Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knitting. Show all posts
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Knitting!
I made the hat last year and wanted a pair of mittens to go with it. It figures I would finish it just as the weather warms up :)
Monday, January 16, 2012
Winter Break
My winter break has been lovely in that I have really enjoyed getting back to reading books for me. Of course, I didn't even make a dent in my list because a friend of mine introduced me to a new author, Jennifer Cruise. She has been exactly what I needed to the point that even books I was looking forward to reading couldn't hold my attention when I know there is a Cruise novel that I haven't read yet.
Granted it is chic lit, and you can see Cruise's formula after you read a few. It makes no illusions to being amazing classical literature. However the author delivers strong, quirky female characters that as a reader you can't help but cheer for. These women are beautiful in their individuality and the romances are fun and exciting if a little too fast to jump the "forever" hurdle. (However, I dated my husband for years before we got married so I am probably more cautious then most).
My friend bought me a copy of "Bet Me" and gave it to me on New Year's. I started the book at 10 pm and read it straight through until 6 am. I didn't have to work that day so I just basked in the luxury of being fully immersed in a book.
Spring semester starts this week and I am taking a Detective Fiction class so my reading list will switch back to required reading. Having picked up my books for class, I am really excited about the list this semester. This is the class I am taking for me. I already have my lit requirement, but I couldn't NOT take this class.
I have been a bit of a hermit this weekend. I went to Sow's Ear with some friends on Saturday and talked about books and movies with two fabulous women I know. But Sunday I just curled up and watched Netflix and worked on knitting my new winter hat. I was able to get it done, but it means that I didn't get much else done. It is this pattern and I used Cascade Eco Duo for the hat. I have to say Cascade yarn's are just a pleasure to knit with and Eco is a new favorite. It was so soft, the springy-ness was just right, and I loved watching the colorway progress. I have some more and I want to make some matching mittens.
I need to go back to being productive. I recently got a promotion at work which I am enjoying for the most part, but it is a significant increase in my work load. So, even though today is a holiday, I need to go be productive. I have a pot of Earl Grey and I am pretending I also have a healthy supply of motivation.
Granted it is chic lit, and you can see Cruise's formula after you read a few. It makes no illusions to being amazing classical literature. However the author delivers strong, quirky female characters that as a reader you can't help but cheer for. These women are beautiful in their individuality and the romances are fun and exciting if a little too fast to jump the "forever" hurdle. (However, I dated my husband for years before we got married so I am probably more cautious then most).
My friend bought me a copy of "Bet Me" and gave it to me on New Year's. I started the book at 10 pm and read it straight through until 6 am. I didn't have to work that day so I just basked in the luxury of being fully immersed in a book.
Spring semester starts this week and I am taking a Detective Fiction class so my reading list will switch back to required reading. Having picked up my books for class, I am really excited about the list this semester. This is the class I am taking for me. I already have my lit requirement, but I couldn't NOT take this class.
I have been a bit of a hermit this weekend. I went to Sow's Ear with some friends on Saturday and talked about books and movies with two fabulous women I know. But Sunday I just curled up and watched Netflix and worked on knitting my new winter hat. I was able to get it done, but it means that I didn't get much else done. It is this pattern and I used Cascade Eco Duo for the hat. I have to say Cascade yarn's are just a pleasure to knit with and Eco is a new favorite. It was so soft, the springy-ness was just right, and I loved watching the colorway progress. I have some more and I want to make some matching mittens.
I need to go back to being productive. I recently got a promotion at work which I am enjoying for the most part, but it is a significant increase in my work load. So, even though today is a holiday, I need to go be productive. I have a pot of Earl Grey and I am pretending I also have a healthy supply of motivation.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
March/April Updates and Other Things
Sorry for the generally lame blog titles. Given that I am approaching once a month posts this seems a fitting theme for my titles. And as this is an update, things may ramble and jump around a bit as I try to touch on all the things I wanted to share.
I have vaguely eluded to the fact that my work life has sort of sucked as of late. In general I like my job and my bosses. However, due to a series of unfortunate coincidences I have been doing the job of two people by myself since mid-December (though I am willing to argue almost 9 months but feel somewhat unkind in doing so). Anyway, while the over time has been awesome, the lack of personal time is making for a crabby and generally unhappy me. Projects have been accumulating around the house at an alarming rate and my ability to care about them has dropped progressively. I know this sounds angry and unpleasant and sort of defeatist but that is how I am feeling...defeated. It will improve I know and there is light at the end of this tunnel. It is just a slow process getting there.
To combat all of the general ickyness and malaise, I have been taking what spare time I can and pouring it into string. I finished the lovely leaves and fishies scarf. I am currently blocking it. I am very bad at blocking. There will be more pictures once it is blocked and the weather improves enough that I feel safe taking it outside.
I also started the Pretty as a Peacock shawl. I don't like lace in general. I just think it looks too fussy. Some of it can be beautiful but most of it just isn't my style. But this shawl is so indescribably beautiful. I know myself however and did not want to pay the expense of a project I would never finish. The deal was I had to finish the leaves/fishie scarf first before I was allowed to purchase the materials for and start the peacock shawl. Having accomplished the first task I decided I deserved the chance to play with the shawl. It is slow going and a bit more complex then I may be ready for but the silk I found is so perfect and the pattern is just lovely. I am excited. My goal is to have it done by halloween. wish me luck!
