My Reading Challenge for 2022

 This is further to my personal challenges for 2022 and more detailed, I guess. I need somewhere to keep my list too so here we are.

I'm aiming for 12 books this year, but I'm not 100% sure what yet. Book club is still in existence, but at a stalemate right now. I may have bitten off more than I could chew with creating a reading challenge and having set reads each month. 

I have the same goal with reading this year. My books will be a combination of pure enjoyment, personal growth, and therapy. I cleaned out my shelves last year and donated 134 books. In conjunction with my reading challenge I will be making sure I don't add books to my shelves unless I have read and enjoyed, or will read within the next two months. If I don't thoroughly enjoy the book, or love it, I will be donating it.

There's definitely no need for me to collect books anymore! 

Here's my reading list for 2022

• The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music by Dave Grohl (so excited to read this one)
• Seeds of Earth by Michael Cobley (this is a maybe as it's the first space opera I'm attempting to read in years)

Stay tuned for more updates 💗

My Personal Challenges for 2022

 2022. It's crazy. 2021 felt like it went incredibly fast and yet felt like it took 5 years. The weirdness that comes from socially isolating and being forced to spending most of your time at home. This isn't something I am new to, thanks to all my illnesses, but I was starting to emerge from the last depressive episode. Plus usually my partner isn't home.

I've been working on learning what I actually enjoy doing since I began therapy and stopped repressing so much. I've gotten better at grounding which means I dissociate less. I still struggle with emotions, both understanding what I am feeling and being overwhelmed. I feel like I've made progress with slowly sifting through my hobbies and joys from before trauma therapy and learning what I truly enjoy.

Painting

I  know I definitely love being creative and painting is part of this. I want to try some mixed media painting, drawing and sketching before painting, and painting on different surfaces. I've decided I am going to attempt to do one painting project a month, but I don't want to be too ambitious in case my mental health interferes so I am aiming between 8 and 12 pieces for 2022

Crochet: V-Stitch Scarfie

I've been spending a lot of time journaling for therapy and playing video games to avoid all the things. With Winston still being sick, but stable, and now family members having Covid, I tend to do this thing where I detach emotionally to cope with it. By way of video games. I also took a break from crochet, but I'm getting back into it. I'm working on a blanket. Blankets take for ever, to my brain, and I get bored. It's nice to know if I can handle a long project with the same stitch though. I'll be happy when I finish it. 

Challenge Item #13: V-Stitch Scarfie

Crochet: Black & Brown Mini Cowl

I've been thinking of other things to blog about besides crochet. I have other subjects, but after I think of them I get tired and cbf so here's some more crochet... I'm also reading, but I'm taking my time doing it. 

I'm beginning to question whether I should sell my crocheted items and then donate the money to charity. At this rate, with lockdown and season changes, I don't think any of my crochet is going anywhere for awhile. I did decide to put everything I made into storage for donation next Winter, but the more I think about it the more it bugs me. I don't have that much storage lol 

I could have a break from crochet, but what madness do we live in where that's an option?

Crochet: Ribbed Mini Cowl

 It's been so long since I posted an update on my crochet challenge I've forgotten how I've set these posts out lol. Of course it's not really that long.... is it? July 12th was the last crochet post. Not even a month! Of course being in lockdown makes one month feel like six. 

I've shaken off the Lockdown Fever since then and crocheted a shit load of things. Ok maybe 6 things. I've been reading, doing crochet, reading some more, doing more crochet, contracting oodie madness. Honestly, I can't. My fucking oodie is the shit. To be able to have a cup of tea, sit in my rocking chair, wearing my oodie, and crochet is bliss. BLISS. 

Given that we are in lockdown, super tight lockdown (my movements are restricted to a 5km radius from my home now, not that I go out except for bunny veggies because they can't be delivered damnit), I can't give any of the scarves to charity. This hasn't stopped me from making them though. Instead I am going to carry on and put them in storage until next winter. 

Crochet: Ribbed Twist Cowl

 I've been really restless and bored. I've had lockdown fever. I'm not bothered by it. If anything I find it interesting and I would rather be restless than have covid. A year ago, during lockdown, I wasn't bothered about being in lockdown. Staying at home wasn't a big deal for me. I was used to it. However, after extensive therapy, including exposure therapy, and working on challenging myself to be more social (within pandemic reason of course), I am restless AF.

I keep walking around the house stating I am bored out loud lol and my crochet projects... Urgh, so annoying. I can't seem to stick to any. A couple I have gotten half way done and then unravelled the whole thing. Then the amount I have begun only to unravel after a few rows..... LOCKDOWN FEVER.

Before it was all anxiety, OCD, and avoidance keeping me busy. That shit can burn through a lot of time. So I started playing with my projects, not following a pattern, and doing really quick projects instead. It seems to satisfy my crochet itch.

In other news, Nephew C asked me to teach him how to crochet. I'm so proud.

Crochet: Classic Ribbed Scarf

I mentioned I needed a break from the yarn I was using in my last post so I've switched and it's been very satisfying. After this scarf though I might stick to cowls, but I am contemplating making my own scarf next. I dunno. Whatever mood strikes when I start my next project I guess. 

