N.E.W. Knitter

Another new blog!

2008-09-20T20:39:00.000-05:00

The new blog replaces the other new blog I just started. LOL So if you want to go to my "OLD NEW" blog to find out why I started a "NEW NEW" blog, you can read my post at:

CoffeeBean's Corner

and then put my (final? it better be!) new blog in your Bloglines or whatever you use:

Eileen's Blog (I decided not to spend the time thinking of a catchy title, what can I say).

Hope to see you there! Please leave me a comment if you visit!

My new home!

2008-08-25T08:56:00.000-05:00

I started my new blog. Come visit me at CoffeeBean's Corner!

It's going to take me awhile to get things just the way I want them but I hope you will come and say hi. Please comment here or there and let me know if you stopped by!

Changes brewing...

2008-08-11T13:03:00.000-05:00

I have 4 blogs right now - this one, one for general family news, one for what I'm reading, and one for sewing. I can't keep up with any of them. LOL I'm sorry I haven't been posting here or commenting in other blogs much lately. Life has just been busy and as usual I am so behind on everything. I am still reading your blogs though!

Anyway....

In September I will start homeschooling Lindsey (Kindergarten), and I've been thinking about doing a blog with more of a homeschool focus - what we're learning, accomplishments, struggles, and misc. ramblings. But I still want to write about reading, knitting, and occasionally sewing so I've decided to combine everything into one blog. I've decided to start this blog at Homeschool Blogger. I haven't decided on a name yet so I don't have a specific URL to share with you. I would LOVE suggestions on what to call this new blog! I am so uncreative. I don't want the word homeschool in the title since the blog will be about more than that. The same goes for any one subject such as reading, knitting, etc.

I'm thinking I may lose some readers when I go to this new blog but I may gain some too. I would love to have you follow me there, but I understand if you're not interested.

I hope to have my new blog started in the next few weeks and when I get a URL I will let you know! Thanks to the faithful readers/commenters of my many blogs.

On the knitting front, I have been knitting only about twice a week lately. Sigh. But I am 3/4 done with a small felted bag and last Tuesday I started a pair of Monkey socks (from knitty.com). I worked on them again last night. Again I'm sorry I've been such a horrible knit blogger lately! I am just as obsessed with knitting as ever and subscribe to new knitting podcasts all the time! My new favorite is the Brown-eyed Mom podcast. I think about knitting all the time. I guess I have more time to think about it than to actually do it but that's just the way it is right now and that's okay. It's not going anywhere. :-)

Happy knitting!

Mid-Year Knitting Resolution Update

2008-07-16T20:23:00.000-05:00

Since the year is more than half over I decided to report on my 2008 Knitting Resolutions again. Back in April I revised them to say:

Make 4 pair of socks.
Learn to cable in the first half of 2008.
Learn to do either intarsia or fair isle, sometime in the second half of 2008.
Knit at least one item for charity.
Learn to use dpns, at least do one project with them.
Knit 5 times a week (would love to knit every day but I think that's impossible).

The updates:

I have made 2 pair so far and had the 1" of ribbing of one sock done when the tangled yarn disaster hit. :-( I don't have the money right now to buy more sock yarn. I do have yarn to make the fuzzy feet slippers from knitty.com and I think I might start those soon. Would those count toward my sock total?
I finished the mini-messenger bag (except the felting as you know!) and while the cables were nothing complicated and they were just on the flap of the bag, at least I put my toe in the water with cabling. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to doing another cable project at some point.
Have done nothing toward meeting this goal as of yet.
I haven't knit anything for charity yet but I am thinking of doing a baby blanket. Something fairly simple for times when I don't have the energy I spoke of in a past post . I would like something mindless that I can work on during those times. Given the speed at which I knit (slow) I'm not sure if I would even finish a blanket in 2008 but as long as it was, oh maybe 3/4 finished by the end of the year, I might consider that a goal accomplished. Anyway, any pattern suggestions?
I haven't knit anything with dpns yet either. I'm thinking about trying to knit a hat with dpns. Haven't knit any hats yet. I don't wear them but maybe now is the time to start. :-)
I did fairly well with this goal for the first 3 or 4 months of the year but then my dad got sick and passed away and immediately after that summer hit and I'm just too busy or tired many days. I think I've knit at least once a week, sometimes 2 or 3 times. Ugh.

These are the things I said I do NOT want to do in 2008, and this hasn't changed:

Make anything without a pattern (I LOVE following patterns!)
Design my own pattern (I am not that talented.)
Do a lace project (will probably be a 2009 goal).
Spin or dye my own yarn (Although so many knitters seem to love this, I have NO interest in these things! Maybe someday I'll look back at this post and laugh, but for now it's not for me.)