Above is my progress thus far. This was taken during one of my recent visits to Sow's Ear with two amazing ladies for a day full of tea and giggles and string and general awesomeness. The little sheep in the picture is Simon but there will be more about him during another post.
I have also been reading a great deal. Mostly just murder mysteries which I know some people consider fluff, but I have to say I don't really care. I grew up reading mysteries and have re-discovered my joy for them as an adult. And, I honestly feel that even though the writing is not always superb and the plot sometimes predictable, I have learned more from the time I have spent with mysteries then I ever did from the agonizingly painful process of the steady reading that comes from classical literature. Don't get me wrong, there is some truly brilliant classical literature out there (and really in any genre if you look hard enough), but so much of it is just depressing. My brain enjoys the plot dissection that comes with a good (or even a bad) murder mystery.
That said, I am not sure I liked the book "Virals" by Kathy Reichs. It was a foray into young adult fiction. The book was okay I guess. I think my disappointment is more that I come to expect something different from her then what this delivered. I sometimes wonder if I might have liked it better if she had used a different pen name.
I am still continuing my journey through young adult fiction. I did really enjoy the book "Revolution"...up to a point. At first I was uncertain where the author was taking me, and then as things developed I was really excited to take that journey with her. Things got a little weird towards the end though and I am not sure I was able to follow. I think I am interested enough in the authors style though to try some of her other novels.
Next up on my reading list: "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake". Honestly, I picked up the book because of the title alone. I am not sure where the the book is going to go but I am intrigued.
I had a lovely conversation about the books I loved as a child with my workout buddy last night. I cannot begin to tell you how much I love talking about books with other people. We talked about shared favorites and why we love them. We talk about the fear of re-reading books we loved as a child in case we no longer enjoyed them. And we talked about that amazing feeling when the book still touches your heart.
One of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman, recently posted a blog regarding his friendship with the late Diana Wynne Jones (another amazing writer). Mr. Gaiman is pretty amazing in his own right and to hear him talk about his respect/admiration for her gave me a little more faith in humanity. One of that parts of the post that has stayed with me was a quote of hers: "Children are much more careful readers than adults," she'd say. "You don't have to repeat everything for children. You do with adults, because they aren't paying full attention." I certainly agree. I am consistently frustrated when I read a series how each book has to beat the reader over the head with the back story found in prior books. I am also a little worried that perhaps my distance from childhood is why I could not follow some of the other authors I have been reading lately. I am becoming too much of an adult. I find this very sad.
Today was a day for getting things done though. I cleaned out my desk (which took some doing), cleaned all the winter mud from the front foyer, got a haircut (I was rather shaggy, got some laundry done, and did a little reading. I wanted to knit a row or two of my shawl though and hopefully I can catch up with some friends after that.
I have vaguely eluded to the fact that my work life has sort of sucked as of late. In general I like my job and my bosses. However, due to a series of unfortunate coincidences I have been doing the job of two people by myself since mid-December (though I am willing to argue almost 9 months but feel somewhat unkind in doing so). Anyway, while the over time has been awesome, the lack of personal time is making for a crabby and generally unhappy me. Projects have been accumulating around the house at an alarming rate and my ability to care about them has dropped progressively. I know this sounds angry and unpleasant and sort of defeatist but that is how I am feeling...defeated. It will improve I know and there is light at the end of this tunnel. It is just a slow process getting there.
To combat all of the general ickyness and malaise, I have been taking what spare time I can and pouring it into string. I finished the lovely leaves and fishies scarf. I am currently blocking it. I am very bad at blocking. There will be more pictures once it is blocked and the weather improves enough that I feel safe taking it outside.
I also started the Pretty as a Peacock shawl. I don't like lace in general. I just think it looks too fussy. Some of it can be beautiful but most of it just isn't my style. But this shawl is so indescribably beautiful. I know myself however and did not want to pay the expense of a project I would never finish. The deal was I had to finish the leaves/fishie scarf first before I was allowed to purchase the materials for and start the peacock shawl. Having accomplished the first task I decided I deserved the chance to play with the shawl. It is slow going and a bit more complex then I may be ready for but the silk I found is so perfect and the pattern is just lovely. I am excited. My goal is to have it done by halloween. wish me luck!
Above is my progress thus far. This was taken during one of my recent visits to Sow's Ear with two amazing ladies for a day full of tea and giggles and string and general awesomeness. The little sheep in the picture is Simon but there will be more about him during another post.
I have also been reading a great deal. Mostly just murder mysteries which I know some people consider fluff, but I have to say I don't really care. I grew up reading mysteries and have re-discovered my joy for them as an adult. And, I honestly feel that even though the writing is not always superb and the plot sometimes predictable, I have learned more from the time I have spent with mysteries then I ever did from the agonizingly painful process of the steady reading that comes from classical literature. Don't get me wrong, there is some truly brilliant classical literature out there (and really in any genre if you look hard enough), but so much of it is just depressing. My brain enjoys the plot dissection that comes with a good (or even a bad) murder mystery.
