When I am not too busy doing home school or writing a novel series, I like to make things. It usually involves some kind of yarn and at least one metal stick. Crochet is something I learned as a child. It’s great for making baby blankets and stuffed toys for my girls. I have some pictures around here some where, I just have to find them and scan them. This is going to sound very strange, but I’ll say it anyway. There are some chararacters I have (usually female) that when I write them, I get into my yarn crafts more because it’s something the character enjoys, too. Thankfully I only have two characters like that, or I’d never get anything written, but on the upside of that, I do usually finish out a lot of projects I’d set aside when I write them.
Knitting is one of those things I always wanted to learn, but thought it would be too complicated. Then I discovered the internet and all the knitting tutorials that are out there. I must have spent three days in front of my computer with knitting needles in hand and the ugliest yarn on Earth while I taught myself to knit with the help of the internet (I love my computer!) I am still working on getting it right, and one of these days I will make myself a nice pair of socks. I think I will save them for my first book signing – whenever that might happen.
My mother got me my first Bond Knitting Machine. It’s useful for making quick sweaters for the girls and making nice scarves. I have discovered a way to make socks on it. They are mostly tube socks and I make them for my oldest. She can’t stand the seams on socks and makes me nuts about wearing them, but she will wear the socks I make for her without complaint.
I love loom knitting. It’s fast, it’s easy, and it’s almost mindless. It’s pretty much wind the yarn around the peg and then knit off. I have all the Knifty Knitters and I’ve made my husband a lot of things with them. I’ve also learned how to make a vertical striped scarf with them, which are pretty cool.
There are other various yarn projects that I find myself getting into that doesn’t involve sticks, hooks or a loom. One of those is straw weaving. I’ve made myself some really cool headbands with it and my youngest some nice belts. If it has yarn, I will try to do it. I also have a few cross stitch projects that I hope to finish before I die. Yes, that sounds bad as I am only 31, but it’s the truth. I’ll work on it for about an hour a year, so I am still hopeful.
My girls love to work on what I am working on, and they love it when I make them things. I still owe my youngest a crochet dragon, and my oldest a crochet kitten. I will get to them. Maybe in time to give it to one of their first borns, so that gives at least 13 years (I hope!)
I crocket and knit because it calms me. That is a very good thing with my OCDish tendencies. Yet, as with everything in my life, once I get started, I seem to get obsessed. I am on another yarn kick now, so we’ll see all of what I can accomplish with this round.
