Because I can

A couple weeks back, my laptop went kaput. No coaxing from the local Mac doctor could revive it. I was told that replacing the hard drive (to the tune of about $250, installed) would make it functional again, but I took the sudden death as A Sign: after four years, it was time to ditch my dented, second-hand MacBook Pro and get a new laptop. More to the point: I had an excuse to get a MacBook Air, something I’d lusted after ever since the I first saw a TV ad with one being seductively pulled out of a slim manilla envelope.

You see, I travel with my laptop. And the old MacBook Pro was heavy. In comparison? The Air is tiny.

Pro on bottom, Air on top;
which would you rather lug through an airport?

Oh, yes, I love me my new laptop. Lighter and faster than the old behemoth.

The “gotcha!” is that the new laptop practically swims in the padded compartment of my old laptop bag. And that got me thinking. Wouldn’t it be fun to make a padded sleeve for the laptop? Maybe quilted, or – better yet! – knit and felted. Yes, that was it: out of Lamb’s Pride in my stash, with fat cables for textural interest.

With great excitement, I related these ideas to Da Hubster. His response: “Why don’t you just buy a padded sleeve?”

Yes, you guessed right, folks: DH is not a crafty dude.

Why make something you can buy? Because it’s fun to envision something unique, then make it a reality. Because it’s a chance to exercise hands-on skills. Because it’s a way of getting what you really want, instead of settling for what’s available in stores.

Because I can.

So I’ve pulled a couple skeins of Lamb’s Pride out of the stash. And I’ve thumbed through some stitch dictionaries, bookmarking cable patterns with promise. Next up: knitting and felting a few swatches. It ought be fun. It won’t be complete before my next trip, though: first thing tomorrow morning, I leave for Stitches Midwest. Whoo hoo! Hope to see you there!

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