the inkblog

Another little exercise to get you thinking…

One year I decided that I wanted to finally learn how to knit. With some help from my sister-in-law, I began a scarf for my daughter. Here’s a snapshot of it when it was a work in progress:

That was in March. By September, I had a knitted project planned as a Christmas gift for every member of my family. Here are a few lessons I learned from that:

1. Spending a few dollars a week on yarn for a few months was a wonderful way to even out my Christmas spending!
2. But that sort of ambition can lead you to never want to pick up another pair of knitting needles again! So make your plans with a little moderation.
3. You’ve also gotta start working early in the year and don’t lighten up on your work or you’ll burn out at the last minute and you’ll really feel like you never want to see another pair of knitting needles again. I think I didn’t knit for 6-9 months after I finished my projects up in the week before Christmas that year.

So, anyway—a bit of a digression there. What’s your pet project this year? What would you like to learn? What would you like to give as presents? Mull that over a little bit and start making some firm plans about how you’re going to get there.

Scour the library for inspiration. Or use the web! For example, I checked out lots of books on knitting but their pictures and descriptions weren’t getting me anywhere. I actually found a website with these little movies on it that helped me to actually see different stitches in action. Don’t let the fear that you don’t know how to do something new stop you from trying! And remember—it’s July! You have plenty of time to learn!

What’s my pet project this year? Well, one thing I’d like to make is my own sort of homey wall art for my friends and family (you know, a little bit of stamping, a bit of Scripture or a lovely quote and a frame). Another idea is to sew a few things, too. Those things seem to be my hobbies of choice this year. (Some day I’ll get back to scrapbooking, right?)

So, how about you? It’s your turn to think now. Grab a chair and that cute little notebook you designed and daydream! (Speaking of which…I need to go and make my notebook myself!)

Have a lovely day! And happy stamping!