With a mere two days left in this color triad of Project Spectrum, I decided to cast on for a simple stashbusting project in a glorious RED. I must admit that my mind seems to have shifted ahead to the next color triad; you may have noticed with the potpourri of new projects…
My newest projects are engaging and fun, but nearly all of them require some attention to charts. I was hoping for a simple stockinette project, and I found in the form of this beret from Greetings from Knit Café
After finishing the Cherie pullover last fall, I held onto the leftover 2.25 skeins of Dale of Norway Sisik. It is one of my favorite yarns, and since it is no longer manufactured, I had to keep it close. I thought a hat would work, although I had no pattern in mind at the time. It is a nice match for the beret, and is working up beautifully on the size 3.5mm needles.
Project Spectrum was so shiny and new last year, and the concept attracted many people. This year, Project Spectrum changed formats and worked over a longer span of time with more color choices. With this change, it seems (at least to me) that PS has “lost some steam”, and does not engender the same creative spark and ingenuity that it did in its first round. What do you think? Please feel free to prove me wrong! I am gathering ideas and your thoughts on PS now, as I am starting to think about a third round. I have an idea that I am still working through, but I am not ready to commit to it. In the Project Spectrum Ravelry group, I have heard some feedback. Now, you can tell me more…
Please feel free to elaborate and tell me more in the comments or in email. I would love to hear from you.
~thanks~
Lolly, I liked having the flexibility of more than one color; it just so happens that for me, the current colors aren’t really ones that I work with too much. (Although of course the point is to stretch yourself and start looking for ways to use colors you might not! I guess I’m just set in my ways
) So having a 2-month span of those colors has meant that I haven’t been too focused on PS lately. I really like having the flexibility of multiple colors, but maybe going back to one month rather than two would keep people who don’t love a given set of colors more engaged? I voted for one color / one month in the poll, but my real vote would be color groups / one month.
I am so ready to hop on the purple/orange/brown wagon, btw!
This is a really interesting post and I was actually just thinking about this issue last night. I’m probably going to post my thoughts in depth later today but in the meantime let me say that Project Spectrum has been very successful in making me think about color but not in the way I intended.
This is my first Project Spectrum and when I began I was hoping to explore each of the color triads over the two months in both my photography and my knitting. At the beginning that’s what I did but somewhere along the way my motivation changed (I think it was April with the greens.) Project Spectrum helped me to realize that I have been stuck in a bit of (okay a big) color rut, especially in my knitting. I love pinks, reds, oranges and yellows and many of my knitting FOs reflect that BUT knitting my green PS Clapotis rekindled my love for the cooler colors.
I had been all but ignoring that side of the spectrum but PS forced me to stop doing that and now I’m obsessed. I tried to start a red project for this triad (and because I have tons of red in my stash but it is really blue that is calling to me. So I frogged and I am going to do the project in blue.
Anyway, the point is that I think PS can be many things to many people. I loved the structure of two months (I’m a slow knitter) and I enjoyed the color triads because it gave me more to think about. I think what’s helped me the most is being flexible in my thinking – yeah, I am knitting something blue in the “wrong” period but I’ve spent a lot of time with red (black and metallics too, come to think of it) and it has been great to rediscover old favorites. Thanks for creating this project, I know I am enjoying it!
Hi Lolly. I love either PS structure, really. The concept is what drew me in. The knitting on my end, however, has not happened–I think the summer doldrums were worse this year than last…maybe? I know I’m still working on the same projects that I had back in March.
Just one hope/suggestion: Please don’t limit whatever you come up with next by saying it’s all happening on some website where you need a special invite to belong or anything like that…cuz, well, not all of us are there yet…thanks.
The color you chose for your beret is beautiful – it’s going to look great!
I love Sisik and made my mom a beret with it. She has worn it a lot! And, thank you for the birthday wishes!
I was just thinking that I haven’t been into PS that much this year just because my projects that I planned for this year just didn’t fit into the color schedule very well. I liked the one color a month better for some reason. One thing that really made me feel like I was “with it” last year was the postcard exchange. Even if I wasn’t knitting something in the color of the month, I was still doing something crafty and forcing myself to put some thought into it. I’d love to have a postcard exchange again or even a dishcloth exchange with the color of the month, something small and quick. I do have to say this, it’s very easy to say “I like this or that better” when you’re not the one running the show.
I agree with Ashley: a couple colors/one month. I kept putting off playing with new colors, “Oh I have time” I was really into it the first couple months, but I definitely got distracted and haven’t really done anything related for this third grouping.
Love the rich red you’re working with.
I heard about PS after it was already going, so I can’t really comment other than to say it’s a really awesome idea, and I can’t wait to participate next time. I have a beret or two in my queue for the Fall and Winter, so I eagerly anticipate your FO.
I really like this structure, though this was my first year so I haven’t worked with anything else. I liked the flexibility it allowed me and the chance it gave me to play with how colors interacted.
I’ve lost a lot of steam with the current triad (a) because they are not colors I work with very much and my stash reflects that! I have done a few things in the “right” colors and I have appreciated the push that PS has been to do things with new colors – so thank you! And also, (b) I’ve been doing a lot of baby gift knitting that didn’t work with the current colors but needs to get done anyways
I loved the colour triad, because it allowed for more flexibility than the one-colour-one-month format (although I didn’t participate last year). It just so happens that the next triad has my three favourite colours in it, so I suppose I’ve been subconsciously saving myself!
I have completed a red project just in time , but for me it was more about exploring colour in the world around me, than crafting to the colour triad.
