March/April Edition
Similar to other crafters I know, I am a collector of craft inspiration. Some people, like family, may claim that I am a hoarder of craft goods. Everything is contained in a cupboard or two and a closet, not spilling about a room, so I don't really feel in danger of hoarding. I may, however, just have too much. I think that it would take me a few (two or three) years to knit up projects in the yarns I already have on hand. Some of those yarns aren't even earmarked for specific projects. The issue is compounded by the multitude of patterns purchased -- not all of them are matched to the yarn/material stash -- and could, in my mind anyway, justify additional purchases. Hmm, and what about the sewing?
While I generally have a focused approach in life, the multitude of gorgeous yarns and patterns on line makes my head spin and my fingers itch to reach for the credit card. I have also discovered sewing blogs, where seemingly normal people sew extraordinary things in beautiful fabrics that fit them perfectly. Oh, the possibilities I imagine! I had discounted the possibility until recently due to flashbacks of a distinctly unsuccessful experience in a high school home economics class.
Blogs have been some of my best enablers and inspirations, where all the wonderful crafty possibilities are paraded before my eyes while I sit comfortably in my living room. In another post, I will share some favorite blogs. For today though, I will mention only one, The Craft Sessions. I am not a long-time reader, but started reading regularly when a series called Stash Less caught my eye. This post in particular has been extremely enlightening to my crafting life (links to the whole series can be found here.)
I have tentatively mapped out my next crafting year, and have posted the current list. I won't finish everything by tomorrow (April 30), but I'm OK with that. I will bump some items forward to the May/June list and re-evaluate. Next list, coming soon! If you'd like to check out some knitting FOs, I am lindy126 on Ravelry.
In the famous words of Jerry Seinfeld, "It's a blog [show] about nothing." It's an on-line journal for my hand-made items (which I sometimes gift, but never sell) and random musings.
At the eleventh hour of blogs, I have decided to jump in and add my own craft pursuits. The reading will not be riveting as I work full-time as a teacher and have two very sporty fourteen year-olds, hence the blog's title. I can often be found sitting and knitting on the sidelines of various soccer, lacrosse and baseball games when not forced to huddle to keep out of the rain or cold. Knitting time is supplemented with the hours spent in carlines and doctor's waiting rooms. I try to sneak some knitting or sewing in each evening, but sometimes when tired just peruse others' craft blogs and marvel over the possibilities. So there will be a lot of works-in-progress and only occasionally a finished object. I am also trying to hone my repair skills as we have a very puppyish three-year old lab mix who loves the taste of lovely wool. Sadly there are apparently also some elusive moths in residence who enjoy the same.
Up for today, daughter's lacrosse game, son's soccer game, and a 5K run for each. In my hand-work world, I continue to plug away on Spring Forward socks and have just begun swatching for Braid Hills. I am notoriously bad about skipping the swatches, but I also generally only do small projects (mittens, hats, socks, etc). I do not mind ripping back and reworking, it's all a part of the process for me. This is the first sweater I am attempting in years though and as the yarn is dear, I want a good result. Fingers crossed.
