Y is for Yarn!

    I have always been fascinated by yarn ever since I was little.  Even today I love to browse the yarn aisles in local stores in awe of all the colors, textures, and variegated patterns.  My mother used to knit and crochet proficiently.  I used to love to watch her work the needles and create afghans and clothes from a simple ball of yarn.



         When I was around 10 I made up my mind I wanted to learn to crochet.  I wanted more than anything to be like her.  It seemed she could do anything!  My mother bought me a book that I studied diligently entitled "How to Crochet", a crochet hook, and yarn and with practice I learned and became proficient.  Over the years I have made countless afghans, baby blankets, clothes, dish cloths, and pot holders.

          Finally I challenged myself a little more and taught myself to knit.  Unfortunately several years back while knitting an afghan carpal tunnel struck and the pain kept me from continuing.  Recently I bought a bunch of knitting 
looms and made up my mind to learn to knit with a loom.  So far I love my looms and have renewed my passion for yarn in a whole new way.  I am determined to learn how to knit socks with a sock loom.  Until then I will practice and transform balls of yarn into colorful panels of fabric which I will sew together to create warm, cozy blankets.

K is for Knitting Looms

     While I know how to knit using straight and circular needles, I had never used a knitting loom until recently.  Every time I went to Michaels I found myself pulled to the yarn section where all the knitting looms could be found as if by a gravitational force.  They intrigued me.  Still for the longest time I held back from buying any.  I had taught myself to knit several years back and knitted several projects before giving up when carpal tunnel flared.  My knitting projects were left unfinished and forgotten.  I brought out my crochet hooks and crocheted instead.

      The knitting looms continued to pull me andfinally I broke down and bought myself a set of round looms.  There were 4 different sizes in a set, a special tool, and instructions.  I bought some yarn and hurried home and went to work learning how to use my new purchase.  After I made my first hat, I decided I had to have one of the straight looms.  Away I went back to the store to buy one and then I started straight away to knit a panel.  So far the plan is to knit the panel till the ball of yarn is gone and then either change colors and keep going or start a new panel with a fresh color.  Eventually when I have many brightly colored panels I intend to sew or crochet them together to make a blanket.  At least that is the plan.

       It is weird.  For the longest time I went through a period in my life where I had no desire to test the waters of anything new.  I reveled

in my children and their successes.  For a while it was enough and then it wasn’t.  I needed more.  All of sudden I am embarking on new horizons, learning new things, exploring photography, and taking web design classes.  It makes me feel as if maybe life isn’t over after all even if I am almost 45.  Maybe there is more to life than wiping snot noses, butts, and cleaning up vomit!