So I decided to teach myself to knit!

It may not look like much but oh I have learned so much! I promised I would share my journey.

Some things I have learned:

• pick the right yarn for the project

• pick the right size needle for your project

• if you like circular needle knitting, you need a kit so you will have the right size needle and cords or you are buying each one separately. Here is what I ordered CLICK HERE

Choosing a project has been a HUGE challenge! I want to make something I will use and something simple (yes you know me!)

I have spent way too much time wandering around so many pattern sites! Honestly, I always said during my Cricut teaching days, you get what you pay for when downloading fonts or svgs. I should not be surprised that free knitting patterns might be the same way. So I have narrowed my search to a few sites. I can't tell you have many free patterns I have downloaded only to delete after realizing the made no sense to me at this point.

I worked with HUGE straight needles... oh ya they are sized in US or UK or mm!!! I was using a thick bulky Walmart yarn and size 10mm ( 15 US needles) and it moves fast but my hands were exhausted holding the project and the needles. It is in my basket for a bit.

I decided I wanted to go with:

circular needles and this pretty yarn from Lion Brand a hat pattern I found at Knitters Pride. I disagree when the post says they are "easy knitting patterns" The shortcuts are frustrating DPNs?? Double Pointed Needles ...ahhh ... what??? I decided I would cross that bridge when I got to it :) I have to knit 7-8 inches first.

OK I cast on 88 stitches using the long tail cast on method. PS I have cast on and ripped out soooooo many projects but I can know comfortably cast on.

LONG TAIL CAST ON ** check!

BUT of course I struggled with the ribbing to start. I need to work on making my (K2P2) which means knit 2 purl 2 ribbing. I have to visit my next door neighbor to have her help me figure out what I am doing wrong with that. So I decided to would work the ribbing in later. I can knit 2 (check) and I can purl 2 (check) but when I started the second row it wasn't right. So yes, I pulled all that out and started fresh with Cast On 88 stitches.

I am learning and I am really loving the calming effect of knitting. Now I just need to enjoy the journey, not rush to the finish line!

Wanna see what I started to add to my Pinterest Board? CLICK HERE

Working my way into my new simple

My friends, I have been an online craft teacher with Cricuts, stamps and coloring for a long time and as I stepped back from Stampin' Up! I have taken some time to think.

It is now time to "retire" from my crafting job and craft just for fun! I love that I am crafty just like you.

My days now will be spent crafting for me, spending more time with my husband at the lake and enjoying my grandchildren.

I love lots of crafts beyond paper crafting with Cricut! Some days I might be crocheting or knitting or trying something new. I am honestly just taking time to breathe.

Thank you for being part of my journey.

I have de activated my Lets Learn Cricut Facebook page after YEARS!

I am still here just not teaching Cricut crafting anymore. I am teaching myself knitting! Send your tips my way. I will share my journey. So far it is a lot of start and stop lol but I am getting there!

So many good friends have shared their tips and ideas.

• Google knitted dish cloth patterns

• it is relaxing

• check out free patterns on Lion Brand

• sometimes we need a change

• don’t hold on real tight and try to relax

• try long tail cast on

My first actual project:

Things I learned on this one:

1. how to long tail cast on with circular needles

2. but first to choose a circular needle that is the right length for your project (actually a bit shorter is better)

3. how to connect and knit in the round

4. how to decrease and finally

5. how to cast off!

Mort is not quite as excited as I am but he was the perfect model for this project!

Next, let's get chunky!

Oh we collect a lot of stuff!

Remember these cabinets? They were behind me in my classes over the years. And boy oh boy, I collected so much. They were bursting at the seams. We are downsizing here. As I have retired from my crafting job, I realized I no longer needed my own craft store.

Several weeks have gone by and I can share this process with you. IT WAS HARD!

Yes I could have kept everything but honestly I was so overwhelmed with the volume of stuff I had. There was no way I would ever use all the paper, ribbons, and so much more.

I created a box (ok 2 or 3 actually!) to donate to my granddaughter's pre school! Remember I was a business focused Stampin' Up! demonstrator so I stocked almost every color cardstock! (we can talk about how wrong that was some day!)

So now I have two of those cabinets in my kitchen area. One has my current card making supplies and a work space and the other is holding scrapbooks and too many boxes of photos waiting to have something done with them.

This was hard but so freeing! Crafting now has returned to a place of comfort.

As we continue to de clutter our spaces, we actually feel lighter! I thought I needed all this stuff but actually now that my stash is so much smaller, I can use what I have. Yes, I am loving the simplicity of Lawn Fawn stamps and dies and coloring with Spectrum Noir markers. I can carry all my card making supplies is a small bag back and forth to our campsite at the lake too.

The past month has actually left little time to craft as we have been busy busy with our de cluttering but so looking forward to simple card making and my long time wish of teaching myself to knit. I am happy to share this journey with you too.