The holidays are definitely over. The batteries powering the wreath wore out and there are no more colored lights brightening up the front door. I don't really feel much of a let down this year. But that could be because I never stopped working on the next Yarn Retreat book. There was a twist that even I hadn't expected.
I wrote before about getting the potholder loom in Cambria, but that was only part of the story. My first attempt at making a potholder ended in disaster as I had missed a crucial instruction about finishing it and the loops all came loose and it flipped off the loom. I felt pretty silly about the failure since the loom is for ages 6 and up. But maybe a six year old would have had someone read ALL the instructions.
The second potholder was a success because I did read ALL the instructions and realized what I had missed about anchoring the work while I did the cast off.
Thrilled with my success I rushed to start another potholder. The loom had come with eouugh loops to make two potholders and since the disaster one was still a clump of messed up loops, There were more loops available in the extra bag I bought when I got the loom.
I began working on the potholder, but there was something different. The loops seemed looser. I finally looked at the bag and saw that these loops were for the Pro size loom and I had the Traditional size. I had noticed the larger size loom when I was in the yarn store, but didn't think to check the bag of loops to see what loom they worked.
I was left with the decision to trash the bag of loops or buy the bigger loom.
This is where the twist came in. There was this aha moment when I thought of something. The potholder loom fit into the manuscript I was working on. The loops aren't exactly balls of yarn, but the loom means weaving which is a yarn craft. And since Casey is dealing with a number of total novices, making the potholders was perfect for them. I went ahead and ordered the bigger loom and more loops for the smaller one. It came the next day and I started on a bigger version of what I had made. But now I had a new focus. How I would write about the characters using the looms. Were there hints beyond the obvious about anchoring the work at the end that I could pass on. How would my character's respond to making such a basic household item? I even realized that the potholders were sort of a clue to who the killer is.
How funny that I didn't see the importance of the looms all along. I was just caught up in trying a new craft. I even decided to change the title of the book to LOOMING DANGER.
It's a little late, but HAPPY NEW YEAR1 I hope everyone has an abundance of good things in the new year. Hope is important. i just read something from the New York Times that said hopeful people grow taller.
8 comments:
Good morning -- Glad your loom project worked well and worked into your next book -- good idea.
Yesterday, I finished the edging on a blanket I'd started a few days ago so counted it as one for December. I finished ahead of my goal of one each week -- I did seven during the month. Two granny squares and one granny rectangle were in the group -- they work up fast. I've always used Jan. 1 as the day to go through my stash of craft items and clean out things I no longer want or need. Since crocheting is the only craft I do these days, I didn't have much to clear out. I did put a few partial skeins of yarn in the Goodwill donation bag -- the store we go to usually has numerous bags of yarn for sale.
i watched the Rose Parade on tv yesterday -- awful weather for all the participants and viewers there. The floats are amazing -- such beauty.
I have a few household chores to do this morning, then back to crocheting. Started a cross stitch pattern blanket last night -- it's a favorite.
Enjoy your day and whatever you choose to do.
Patty, A blanket a week is impressive, but seven in a month--wow! I like your idea of clearing out craft items at the beginning of the new year.
In the past we have gone to Pasadena the night before the Rose Parade. The floats are all lined up and mostly ready to go and you can walk past them. It was always exciting and kind of mysterious to see the giant floats up close. It was too wet to consider it this year.
Good luck with your project. I'm sure someone will treasure it.
Happy weekend!
It's always fun when something in real life can be used in our writing like your loom, Betty. Happy New Year, happy weekend, and happy writing!
I remember making those potholders when I was a kid. I got a kit for Christmas one year and made loads of potholders. I kept my Mom and my aunts supplied for quite a while. What a good memory. Maybe I should get one now and start making them again. I love the comfort of crocheting so maybe making potholders will be a new way of relaxing. Thanks for sharing. Sure hope 2026 is a great year for everyone.
Happy New Year! I also remember making those pot holders many years ago. It is so neat how the looms worked into your novel. Now when I read it I will remember what you said.
Linda, I'm sure your pups give you ideas for your books. There's nothing like using real life in fiction, except for the murder part. The holidays already feel like old news.
Sally, the potholders from the loom are great and I'm sure the ones you made were appreciated. The good thing about the potholders is that they don't take a huge amount of time, so you get the satisfaction of finishing something. I think a lot of us have our fingers crossed about 2026.
Miriam, I can't believe that I didn't have one of those looms when I was a kid since I liked to make things. The closet I came was making something called a sit-upon in Campfire girls. It was made with woven strips of newspaper. I guess that is a thing of the past now that nobody reads a paper newspaper, We used the sit-upons for meetings when we sat on the floor.
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