I’ve been offline for a while. I took some time to re-evaluate my direction. Our homeschooling schedule has eased up and as a result the kids and I have enjoyed taking the entire month of December off. The only school related thing we have done this month is reading aloud, which they seem to enjoy (we’re currently reading Harry Potter).
Taking time off of the internet is not only good once in a while, I think it is a necessary thing to maintain mental health. We all need to step back every now and then to make sure what we are doing is the right thing, at the right time. I stopped looking on facebook and instagram. I stopped checking this site. I focused on my family and my sanity.
I used my new found free time to learn a few new hobbies.
I decided in August that I wanted to learn a new skill, so I taught myself to knit. I knit kind of slowly at first. I found myself frustrated by mistakes. I found a few ways to go back and correct those mistakes, but it stopped giving me joy. I made a few projects and I still know how to do it, but a key fact sucked the life out of it for me. Someone told me I could just buy a knitting machine and it would knit perfectly for me.
Imagine working on learning something new and then having someone tell you that a machine could do it perfectly in 1/10 of the time!
I knit a lot of projects. I made hats for all my kids, and scarfs to match. I made finger-less gloves for myself and my youngest son. I knit a blanket for a new baby in our family. I made a few dishcloths and I made coasters. I liked knitting but I didn’t like that it could be replicated with a machine. It seemed like too much trouble to go through for something that could easily be made with technology. Serious knitting projects take time. It’s nice to know how to do it, but I kind of feel like *why bother* if a machine can made it perfectly.
I decided to take up crochet since it cannot be duplicated with a machine. I read somewhere that there are three crocheters for every one knitter. Not that I am trying to be trendy, but more patterns are available online since more people are doing it.
More FREE patterns…? Yes please!
I’m not going to lie, it was a bit difficult at first. Then something clicked and I just sort of figured it out. (thanks Youtubers!)
I found I like crocheting even more than knitting. There is something really soothing about how the hook moves back and forth to create loops that turn in to amazing projects. It is almost magical. I actually love learning new stitches and making new things. I made things and then took them apart until I mastered the stitches. I got a little obsessive. That’s okay, my new obsession allows me to create something tangible.
My kids and husband have been very encouraging. They’ve been hinting that I should sell my wares online. I don’t think I’m there just yet… but maybe, down the road.
There are endless things to make and I find myself looking forward to doing this everyday. I don’t even care that this is an old fashioned skill. I like it! I find myself looking forward to completing something and bringing people joy. There are countless charities to donate to and places to give my work that appreciate this ancient homemade craft. It’s rewarding to see that I’ve accomplished something at the end of the day (or the week, as some projects cannot be banged out in a few hours).
Its the perfect thing for me right now. And who know what I’ll learn next!
I’ve decided to really immerse myself in this and I hope you’ll join me. I plan to put out a few patterns I’ve made up, (because yea, I’m already making things up), and some techniques that have helped me along the way. I’ve also found some books/websites helpful and I plan to post those links soon.