As I close out the third month of my free form maker year and using up yarn in my stash (well, mostly), I have been trying new things. I have this yarn that I purchased it is a bulky weight not too too bulky but still too bulky to use a 6 ½ mm hook. So, I tried using a 7 mm which was frustrating to use, then I choose a random wooden hook that I have with no size on it. I think I bought it at a thrift store because I don’t recall using it on a project before but it looks like it’s been used, but still in good shape. I started using that hook and since it’s the first time using it, my tension is okay but I like how it’s working out with the project.
I’ve made quite a few sets, only two red scarves so far this year but the goal is 12 which can be completed easily by the end of the year. I’m definitely making a big dent in the yarn that I have and using up my stash. To date, my sole purchase from Temu has been yarn. I purchased enough to make three or four scarves a few months ago. I made a scarf with it and liked the yarn. However, there were several knots in the small skein which put me off from using it. Generally, I’m not the type to rewind skeins of yarn but the knots irritated me enough to impede my flow and make me not want to use the yarn. I rewound two skeins, untying the knots when I came across them, then rejoined the ends using the Russian join. Ahhh! I was back in business and enjoyed the yarn once again.
I’ve only purchased yarn a couple of times this year. Both times were because of the really great sales one was a clearance sale, and that’s always a boon to me considering I buy things for donation. Another place had a low shipping threshold for a Leap Day sale and I purchased yarn that I wanted to try in a new colorway. Otherwise, I’m doing pretty well trying things out and experimenting with what I have – maybe I make a set maybe I don’t, it depends on what I have. Regardless, I’m using things up.
When I have little bits left over, I have been adding to my mystery ball, soon I may have enough to make a set or at least an interesting, fun scarf. The plan is to combine the mystery ball with black or a dark gray for an interwoven look.
One of my favorite things that I have figured out is that if you use a color changing yarn and a solid which shows the color change throughout the project. I need to find a color changing yarn with shorter runs of color or an ombre to see this effect as imagined and planned, not just as an experiment with odd balls from my stash.
Having no real goals has given me the opportunity to experiment and increase my speed with certain motifs and techniques. When I see something new that I want to try, I try it. It’s not like I have a quota to meet. I’m making the rules as I go along.
Happy crocheting!
A few of the most recent sets are shown here. Eight months of the year have passed and 90 completed sets – that’s an accomplishment! Wow! My uncle likes to joke that I am running a sweatshop…maybe he’s right.
I saw a yarn online and thought it would be interesting to try. It’s a nice red and black that I could use for the red scarves that I make. When I got it, I dove in and tried it. First attempt: I made a set, double stranded and I didn’t like it. It wasn’t quite as thick as I thought, but it wasn’t quite right using two strands, either. Second attempt, I tried one strand and made a set. 
It was okay then after starting, restarting and after the third start of a scarf – I’ve given up on it. I am just not going to use it anymore. After several attempts on this third project, I put the partially completed project, the stopped project (which could be considered a test swatch) and all the rest that I bought into the donation bag for someone else to enjoy. There are just times when you need to give up on a yarn. I wanted to like it and in some ways I do, it’s soft and I like the colors, it’s just not fun to work with. Crocheting is about fun and relaxation for me and I was struggling. Not in the “I don’t like how this stitch looks” or “I think this would be better” inspired restarts that I am wont to do. This was, I made two projects and thought I would like it better if I tried something different the next time, well, I didn’t want to put myself through the abuse and I let it go. Very cathartic.
It’s not so easy when you find yarn that you think you will like and don’t because it ticks all the boxes, right weight, material, color. Buying online can be challenging because you can’t touch the yarn. Even when you try something new what you see in the store, you don’t know if you will like it or not, until you use it. It’s a chance we all take, which is why many people stick with the yarns they have used because crafting can be expensive.
Summertime and the thoughts turn to crochet? Maybe not for everyone, though for me, crocheting is a year round pursuit. This month, I’ve been finishing my red scarf goal and I’m on my twelfth scarf and the goal was 10. Before the end of the year, I hope to complete 5 infinity scarves and a few hats for a couple of groups and 28 more sets.
While scrolling through Facebook, I saw that the 
