Thank you for all your comments regards my proposed change here. The general consensus was that you liked it as it is! I think maybe i'll just do a few tweaks here and there. More than I normally do, but nothing really completely drastic!
I think about what draws me to others blogs. If there is too much going on on the blog page, I find it distracting and cannot concentrate on reading the actual post. I find if it's too plain, then the blogger tends to become quite impersonal, and I realise that I am less likely to leave a comment. Blogging is a funny thing isn't it?
I have always loved 'pastels' and feel they are very soothing colours. Soft and gentle......warm, kind and inviting. I guess it's what I wanted for my blog. I wanted a place that, if I came to spend any length of time here, I wanted to come away from it relaxed. As much as I LOVE bright colour, and REALLY need it in my life, it was always pastels that I came back to on this blog. They calm me, and I need that in my hectic little world. So, maybe i'll stick to pastels, and just have a little re-jig of bits here and there.
Never fear, the content will be the same. I'm not good with HUGE change.
♡♡♡♡♡♡
I have been dipping my toes back in with knitting. It's been nice to do something a little different from my usual crochet project. This is something simple (errr yes, I can only do simple), my third knitting project (First two can be found here). But....OH MY WORD.....it is taking FOREVER. I think I must be the worlds slowest knitter. And.....if i'm honest.....i'm finding it a teeny bit boring. YIKES. It's just it's taking so long to grow. My boredom threshold, I have realised, is really rather low when it comes to knitting. Crochet seems to have a quicker satisfying fix. Maybe practice will make me a little quicker than the slowest snail ever. I am happy though that I have no holes, and I've managed to negotiate increases and decreases without too much bother....and i've only called my mum once for help when I didn't understand and instruction! Result!
My tension could be better, but I suppose it could be worse, so i'm okay with how it's looking. I love the moss stitch......no, no, no, I mean I SERIOUSLY love it It's my most favourite of all the stitches, and I was so glad to be able to do a bit on this project. Such a lovely texture and look. However, as a new knitter, it's a right old pain in the bum to do!
It's also looking worryingly small! I asked the Bears if they had any idea what I could be making, and Baby Bear replied 'A scarf for Rufus' (his small teddy dog). Hummmm, well, it's supposed to be a little bigger than a toy dog scarf. I'm hoping blocking it will help when it's done. I'm loving the yarn and colour......and.....if it does turn out okay, then I know it will be well used.
So, a little bit of knitting and a relax. I have a mammoth weekend planned, so i'm charging up my batteries in preparation for it. I went to donate blood yesterday but was told my Iron levels were too low to donate this time. Nothing major but it made me realise I need to spend a little bit more time taking care of myself. I'm trying to keep things 'Simple' but it's hard in a hectic world.
xxx
Hey there,
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your blog the way it is and i'm a regular reader since a week or two... there is calmness and something so sweet about your blog that draws attention!
I get easily bored knitting so that makes two of us...lol. Good luck for the weekend!
Yes I enjoy the colours of your blog and your photos are great. Sometimes blogging can take over and other life things get overlooked. On the other hand when I concentrate on life things, then blogging gets in the way - so just trying to balance it all at the moment.
ReplyDeleteAs I said earlier, you do as you wish in your space, it is lovely now and will be lovely whatever you do or don't do!! Good luck with the knitting, I am wildly impressed by all knitting as I cannot get to grips with it myself!! xx
ReplyDeleteI just look at blogging as 'one of the things I do', as I am a freelancer I am pretty flexible. But that sometimes means that things can get chaotic. At the beginning of the year I was busy with **paid** work, so blogging as put aside a little. I just didn't have the time to create things and take fabulous pics. I needed to focus on different things. Right now, paid work is a pain in the butt and I find comfort again in blogging. So I say: go with the flow and don't fence yourself in.
ReplyDeleteBye! Esther.
hellooo lovely xx i know my friend that whatever you put your creative hands and finger tips to you'll make it beautiful and inspiring xx
ReplyDelete...you get me through dark days and colour my life so much...xx
Thanks beautiful xxx
DeleteYour pastels are quite happy and colorful, your pictures are lovely.
ReplyDeleteI have recently started knitting again (I did not knit since I learned as a child) and learning cable kitting at the moment.