I did not participate the first year – but I was a total lurker. This year I’m a participant but I don’t feel as challenged as last year (I may have only lurked but I did my own attempts) With the triad this year – there always seemed to be a color that was one of my norms, which sadly I always fell to. So there was no new challenge, no pushing of the limits, no opening of the eyes to something new.
I love the longer time limit (because I am sloooow) but think just one color to work with would personally push me more. With that, I voted for something new
I love erica’s thoughts on the post card exchange (or maybe some artist trading cards) and smaller objects thrown in the mix.
I liked the triad — I just had a hard time with these past couple of months. But that’s always going to vary from person to person.
I’m also a fan of the triads, especially since many of them have worked out well seasonally. They really have opened my eyes to my environment around me. Unfortunately, my circumstances this year have kept me from participating as much as I would like. I also thinking about how things have seemed to quite down a bit lately – the Flickr pool, which used to have a lot of action, is pretty quiet these days. People may also be on vacation this time of year or spending less time at their computers, who knows.
Matching sweater and beret, oh la la!
Hi Lolly~
Doing a rewind reading all the way back to July 9th when our PC died. Looks like you’ve been one busy gal! Love the hat idea with the “Cherie” leftovers, i love that yarn!
I think this year with Ravelry being the new big thing and the summer busy-ness that everything has seemed to take a back seat to knitting and blogging for a lot of people.
Great color! I loved knitting that beret, and the finished product is so cute- you’re going to love it!
ohhh…..i have a sweaters worth (more, even…i think 14 balls) of sisik in grey waiting to be something special. i think the fact that i cant get it anymore is making me reluctant to cast on. but, your cherie sweater has re-inspired me to find a project for it — especially because it is so beautiful in its simplicity!
as i am the only person left on this earth not to have participated in project spectrum, i unfortunately have no inspiring words on that front!
I really like the idea of three colors. It gives the participant more options and three months gives us more time to squeeze in a bit of that color. That said, perhaps since we have those three months, it doesn’t always seem so urgent to get around to our PS projects, and before we know it the time has slipped away.
I’m loving that new Sisik hat you’ve cast on. The color makes me wish that we had another month of red!
I love the triad, more flexibility, more time…
Beautiful red for the hat!
Wait–Sisik has been discontinued?? That is/was one of my Dale of Norway favorites:(
I can’t believe the red/black/metallics months are almost over. I couldn’t even finish a measly pair of socks! Poor Project Spectrum, it has kind of gotten lost in the shuffle for me this year, but I am definitely still interested. I love the 2 month triads, one month/one color always made me feel so rushed! I have to admit I voted for something new altogether because I’m always intrigued by shiny new things!
Time to switch again? No matter how you structure it, the time with each color will be too short! I think I liked the confinement of one color at a time a bit better–the stricter rules and shorter times kept me focused. But I’ve had fun this round, too, and the groupings have been easier for me to accidentally craft in the prescribed colors. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in the works for next year. I’ve had fun with the last two years, so I’m ready to play along whatever you decide to do!
I actually never had time to do either of the PS. However, It did seem like I saw it mentioned more often when it was the one color per month theme. That seemed to really get people motivated.
This was my first PS and I must admit I enjoyed the knitting in the triads for each 2 months. It gave me the exra push to knit more this year than I have done in the past. The soon to be last triad was a bit of a challenge – red was the only color I could work with since am stashbusting. But on the other hand, the upcoming triad has all three of my favourite colors and I am already boosted up for it. I think the time frame is enough to complete a couple projects without feeling the rush OR loosing interest. Looking forward to the next idea…. am sure it will be great!
Hmmm.. I think the sisik beret will be cute. I happen to have 3 balls of it and since am seriously working on winter accessories now, I might make a hat too.
I must say that I personally haven’t felt the urge to knit in certain colors like I did last year, but I believe a big part of that has to do with my pregnancy. PS this year started at the height of my morning sickness and I just could not knit ANYTHING regardless of color. I think *I* would have done better had I not been sidetracked by a desire to not knit. Just my 2 cents:)
the red is gorgeous, so sorry to hear it is no longer around.
This is my 1st year with PS and I like the way it’s formatted since I may not be a fan of a certain color, I can use the other colors. It’s been fun.
I didn’t do PS last year, but I think I may have been better about participating this year if it were one color a month. Though I have to admit, the upcoming triad has me all sorts of excited! Purple/Orange/Brown is a fave combo of mine and I have a project all picked out – not to mention the sock yarn I bought in those very colors, accidentally! Still, I think one color a month would be fun again, though perhaps not in rainbow order.
I have so many red projects in the works, and sadly none wil be finished by month’s end. Oh, well on to the browns, oranges and purples! I like the groupings of color, actually.
I love berets!
I rather preferred the one colour per month – I felt like I was more focused, although I must admit a longer timeframe would be helpful for this KAL-aholic
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I too have been thinking about the different possible PS formats recently. How about two months/two colors? Keep the longer time period but with one less color to bother with.
Unfortunately, I fell in love with the first color combo (I never realized I had so much blue yarn!) and was playing catch up from the start. I still have several blue things on the needles as well as one massive red project that I’d hoped to have finished by now. Plus we’re going into orange and brown – two of my favorites. I love Project Spectrum, but my overexcitement is leaving me awash in UFOs. I’m going to need several months to recover.
I didn’t do PS last year, so I don’t really know how it went, but I have loved doing it this year! I’ll be sad when it’s no longer going on. Thanks for doing such a great job!
I liked the two month period. Other than socks done for the current color triad, I never would’ve finished a project in one month. (Of course all my red/black projects are still UFOs, but that’s another matter entirely!) I would hate to be limited to very small projects, just to be able to finish in a month.