I finished this scarf before we went into lockdown. While the temptation to just sit and crochet, as I binge shows, is great it's not something I'm a fan of doing during a stay at home order. Take it from someone who had a good 8 year stint of being housebound; variety is the spice of life when it comes to hobbies and keeping preoccupied.

Challenge Item #6: Classic Ribbed Scarf

Crochet: V-Stitch Scarf

 It's scarf time. This is one I did when I was still recovering from being sick. The next one will be for my SO as she doesn't have a black scarf and we are heading to Tasmania at the end of the month. We need all the warmth we can get! It might snow. I haven't been near snow since I was a kid. It's exciting.
I'm happy with my crochet challenge so far. I feel like I'm getting through the yarn. It does help I've decided to start with the bulkier yarn and I do have a lot of it 👀

Challenge Item #5: V-Stitch Scarf

Description

This is a two-toned, apparently I love two-toned, scarf using pink and cream with one half mirroring the other in style, but swapped colours.

The pattern does have a bulkier feel to it compared to other V-stitch patterns, but still with a lacy factor.

The dimensions come to 210cm (82inches) long x 24cm (9.4inches) wide which makes it the longest scarf I have made yet. I love a long scarf, but after this one I'm going to scale it back down to 190cm (75inches) in length.

Crochet: Striped Mindless Scarf

So I was sick for a little over a week. I wasn't able to crochet, which is how I was able to tell how sick I was, but I still jumped on my stationary bike every day 🙄 That anxiety and OCD life, yo. It doesn't let up when you're sick.

Anyway...

I think I'm amassing a nice collection of scarves. I realised I still had tape yarn leftover from when I made my placemat settings, but didn't have enough left to create a tablecloth. I'm going to be using the tape yarn for scarves. It'll be interesting to work with, I do find tape yarn frustrating, but the yarn will make some lovely, chunky scarves.

Crochet: Ripple Scarf

This is the third project in my crochet challenge. Apparently I'm having a chevron, aka ripple stitch, binge. In other news I found someone to give my Red and Brown Oma blanket to. My delightful Nephew C came over with my Moeke for lunch and games. It's something we do every now and then. It was cold and I gave Nephew C the blanket to keep warm. He loved it, which is great, and I offered it to him for keeps. He has the best reaction to things too. He is forthright, positive, and enthusiastic when he comes across something he enjoys. So naturally his reaction to the blanket was only the best kind.

I've found somewhere to donate a few items as well. A women's shelter nearby is happy to accept some items and I'm currently on a mission to make them scarves, beanies, and cowls they can hand out during these cold months.

Challenge Item #3: Ripple Scarf

Crochet: My First Chevron Cowl

This is my second project I've finished for my crochet challenge. I've decided I'm going to make some scarves and cowls for awhile. I figure they would be best to give to shelters and outreach programs, especially if they are going to the homeless, as they would be easier to carry. As much as I love making blankets imagine trying to haul that around when you're homeless? I've found one local shelter I can donate to which is great. 

My First Chevron Cowl

Description

This cowl is multi-coloured neutrals with differing browns, beige, and a splash of red. It's a very warm,
soft, and chunky cowl.

Hook Size and Yarn

Hook: 5.75MM or J/10 Yarn: I combined four different yarns. The same yarns as my red and brown blanket plus one more. At first I was going to stick to the multi-toned browns, but then I began to run out. I added Lion Brand Heartland Thick and Quick in Sequoia, the leftover red yarn I had, and introduced a beige remnant yarn.

Pattern: Granny Chevron Cowl by Zeens and Roger

Overall

Crochet: Red and Brown Oma Blanket

 I've finished the first project in my crochet challenge! Let's get one thing out of the way first before I go on. To me, a granny square blanket will always be an Oma blanket. It's what I grew up with. Granted my Oma did more than granny square so therefore all her blankets, as well as her granny square blankets, are called Oma blankets. This includes the ripple stitch blanket we currently have on the couch. It's mostly for me a granny square blanket in its finished stage is an Oma blanket. Calling it such is a hard thing to shake.

Anyway!

My Red and Brown Oma Blanket

Description

This blanket has turned into a multi-toned, mainly deep brown and red, chunky granny square throw. 

Hook Size and Yarn

Hook: 5.75MM or J/10 Yarn: With this project I combined three different yarns. I found two in the yarn bin at Spotlight. #1 was a soft, red, and chunky yarn. #2 was multi-toned in browns, black, and white. #3 was Lion Brand's Heartland Thick and Quick in Sequoia. 

My Crochet Challenge

 Let's face it. Yarn is fun and purchasing it can be addictive. When I first began crocheting I fell in love with yarn before I understood the material I was going to be working with. I bought based on colour and texture. I collected yarn.

On top of that I would go and buy lots of yarn for my Oma. Naturally I would buy more at the time. Some for her, some for me, one for her, two for me. My Oma passed away soon after she'd acquired another shitload of yarn which I then took ownership of and it got swallowed by my already growing collection. 

I now have a SHITLOAD of yarn. 

I've been working on a personal challenge to get through my yarn and only buy something new when it's to help finish a project. I now want to tighten up that challenge and I figured I'd blog about it and share my finished projects. 

I've updated my Ravelry account and shared some of my previous projects on there if anyone wants to check them out. I'm also going to be sharing projects on instagram either as I go or when I'm finished.