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Author: Mylene Lacroix

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March Ramble

JOOJOO UPDATE:

Ok! I went from having no real motivation to knit to ALL I WANT TO DO IS KNIT! And spin. And make leather journal covers! Oh, and also do more embroidery and lino carving. I just wanna make shit. All the time.

Honestly.

I can barely find the motivation to go to my day (and night – haha) job… which I need to pay for yarn and fibre and leather and tools. Thank baby Jesus I can knit at work.

Ugh!

Does anyone else feel like this?? Annoyed that they have to do actual grown-up things? It’s total bull-shit right?

I have these on the go right now:

  • Weekender Crew out of handspun held with alpaca/mohair
  • A pair of socks out of a few leftover/minis
  • A shawl design out of stash Cascade Eco +
  • A hat design out of Brooklyn Tweek Arbour (which is now discontinued – boo!)

I wish I could stay home and start all the things. In the famous words of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka The Yarn Harlot), “I have startitis”.

THINGS I’M OBSESSED WITH:

I’m currently listening to Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. SO. GOOD!!! It would be even better if you’re a giant science geek and you know what he’s talking about.

I’ve also been reading/listening to a lot of books on peri-menopause and menopause. Hahaha. Yes folks, I’m there! If you’re looking for a good audio podcast on the subject, I can totally recommend UNPAUSED with Dr. Mary Claire Haver. She also has books. 🙂

When I started thinking of my simple shawl design, I went stash-diving. I haven’t used Cascade Eco + in many many years. I can’ honestly say that I have a renewed love for this yarn! It’s so squishy!!! And I have two giant skeins of it. How big do I want this shawl?

I’m quite passionate about finding sustainable products for my home and for personal care. I might work on a little video for my YouTube channel that talks about how I have a plastic-free shower.

Anyway, it’s 9pm as I write this and I’m working days tomorrow – which means I’m up at 3:30 to do my little morning routine and get in a workout before my 12-hour shift ’cause I’ll never do it after.

Also, I really hate Trump! I’m not big on sharing my opinions about politics on my socials but…. OMG!

What are you working on?

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I think I found it and it looks like leather.

You’re probably wondering what in the world that means?

I’ve you’re read my last few posts, I’ve been talking a lot about being in a creative slump.

Just after Christmas, I was scrolling Instagram (like I do in search of inspo) and came across this reel. I was instantly obsessed with figuring out how to make leather journal covers. (Also, if you don’t follow @alex_elle, go check her out.)

And down the rabbit hole I went… I watched all the YouTube tutorials that looked interesting. Fortunately for me, I work a lot of night shifts and often look for things to keep me engaged and alert at 3am. I was surprised at the tools available on Amazon.ca to get started for not a ransom. Mind you, the first piece of leather I ordered on December 29th still hasn’t arrived!! I got a small piece of floppy leather at Michaels and made a tiny cover for some field notes. But, because I’m not patient, I ordered another large piece of from a different seller on Amazon (which arrived the next day, thank you very much) and made my first “real” journal cover.

I was so thrilled with how these turned out! I ended up giving the big one to my girlfriend and I’ll make mine when my OG leather arrives… whenever that will be.

After that, I felt inspired to finish a little embroidery project I’ve had on my to-do list since last winter (for real). How cute is this?

I think it’s safe to say that I have my creative mojo back. Fewf am I relieved!

What are you working on?

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Still Slumping?

I am still in the SLUMP. I’m knitting but I seem to only be knitting socks.

I started a little 12-month sock “challenge” in January. I put 12 skeins of sock yarn in brown paper lunch bags so I couldn’t see them. The plainer yarns got patterns in there too. So every month, I pick a bag and it’s a surprise. Pretty cool eh? I ended up making a few extra pair.

I also started a plain (no colour work) Icelandic sweater MONTHS ago. It should have been done by now.

I’m pretty much only working on the socks when I’m at work, or in a car – if someone else is doing the driving.

Where do you find inspiration when you have no knitting juju?

Podcasts?

Ravelry?

Knitting Circles?

I’ll take some suggestions. Anything really.

Or do you just wait patiently for your knit-jo to return… when it’s ready?

I have enough socks. And hats. And cowls. And shawls.

I have lots of stash. So I need some ideas.

Go!

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Where’s The Inspo?

Hello friends! How are you?

I’ve been thinking a lot about inspiration lately. Where do you find yours?

I’ve been in a bit of a knitting slump. That doesn’t happen to me often, or ever, if there’s nothing serious or all-consuming in my life. And if you’re in the same season as me (your mid-forties to mid-fifties), you know what that is.

Because I’ve been spending less time on social media, I’m not getting my inspiration like I was 10-15 years ago. I used to spend HOURS on Ravelry scrolling patterns and designer pages. What a giant (but beautiful) hole of time that was. Were you like this too when you discovered Ravelry? Were you also late for work some days because you got caught up in the knitting?

All that to say, maybe it’s ok that we’re not always super-inspired to make all the things. Maybe you’re exploring other creative ways to express yourself.

I’m also spending a LOT less time watching knitting podcasts. There are maybe two now that I watch if I have time? I used to watch them all. (This cost me a lot of money in new yarns and patterns – inspo overload, if that’s a thing.)

So tell me what you’ve been up to.

PS: I’m still knitting socks. Naturally.