Blogging, that is.
I used to blog – here - when I was an obsessive cross-stitcher. I lost my stitching mojo and really haven’t found it again.
Whilst I have always been a bookworm, I then became obsessed with books. I joined Goodreads, and discovered reading challenges, which led to the discovery of new authors, which then led to more books. My bookcase is overflowing. I overdid the challenges and burned out. I still read, but I’m now not quite so obsessive.
Just over a year ago, there was a request in the school newsletter asking for hand-knit blanket squares for charity. I taught myself to knit in my mid-teens, and it was something I did on and off over the years. I had/have a box of yarn that was shipped over with us when we moved here, taking up space in the under-stairs cupboard. I figured I could make up some squares and de-clutter at the same time.
Out of curiosity one day, I Google-d “charity blanket squares” and found Knit-a-Square (KAS). I decided I needed more yarn. So I could knit more charity squares, of course. Of course.
One of the bookshops here, at the time, had a small haberdashery section, with a select range of yarn. Then a friend told me about another store here in Dubai that sold yarn, and other crafty delights. On my first visit there I started chatting with another customer who was on a stopover in Dubai, and had heard about the store through Ravelry. I remember hearing about Ravelry a few years ago, but membership was by invite only and I wasn’t really knitting back then. Today? Different story. I joined, and found the Amiras – a wonderful group of ladies who meet up once a month (and sometimes more frequently). One of those ladies is Jocelyn – I heart her and her beautiful hand-dyed yarn.
I have learnt so many new things in the last year. I can now knit socks, and cool hats, simple lace and non-lace shawls, sweaters in the round (no seaming!) … and the yarns! I truly had no idea such fantabulous yarns existed.
So, now I have a new obsession love, and my forays into that will be what this blog will be focussed on – maybe with a little bit of life thrown in just to mix things up.
Welcome to knitting!
I understand about getting into something and getting burnt out. It happens to me with most of my hobbies: knitting, stitching, crochet, even reading. The good thing with having multiple hobbies is that they run in cycles and the mojo comes and goes.
I can’t wait to see what you’ve been knitting :)
Why did I not know that you started a blog?
Your journey sounds a lot like mine – no wonder we hit it off so well! I did the whle cross-stitching thing, silk painting thing, reading (I lost A LOT of books back home btw which almost makes me want to curl up in a ball and cry as I rock back and forth), and then the knitting of course. I didn’t get into scrapbooking and beading though.
See ya around!