That said, I am not sure I liked the book "Virals" by Kathy Reichs. It was a foray into young adult fiction. The book was okay I guess. I think my disappointment is more that I come to expect something different from her then what this delivered. I sometimes wonder if I might have liked it better if she had used a different pen name.
I am still continuing my journey through young adult fiction. I did really enjoy the book "Revolution"...up to a point. At first I was uncertain where the author was taking me, and then as things developed I was really excited to take that journey with her. Things got a little weird towards the end though and I am not sure I was able to follow. I think I am interested enough in the authors style though to try some of her other novels.
Next up on my reading list: "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake". Honestly, I picked up the book because of the title alone. I am not sure where the the book is going to go but I am intrigued.
I had a lovely conversation about the books I loved as a child with my workout buddy last night. I cannot begin to tell you how much I love talking about books with other people. We talked about shared favorites and why we love them. We talk about the fear of re-reading books we loved as a child in case we no longer enjoyed them. And we talked about that amazing feeling when the book still touches your heart.
One of my favorite authors, Neil Gaiman, recently posted a blog regarding his friendship with the late Diana Wynne Jones (another amazing writer). Mr. Gaiman is pretty amazing in his own right and to hear him talk about his respect/admiration for her gave me a little more faith in humanity. One of that parts of the post that has stayed with me was a quote of hers: "Children are much more careful readers than adults," she'd say. "You don't have to repeat everything for children. You do with adults, because they aren't paying full attention." I certainly agree. I am consistently frustrated when I read a series how each book has to beat the reader over the head with the back story found in prior books. I am also a little worried that perhaps my distance from childhood is why I could not follow some of the other authors I have been reading lately. I am becoming too much of an adult. I find this very sad.
Today was a day for getting things done though. I cleaned out my desk (which took some doing), cleaned all the winter mud from the front foyer, got a haircut (I was rather shaggy, got some laundry done, and did a little reading. I wanted to knit a row or two of my shawl though and hopefully I can catch up with some friends after that.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
End of Summer
My toes are cold this morning - second day in a row so fall must be officially here. I suppose that means now is as good a time as any to wrap up my summer.
I did not really accomplish much on the crafty front with the crazy hours I put in at work all summer and moving into our first home.
I am still getting used to the space but I can't begin to describe how much I love it here. I am also starting to learn the personality of my new kitchen. It sounds odd but we seem to be a little shy around each other. It is getting better.
I did manage to do some canning at the close of the summer season. I made pickled green beans for my husband using some of the produce from the farmers market and also the end-of-summer jam he loves. It is a combination of peaches, pears, plums, lemon and ginger and is unbelievably tasty. It comes out this gorgeous blush color. Sadly my impatience meant I took it off the heat too quick so it is a little thin. Still workable but you have to eat PBJ very quickly :)
I also made some sekanjabin as well. It was a drink I was introduced to through the SCA and while not a big fan at first it has really grown on me. When properly diluted it is really very refreshing.
I am on vacation this week from work so I decided to use the time to get some knitting projects started. I had a bunch of time I needed to use up so while not an exciting vacation hopefully it will be a relaxed one. It is starting to look like it won't be as productive as I originally intended but after all these years you would think I would know that about myself. I have gotten 3 of my 5 knitting projects started. My intent is to cast on a bunch of different patterns/yarns into various projects so when I get a moment I can pick something up and knit on it rather than stalling because I don't feel like casting something on. Mostly just socks although my sweater project is staring at me waiting for me to get the courage to make a swatch. I know I shouldn't be daunted but I am.
I did not really accomplish much on the crafty front with the crazy hours I put in at work all summer and moving into our first home.
I am still getting used to the space but I can't begin to describe how much I love it here. I am also starting to learn the personality of my new kitchen. It sounds odd but we seem to be a little shy around each other. It is getting better.
I did manage to do some canning at the close of the summer season. I made pickled green beans for my husband using some of the produce from the farmers market and also the end-of-summer jam he loves. It is a combination of peaches, pears, plums, lemon and ginger and is unbelievably tasty. It comes out this gorgeous blush color. Sadly my impatience meant I took it off the heat too quick so it is a little thin. Still workable but you have to eat PBJ very quickly :)
I also made some sekanjabin as well. It was a drink I was introduced to through the SCA and while not a big fan at first it has really grown on me. When properly diluted it is really very refreshing.
I am on vacation this week from work so I decided to use the time to get some knitting projects started. I had a bunch of time I needed to use up so while not an exciting vacation hopefully it will be a relaxed one. It is starting to look like it won't be as productive as I originally intended but after all these years you would think I would know that about myself. I have gotten 3 of my 5 knitting projects started. My intent is to cast on a bunch of different patterns/yarns into various projects so when I get a moment I can pick something up and knit on it rather than stalling because I don't feel like casting something on. Mostly just socks although my sweater project is staring at me waiting for me to get the courage to make a swatch. I know I shouldn't be daunted but I am.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Completed Knitting Projects
This hat was made for a friend of mine. I actually ended up making this hat twice as I needed a practice run with the pattern. I was pleased by the results of the second and want to make one for myself.