Hugs,
xEva
Love your blog just the way it is. As for the knitting, you picked beautiful yarn to work with, and seed stitch is a huge time suck! Oh my goodness it is beautiful but take forever.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
I'm a knitter, cannot crochet yarn (I can do it with wire though - odd) to save my life and I was talking to the lady in the yarn shop who had just taught herself to crochet and she said that it grows so much faster than knitting does. So there, it's not you, it's the knitting :)
ReplyDeleteMoss/seed stitch is lovely when finished, but you're right it is a pain in the whatsit to do.
Your tension looks fine to me! You might find things are a bit bigger / smaller than the pattern but that's what (the dreaded) swatching is for - just change your needle size. Fibre can make a difference - I spent a lot of last year knitting with cotton (which doesn't stretch when you pull on it) and when I went back to 100% wool everything came up TINY because I was pulling so hard on the yarn as I knitted. The important thing is that your stitches are nice and even - when that mystery garment is blocked / pressed it's going to be super smooth.
ReplyDeleteAnd moss stitch looks nice but it's twice as much to-ing and fro-ing with the yarn so it takes FOREVER!
Great advice! I'm using a pattern from a starter knitters book. It doesn't have a tension swatch. However, I have now finished it and sewn it up and it fits ok. I guess I just need to get used to it all. Crochet seems far simpler! x
DeleteHello Vanessa
ReplyDeleteLovely knitting, couldn't agree more about how slowly knitting grows compared to crochet - my Prairie shawl is not exactly speeding along despite me working on it every evening. And .... boy do you need to concentrate, had the Winter Olympics on in the background yesterday, got a bit distracted and it all went horribly wrong ! As you say, onwards and upwards.
Poor you being anaemic, it makes you feel rubbish doesn't it ? Have you tried Floradix - best iron tonic ever.
Look after yourself,
Kate x
Ah thanks Kate for the Floradix advice. Will get some. Yes, knitting grows terribly slowly! I have now finished the piece and it fits what it is supposed to okay. No major tragedies, except that I lost concentration on the last 7 stitches at the end! Typical! ha ha! x
DeleteYour blog will be beautiful no matter what, of that I'm sure. I was so in need of a visit here today, you've filled my heart and head with colour. so thank you. I am feeling drained today. Perhaps my iron levels are down too? Motherhood sure is hard work. I hope you're taking time for you and enjoying the beautiful, rare rays of spring sunshine xxx
ReplyDeleteI think that, in the end, you have to do what keeps YOU interested in blogging and what feels true to yourself. I have changed the contents of my blog several times, depending on the mood I was in for that season. You have had this blog longer than I have had mine, and I think you have it figured out!! I LOVE the style of this blog, the peaceful pastels. You really have a great presentation, but that's not why I keep coming back for a read. I think I just like your content at the end of the day, and I enjoy being a piece of "cyber furniture" in your day to day life :-)
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful pictures, love your work, it's always so inspiring!!! And love your pretty tea cup too!! Happy sweet day!! xo Holly
ReplyDeleteSo glad you heard all of us! I so enjoy your site-eye candy! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI like the way your blog looks but I understand wanting a change too. I make small changes from time to time on my blog and it helps me feel more motivated. Sometimes the blogging habit can feel like a chore, so my blog has to be welcoming to ME, I guess. :)
ReplyDeleteI love coming to visit your beautiful blog, the colours make me happy and warm! I love the knitting you're doing and love the moss stitch.You've done a great job! I must say though, that I've been knitting for many years and I find moss stitch very tedious. I made a cowl necked scarf using this stitch and I love the result so it's really worth the hassle isn't it? (I'm on Ravelry as Jessielilac if you'd like to see.)
ReplyDeleteThe Debbie Bliss wool you're using looks wonderful.
Jess xx
Simple is very hard in a hectic world!
ReplyDeleteYour knitting looks just beautiful to me :)))
It is much slower work than crochet, even for those who are actually fast knitters. So don't despair. It's really all about the relaxation anyway.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE your blog as is!
I am always wondering how I could change mine to make it more appealing too, but end up not having a clue so it stays the same.
{I hope mine is not one of those too busy and distracting ones.....}
Have a lovely Valentine's Day!
XoXo,
Danette
Love this colour and I also love moss stitch but it it so laborious I'm a crocheter now as I love the quick results I get. Your blog is full of colour and inspiration. Many thanks Rhian
ReplyDeleteHi Vanessa, your knitting looks lovely, love the colour, but I'm the same - I prefer crochet as it seems to grow much quicker. Get those iron levels up and take care.
