New hobby

Since having children I have not put a whole lot of time into hobbies. I used to paint before I had kids, I'd like to get back to that one of these days. Now that the children I have with me are older (Jason is 8 1/2), it is a little easier to work on little projects.

I made some jewelry last year, bracelets and rings, I sold them all to raise money for St. Baldrick's at a fundraiser we went to! I had made most of them in July and August last year, not really knowing what I would do with them, but it worked out great and I raised quite a bit for St. Baldrick's.

In January I wondered in to Michael's (the craft store) and saw some gold sashay yarn. I had seen the ruffled scarves and had thought I would like one in gold. The instructions on the package were for knitting a scarf so I bought knitting needles as well. I went home and looked up a few videos on Youtube on how to make these sashay scarves and then got to it! They said it was supposed to take 3-4 hours, well, it took me more like 8, but after a couple of days of working on it, it was finished.

 I have had so many compliments on it and even someone who offered consignment if I would make some for her store! I made about half a dozen for her I think. It is kind of the wrong time of year for scarves though, but maybe they will sell in the fall. I also made a few scarves for friends and family. I made a camouflage scarf for Jason!

Then I wanted to try knitting something else. I had heard that people who used knit dishcloths were so happy with them that they never used anything else! I was intrigued by this and thought I'd give it a shot. I looked up some free patterns online but was not having much luck, even though a lot of them said "beginner", they were more complicated than I could figure out. I finally watched a video showing how to make a basic dishcloth. I ended up making a bunch of those for consignment as well! We'll see how they sell. I have made a bunch for myself as well. I really like using them a lot, I have replaced all of my sponges with these. I don't use them much myself however, since my 13 year old does most of the dishes these days and my 8 and 11 year olds do most of the wiping off of the table. I also use them for coasters.

Now that I am learning more, different stitches and patterns, even making up some of my own patterns, I want to try making something a little bigger. I am working on a little purse for one of my nieces and I am thinking I might as well make purses for all 4 of my nieces. I'll have to figure out something for my nephews as well but I am not sure what, they are all a year and under. I saw some knit sea turtle patterns that are really cute but I am not quite there yet in my knitting skills. I am sure I'll think of something. I would really like to try knitting a baby blanket as well, I can already picture it in my head. 

At some point I will have to get some more yarn, but I do have a collection that has been accumulated over the last few years for various projects. I often find myself walking through the yarn section of Wal-mart when I make my weekly shopping trip there, and I often find myself picking up a ball of the $1.47 yarn. 

I think one of the reasons I am enjoying this so much, is that it keeps my hands busy, and when its done, it stays done! Unlike dishes, laundry, and pretty much all other house work. Christmas is coming up in just 9 months, perhaps I can figure out some knitting projects that can be gifts and get started on those now :)