These turned out unbelievably soft if not necessarily the prettiest socks I have ever made.
---
Currently on the needles:
I only have the toe left of the second Devils Snare Sock. I should hopefully finish that this weekend in between packing.
My lace scarf is progressing very slowly. I am actually a little proud of it so far and I am worried I might mess it up. It requires my concentration so I can't knit on it while watching TV with most of my projects so it may be on the needles for a long time.
I also have a skein of fingering weight wool in a color way I totally love. However, it is really unpleasant to knit with. I was going to make socks but I don't think I can bare to work with it that much so I think I am going to make some fingerless gloves instead. It also doesn't have enough give to be as successful as socks as I think it would need to be.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Updates on Knitting
I finished the first sock of the Devil's Snare pattern using my Opal Harry Potter yarn. The yarn is probably too busy for this pattern but it makes my geek heart happy so I don't mind one bit. It needs a bit of tailoring to really fit. I think. I just finished the ribbing on sock number two and need to move into the lace again. I really love the heel flap and the pattern in general so I may use it again on a yarn that shows off the lace better. It gives me a good reason to purchase some KnitPicks yarn but honestly who really needs a good reason for yarn shopping :)
Sock number one completed. I started on the ribbing for sock number two. I love how soft this yarn is. My knitting wasn't so grand and I am disappointed in the colorway. I loved it on the skein and it was called "Sapphire" but once knitted it is mostly green and yellow.
These were a lot of fun and knit up very fast. I picked the wrong yarn weight and didn't do a swatch so they were enormous. I gave them to my husband though so hopefully no more cold hands after being up late playing video games.
Books and Knitting
I recently stopped by Frugal Muse in Madison to see if I could find any other copies of books by the Yarn Harlot and was pleased to find one. I of course needed to browse through the rest of the string section and found an inexpensive copy of "In Praise of the Needlewoman" by Gail Carolyn Sirna. Essentially it is a selection of art work spanning 1595-19something showing women playing with string in some manner or other: embroiderers, knitters, lacemakers, etc.
A brief glance through and I found a selection of paintings I always really liked and so I picked it up. And I am glad I did because there are some really wonderful images in there, many of which I have never seen before. It also has me re-assessing some of my favorite paintings. I always thought what drew me to them was the domesticity of woman working on some sort of project. It is what has always interested me about research in the SCA. I don't care at all about wars and kings and trade agreements. It is the domestic arts of history that I want to know more about, and apparently, the more they involve string the better. So, all in all I found the book a lovely bit of eye and brain candy. I have read a few blurbs but sadly I must admit that most of my perusal has been just to look at the pictures.
In other news, yesterday, I needed a bit of me time so I drove over to the Sow's Ear for some happy knitting and coffee time. String really does transcend boundaries. For some reason I can chat with strangers when my hands are full of string and needles. It is kind of a fascinating phenomenon. Anyway, while there I decided to pick up a copy of "The Complete Guide to Natural Dyeing" by Eva Lambert and Tracy Kendall. I haven't been able to afford a copy of the out-of-print "Wild Color" and this book had some similar features that I really liked. I think I also want to pick up a copy of "Teach Yourself Visually: Hand-Dyeing" by Barbara Parry to round out my background information. It had some different techniques and a different approach to teaching. Hopefully between the two I will get a good base knowledge before I start playing with dyes this summer (or at least that is the plan).
As for my knitting right now I have a ridiculous amount of stuff on my needles (at least for me). And I am starting to really branch out in the stuff I am willing to try and the things I want to make. However, I am also finding myself increasingly frustrating at my skill level with knitting. I very desperately need my pattern when it is anything other than garter or stockinette. I need to make little check marks and tallys and I need to re-write things if the original pattern isn't clear enough for me to follow. I know so many knitters who seem to be able to just knit by memory complex laces, socks, and sweaters, and I am completely unfunctional without my pattern. That isn't to say I am not learning. I am starting to recognize mistakes, I am getting better at reading my knitting, and I am even able to look at something when it is finished and understand how it could have been improved with some changes to the pattern but I certainly don't feel comfortable re-working the whole thing. I am also afraid to frog anything unless it is in the early stages. Even if I am unhappy with the results it seems horrific to me just to pull the whole thing apart.
I really want to make a sweater for myself. I have all the tools. The thing is the sweater I want to make has this sort of empire waste where above is just basic knitting and below is the lace pattern. For my basic person I think that in order for it to be flattering the lace will need to start below my breasts. The original model is a significantly more petite woman with much more perky breasts and from some of the other examples I have seen online the sweater really isn't flattering if it doesn't fall correctly. I don't know how to take my swatch piece and then from that figure out how the pattern is going to fall with the increased size so that I can make a flattering sweater from the onset and make alterations if needed. I will be heartbroken if it turns out poorly I think even though I know it is a first attempt. This is where clinging so desperately to my patterns is becoming a problem.
I will get there. I am just not very patient.
