Second blogiversary

This month marks two years since I started this blog. Has it been worth it? I think so. I often feel that I don't accomplish much, or as at least not as much as I could (if I put my mind to it), or should (if I were more diligent), or would (if I didn't spend so much time dreaming and faffing about). Keeping track of my crafty goings-on on this blog has made me realise that I do get quite a bit done. Not all of it always gets finished, of course – if it did, there'd be no reason for me to have a blog. But being answerable to someone, even only notionally (because the blog police really don't care about my craft output), has been useful.

I haven't always kept on track, of course. Various events have overtaken my project-a-month resolution this year, but still, over the life of this blog so far I've finished various long-neglected projects, including four quilts (soon to be five!),

For to my friend Diana.

On my sofa.

For my friend Bob's baby.

For no one, so far.

and two jumpers, both of which I gave to charity.  

I've also started several other projects from scratch: quite a lot of scarves,

For me.

Also for me.

For my friend Louise.

For me.

For me.

For my friend Paul.

For my friend Mark.

For me.

A prize on this blog, won by Kitty.

a cardigan for myself, 

and too many little novelties and accessories to include photos of. 

And I've extended my skills – I've become moderately accomplished at lace knitting, and I've also tried my hand at fair isle (though I haven't posted about that project yet).

This exercise has also made me much more aware of how much is in my stash.
I've organised it, and I'm even considering getting rid of all those half-balls of leftover yarn and skeins of impulse-buy novelty yarn that are taking up way too much literal and mental space. 

It's also made me realise I need to focus more on things I really want to make, instead of making bitty projects as fillers between the more interesting ones. I do a lot of that, and end up with more fillers than main projects, which is really just a waste; why waste time on projects you're half-hearted about when you could be spending it to make things you really love?

So in that spirit I recently spent $150 on pure wool from Bendigo Woollen Mills to knit a blanket that I've coveted for several years, from the moment I first saw it in Joelle Hoverson's Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.

It's an ombre effect, shading from cream through various neutrals and
browns to dark brown. Eventually!

And you know what? It's really, really satisfying to be making something I've wanted for so long. More on this project another time.