go ahead and say it.
Behold, my most recent purchases. I must be crazy to take up a new hobby when I don't have enough time to do a fraction of the things I'd like to do to keep up my current hobbies. When the to-do list overfloweth...take on something new, I like to say. I fell in love with this Japanese crochet book at the bookstore last week and couldn't leave it behind--it was the last one!!--even though I don't have a clue how to crochet. (Have you seen Vintage Crochet by Susan Cropper?? I got all geeky over it in Borders a few months ago but managed to make it out of the bookstore without spending retail on this beautiful--but useless, to me--book that I certainly didn't need. Now I wish I had splurged anyway.) I got all confused trying to figure out whether I should learn to knit or crochet first and which book to get, but since the husband was buying and I might not get this chance again for a while, I just closed my eyes, played eenie, meenie, minie, moe and walked out with these. So far so good. I'm trying the knitting first, but crochet will be hot on its heels I can tell you now. Actually, this is a perfect addition to my hobby repertoire. I hate to sit without something to do with my hands and love detailed oriented, repetitive projects that are more like puzzles to solve. Yikes, what a geek. But I'll be a knitting geek soon enough! Any tips for the newbie, please, or know any books that could help?
I did manage to finish up some pillows last week and thus justify my spending a wee bit. In a certain sense. Sort of.
These pillows are for the house but I'm working on some more for the shop which needs a good update. The bottom pillow is machine quilted inside the squares but hand quilted around the edges. Way too time consuming, but very enjoyable I have to say.
I have lots more to share, but my family needs to be fed at least once a day. I can't wait to show you more pillow love, so come back tomorrow, please!
I want to learn how to knit and crochet too! And the pillows are gorgeous!! I love all the quilting - it really makes them pop!
Posted by: Amber | March 12, 2008 at 08:36 PM
Knitting and crocheting are indeed very tempting too. Today someone gave me some lovely bright red wool...mmmm ha! I'm not so patient with knitting though as it does take me ages. Your quilted cushion looks delic'
Debra :-)
Posted by: Debra | March 12, 2008 at 09:46 PM
Those pillows are gorgeous! Knitting calls to me too. One day I'm sitting one of my knitty girlfriends down and making them teach me some skills.
Posted by: Claire | March 13, 2008 at 07:55 AM
Gorgeous pillows!
Posted by: ash | March 13, 2008 at 08:41 AM
If you haven't done so already, pop over and sign up to Ravelry.com -- it'll take about 1 to 2 weeks to get an invite, but the knitting and crochet resources on the other side with astound you. You'll also find lots of help there. Until then check out knittinghelp.com where they have lots of videos about different knitting techniques... just in case you get stuck.
Good luck with your new hobby. :)
Posted by: Chriss | March 14, 2008 at 03:36 AM
Your pillows are beautiful and I think Stitch and bitch is a great starting point if you want to start knitting! You can also go to video sites and search for knitting terms and people have recorded how it looks, depends on what you learn best from. youtube etc.
Have fun!
Posted by: iHanna | March 14, 2008 at 08:33 PM
absolutely gorgeous! I've just marked you as a favorite over on Etsy ... love, love, LOVE your stuff - the colors, the way you've put them together, the detail. delicious!!
Posted by: Teresa (good grace) | March 15, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Oh, too funny! When we were at Borders recently and MY husband was buying, I picked out "Teach yourself visually -- crochet." I, too, need another craft hobby like a need the proverbial hole in the head (oh, just not enough craft supplies and WIPs all over my house?!?) and yet cannot resist that siren call. So it's just our way, our addiction, maybe? LOVE the pillows, too.
Posted by: JenniferJ | March 19, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Oh, I am in such awe over your pillows. They are such lovely combinations of fabric and stitching! Delightful!
-Emily
Posted by: Ravenhill | March 25, 2008 at 02:50 PM
I went the opposite way. I learned to crochet, and now I am contemplating the knitting. If you want an easy to learn way to crochet, the book I Taught Myself to Crochet that you can get at Walmart or Michael's is great. Use the 40% off coupon and you won't even feel guilty. It worked so well that I bought the knitting version ... it is still unopened :)
Posted by: CarrieJ | April 26, 2008 at 12:05 PM