Budgeting (AKA don't buy so much yarn!)

 (My new scarf, pre-blocking. Fantastic pattern is here: Pax )

I have never been good at budgeting. When my big brothers went and put their money away in their savings accounts, I took mine out 75 cents at a time to buy candy (I must have driven my poor bank tellers a bit nuts- they were right on the way to the Quick-check where I got my penny candies!). I'm terrible for buying impulsively and just getting too much stuff.
I like my stuff, and there is very little I regret buying, but that doesn't change much. I know my spending habits need to change. I've never lived outside my means- close to the limit, sure, but my credit card bill is always fully paid by the end of the month. It's time that I started saving, though, and that means that I've written a budget and I need to stick to it.
I did my first budget in March. I didn't really stick to it, but I'm not surprised- it was just to figure out what I needed in each part of my budget, and what was realistic. In April, I let it slide. Got a bit lazy, needed a few things, decided to just spend "normally" and figure it out at the end of the month to compare. I did spend too much in April, although I still came out a bit ahead (and the Webs order on the way was totally worth it!).

Now in May I'm planning to seriously crack down. I have my budget, and I want to try and be under it by a little bit at the end of the month. It will be a lot of work. Some things will be no issue- I rarely eat out or buy drinks out, so keeping that down will be easy. It's not a habit. I pack my lunch every day.
Some parts of my budget will be hard. Cracking down on craft supplies will be really, really hard. I love new craft supplies, but I really don't need any more. I have enough projects to last a year at least.
May is no new yarn month. I would like to push that further and buy no new yarn in June, too, but I may permit small amounts of yarn. We'll see.
It's going to be really, really hard. I have enough yarn, though. I need to work my way through some of what I have before I buy more. It's getting out of hand, and I know it. It's so hard to resist when amazing yarn comes into the store on clearance and I really, really want it...
This brings me to a new rule I've made for myself. I am waiting at least a day before I buy anything (with reasonable exceptions, like that I need it or that I can't go back for it). Most of what I buy is from the mall I work at anyway, and clearance at work can always be put in my basket for awhile. A cooling off period will help me decide if I really need it or just want it.
So here's to hoping I can stick to my May budget. If I can really stick to it this month- keep entirely to my budget and not buy any yarn- I am splurging for one of the cheap back rubs at the back rub place in my mall.

On another note, I just published April's pattern. I want to try making this in fine weight yarn with just the petals in a band now. This one is more kid-friendly, I want to see if I can make it a bit more elegant for me!
Spring Flowers Headband- free pattern!

Winter Mode

I have definitely been in winter mode lately. Due to some strange but not serious medical things I was feeling really down and just exhausted. Much better now, but I feel kinda hunkered down, as though I should stay inside crocheting until May.

I made myself some wicked angora blend mittens for when I do have to go outside. They're so soft and so warm. I adore them. The white is some Fleece Artist Peter Rabbit a coworker donated to my cause. It's 100% angora and totally awesome! The pink is the Sugar Bunny I got myself as a treat before Christmas.

The matching hat. I was going to make a matching scarf as well before I realized how dumb that would be. Yes, it would be super warm, but I don't want a mouthful of angora all the time. I always wear my scarves up on my face to keep it warm.
Speaking of angora getting everywhere, because of these yummy projects my black winter coat looks as though it's been attacked by a madly shedding pink animal. I've cleaned it a few times, mostly, but I don't think I have enough lint roller sheets to really get it clean.
I think my boyfriend may just be a bit ashamed of the state of my coat. Whatever, the angora is worth it.

I finished this pair of socks for a test crochet. I adore them. The heel is perfect. My old heels I was making were never quite right, but this one is perfect. I'm going to start using it for my vanilla socks. They get closer and closer to perfection.


This is a pattern I just published on Rav.
(here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tunisian-rainbow-cowl)
My new year's goal was to publish at least one pattern a month this year. I already have my sweater that's being tested right now (someone finished it! It looks amazing! Eee, I feel like a real grown-up designer!) and another cowl that just needs a few more pictures, so things are starting off well. I'm also going to be writing up the design for the mitts pictured above and a hat similar to above. They're so nice and simple, but really warm.

