My paper to yarn journey

I am a long time paper crafter and even enjoyed a career as an instructor and author in the paper crafting world. I never thought I would find something I loved more than playing with paper, stamps and ink.... BUT I DID!

I am blessed to be able to have a choice in how I spend my days and yarn has won over my heart and my time.

I have found that I just don't enjoy my paper crafting as much as I did. I thought I would be a paper crafter forever. These days, I am excited to say I am a knitter and I love collecting yarn too.

There is always a small project ready next to my comfy chair.

But some things have not changed. I am still a teacher at my core. Teaching myself to knit has been a journey. As I continue to learn, I am preparing to share with all of you. Knitting does not have to be so complicated or overwhelming.

Many of the ideas that I built my Cricut classes on are the same for learning to knit.

1.) Start with the right materials.

2.) Find someone that thinks like you do and speaks in language you can understand.

3.) Pick projects that you love.

4.) Take your time, don't get frustrated.

5.) Practice makes perfect!

Welcome 2025

I have been choosing my Word of Year for some time now, a word that helps guide me as a new year begins. It doesn't always ring true but this year SIMPLIFY just hits home. De clutter and slow down a bit.

Last night at our New Years Eve dinner, we were reflecting on 2024. I had so many mixed emotions as I retired my online classroom and paper crafting business this year. I have been a long long time Cricut and paper crafting teacher. It was time but it also left an empty feeling. My days had been filled with class design, writing and recording and now ... hmmmmm. I wasn't ready to just sit and watch Hallmark movies (although I love that!)

Yarn and knitting needles became my new best friends. Yes I am in love with this. It is a quiet hobby and I have found I really am in love with it. I wanted to be sure it wasn't a fleeting love affair before I shared all of this experience with you.

I am even more excited to share my journey with you. If you have ever thought about knitting, follow along as I help you sort thru all the confusing details.

Where do you start? What kind of needles and yarn? What are the terms? YouTube is overwhelming and so are so many patterns too. As I dove into this new hobby I realized that I felt just like I did when I discovered Cricuts years ago. Yes there is lots of info out there but how do you know where to start. So much conflicting ideas and yes it is personal choices but if you are new at this, you don't even know what you don't know!

Follow along here as I share my discoveries and help keep this new hobby simple. Happy New Year to you and your family.

Collecting Yarn ... or becoming a knitter!

Oh I have to be careful, yarn can be addicting. I am having so much fun with this new hobby. I have not really progressed beyond knitting, casting on and off and even purl stitching! Next up might be exploring and trying to follow a pattern. Yikes they are so daunting.