I've been feeling a slight 'pinch' in my right wrist every time I picked up a piece of knitting for the past few days so I decided to give myself a break this weekend and work on my neverending to-do list. First thing: Give the sewing machine a little clean...

The bobbin 'bit' was swimming in a pool of dust and lint that the poor thing kept jamming! So I spent the morning poking about in the crevices until I was satisfied that there were no more dust bunnies... I won't even go into how many cotton buds I went through! I found this great post at Craft Nectar on how to safely clean a sewing machine.

I purchased a few yards of gorgous dusty pink faux leather a few weeks ago with the intention of using it as a cover for my handbound journals... My old one is now filled to capacity and I needed some fresh leaves for my knitting epiphanies! I couldn't resist using up the leftover scraps to make little sleeves for my dpns...

This is my new knitting journal.. my old one has gone onto the 'journal retirement shelf' to rest until I need to refer to it! 

I discovered bookbinding last summer and I fell in love. I always do my design work and pattern notes in blank page notebooks, and most of the ones out on the high street are either hard-bound and don't lie straight.. or ring-bound sketch books that are just plain boring.. or the papers are too flimsy.. And since I go through about 5 or 6 a year, and refer to them constantly, I figured the best way to get exactly what I want is to make them myself. High quality cartridge papers (so I can sketch, draw and GLUE things in without worrying about tearing), soft squidgy cover so I can cram in as many ball bands and inspiring photos without fear of it not closing... the list goes on! That way I can combine my love of knitting... sewing.. and bookbinding all in one! I also love how I can use whatever fabric matches my mood...

This summer.. I feel floral...

I just prepped another cover for a journal I'm making for a friend of mine (more flowers but paired with stripes instead of faux leather!), I'm not going to be able to attach the papers yet.. I had to place an order today so I'll probaby get them on Tuesday:)

Happy Crafting!