Diversions
So I’ve somehow managed to refrain from talking about it too much here, but, um, I’m fond of board games. If you know me long enough in person, there will come a moment where I try and casually inquire if you, too, happen to be fond of board games. Usually people say some version of ‘um, ew no, why on earth do you ask’ and I have to explain about how if you haven’t played them since you were a preteen, you’ve been missing out. Occasionally people say yes, and then I have to do that delicate dance where I figure out if that means they played Cards Against Humanity at someone’s party one time or if they have a closet full of board games and long for more people to play with.
But until recently, I’ve managed to avoid knitting anything for my board games (though I am totally the sort of weirdo who has been known to upgrade the pieces and organizational structures of my games to things that suit me better, so I’m not sure why I haven’t given in sooner).
But then…then we went and got Wingspan over the winter holidays (amazon links are totally affiliate links, but if you have a local game store, totally buy it there instead of on amazon). And we’ve been playing it so much that I couldn’t help myself…I knit a nest for the egg pieces in the game. A nest that holds them perfectly (and has room for the expansions that I will doubtless get at some point). A nest that closes up to store them when the game gets put away. A nest that fills my soul with glee.
And no, I don’t plan to do a pattern, at least not in this form (mostly because it only makes sense in the context of the game, and I’d be really uncomfortable using someone else’s intellectual property in a pattern like that, but also because this is simple enough that I suspect most of you can figure it out on your own…knit a circle, knit the sides, put in some holes for a drawstring, bind off, you can totally do this). But I do plan to get a whole heck of a lot of enjoyment out of it.
I’ve already cast on a second for the food tokens in the game (fishing them out of the tiny plastic containers they come in is tedious, this will be way better). And you can probably expect to have at least one more finished shot with both nests inflicted upon you before this is out of my system.
I have a drawer full of games and am always looking for people who want to play! I’m going to check out this game, thanks!
You’re adorable.
And yes, board games are so much fun if you can find people who are willing to enjoy themselves. Stick-n-the-muds need not apply.
My son got Wingspan for Christmas last year, and it’s darling. My Mom and I can play it just to enjoy the bird info on the pretty cards, my kids can make card engines to rack up points – and sometimes I still win because I have years of running the household and the habits work in the game too.
I love the bird feeder dice rolling mechanism, but the roof is a bit loose. If I could knit a better connecting that would still fit in the box I would.
ohhh I love Wingspan! I have the two expansions for it as well. I love your little nest, I was thinking about doing the same thing and knitting up something. Side note, my son steals my cowls (and a couple unravelled bundles of yarn that are all crinkly) to rest various bird stuffies in like a nest. it’s pretty funny. Thanks for sharing your love of board games, nice to know there are other knitting gamers out there!
I suspect that the Venn diagram of knitters and people who play board games has a not-insignificant overlap, because who will better appreciate spending a given Saturday night gathered around a table engaging in activity that often involves extended periods of downtime than a knitter? And who would better appreciate having a thing to do with your hands while you’re waiting for your turn to come around than a tabletop gamer? I’m now eyeing several of my games (Betrayal at House on the Hill in particular) with your nests in mind….
I love Wingspan and have a co-worker who is so into games, he casually name drops game designers… Including this one! The expansion is good, it makes you look more carefully at those beautiful birds.