Digressions.

The good thing about taking a break from something is usually that you gain some much needed perspective.

I took my break with New Moon, the sequel to Twilight… Edward, Bella, and Jacob kept me up so far past my bedtime that there was no point in sleeping at all.

On an non-craft side note: I saw Twilight yesterday with my friend Jen. Ultimately, I was disappointed in the quality of the film (I think they traded characterization for schlocky sensationalism, some of the casting was questionable, the make up was horrible, etc.) but I’m glad I saw it. It makes me appreciate how well Stephanie Meyer created her characters. I think I’ll just stick with the books and be content with her writing and not getting caught up in all the hype surrounding the movies. Though, (and this is my last comment about Twilight this post…) I’m a little more confident in Chris Weitz’s ability to pull off something approaching quality than  Catherine Hardwicke did.

But enough about that!

The good news is that all that escapism had the effect of totally calming me down about Big Bow, and now I can continue without tearing out my hair out. I got my gauge under control and I’m continuing on with a little more patience than I did when I began. I forget to cut myself some slack sometimes… I mean, I haven’t crocheted for a while and it’s going to take a bit before I can actually really get back into the swing of it!

In the meantime, there is no better way to fill the hours than with a good craft project or a good book. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity, and frequently, to do both.

WIP, Part One

Oy. Do you ever get that feeling you’ve gotten in way over your head but you’ve committed yourself to a course of action and to pull out now would be worse than starting all over?

Oh, I am so there!

I started working on the Big Bow Cardigan… which only days ago I was so excited about. Now, not so much. It’s a simple, easy pattern… so why do I want to tear my hair out six rows in? Why does the prospect of following through on an apparel sized project make me want go find the razorblades that I know must be lurking somewhere in the medicine cabinet?

As a wise young actor once said, “I can’t know.”

Is it that, as a returning crafter, I’m insecure about my ability to achieve gauge? Is it that I don’t want to show up to YarnThings with a hot mess on my hands? Or maybe, just maybe, my eyes were bigger than my crochet hook?

I’m freakin’ and Beacon doesn’t handle this… so, I’m going to give the Big Bow a break, read about Edward Cullen and Bella Swan for a couple of hours, have a little mini prayerfest, and get some sleep.

Once you start…

I haven’t done any crafting of any kind in some time but at one time or another I’ve drawn, painted, crocheted, knitted (or attempted to anyway), made bead jewelry, made cards, and sewed. I stopped doing anything a few years ago. Just hung up my crafting ways and concentrated on nothing but work, work, work all the time.

The sad part of all that was that I had this pent up creative energy that I desperately wanted to do something with and I was effectively denying a part of my essential nature by laying aside my favorite pastimes. I spent the greater part of the last two years pretty much in an mode of complete creative misery. Then a few weeks ago a friend of mine sent me a message on Facebook, saying “I just learned how to crochet!” and something in me clicked over. I felt like a light bulb got switched on in a room that’s always been in my house but that I didn’t use because the rest of the family thought it was a waste of the space.

Because of that moment I decided to go all out in the opposite direction. Not just picking up one of my old pastimes but also inviting my friends and neighbors into the mix and actively looking for ways to extend that excitement and desire for conscious community. I started this blog, set up a Facebook Page, invited people, started looking for projects and materials, and signed for an invite to Ravelry.

I got my Ravelry invite today and I started surfing, not hoping for much, more because I didn’t know what to expect than any sense of it not being all it was cracked up to be. I haven’t been disappointed. I’ve pretty much been surfing the site since I logged on a few hours ago. There is a wealth of information on the site and it’s very encouraging to see that I’m not the only gung-ho creative type out there.

So, I’m looking at my project with a little bit less apprehension and a little more enthusiasm. I’m looking forward to the upcoming meeting that much more. I’m excited to try out and find new yarn and new patterns. Now that I’ve started… well, I’m not gonna stop.

Pick Your Project

I must admit, fellow YarnThings, that I did not already have a project ready when I announced the meeting. So for the last few days I’ve been searching online and in stores for a project that would be easy, fun, and wearable.

I found it today while I was in Barnes & Noble. My project is the sweater on the cover of Interweave Crochet – It’s a 3/4 sleeve cardigan with an asymmetrical front, and a bow tie at the neck… all done in single crochet! In one piece! I have this lovely teal yarn that I’m going to use. Now I just need to find a buttons for the front.

I’m so excited to bring this project to our meeting next month. It makes me wonder what kind of things my fellow YarnThings are going to be bringing and what patterns and projects have you salivating like I am over this cardigan.

Will you be knitting? Or crocheting? Are you using thick yarn or thin yarn? Wool, silk, cotton, or acrylic yarn? Don’t you just thrill at the choices you have when you pick up that skein or ball of yarn?

I’m so looking forward to our first meeting and seeing all the exciting choices that you, my fellow yarn lovers, have made with your own projects. Hopefully, the group will cause ua all to to be encouraged in our crafting, expand our mental horizons, and engender a greater sense of community and sharing. So, pick your project… and join Seattle YarnThings on February 10!