Craft projects take one's mind off the potholes and mud

I'm a little behind on this one, but March is National CraftMonth. I'm not entirely certain who selected March as the month tobinge on craft projects, but it strikes me as the right time, nowthat the end-of-winter-blahs are upon us. What better way to divertyour attention from oozing mud, potholes and dirt-spattered, frozensnowbanks than to indulge your senses in fabric, yarn, sequins,beads, paper and maybe even glitter glue.

I am keeping the craft fires burning at home by concentrating ona sweater I am knitting using Harris tweed yarn. It's slow going,but I can boast that the back and one of the front pieces are done,and I am half done with the second front piece. The yarn is rough,and though it knits up beautifully, it's not as friendly to the handas merino or alpaca. I am using a sweater pattern from one of my1980s vintage McCall's Needlework magazines. The sweater's mostoutstanding feature is a bold collar and extra-wide knit 1, purl 1ribbing at the bottom edges.

Months ago I started an embroidery featuring mermaids. Itlanguishes in my living room gathering dust on a table right where Ileft it weeks ago. Perhaps as the days lengthen, I will be inspiredto pick it up and see what it wants me to do to it. Some things justcan't be planned - they have to evolve - I think this piece iswaiting for the return of warmer days and green grass.

The Internet is teeming with things you can do to indulge yourinterest in craft - try Googling "crochet-along" or "knit-along" todiscover websites that feature such projects that dozens of othersin the United States and the world are doing at the same time. Orvisit http://www.redheart.com to join its crochet-along - a samplerthrow. Each square in the throw is done in a different stitch, whichgives the opportunity to learn new techniques as the afghan grows.

The local public library or your own personal book shelves aregood places to visit before starting craft projects. Perhaps in thepages of books you will find the inspiration to build a kite, make acloth doll or animal, or become obsessed by what wonderful thingsyou can make with beads. Or stop by your local fabric store, strollthe aisles and select fabric to make easy, quick projects such aspillows to brighten a room, an apron, cloth grocery bags, a valancefor a bare window or a tablecloth. It might be prudent to stock upon cotton because, according to a spot on a national news broadcastrecently, the cost of cotton and goods made from it - such as fabric- is spiraling upward. Better to be overstashed than suffer clothsticker shock later on.

One of my favorite craft materials is cardstock. I collectphotographs I have taken and whenever I need a card for a birthdayor other special occasion, I select a photo, fix it to cardstockwith sticky photo corners, use stamping techniques to add a messageand other embellishments, and off it goes into the mail.

Make journals by folding plain white printer paper in half,insert the folded pages into a manila file folder - even a recycledone - cut it with scissors to fit the pages and use dental floss orembroidery thread to stitch the pages in place. Cut items fromnewspapers and magazines to glue in collage fashion to front andback, and suddenly you have a special journal where you can jot yourthoughts, make lists of bird sightings, or fill with family news tosend to a loved who lives far away.

No matter where you turn for inspiration for craft projects, thebest place is always inside your own head. Everyone has craftmaterials on hand, including paper, or old clothing that can be madeinto something else, such as stuffed toys, tote bags, placemats andpotholders, and yarn, thread and fabric.

You don't necessarily need special equipment or sewing machinesto do craft projects. Try stitching by hand, or using things youhave in your kitchen, such as muffin tins for sorting beads.Basically, all you need to craft things is the desire to begin.

So what are you waiting for? Get crafting!

Snippets

Spring craft course offerings at SAD 22 Adult Education include apenny rug applique class beginning 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March23; hand towel applique 6-8:30 p.m. Monday, April 11; Mommy and MeEaster cards 5:30-7:30 p.m. Monday, April 11; springtime cardworkshop 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5; Mommy and Me springtime cards5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 19. For more information, call 862-6422.

Call Ardeana Hamlin at 990-8153, or e-mailahamlin@bangordailynews.com.