A brief glance through and I found a selection of paintings I always really liked and so I picked it up. And I am glad I did because there are some really wonderful images in there, many of which I have never seen before. It also has me re-assessing some of my favorite paintings. I always thought what drew me to them was the domesticity of woman working on some sort of project. It is what has always interested me about research in the SCA. I don't care at all about wars and kings and trade agreements. It is the domestic arts of history that I want to know more about, and apparently, the more they involve string the better. So, all in all I found the book a lovely bit of eye and brain candy. I have read a few blurbs but sadly I must admit that most of my perusal has been just to look at the pictures.
In other news, yesterday, I needed a bit of me time so I drove over to the Sow's Ear for some happy knitting and coffee time. String really does transcend boundaries. For some reason I can chat with strangers when my hands are full of string and needles. It is kind of a fascinating phenomenon. Anyway, while there I decided to pick up a copy of "The Complete Guide to Natural Dyeing" by Eva Lambert and Tracy Kendall. I haven't been able to afford a copy of the out-of-print "Wild Color" and this book had some similar features that I really liked. I think I also want to pick up a copy of "Teach Yourself Visually: Hand-Dyeing" by Barbara Parry to round out my background information. It had some different techniques and a different approach to teaching. Hopefully between the two I will get a good base knowledge before I start playing with dyes this summer (or at least that is the plan).
As for my knitting right now I have a ridiculous amount of stuff on my needles (at least for me). And I am starting to really branch out in the stuff I am willing to try and the things I want to make. However, I am also finding myself increasingly frustrating at my skill level with knitting. I very desperately need my pattern when it is anything other than garter or stockinette. I need to make little check marks and tallys and I need to re-write things if the original pattern isn't clear enough for me to follow. I know so many knitters who seem to be able to just knit by memory complex laces, socks, and sweaters, and I am completely unfunctional without my pattern. That isn't to say I am not learning. I am starting to recognize mistakes, I am getting better at reading my knitting, and I am even able to look at something when it is finished and understand how it could have been improved with some changes to the pattern but I certainly don't feel comfortable re-working the whole thing. I am also afraid to frog anything unless it is in the early stages. Even if I am unhappy with the results it seems horrific to me just to pull the whole thing apart.
I really want to make a sweater for myself. I have all the tools. The thing is the sweater I want to make has this sort of empire waste where above is just basic knitting and below is the lace pattern. For my basic person I think that in order for it to be flattering the lace will need to start below my breasts. The original model is a significantly more petite woman with much more perky breasts and from some of the other examples I have seen online the sweater really isn't flattering if it doesn't fall correctly. I don't know how to take my swatch piece and then from that figure out how the pattern is going to fall with the increased size so that I can make a flattering sweater from the onset and make alterations if needed. I will be heartbroken if it turns out poorly I think even though I know it is a first attempt. This is where clinging so desperately to my patterns is becoming a problem.
I will get there. I am just not very patient.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Knitting Progress
As part of my resolution to venture out of my safe zone when it comes to knitting (lumpy squares and stockinette tubes), I decided to try the Devil's Snare Sock pattern. I liked that the lace part was on only one section (my all the way around lace effort turned into epic fail the first time I tried that) and I loved the detail on the heel flap. I even saved my special Opal Harry Potter yarn for this purpose.
I finished the first sock tonight and it didn't go to badly. I had a few false starts but a friend quickly cleared things up. They are a little to big and I think I know how to fix that but I am not willing to frog the sock to do try it (I am conquering one fear at a time here). The variegated yarn doesn't really show off the full effect of the pattern but I still love them and I think I may use the pattern again in the future.
Now, I need to finish the second sock...sigh
I finished the first sock tonight and it didn't go to badly. I had a few false starts but a friend quickly cleared things up. They are a little to big and I think I know how to fix that but I am not willing to frog the sock to do try it (I am conquering one fear at a time here). The variegated yarn doesn't really show off the full effect of the pattern but I still love them and I think I may use the pattern again in the future.
Now, I need to finish the second sock...sigh
"Free-Range Knitter"
I recently picked up a copy of "Free-Range Knitter: the Yarn Harlot Writes Again" by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee.
I was somewhat skeptical. I have seen her blog, and while I do not dislike it, I also never really got into it*. I am not a huge blog reader in general, and I am not much of a person for books that are collections of stories or essays. But, I thought I would give it a try, and I am really glad I did. I enjoyed it immensely; it was honest, thoughtful, insightful and rather witty. It is the kind of writing (aside from perhaps a few style changes) that I always wished I could do.
One of the things I really appreciated about it was that it made me feel more like I belonged. I am neither a very good nor a very fast knitter. I knit because I find the movements relaxing, I like that my boredom can be turned into a sock, I have a somewhat unhealthy addiction to string, and I always feel like I need to be doing something with my hands in order to be really comfortable. Most of my knitting to date has been lumpy dishrags (garter stitch squares of cotton) and basic stockinette socks. I don't look at a pattern and immediately go "I can do that!" Actually, my reactions to interesting patterns are usually jealousy (I wish I could do that), longing (I need that beautiful bit of string), or frustration (even if I get up the courage to do it, it will take forever and come out wrong).
