Sunday, August 5, 2018

I blew it...

Yep, I blew it this week.  I really blew it.

It all started when I wanted to make this Winter's Breath Doily:




 ...and I couldn't find the teeny tiny crochet hook I needed to make it.  I knew I had one somewhere because I used it to make the only other doily I've ever made -- two years ago.

After I searched off and on over a couple of days I decided I just needed to buy another one.  It's a Yarnology hook available at Hobby Lobby and I really like the cushioned handle.   A hook like this is just a few dollars and with a 40% off coupon this is no. big. deal.  Right?

Wrong.  I knew stepping into any craft store was dangerous business for me, a yarnaholic who's been sober on a yarn-buying moratorium for the last 6 months.  And might I add, just the day before I had posted my "stash-used" totals in a goal thread on Ravelry.  All confident-like I reported that with my yarn usage to date, I was really hopeful I would be able to meet my goal of using up 100 skeins of yarn this year.  Maybe even surpass my goal.

Well...  That was Thursday.

On Friday I headed to Hobby Lobby.  

I knew I needed to be strategic. 

Once inside I made my way straight to the crochet hooks.  They had been moved since I was last in there, and much to my dismay I had to walk to the end of  a yarn aisle (where every color available of Hobby Lobby ILTY was stacked to my left).  I pretended I had blinders on and didn't dare turn to look at it.   

I readily found the hook I needed.  Hook in hand, I then did what I knew I shouldn't do.  Instead of just walking straight back out the way I came in, I went the direction of the cotton thread - you know... just in case they had a new color I might want to make my doily in, as opposed to simply using any of the colors I already had...

I turned the corner from where the hooks were hanging and saw that their Artiste cotton thread was on sale.  At 30% off.  Wow!  I don't think I've ever been in Hobby Lobby when this cotton thread has seen that kind of discount.  The best I'd ever been able to do was use a 40% off coupon, but when doing that I could only ever buy one ball at a time.  But do you think I could just buy one ball of cotton thread and walk away that day?

Nooooooo.

They had new colors.  They had many more colors than I ever recalled seeing before.  It was mesmerizing.  I started picking them up.  Soon, I had several in my hands and realizing I had too many to hold I went to get a basket to carry them in.  I came back with a basket, and after arguing with myself that while I didn't go in there to buy crochet thread, since I'm on a moratorium wouldn't it be smart to get what I want now - or else... what???  I'd never be able to buy cotton thread again????  

I just know that once I felt decided about my final selections... once I had chosen colors I felt I really couldn't live without...  I had no fewer than 10 new balls of cotton thread in my basket, and then as if I wasn't in control of my own legs, I found myself walking to the front to check out.

As I walked, I kept telling myself, "Don't do this.  Don't do this!!!"  I even meandered through a few aisles hoping for sanity to take hold.

But it didn't. 

I came home with a new hook and 10!!! gorgeous shades of size 10 cotton thread.  

Because I was mesmerized by all the pretty colors.

Sigh.

Well, as luck would have it, on Saturday, in Our Happy CAL Place on Ravelry, this week's CAL turned out to be bookmarks.  Bookmarks that use size 10 cotton thread and beads!

I really was in luck.   

Not only did I now have a pretty collection of different colors of cotton thread, but I also have a humongous hoard collection of beads.  Unfortunately, I only had a few beads with holes large enough to use with these bookmarks, but fortunately sanity had once again taken hold and I was resolved to work with what I had.  I'm pretty happy with how they turned out:



In fact, I was happy enough with how my first one turned out, I decided to make several so I can give them as gifts to some friends I've been doing a book study with this summer.  Wednesday is our last day to meet and while I previously felt no compulsion to bring gifts to our last gathering, I'm sure my friends will all think these are fun. 

So...  

Now I only need to make several hundred more bookmarks, or dozens of doilies, or frankly... I don't know what else I might be able to make, to use up my cotton thread.  

All I know is my goal of using up 100 skeins of yarn in 2018 doesn't look quite as attainable as it did just three days ago.

But I'll keep plugging away at it.

Or maybe I'll just admit defeat and give some yarn away.

How's this?   If by year's end I haven't met my 100 skein goal, I'll re-home however many skeins I need to to meet that goal.  That sounds like an idea I may be able to do.

Meanwhile...  I'll keep crocheting.  Trying to beat myself at my own game.  Though I have no idea how I'm supposed to win if I'm playing with a cheater...

Sigh

That's all she wrote.

To see what other YOPpers are up to, visit our group on Ravelry.














27 comments:

  1. Hi Becki i enjoyed your story and i had a chuckle along the way,i would've done exactly what you did ,lol. I love the colour you are making your doiley in,its gorgeous,well done my friend xx

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    1. Thank you, Shez. It's so good to have the camaraderie of fellow crafters. :)

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  2. No, I didn't laugh. And if you believe that, you're not the woman I think you are! I have to avoid Michael's (our equivalent to Hobby Lobby) like the plague - and book stores too. I am sure they pump something into the air that gets into your mind and forces you to do exactly what you just did. There outta be a law. (but...I do like those book marks!!).

