You guys. It happened! The gnome workshop this weekend was so. much. fun. And look at the little guy that came home with me - so much whimsy packed into this little dude.
Sarah was friendly, well spoken, and has a knack for teaching. A lot of techniques are packed into this pattern, and I was able to follow her instruction quite well and was grateful for the chance to see it done in parallel and hear her useful tips along the way. Her love of the craft and of the little personalities we were bringing to life was apparent, and I was charmed both by her designs and her reflections on how magical her path had been to bring her to the point that she is doing and loving what she's doing now.
It was a companionable experience to sit in a room full of knitters all puzzling over the same pattern, helping each other with questions, and generally cheering each other on. Marinating in the atmosphere of Just Having Fun was a wonderful way to spend the afternoon. I have been enjoying social knit nights at the shop for a few weeks now, and this experience was right in line with the supportive community of women I have met there. This place is a gem and a gift to my crafty heart.
As to the project, I was intrigued by the clever use of i-cord, the relative ease of sewing all the bits on (despite my normally extreme dislike of fiddly bits like that), and the many ways a bobble can be fashioned to make a nose. Gnoah came together relatively easily for me, and I am definitely planning on enjoying and being challenged by each of the patterns out of Sarah's book.
When I got home and started messing around with his hat and stance, I decided what he really wanted was a walking stick. I had cut some rosemary for a flower arrangement on my way inside, and one of the leftover twigs was the perfect size. He makes me smile! Which is of course the point of it all, isn't it.
