Ask them what their mom thinks about cheating, and their eyes will roll as they drone "I'd rather you fail than cheat". I tell them that learning is a process, and that it is through our mistakes that we learn.
Such is the point of a knit- or craft-along, right? To work through a pattern or craft together, finding creative solutions to any problems that may arise.
When I wanted to try needle felting, I waited. I had bought the needle and the pad and I had my wool ready and waiting for weeks. It was torture, but I did not even open the packages until the day that I said I would, the day of my Grand Opening.
Then I wanted to knit socks. I had never really been interested in knitting socks before, but my curiosity began to get the better of me last fall. It took a few months to work that one out, but I finally did it! And the one sock I have (almost) done turned out better thanks to the input of my knit-alongs friends. It was a joint effort, and the accomplishment is sweeter because of it.
But the Pool Bag is different. It's an experiment. Uncharted territory. No set pattern, no written directions to follow, so much potential for problems! And what if it didn't work? It's only a four week craft-along, what if there were too many problems to solve in that short amount of time?
So I cheated.
Last weekend, I broke out my iron and ironing board, my parchment paper, and my stash of plastic bags. I sat down and watched a video on fusing plastic bags together to make fabric and got to work.
The result of my labor (as seen in the YB Pictures album) is now in the shop, ready for you to taste test yourself! I have already tried it on size 10 needles, but that didn't work out so well. The "plarn" (plastic + yarn) kept breaking on me. Switching to size 11 seems to have solved that problem, though, so that is the size in the shop. If you are considering doing this craft-along with me in May but you're leary of knitting with a strip of fused plastic ribbon, come on in and try out a row or two. Take it for a spin, see how it feels!
Now, a word about the tasting...
Ever since I moved into River City Gift Shoppe, I have had this idea to keep a sample yarn on the table at all times. The Plarn became the perfect motivation for me to finally get this ongoing Yarn Tasting up and running!
Every week or two I will be changing the yarn available for tasting, and I will keep you updated on the current "flavor" with the convenient little page link up there on the right. You can come on in, knit however much you like, in the style of your choice, making it wider or thinner or lacy or solid stockinette. Knock yourself out! Just remember to write down at least your first name and the number of rows you finished in the book on the table.
I like to think of this as an open art project. A physical documentation of the happenings at Yellowbird. Something we can look back on and say "Oh, yes! I remember that yarn! That was from the _______ knit-along! Ahhh, good times..." And anyone who can knit can come on in and be a part of it.
To kick the whole thing off with a homemade recycled bag yarn created for an experimental knit-along just seems fitting, don't you think?
So there you have it. I confess. I cheated. And you know what? I'm glad I did.
