February - Sewing

January helped me decide that knitting is not for me. I want something creative that is going to capture my attention. I loved sewing to make some Christmas presents at the end of last year and with a sale agreed for our house, meaning hopefully no more viewings to tidy for, I feel like February is the month to get the sewing machine out and make a few things that I have been thinking about for a while. 

First up, some hair scrunchies. I had so many hair scrunchies as a 10/11 year old and looking back at photos I can't really believe they have come back into fashion.  Although this new iteration is a bit more stylish and people don't seem to be wearing three at a time - 90's fashion was very interesting! I have a roll of elastic and various pieces of fabric that I love so I'm going to make a few and see how they turn out. My hair is constantly getting knotted and little fingers love to pull at it so hopefully they will be well used.  I am also going to make some new cushions for our living room with some beautiful material that was meant to be curtains but I got my measurements wrong! I don't have a photo of it because it is currently in the loft but I promise it is beautiful. 

I'm really excited for this month so hopefully I will have some nice things to share at the end of February. 

January Recap

My goal for January was to start knitting a patchwork blanket. I was successful, in that I have knitted a number of squares of different coloured wool and feel more confident with each square I knit. There was a lot of learning along the way! The second square I finished was surprising larger than the first one, despite there definitely being the same number of lines at the beginning - I have no idea what happened...

At the beginning I tried knitting at all times of the day, we have had various periods of having to isolate this month and a lot more time at home like everyone at the moment so I thought I would find lots of time to get those squares made. But I was wrong. Pointy sticks and balls of wool that can be unravelled are like cat-nip to little boys - shocking right. So every time I tried to knit in their presence I would quickly have an audience who wanted to ask questions and 'help'. It was cute at first and then I ended up unravelling a square after my needle had been pulled out of a row of stitches and I decided it had to be an evening activity once they were in bed. 

I can't say that I've fallen in love with knitting. I am always drawn to it because it seems to be something you can do while watching tv, listening to a podcast or generally relaxing but that probably only works once you're an experienced knitter. I have very little quiet time, 2 and 4 years olds are wonderful but quiet and relaxing they are not. So when I actually get the chance to sit down and relax I just want to do that and not have to concentrate too hard. On the other hand I don't find knitting so exciting that I want to focus my entire attention on it, so while I'm glad to have tried it and I want to finish the blanket, I can't see this being a new hobby. But that's fine, this year is to find out what things I enjoy and which are worthwhile hobbies and which are not. Lesson learned! I do however have to finish this patchwork blanket or my husband's scepticism of my knitting will be justified. I'm happy to have learned knitting is definitely not for me but I will not have him be proven right, ha!

One down, 11 to go.