i've knitted eleven rows so far, which surprised me since i thought i would've given up at row five. i see this project as a big commitment. i'm using 2mm needles and fine yarn, and it's colorwork which means it's gonna take a LONG time to finish! approximately one and a half inch in for my five and a quarter inch ribbing, and i'm filled with motivation if only i'm not held back by a mysterious headache right now. my mind is a mess rn, therefore my writing is a mess too. i'm loving it so far, the texture really feels high quality.

i didn't do much progress yesterday so i didn't count it as day 2. my mom wanted to sit at the park today, so i decided to bring my wip with me. it was nice, the ambience was great and it was fun to knit and read while i sat on the grass admiring the display. i also worked on it for a few while waiting for my family to get ready as i watched winx club. i think i've reached 2½ inches, i need about 3⅞ more! the colors are turning out great, i can't wait to work on the actual stained glass part of the garment!

i am starting to regret casting this project on 2mm needles 🥹 the knitting and purling of two colors alternately is straining my hands every session! i don't even know if it fits me, i think i should've sized up since i used needles that are smaller than suggested. i mean, the gauge swatch proved it to be suitable, but who knows? i also made a tiny mistake on one row. it's small but noticeable. alas, i'm starting to doubt myself! i'm not giving up on this, though. along the way, i'm realizing that i now have more confidence in comitting to more long-term such as this and there's been less instances of me having to redo my stitches. (no frogging yet, which i hope i shall never have to do on this one ever!) i'm only a few more centimeters until the needed length! i can't wait to be done with the waistband so i can finally knit the stained-glass design!

another post about my pixel artworks! i've also recently found an old self-portrait i drew at the age of 16, and funnily enough i've just made a more recent self portrait about three weeks ago! it's not so perfect but i can see improvement, which fills me with gratitude to myself for trying. i just thought it would be fun to show a comparison. note: i forgot to put a watermark on the first one TT please don't save it! tysm

i went through some of my old stuff and found my old artworks. honestly, looking back at these, i wonder how i even got to create them since i'm wrung dry of creative juices! i miss doing pixel art, i hope my sparkcomes back soon. also, i put the watermarks last minute because 15y/o me did not think it was necessary to have one ( ￣ー￣)ﾉ first image attached is fan art of katz from courage the cowardly dog, second is a minecraft house? i think i was trying to learn to draw landscapes then. i don't really know, it's been a long long time ago. edit: omg TT the first one was supposed to be a gif! i guess repov doesn't support gifs yet

🌊 triangle top | 30% progress i luckily found a gorgeous, free pattern on ravelry to make for the crochet thread i impulsively bought! i absolutely adore the shell design that makes up the whole triangular part of the top. i also love that it drapes nicely on my hand since i'm only using fine crochet thread, it really gives that luxurious feel that makes me excited to wear it soon when it's done!

just a mini life update, i finally got a sewing machine for my birthday! (i mean my birthday's coming up next week, i just had my gift in advance.) my first project HAD to be a top since 1.) i really enjoy making garments, 2.) i had a vision for the leftover fabric i had from upcycling a hat at the dollar store, 3.) i just happened to have the cutest buttons on hand that match said vision it turned out pretty well for a first-timer. i'm happy that i got to make something like this. hopefully, i cultivate my skills and create the clothing of my dreams! also, it's officially holiday break!! that means more time for me to practice my crafts (*゜▽゜)_□ my next project: pajama pants?

no updates on the skeleton tee yet but it's under way! for now, i present to you… a halloween bonnet! 🎃 i know, halloween is over. but i want to enjoy the fall season as much as i can. although technically, there's no fall in my country because it's tropical; but you get the idea! speaking of which, it gets very hot often– so hot to the point that it feels like the sun is burning my scalp, so i've been having an interest in bonnets lately! it's also another perk to protect my head when it suddenly rains and i happen to be outside. i've only done one side of the embroidered design, i'm planning to do a ghost– or a kitty ghost on the other side! also slight head reveal lol

short post as i feel too tired to type 🦴 skeleton tee | 85% progress i am very glad to say that i'm seeing steady progress in my work. for a self-drafted project, it's doing much better than i expected. i'm really grateful that the days of stressful knitting then unraveling led to me almost being done this article of clothing. also can u tell im reading my 1800s literature again by my writing style XD

