The news cycle sure is crazy right now, and my favorite way to engage in “avoidance behavior” is to crochet, knit or sew, while binging something (unrelated to the news, of course) on TV. Lately I’ve been watching old Columbo episodes. It’s somewhat funny, since the start of that TV series coincided with the Arab Oil Embargo, “stagflation” and other disruptive economic shenanigans of the early 1970’s.

I was digging through old patterns and stash yarn a week or so ago, and rediscovered this pattern along with a good amount of yarn that was just right for creating some colorful distractions.

The bags make unique gift holders, are ideal for carrying small things that we don’t want to be floating around loose in our purse or tote, and as I noted in my previous post, they’re fun to make! They are also PERFECT for turning stash yarn into something creative and cute.

I am almost done with a yellow and white sparkle one, (pictured above) and dug out some more Impeccable yarn from my stash in anticipation of making the NEXT one. When not actively crocheting, I am lining up skeins, side by side, to see which combinations I want to make with my next bag.

Yes, I already have plenty of these, but I am considering the creation of a mini art installation about anxiety and crafting and am looking into whether I can get it displayed at the local public library. I also know, from past mini obsessions, that I will eventually tire of making these and move on to something else.

I realize this seems silly, but in a world that, just last night, was worrying about whether or not we’d be entering WWIII, “silly” seems like a good place to be right now.

Happy stitching, and here’s to an improving news cycle in the coming days and weeks!

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