So, I have never really felt like a real knitter. I think about knitting a lot (I think about string more often) but I always feel that I can't be a real knitter until it becomes intuitive. I watch women knitting at yarn stores or gatherings or in public and they knit complex lacy bits of knitting without seeming to need to follow a pattern or even look at their hands. Whereas, I cling desperately to my pattern and make little tally marks to track where I am as I go along. That isn't to say that I think the knitting community is unwelcoming - I have actually found them to be quite the opposite. And, as I have become more exposed to knitters in general I have started to feel more open not only to the fact that despite my deficits I might just be a knitter and maybe just maybe I can start to pick up more complex patterns. But for some reason, I needed to hear the author talking about all sorts of different knitters to be able to truly feel like my own particular idiosyncratic tendencies as a knitter have their place. It helped to bring home to me that I am a knitter when I found myself laughing at the knitting-related references/jokes; it helped to draw me into the shared experience that is being a knitter.
I was a little envious (ok extremely envious) of how much the author is able to find knitting time. I have tried traveling with my knitting but I can't seem to manage it in most circumstances (although it never occurred to me to bring my knitting to the movie theater). I found the bus I was too squished and confined; I think I need my elbows to steer when I am knitting which is difficult to do when I am trying to politely hold them in at my sides. Walking by itself is hazardous at the best of times for me so the idea of walking and knitting seems ludicrous (I used to walk home from school and read at the same time and to this day I am not sure how I managed to keep myself from getting hit by a car). And then there is my charting problem. I need my pattern, especially as I start to explore more complicated applications for my knitting. And while my sock knitting has helped me to better understand how things go together to the point that I am starting to learn how to fix my mistakes I still couldn't turn a heel without my pattern.
So knitting has become sort of a special treat for me. It is special time I steal for myself to play with string. It relaxes and inspires me at the same time even if I am frustrated by how little I get to do compared to how much I want to. Some day I will get to knit all the complex things I am afraid of. Someday I will find the courage to frog something I truly loved that didn't turn out. And some day my stash will be epic and will I make no apologies for that.
So Thank you Stephanie Pearl-McPhee for helping to solidfy in my own mind that I am a knitter. It was a wonderful journey and I shall be looking for more of your books.
*In fairness my visual/tactile learning style can't handle reading that isn't a fiction based novel (I think my dreams of grad school are probably doomed).
I was somewhat skeptical. I have seen her blog, and while I do not dislike it, I also never really got into it*. I am not a huge blog reader in general, and I am not much of a person for books that are collections of stories or essays. But, I thought I would give it a try, and I am really glad I did. I enjoyed it immensely; it was honest, thoughtful, insightful and rather witty. It is the kind of writing (aside from perhaps a few style changes) that I always wished I could do.
One of the things I really appreciated about it was that it made me feel more like I belonged. I am neither a very good nor a very fast knitter. I knit because I find the movements relaxing, I like that my boredom can be turned into a sock, I have a somewhat unhealthy addiction to string, and I always feel like I need to be doing something with my hands in order to be really comfortable. Most of my knitting to date has been lumpy dishrags (garter stitch squares of cotton) and basic stockinette socks. I don't look at a pattern and immediately go "I can do that!" Actually, my reactions to interesting patterns are usually jealousy (I wish I could do that), longing (I need that beautiful bit of string), or frustration (even if I get up the courage to do it, it will take forever and come out wrong).
So, I have never really felt like a real knitter. I think about knitting a lot (I think about string more often) but I always feel that I can't be a real knitter until it becomes intuitive. I watch women knitting at yarn stores or gatherings or in public and they knit complex lacy bits of knitting without seeming to need to follow a pattern or even look at their hands. Whereas, I cling desperately to my pattern and make little tally marks to track where I am as I go along. That isn't to say that I think the knitting community is unwelcoming - I have actually found them to be quite the opposite. And, as I have become more exposed to knitters in general I have started to feel more open not only to the fact that despite my deficits I might just be a knitter and maybe just maybe I can start to pick up more complex patterns. But for some reason, I needed to hear the author talking about all sorts of different knitters to be able to truly feel like my own particular idiosyncratic tendencies as a knitter have their place. It helped to bring home to me that I am a knitter when I found myself laughing at the knitting-related references/jokes; it helped to draw me into the shared experience that is being a knitter.
I was a little envious (ok extremely envious) of how much the author is able to find knitting time. I have tried traveling with my knitting but I can't seem to manage it in most circumstances (although it never occurred to me to bring my knitting to the movie theater). I found the bus I was too squished and confined; I think I need my elbows to steer when I am knitting which is difficult to do when I am trying to politely hold them in at my sides. Walking by itself is hazardous at the best of times for me so the idea of walking and knitting seems ludicrous (I used to walk home from school and read at the same time and to this day I am not sure how I managed to keep myself from getting hit by a car). And then there is my charting problem. I need my pattern, especially as I start to explore more complicated applications for my knitting. And while my sock knitting has helped me to better understand how things go together to the point that I am starting to learn how to fix my mistakes I still couldn't turn a heel without my pattern.
So knitting has become sort of a special treat for me. It is special time I steal for myself to play with string. It relaxes and inspires me at the same time even if I am frustrated by how little I get to do compared to how much I want to. Some day I will get to knit all the complex things I am afraid of. Someday I will find the courage to frog something I truly loved that didn't turn out. And some day my stash will be epic and will I make no apologies for that.
