No pictures today because I have been having a bad crafting week (that's sort of like a bad hair day).

I am knitting the big center diamond for the back of my Autumn in Taos coat.  It started out very well: I learned the "knitted cast on" technique and think that is a wonderful addition to my knitting bag of tricks.  Then I made a mistake halfway through and made a total mess of trying to undo it because the yarn I was working with was one of the funkiest yarns in the Prism Stuff (Caterpillar).  That was three days ago.  It is still sitting there as I try to gather the energy and determination for major knitting surgery, or to simply bite the bullet and rip it out. 

I had to rip out two squares last week, so I'm feeling a bit discouraged.  Normally I would start something new to cheer myself up, but I am trying very hard to stay focused on this project and finish it.  Instead I have been working on my second Saki sock as my "backup knitting."

I ventured into my first experiments with the polymer clay last weekend.  The results are so fugly that I refuse to post pictures for fear of discouraging those of you who are also thinking of trying it.  I will post them once I have something bee-yoo-tee-ful to show as well.  I did learn some valuable lessons, however.

First of all, it was very silly of me to try to be frugal and not purchase the recommended pasta making machine, which is good for conditioning the clay and rolling out nice even sheets.  I don't have the patience for conditioning and rolling by hand, and you can't get good results if you skimp on those steps.

I ordered most of my supplies from the Polymer Clay Superstore and they have a simple pasta machine for $25.  They also ship incredibly quickly.  My pasta machine arrived in two days.

I also didn't have a sharp enough slicer (the one I ordered was on backorder).  You need sharp slicers and knives to get good results.   Another tool I was missing was sandpaper, which I believe will correct a multitude of sins in the cutting and slicing department.

The Polymer Clay Superstore doesn't have everything.  I ordered some fancy stuff like metal powders from Polymer Clay Express.

For those of you who are thinking of trying it, here is my amended list of "must-haves" to start with:

• Acrylic roller


• Pasta Machine


• Slicer


• Basic modeling tools (this plastic set is included for free in the Sculpey Primo clay color packs, so I ended up with two sets)


• Oven Thermometer


• Parchment baking paper


• Foil baking pan


• Crafter's Pick glue if you want to make switch plates or other coverings that should attach to the surface of a metal or plastic object


• Rough and fine sandpaper


• Get lots of clay in your favorite colors so that you don't have to worry about running out as you discard your mistakes.

Sculpey Premo is the clay that everyone recommends for strength.

I am anxious to try again with my new and improved tools, but it's been a grueling week at work this week, so I probably won't get to it until the weekend.  I hope that I will have something pretty to post next time!