Today I am thankful for my ability to create beautiful things.
Anyone who knows me really well, knows that I don't have much of an artistic bone in my body. I can be the queen of self-deprecation, and this is a popular topic when employing that humor device. My childhood craft projects were not fridge-worthy (trust me!! Just ask my mom!). I actually HATED art. Give me numbers or language arts any day. Scissors, glue, and glitter? No thank you.
That said, I really should stop proclaiming myself as the most untalented artist ever. I am actually really good what some may consider an art form - knitting. I sort of shrug it off as something that isn't an art form because I have to follow a pattern (oh how this math major loves anything involving a pattern!). But at the end of the day, I create something beautiful. Knitting was actually an inspiration for my blog title. Originally I wanted my blog title to be "Knitting Yarns" and I would share my knitting projects and stories of my life - you know, kind of a spin off of "spinning yarns" - except the stories I shared would be honest, of course! But since Knitting Yarns was taken, I decided on Lisa's Yarns.
I have shared far more personal stories than projects, so now is the time to show you some of the gifts I have made for others - and a project I kept for myself. I love to knit for others - I think one of the best gifts you can give is something that is handmade! Here are some of my finished projects!
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| I knit this hat for my niece Anna shortly after she was born (and also a cream hat!) |
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| I made the same hat for Charlie, but in a more boyish green. And ahem, isn't he ADORABLE? Quite the perfect little hat model! |
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| A couple of Christmases ago, I made these ornaments - each family member got one! |
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| Here are a couple other miniature ornaments I knit! These are my favorite - but the most difficult/time consuming so I only made a couple! |
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| Last fall I knit this blanket for my friend Brooke's baby boy, Owen. Oh my goodness, this one took a long time to complete - I actually didn't finish it until Owen was a couple of weeks old. For the knittings out there, this was knit on a size 6 needle!! But it turned out beautifully! |
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| I crocheted this blanket for my friend Heidi's baby girl, Elle. This also took quite a bit of time to make! And it was actually my first and last crochet project! The finished product was beautiful, but the process was difficult for me as I really struggled with crocheting techniques and pattern reading. |
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| Excuse the tiny camera picture... Here I am wearing a hat I knit for myself (finally, a project I kept!). I also made this hat for my friend Heidi's 30th birthday (along with a ruffled scarf) in a bright, fun pink! |
Lastly, I also made a scarf for my mom, each sister, and each sisters-in-law (for a total of 5 scarves!) a couple of Christmases ago. I would like to do this again someday and make them mittens or hats, I just need to find the time to do this (and start in like March! Ha!). You can see the pictures of their scarves in
this post.
18 comments:
Oh man, I am so jealous of your knitting skills!!! Everything you knit is so beautiful. I know how to knit but I cannot figure out the pattern stuff so all I can make are straight scarves haha... which I do enjoy but it would be cooler to make other stuff. I have really tried to make a hat but I really just have no artistic skill at all, even in knitting and math being involved does NOT help me haha, it makes it much much worse!
This is awesome! I wish I could knit--such a cool skill!
I love your new hat! Your knitting skills amaze me! I learned to knit in 4-H and used to knit in my young adult years but haven't done it for eons! I need an outlet for my creative juices so maybe someday! I am even saving jeans so I can learn to make jean quilts someday! You are my inspiration!
Your knitting skills are impressive! I should try to take up knitting again. I never got past the making of scarves and would definitely need to practice that again, but it is pretty relaxing to do it in the evening.
Very impressive! I have never even tried. Maybe I should take lessons. I could knit in the car while we travel? Hmmm. Did you teach yourself?
I wish I could knit, I really do! My grandmother tried to teach me when I was younger but I wasn't interested in it then. It seems like a really useful skill! I love, love, love the baby blankets you made but they had to have taken you FOREVER!
Just so you know, I've been wearing the scarf you gave me for my birthday at least once a week. And it will be part of my outfit for the post-Thanksgiving brunch we are hosting.
Maybe one of these days you can teach me how to knit :)
From what I hear, knitting is very therapeutic, too. Good friends gave Gavin a knitted hat for his homecoming from the hospital. When we had professional photos taken of him in his first month home, I made sure he was wearing that hat ... we love that it was made with love!
You are def blessed with this talent. Ever time I wear my hat and scarf set you made for me I get so many compliments and then with Elle's baby blanket. We will always remember bringing her home froth the hospital in that blanket.
This is definitely an art!! I just started learning to knit, so maybe the next time we get together I can get some pointers from you :) Oh and the teeny tiny sweaters are adorable!
Yay for knitting! Well...I can only knit scarves. But maybe on that magical day I finally live in Minneapolis you can teach me how to knit cool things!
You say you aren't very crafty, but I think you did a fabulous job on all of those projects! I have no idea how to knit, so I think it's amazing that you can make all of those things
You are so talented! I wish I could knit. I have tried, and I am terrible.
I always think it's funny when you say you aren't creative because I think the things you knit are SO beautiful and very creative!! Also that headband you made was awesome.
You are definitely creative in your own, logical way ;) And I think your talent for knitting is really awesome!
So impressive! You definitely have some artistic talent, Lisa.
Those are all awesome! It's hard to tell the size of the ornaments. Are they really really tiny? Because that seems difficult! Also the hat you have on looks nice, but it's hard to see the detail in the tiny photo!
I am like you, give me a pattern and I am good to go. But I have not tried anything besides scarves. I always start projects and never finish them. I think it's because I would rather read, and unfortunately cannot do both at the same time!
Knitting is an art -- and you have mastered it! Quite wonderful indeed! I did a year when I made knit Christmas gifts for everyone. Nearly killed me, but they were fun and loved. I know yours are, too!
You are such a great knitter. Everything you make is gorgeous and those baby blankets and hats are such treasures.
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