So Thank you Stephanie Pearl-McPhee for helping to solidfy in my own mind that I am a knitter. It was a wonderful journey and I shall be looking for more of your books.
*In fairness my visual/tactile learning style can't handle reading that isn't a fiction based novel (I think my dreams of grad school are probably doomed).
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Felted Slippers
These are made with Berroco Peruvia yarn using this pattern. I also added non-skid leather patches to the bottom.
They were a really enjoyable knit and for the first time felting a piece that i actually intended to use I was happy with the results. I felted them too small for my toes to have enough wiggle room so I am hoping to find a good home for them.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
White Wool Socks
Wedding Socks are completed!!!! I had thought it would be neat to knit some pretty lacy socks for the wedding but that attempt was full of fail. So, I just did what I know how to do - basic socks. The wool is lovely and soft and I am sorry I couldn't better showcase it with greater skill, but I am just not there yet. It is nice to know I will have something that I made and it was good to have a project for the wedding that I find calming
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Weekend of Knitting
Friday night I went to the Late Night Knit at the Sow's Ear. I had gotten a few notices from friends who had hoped to be able to go and I was looking forward to seeing folks but decided that even if no one showed I still wanted to go. I am slowly getting more comfortable doing things on my "own" again. As much as I love my partner it is good to be able to remind myself that I am still cool with just me.
And it is such a lovely place...warm beverages at just the right temperature and labyrinthian rooms full of shelves stuffed with yarn. And knitters are a lovely group...everyone just seems happy to be somewhere knitting. As always the place is packed so I wound up sharing my table with some people I hadn't met before and was glad I had the opportunity to chat with them.
I finished the second of the basic baby socks.
They knit up really quick and the second one on the left is starting to show promise as "k1 p1" ribbing is concerned. Not great but significantly less woofy then the first attempt.
Although I think I knitted the first one wrong because when I went to do the final decrease on the toe it happened very differently and I think I like the original way I did better. I need to wash and block the hat and socks before I send them off to my aunt. The hat is going to probably be too small and the socks probably too big which I am hoping will be forgiven.
Saturday the full force of the ick I have been slowly coming down with hit me. Horrible cough and my entire body ached. As in I think I now know where my spleen is. Which means I got pretty much nothing done except for a load of laundry and some banana chocolate chip bread (the bananas needed to be used up).
The rest of the day I plunked down on the couch and watched some movies... mostly some Netflix stuff and of course one of my three favorite crafting movies Pride & Prejudice (the good version from A&E...no I do not want to know about the zombies. There are no zombies in Pride & Prejudice). It is excellent because it is so long and I have the thing practically memorized so I can concentrate on the knitting when I have to and not miss any of the story. I wonder if Jane Austen knew how much she would be loved centuries later.
Anyway, while watching I started making the flower washcloths I have a pattern for. I am thinking of making a bunch as presents. The cotton chenille is unbelievably soft and which is making up for the non-stretchy nature of the fiber. I would be highly annoyed otherwise. I probably would have gotten further but I got tired a few times and worked on the Blanket of Many Colors instead.
I think I have enough projects to get me through the end of the year and probably the end of next year as well.
However, Some day when I do not totally suck at the knitting thing I am going to attempt this:
http://www.flintknits.com/blog/?p=151
I have seen the February Lady Sweater every where in the past month and a wide variety of shapes and sizes and I know that someday if I really really try I could make it...possibly. I am hoping that I will have worked up the courage to try next spring.
NO! I am not going to start anything else knew until I finish what is on my current needles (except for the blanket of many colors which is my "I want to knit but not really concentrate on the knitting" project and has no deadline).
And it is such a lovely place...warm beverages at just the right temperature and labyrinthian rooms full of shelves stuffed with yarn. And knitters are a lovely group...everyone just seems happy to be somewhere knitting. As always the place is packed so I wound up sharing my table with some people I hadn't met before and was glad I had the opportunity to chat with them.
I finished the second of the basic baby socks.
They knit up really quick and the second one on the left is starting to show promise as "k1 p1" ribbing is concerned. Not great but significantly less woofy then the first attempt.
Although I think I knitted the first one wrong because when I went to do the final decrease on the toe it happened very differently and I think I like the original way I did better. I need to wash and block the hat and socks before I send them off to my aunt. The hat is going to probably be too small and the socks probably too big which I am hoping will be forgiven.
Saturday the full force of the ick I have been slowly coming down with hit me. Horrible cough and my entire body ached. As in I think I now know where my spleen is. Which means I got pretty much nothing done except for a load of laundry and some banana chocolate chip bread (the bananas needed to be used up).
The rest of the day I plunked down on the couch and watched some movies... mostly some Netflix stuff and of course one of my three favorite crafting movies Pride & Prejudice (the good version from A&E...no I do not want to know about the zombies. There are no zombies in Pride & Prejudice). It is excellent because it is so long and I have the thing practically memorized so I can concentrate on the knitting when I have to and not miss any of the story. I wonder if Jane Austen knew how much she would be loved centuries later.
Anyway, while watching I started making the flower washcloths I have a pattern for. I am thinking of making a bunch as presents. The cotton chenille is unbelievably soft and which is making up for the non-stretchy nature of the fiber. I would be highly annoyed otherwise. I probably would have gotten further but I got tired a few times and worked on the Blanket of Many Colors instead.