This cowl pattern is free- it's so simple- but the other two I have ready I'm actually going to charge for! I want to get in to designing more seriously, and this has been a great start. I have lots of ideas... now I just need to start putting them down on paper.

Pattern: Fluffy Pullover

Someone on Rav asked me for the pattern for this. I have been meaning to start on writing patterns, and this one was really simple. It seemed like a good place to start!
If you make this, please leave a comment or link to your project, and please let me know if I can change anything to make it easier or if you find any errors!

Fluffy Pullover

Materials:

Bulky weight mohair, approx 400-500 grams.

Large hook- 7 to 9mm, to get gauge.

Gauge:

4 DC and 3 rows = 2 inches

Written size medium. Bust size 36”. To increase or decrease size, add or remove 5 fsc for every 2 inches from starting chains.

Worked bottom up in joined rounds. Ch 2 do not count as stitches.

Dec refers to DC dec. To work: Yo, insert into first stitch, pull up loop. Insert into second stitch, pull up loop. YO, pull loop through first 2 stitches, YO, pull loop through remaining 3 stitches.

Body:

FSC 83 stitches. Join with sl st, being careful not to twist.

Round 1: Ch2, DC into every st, join with sl st.

Round 2-3: Repeat round 1

Round 4: Ch 2, Dec over next 2 DC, (1 DC into next st) for the next 43 sts. Dec over next 2 DC, mark st. (1 DC into next st) around. Join with sl st

Round 5: Repeat round 1

Round 6-9: Repeat rounds 4-5 twice.

Round 10: Ch 2. (Dec over next 2 DC) twice, (1 DC into nex

t st) until stitch before marker, (Dec over next 2 DC) twice, (1 DC into next st) around. Join with sl st.

Round 11: Repeat round 10.

Round 12-13: Repeat round 1.

Round 14: Ch 2. Work 2 DC in first DC, (1 DC into next st) until marker. Work 2 DC into marked st, (1 DC into next st) around. Join with sl st.

Round 15-19: Repeat round 14.

Round 20-21: Repeat round 1.

Fasten off. Leave marker in.

Sleeves:

FSC 26. Join with sl st being careful not to twist.

Round 1: Ch 2.1 DC into every st, join with sl st.

Round 2-10: Repeat round 1.

Round 11: Ch 2. Work 2 DC into first DC. (1 DC into next st) around. Join with sl st.

Round 12: Repeat round 11.

Round 13-29: Repeat round 1. (Rounds can be removed or added here to adjust sleeve length)

Fasten off, leaving long tail.

Make 2.

Yoke:

Pin sleeves- one at beginning of body rounds and one at marker, or so they are even across body. Make sure ends of rounds are facing the body so the tails can be used later to sew underarm to body. Count 5 sts out from each marker and pin. You should have each sleeve pinned to body with 11 sts.

Join yarn to body at the left of one of the pinned sleeves. Lay sweater so that it is flat with the sleeves on the side. Place marker on the st on the fold of each sleeve.

Round 1: Ch 2. (1 DC into next st) across body and around the sleeves, leaving 11 pinned sts on either side unworked. Join with sl st.

Round 2: Repeat Round 1.

Round 3: Ch 2, (1 DC into next st) until 1^st marker. Dec over next 2 sts. Work 1 DC into next st and across to next marker, dec over next 2 sts. (1 DC into next st) around, join with sl st.

Round 4-6: Repeat Round 3. Try on sweater for a better fit- it should stay up fairly comfortably. Dec more over these rounds for a tighter shoulder fit.

Round 7-8: Repeat Round 1.

Round 9: Ch 2, (1 DC into next st) until 1^st maker. Work 2 DC into next st, (1 DC into next st) around until 2^nd marker. Work 2 DC into next st, (1 DC into next st) around. Join with sl st.

Round 10: Repeat Round 9.

Round 11-12: Repeat Round 1.

Fasten off. Sew sleeves to body under arms, weave in ends and block.