And so it begins, a digital account of my creative escapades. It all started for me a couple of years ago. After I had my daughter, I was trying to come up with ways to express my creativity while being a stay at home mom.
I somehow stumbled across a friendship bracelet pattern, and lamented about how I was never able to do it when I was a kid. I was intrigued, however, and it seemed fun, and a good way to pass the time while baby was sleeping.
I visited my local Joann's Fabric and picked up some embroidery floss. My first several attempts were crap, and I was certain that I couldn't pull it off... Until I did. I started with the basic designs, the candy stripe and the chevron, neither of which required a pattern. After I mastered the basics, I was hungry for more.
This hunger meant that I'd have to teach myself how to read patterns. It seemed daunting, and I wasn't sure if I could do it... Then, I did. I started small, just a few strings, then I worked my way up to 20+ strings. After time, I started getting bored of the normal patterns. I dug deeper and decided to teach myself how to read alpha charts. Alpha patterns are much different than normal patterns, but allow for much more detail.
I started adapting cross stitch, and other charts for knotting. The world opened up and I realized, this was my passion. I was having a love affair with string. I grappled with the idea that it was juvenile, and a waste of time, but I was getting good at it, and wanted to keep going.
It was at this time that I learned about weaving looms. I started my research, and decided I wanted to give it a go. I made my first loom out of cardboard... And I didn't like it. I saw the potential, but found it difficult on the cardboard. I wanted to succeed and start creating beautiful masterpieces made of fiber.
I finally invested in a loom... And wow... I was in love. It was much better than using the cardboard, and I took to it immediately. This is where I'm at right now. Here is where I invite you in, to share in my creative adventures. Join me, as I attempt to discover my own style and technique and create works of art made with string, yarn, and other fibers.
Along the way, I will share the resources I collected, offer tips and tricks that I discovered to make my life easier, and share my techniques through various tutorials and photos. I will walk you through the basics, help you understand knots and the four types associated with hand knotting. I will share with you what floss I feel works best for me and why. I have a lot to share... So if you are ready. Here we go!
I am still on this journey, and don't know where it will take me next... But I decided having a digital account would not only benefit me, but others like me, trying to learn more and start their own creative journey.
Welcome to Jennifer's Knot Home.
