#25 - BLOG THERAPY: TRYING SOMETHING NEW

From Knitting, etc.

First off, a major thanks to everyone who sent such kind, supportive comments on #24. I'm hoping that maybe it's simply the winter of my discontent, but I'll be back to life now that it's spring thaw. Nonetheless, our crafty community of bloggers is amazing and you all inspire me.

Now, back to a little blog therapy. Since I've been in a general malaise as of late, I've noticed that I'm spending more and more time in my apartment, hermiting indoors and staying away from this all too harsh winter that buried DC under quite a bit of snow. Of course, I feel guilty avoiding friends so that I can watch bad television (please forgive my syndicated Grey's Anatomy habit) and take naps in-between keeping up with schoolwork and the like, but it has also given me time to read lots of blogs and scour Etsy and the like for new ideas of things to make. Thus, new crafting habits are being formed!

To start, I have ventured into embroidery territory, which to me always seemed so grandmotherly (even more-so than knitting, somehow), but thanks to folks like Jenny Hart, there's so many refreshing avenues to explore. I've made a few little goodies as gifts, and I'm finding it fun and relaxing to learn a new stitch or pick out embroidery floss - not to mention, it's a much cheaper habit than knitting! I'll be sharing some photos soon, but I don't want to spill the beans on the gifts I've made until they're received by their rightful owners.

But my new favorite activity is spinning, despite my current lack of skill. I've had a top-whorl drop spindle for a few months now, but the Homespun Yarn Party got me excited to start dabbling again, and I bought a few bags of fiber to use once I have a better hang of it. Even though I don't think my yarn looks any good at all, I'm enjoying the process and excited for improvements. The photo up there is of my second in-progress attempt, made from beautiful roving dyed by Pancake and Lulu.

My new crafty adventures bring a little joy when I'm feeling down and out. But enough of my therapy session! What new projects have you been getting into lately? I want to hear all about it.

#18 - MORE GIFTS TO MYSELF (FROM OTHERS!)

It's not often that I receive many knitting-related gifts, even though I spend so much of my time talking about and thinking about yarn. This is mainly because my family and close friends aren't crafters, and wouldn't have the slightest idea of where to begin. Usually I have to accompany my well-intentioned friends to the yarn store and choose a few items for myself, and I certainly cannot complain. And even though I doubt anything could top that boatload of Turkish yarn I received this past summer, I admit that a small yarny surprise would be nice every once in a while. But the people in my life rarely disappoint, and this winter has been plentiful with some knitty surprises.

From Knitting, etc.

It all began with my work supervisors, who shocked me with a holiday skein of local buffalo yarn from a nearby farm. I later learned that there were multiple buffalo farms in Maryland (I must be living under a rock!) and have planned to pay them all a visit when warmer weather arrives. I imagine this yarn will be perfect for a Springtime in Philadelphia beret. Many thanks to Missy and Jim for that completely unexpected gift - and Missy writes an excellent genealogy blog, so do give it a visit!

From Knitting, etc.

My parents also gave me the most excellent Christmas gift ever (aside from incredibly nice pajamas) - a drop spindle and hand-dyed batt from Pancake and Lulu! Although I haven't tried it out yet (mainly because I want to read the guides about twenty more times before I attempt it), I'm really excited since it's the first step to handspinning.

The final gift has yet to arrive, as if I need anything else. I won a special prize from Yellow Dog Knitting as their 500th follower on Twitter. I will be receiving yarn and a pattern for mittens in the coming days, so come back to check it out.