I’ve always been someone who likes to create. I would not say I’m creative because I don’t necessarily make a lot of brand new designs, but I like to create things. This is something I often bring up in job interviews when asked why I want to be a web developer for X company or work on Y product. I love the idea of being able to show someone something, for example a website, and say “I made this,” or, as it usually goes on the job, “I had a part in making this.”
I love to fill my free time with creating. In high school, that meant building websites. Now, since I am a full-time web developer, I do less dev for fun and more crafty stuff. I love to knit and crochet. Two nights ago, I spent the bulk of my evening crocheting what I suppose will be a decoration somewhere at some point. I just thought the pattern was very pretty and felt I had to make it. So I did.
I finished knitting my very first pair of socks last week and am now working on a hat for myself and a pair of slippers for my mom.
Growing up, my grandma on my dad’s side was a huge supporter of crafting as a hobby. Each year for Chanukah, she would send me a different craft kit. One year I received a loom to make potholders (and boy did I make potholders), another year I got a needlepoint kit, which I remember finishing in the dressing room during ice show, and another year, she gave me an embroidery kit. She used to knit sweaters and dresses for my Barbies, and she once knit a sweater vest for my brother when he was still a toddler. I learned how to knit from a friend’s mom when I was nine, but my first real completed knit item was a coaster my grandma showed me how to make in an afternoon when she visited.
Since August (right around when I stopped running due to the injury I’m just now mostly healed from), I have been rediscovering my love for crafting. Like I already said, I have been spending a huge amount of my time knitting. I also recently, as of last week, became nostalgic for that needlepoint kit I did when I was little, so I ordered a couple online and they both arrived yesterday. I got started on the smaller one last night (of a “cuddly cat”), and it is fun! I realize I may have a weird definition of the word, but I also run for fun, so that should come as no surprise to anyone.
So, I am grateful to my grandma for helping instill a love of crafting in me. Without hobbies like this, I would probably just watch TV all the time and feel like a lump. Which is profoundly NOT fun. Although, knitting is a great excuse to watch TV all day, which I do regularly. 😉
What about you? What is your hobby of choice?
Rach Runs Her Mouth 