finally have the strength to knit again. i was barely able to knit for a week due to meds causing my grip to become looser than normal, but i'm fine now! 🦴 skeleton tee | progress 10% i probably tried to start and then restart the raglan collar about five times until i just got fed up and gave up on it for days. i decided that maybe i'm struggling because a raglan might be out of my skill level right now so i should do it differently— knit from the bottom-up. and it worked! a sprinkle of a redditor's advice on casting on projects in the round, and i had an steady ongoing project in my hands! no more fuss in casting on and frogging! i also scrolled a bit on pinterest and gave in to a specific design i've been wanting to recreate; having the lower part be a ribbing of the same color. i finally am not too lazy to add pictures this time!! :D

no progress today, unfortunately 😞 🐦 ribbed shrug | 95% progress - i attempted to sew on the remaining sleeve. i was pretty confident and excited until i had to try it on. i then realized, i sewed it on the wrong way 🥲 🦴 skeleton tee | 0% progress - i overlooked an important detail in garment construction so i had to frog the whole thing [💭] normally, i'd cry out of frustration since i put so many hours into working my projects just to have my efforts gone to waste; but now i'm seeing it differently. a concoction of positive crafting quotes swirled in my head and reminded me that it's alright. frogging is part of the art i invest myself into. if i have the guts to start knitting, i should also have the guts to unravel to create the output i'm satisfied with. it's stressful and almost disheartening every time i have to frog a project, but i realized that it's okay. it's okay to feel all these feelings as long as i'm doing what i love, and it's creating.

i only had a few hours of sleep and my hands feel a bit sore so i didn't really enjoy it that much. i worked on two wips while in online class. ribbed bolero | 95% progress - i sewed on the right sleeve, might continue tomorrow. i kind of regret using the 'skip the stitch on the last row for neater edges' hack because it looks off when i'm sewing them on skeleton tee | 10% progress - i'm still working the yoke, 24 out of estimated 34 rows of raglan increases to go i kind of miss crocheting ngl 😞 might make a crochet bag soon. also sorry for not putting pictures im lazy rn lolllll

i made several mistakes in the colorwork, but i won't let that stop me from creating the vest of my dreams! i simply kept my mistakes as a reminder that it is a handmade garment— and by handmade, it means that it's creaated out of human hands that give room for imperfections. i see it rather as a reflection of myself; a depiction of my state of mind as i knit every stitch with intention. there are times when i feel rather tired and perfection slips from my work, and there are times that i am attentive enough to do a great job. and also worth noting that i'm just too lazy to frog it, honestly. lmao. nevertheless, i love working on this vest. i'm pushing through my limits on this one and discovering more about myself!

today, i intend to spend the whole afternoon finishing pieces for my upcoming shop! i'm so excited to make promotional pictures of the finished products next month! (⁠*⁠´⁠ω⁠｀⁠*⁠)

---------------⊱༺༒︎༻⊰---------------- it seems that i have been underestimating myself, thinking that my craft's quality was dictated by the pace of its conclusion. i watch several crochet and knit youtubes for the purpose of motivating myself to finish my projects, but i've realized that it has ingrained a toxic mindset in my head. not that crochet and knit videos have a terrible effect for me overall; it's a form of body doubling that helps me get the job done. it also inspires me to create, giving a multitude of ideas for me to express my own world. by watching multiple creators, i build my own collection of skills and knowledge that help me along my journey. the only problem is: it sets an uncosncious standard in which i must finish my projects instantly. watching project videos and seeing results in under 20 minutes put me under the expectation that i must finish mine too within that timeline, when i'm not supposed to be. knitting and crocheting are slow crafts, it's *supposed* to take time. i definitely know that. but when i grab the knitting needles and start knitting, i immediately think about the results and end up becoming impatient after a few rows. i then look at my project and sigh at myself for only making less than five rows in thirty minutes. i wasn't even even able to appreciate the fact that i knitted for 30 minutes! i focus so much on the progress and outcome that i forget the point of why i've delved into this hobby in the first place: enjoying the process of creating a garment and loving it before even wearing it. i put so much pressure in finishing as *fast* as i can, making as *many* as i can as if i had a deadline; when it should be all about the love of creating. art takes time. the process will be slow, but it's what makes my art meaningful. it's the thousands of intentional stitches i make so that a piece is given life. ---------------⊱༺༒︎༻⊰----------------- now THERE'S a really long ramble after being inactive for weeks! thank you if you've read this far. i'm really grateful to those that take the time to hear about my thoughts. also my skeleton top in case anyone's curious… post soon? i hope? i did not block it very well but it's definitely finished! my apologies for not posting much, i've been dealing with burnout for this month. thanks again! q(^-^q)