I think I have enough projects to get me through the end of the year and probably the end of next year as well.
However, Some day when I do not totally suck at the knitting thing I am going to attempt this:
http://www.flintknits.com/blog/?p=151
I have seen the February Lady Sweater every where in the past month and a wide variety of shapes and sizes and I know that someday if I really really try I could make it...possibly. I am hoping that I will have worked up the courage to try next spring.
NO! I am not going to start anything else knew until I finish what is on my current needles (except for the blanket of many colors which is my "I want to knit but not really concentrate on the knitting" project and has no deadline).
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Baby Hat
Wow! This knitted up really fast! I had some sock yarn that I wanted to work with but I didn't feel like tackling another pair of socks so I decided to make this cute baby hat I had a pattern for. I was a little unsure of a few things but I managed to figure them out. I guess I am getting to be a better knitter despite myself.
I used Sockotta. I think it patterns a little more distinctly than Berroco Sox but I am not sure which one I like better. I have a ton left over so I am going to make a pair of socks to manage. I had forgotten that my aunt was pregnant (I don't keep in touch with my extended family that much) so starting and finishing it was rather convenient. Her shower is tomorrow and since I have to work I will send it, the socks, and a card soon. I think I am going to make another set for the original mom-to-be this was intended for. Then I should probably get back to some other projects.
I really liked how this one pattered on the top with the decreases. The I-cord was a first attempt so it is rather woofy. I found lots of instructions on how to start I-cord but absolutely none on how you finish it off. My first was a little disasterous but I tried doing decreases on the second until I got down to one stitch and then finishing it off like I usually do for a cast off. I then pulled the tail back down through the cord which seemed to correct the end shape. Not perfect but better then the first attempt. Look at me experimenting.
It is a good thing I am starting to get hooked on this because I have too much yarn to just drop the knitting thing but I worry how long my interest will last. My embroidery obsession is pretty much gone and I am hoping the knitting one doesn't follow suit.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Knit! Knit! Knit! My First Socks!
Hooray! I made my first pair of socks! I went to the Late Night Knit at the Sow's Ear last night and I made so much progress on the last sock that I was able to finish the toe this morning (of course when I should have been doing other things).
The store and concept are great. Knitters really are cool people it seems and very welcoming. I also bought myself a long-coveted skein of the Opal Harry Potter yarn. I think I am going to save it for when I am feeling brave enough to make fingerless gloves.
I also recently finished the Mobius scarf for the boy:
I didn't think very carefully about it though and did the black part wrong. It curls in on itself (you are seeing a picture of the blocking which didn't help). The boy likes it though so I win.
In other crafty bits not much else new. I recently played around with a recipe for orange chocolate chip cookies using bits of candied orange peel. Not quite orange-y enough but still good.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
A Thing-A-Week Part 22: Knitted Shawl
So I attempted to knit this: http://tinyurl.com/4g5chaIt is made with all sorts of interesting fluffy yarns that are knitted in with a soft base yarn on these GIGANTIC needles. They were 1 inch thick and Aaron stayed as far away from me as possible while I was working on it. They are designed to knit large items quickly (they are called speed stix) but I essentially ended up with a big piece of netting that stretched in weird ways and is definitely the lumpiest thing I have knitted to date. I don't think my knitting skills are really at a level to handle this kind of project and there are some things I am still kind of faking because I am not sure how to do them. The colors are pretty (I am very happy I was able to figure out color-combo on my own because I didn't want to use the intense colors the pattern recommended). It is a little to short to be at a comfortable length for me but I can snuggle up with its softness. I do want to at some point make a lacy shawl I have seen patterns for but I don't think I am really ready for that yet. This also took me a lot longer than 4 hours (as the pattern suggested) but I did manage to get it done this weekend.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Thing-A-Week Part I: A scary dishrag
So this is my first "thing." I had wanted to make some dishrag/washcloth things as Twelfth Night gifts. My mom has a pattern for them and used to make them all the time. I however couldn't make any sense of the pattern so I just knit a roughly square object. My knitting is really bad and it looks rather scary up close. But, I think it will serve it's purpose and is going to go into my camp kitchen set which I am slowly building (as in, look I have the first piece of my camp kitchen set!).
The problem I have with knitting is that it just doesn't make "sense." Embroidery makes sense. I understand the mechanics of it, what goes wrong when things do go wrong, and just sort of the nature of the beast. Knitting doesn't make any sense to me. I can't figure out why things go wrong. I am still baffled by patterns and anything more complicated then casting on/off, knitting, and purling (and the latter is still a toss up). I have some blanket patterns I might try at some point but for now I will keep making lump scarves and dishrags and just enjoy the calming rhythm of the needles. If I want to make something presentable I will just have to stick with embroidery for the time being.
On the embroidery front, I am progressing on the "chicken of doom" which will hopefully be a forthcoming post.
That is of course the other problem with the whole thing a day or week problem for me. Many of my projects require more than just a day and many of my days are already filled with work stuff. But maybe this is a good chance to do some more cooking experimentation.
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