ReplyDeleteJane xx
Hi Vanessa, I've never left a comment on your blog but have followed it for a few years now. I didn't get a chance to comment on yesterdays post and really wanted to say that I find your blog really inspiring and can totally relate to how you feel in many of your posts. I often think of starting my own blog but feel that blogs like yours and a few others i follow are just SO brilliant, mine would end up being like the blogs I don't want to visit! I know what it means to have a hectic family life and can totally relate to you wanting peace, simplicity and rest and I really get that after a visit to your blog. Change is always great in our lives because we are constantly growing but I really believe that however much you change this blog it will always reflect who you are. Thank you for sharing this part of your world with us Elena xx
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for commenting Elena x
DeleteI know what you mean about the knitting - I'm working on something for my boyfriend, and it is so DULL! You can see it here (not that I've touched it for a while - bad girlfriend): http://dinkidots.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/weekend-bits.html As you can see, the crochet I was working on was much more fun! But count yourself lucky that at least your knitting is in a beautiful colour - as you can see, the colour I'm using is not exactly inspiring! Looking forward to seeing your finished item.
ReplyDeleteMaria xx
Maria, I so get how you feel about your scarf! I guess I didn't realise just how slowly everything grows when knitting. Maybe it's not so bad when you a fast knitter and don't need so much concentration, but it's hard for a slow knitter who has to absolutely keep her eye on the ball and count rather loudly with each row! Keep going with the scarf....i'm sure your boyfriend will really appreciate it when it's done! It looks ace! x
DeleteYour blog is quite unique, and I do love reading your posts. Well done on the knitting, it's beautifully done, and such a lovely texture. I hope you manage to take it easy a bit tomorrow before your big weekend.
ReplyDeleteI'm heading towards my one-year blogiversary, and I was contemplating some updates, too - but like you, I want a cozy place people want to visit, I know what you mean about comforting, inviting pastels! Tweaks are good, but oh your space is so welcoming as it is! Your knitting is beautiful, the yarn is scrumptious...my goal this year is to re-learn how to knit, but it seems a bit daunting when a crochet hook is so easy! Chrissie x
ReplyDeleteYour knitting is beautiful and I am totally with you in your love of moss stitch - it is my favourite. The yarn is so gorgeous - I feel like swimming in it :)
ReplyDeleteOoo I love that yarn color! Debbie Bliss has the BEST colors. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so right blogging is a very personal thing.
ReplyDeleteI recently discovered that although I thought the colours on my blog were attractive, when viewed on other monitors they were awful!
What to do? I decided to keep it very simple, as best i could.....its hard to keep it simple sometimes.
Your blog is unique and very pretty a reflection of you i am sure.
best wishes Ldj x
Hello gorgeous. Well I think your knitting looks super; so beautifully neat.
ReplyDeletePoo to low iron levels - I'm taking Feroglobin B12 for the same reason.
Whatever you do with your blog, it will look gorgeous I'm sure.
Enjoy your busy weekend, my love, but *assumes motherly tone* don't overdo it! ;-)
xxx
Your blog has always been a lovely coy place to be. I can completely understand the need to tinker and change - I have the same need myself and I agree that it is nice to have a space that is uncluttered. It's just finding a balance between uncluttered and keeping the lovely feel and personality of your blog alive. Have fun with your re-jig, I'm sure you'll find the sweet spot!
ReplyDeleteS x
PS I love the water colour style of your banner - is that done with waterlogue? I haven't tried it yet, but it looks fun!
ReplyDeleteYes Sandra it's Waterlogue. It's fun to do. I think I must be late to the party as everyone seems to know about it! Must be doing the rounds on the social networking sites! x
DeleteI think you're right about different blogs, yours is simple and I don't feel distracted at all, I don't feel like it's impersonal at all - in fact you're very honest with us! I do think however that it's your blog and if you aren't happy, or there's an itch about it that won't go away, then scratch it ;-) You could always set up a blank "test" blog to try things out without having to commit to it on your actual blog :-)
ReplyDeleteOk, you got me going! What is it on your knitting needles. Looks lovely. I was a crocheter first for many many years with just a small working knowlege of knitting. When I retired 7 years ago, I promised myself that I would learn to become an experienced kniitter, learning to make sweaters, learning to read charts, etc. I figured it would keep my brain working. I have since made many sweaters for my children and grandchildren, learned how to read charts and this year even made socks. I still crochet but save that for blankets, scarves, and items for the house. I love to do both. Also I find easy knitting great for relaxing while watching tv. I am in love with your blog and I just wanted you to know how much I enjoy it.
ReplyDelete