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    1. Yep, getting you all to laugh at my foibles is my goal. Best to have company when laughing at oneself. I'm back to avoiding Michaels and Hobby Lobby. I need to get and get out of Joann's one of these days soon -- whenever they have a great sale on fur. That's another project...

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  3. I love your bookmarks Becki, Your doily is coming along nicely and that colour is gorgeous! It is so rare to have large discounts on cotton that of course ou had to cave in! Aren't those soft handled hooks a delight to use for fine work?

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    1. Thank you, Sharon. I love this handle for some reason. I really makes crocheting with thread so much easier. I need all the help I can get between my aging eyes and fingers that want to cramp up. Thanks for introducing us to the bookmarks!

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  4. those are really nice! I totally get that struggle. I was so proud of myself for finding (instead of buying new ones) my old 20-year-old fountain pens. Of course then I bought a vintage (that I know will work in the one) fountain pen ink converter (i.e. a portable ink well for the pen that gathers ink from the ink bottle for your pen to use in your pen) that goes with what I have + one for my other pen + a bottle of ink.... all on amazon... I just love such things and well, I get what you are up against!

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    1. I just saw that on your blog, Elizabeth! What a great find. I'm figuring now that I bought a new hook and succumbed to temptation to buy all that thread I'll probably uncover my lost hook any day now... ;^) Thank you for understanding the struggle.

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    2. Yes, that is how it goes, finding what one replaces after one replaces it... and today I ended up buying some British blue and white pottery (Super price on it)... I am thinking that I need to get rid of one of my dish sets ... I am pretty sure that the one I just bought I like more and goes better with some other blue and white dishes that we have... so it goes ....

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  5. Ohh dear, I did try not to laugh but I'm afraid I was chuckling along with the story. I'm sure you will find lots of use for the thread Becki, I'm not sure by the end of the year but I am pretty sure you'll give it your best go and you may just be surprised by how many skeins you use.

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    1. Thanks, Ruth. I'm going to give it my best shot! And I'm back to staying out of the craft stores for the time being. ;^)

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  6. Uh oh... new colours and a sale? That’s really a tough scenario. I feel a little lightheaded just thinking about it. In some ways I’m fortunate that my move to the country left me quite distant from yarn stores. Yarn diets are so much easier in the absence of temptation.
    The bookmarks are lovely though!

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    1. Thank you, Lynn. Knowing I'd be tempted is what kept me out of the craft stores for 6 months. I almost can't believe I've gone that long without stepping inside a Michaels or Hobby Lobby.

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  7. Well written! Don't feel bad - those bookmarks rock - and hey, a sale is a sale and think of all the money you saved!!

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    1. That's positive thinking! I used to tell hubby, "I need to spend money to save money." He believed me for a while, but I think he's onto me now. lol

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  8. You are too funny! But you made me feel better! LOL! I tend to buy 'in bulk' because I only go about once every 6 months and now I will have the same dilemma because 'don't ya know' there have been 2 posts about these book marks and I love them and want to make a whole bunch in different colors and I have no big beads either....can you see where I'm headed? I go to Mountain Home this month....be still my beating heart (but not too still). I can see it now...I 'd better get online for that coupon! Yours are gorgeous and the doily too!

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    1. I'm glad I made you laugh, Sandra. That was my goal, 'cuz otherwise I could just sit down and cry at my lack of self-control. If you start making them you'll find making a whole bunch easy. They're super easy (I suggest reading my project notes on Ravelry to make it even easier). Make sure that any beads you buy have big enough holes. I had bunches of large beads, but couldn't use most of my beads because the hole really needs to be the right size. The designer gives the hole size on her blog (to correspond to making these with size 10 thread). They didn't need to be huge holes, but they needed to be big enough to basically get a thickish knot of thread through.

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  9. Love the bookmarks, I also now feel like I should be making these! Yours are gorgeous. You may still use up 100 skeins, you just had a few come in!

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    1. Thank you, Lucy. And thanks for the encouragement and positive thinking! :)

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  10. Becki, those bookmarks are fantastic. If you need help using the #10 thread, Try the produce bag I made. Pattern link is on my blog. It doesn't take long to make and will help use up that thread. They are much smaller than a market bag and so useful.

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    1. That is a great idea, Marsha! And potholders made with cotton thread would be great too. I hadn't thought of these items before to help me use my cotton thread. Cool!

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  11. It happens! It is still possible to achieve your goal, so don't worry about a little speedbump. Besides, I think you just introduced a bunch of us to those gorgeous bookmarks, so really it was doing a public service☺

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    1. Yay! I love being an enabler, er... public service announcer.

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  12. Best. Post. Ever! I can so relate to this. :) And your bookmarks are lovely.

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  13. The bookmarks are gorgeous and I can see why you couldn't resist those colours. We have to treat ourselves sometimes.

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  14. Your post made me laugh so much, because I get like that too - as soon as I enter a yarn shop it's like I've been hypnotized. I honestly shouldn't be allowed near them. You have picked beautiful colours, though, and the bookmarks are very pretty!

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  15. I hear Hobby Lobby is huge! Love the color of that blue you're working with.

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