check out the video (and if the clothes aren't awesome enough, music by the Cocteau Twins!!!)
Despite the urge to sew, knitting and crocheting have still been my focus lately. Yay knitting! ...in the ad by Chanel.
Kollabora is inspiring some knit hat-making with their 10 fave knit hats and I started making a one from a pattern I found on Ravelry. Always starting, optimistic that I will finish! Here it is in progress--I took it off the circular needles to check the fit. 

Beginnings of a hat

Acorn Shrug progress - 3 skeins and going strong.

Making progress on  the Acorn shrug--it is coming along nicely! What are the odds that I'll finish it before I start something else? Hmmm. Have you started anything, finished anything?
So much yarn-y stuff going on! Other Optimistic ideas... the 30 day sweater challenge. Do it! And October 11th is I love yarn day! Let's celebrate!
More soon from 

Optimistic Crafts

Optimistic Crochet & Finished Sewing!

Hi again!
Here in New York it is finally cooling down. Happy to get out of the air-conditioning for a bit, even though it has been really productive to sit, relax and work on yarn projects! Anyone else agree? Do you craft when the weather is hot?

Acorn Shrug is growing!

This Acorn Shrug project is a bit tedious! Even though it is any easy stitch, it requires careful focus to catch the back loop every time--that's what makes the ridge-y texture. Unlike with some of my knitting, I can't catch up on Netflix while I work on this one. So maybe I need a good audio book. Any suggestions?

In sewing news, I totally forgot to share with you another project I worked on a couple months ago! PJ pants for my hubby! He's been playing pool a lot so when I saw this fabric I couldn't resist! I sneakily worked on them over the course of several times when he was out. Ta-da! A finished project!

Keep up the craftiness everyone--and stay hydrated in the heat!

Holy Cowl(s)!

Ok readers, once again I skipped 2 weekends! At least the 2nd skip was for good reason. I decided last minute to enter this contest at thefiberfactor.com to attempt to be a part of an online knitting project-runway-type competition! As an amateur designer, but long time knitter, I hope I have a shot! I'm betting there are some fantastic entries. I just couldn't let it go by without trying. It's been a few years since I've made an original design and I would love to challenge myself to do that! Watch the site to see how it all unfolds, I mean unravels! I'm excited! 

Holy Cowls! I couldn't resist using that title because...

I finished a cowl! And took a picture of another one finished a while ago.

Cowl #1: Knit cowl for yarn experiment--how much does one skein make? Finished!

So now my curiosity is satisfied on how much area one average size worsted weight skein covers. it measures 32 inches long and 12&1/2 wide knit with with size 9 needles, 48 stitches across in Lion Brand Wool Ease worsted weight yarn (3oz.,197 yards). Color Azalea Pink. It looks nice with curled up edges, but optimistically I will block/flatten it to be 100% finished.
Cowl #2: Crocheted cowl, photographed! I made this last year, also a one-skein project. I didn't use a pattern, just worked in loose double crochet with a big crochet hook. I wasn't testing yardage on this one, but it worked great in one-skein of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick & Quick.

Next, back to sewing projects! And a meetup with the Knitting & Boozing group from whyleaveastoria.comon Wednesday night—if you are in Astoria, join in at Winegasm. Such a strange name, but I'm looking forward to good wine and snacks! Each time I go, I meet some really nice people who live in my 'hood.
Since it is Crochet Month, I’ll leave you with a crochet tutorial link from The Purl Bee. Try testing your skills or learn something new. Let me know how it goes!

Happy crafting everyone!