Have YOU made 2008 knitting resolutions? If so, how are you doing on them? Comment and let me know!

Happy knitting!!

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**I've had a few people from my local knitting group offer to wind balls of yarn for me. THANKS! I am most definitely going to be taking you up on that. :-)

I'M SO MAD!!!!!

2008-07-11T08:08:00.006-05:00

Last night I threw out another ball of yarn. Yarn I paid $21 for. Yarn I had my eye on for over a month before buying. Yarn I've had since January just waiting for the right time to knit a pair of socks out of. It's this yarn:

Once again it is due to my horrible center pull ball winding skills. The first skein of yarn I had to wind was Cascade 220 for my first felted bag. No problems whatsoever. No problems winding, no problems knitting from the ball, no tangles, etc. The second ball was also Cascade 220. I tried to wind that one myself without help from hubby and I got it all tangled up and had to throw most of it away. Not until after spending over 2 hours trying to untangle it. I bought another skein and had my husband help me this time and it went fine.

That brings me to this yarn. My husband did help me wind it but I was in a bit of a hurry to get to my knitting group. I'm not sure if this is why things went awry or not. Anyway I did about an inch of the ribbing on my Jaywalker socks when the yarn would not pull out of the center anymore. Somehow it ended up in another tangled mess. Once again I spent a few hours trying to make sense of the mess to no avail. I just pitched the whole thing out.

I'm going to be sick! I'm not winding any more yarn into a ball by hand. I can't afford a ball winder so hopefully I can find someone who will wind yarn for me if I need it. I can't go through this again.

Not so happy knitting here in Wisconsin!

P.S. I have been so busy lately and haven't been visiting your knitting blogs very much. I do plan to get caught up at some point and will let you know I've visited! I know I really appreciate when people comment on my blog and I do like to comment on yours. Please be patient with me!

Knitting Jeopardy

2008-07-08T17:29:00.003-05:00

Answer: All of these are in short supply in my life.

Question: What is time, energy, and money?

Correct! You win a lifetime supply of yarn. (You know I'm kidding about the yarn, right? LOL) I am so obsessed with all things knitting but unfortunately I don't have as much knitting time as I would like. Often when I do have time, I have no energy. And while I currently have enough yarn to keep me knitting for awhile (which is actually not very much, I'm a s-l-o-w knitter), I would love to be able to buy more, more, more yarn. :-)

I live a very blessed life, I'm not complaining (okay maybe just a little) but I'm just stating a fact. I would love to knit more than I do. For now I just knit when I can, listen to my multitude of knitting (and other) podcasts, browse Ravelry, and read Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's books. :-)

Happy knitting!

Another boring knitting update

2008-07-02T07:56:00.001-05:00

Good Morning Knitters!

I'm not knitting nearly as much as I would like to (insert big heavy sigh here!) but I have been doing some. I started the little dog toy for my 5 year old. I started a pair of Jaywalker socks for myself. The messenger bag is done awaiting felting. I finished knitting the iPod cozy but it needs to be sewn up and, yes felted. That one can be hand felted so that will probably be felted before the bags.

That is my super exciting not to be missed knitting update! (NOT!)

I don't have any pictures of my knitting right now and I think a blog post looks better with a picture, don't you? So I'll give you another picture of my girls for now. :-)

Hard times....checking in

2008-06-07T09:59:00.003-05:00

Hi knitters, just checking in again. Life has been difficult lately to say the least. My dad passed away on Friday, May 30, and his funeral was this past Tuesday. He had been ill for some time and was in a nursing home, so it wasn't totally unexpected yet we did not expect it just then. It went very fast. My 3 sisters and I were all there with him when he died. We were also all with my mom last July when she died. I never would have thought I would watch both my parents die in less than a year. I'm so thankful I got to be there with both of them though. My mom was 79 and would have been 80 last September, and my dad was also 79 and would have been 80 in November. They were the BEST parents ever and I miss them both so much! I am truly blessed to be their daughter.

I have managed to do a little knitting in the midst of everything, no pics right now though. I'm about 2/3 done with the Icord handle for my messenger bag then that will be done except for felting. I started an iPod cozy, simple garter stitch, which I will also felt. My Sophie bag is also awaiting felting. Ack! I'm about 2/3 done with that. I also on a whim decided I wanted to knit some stuffed animals so I bought the booklet Jean Greenhowe's Knitted Animals. I received that, then ordered some Paton's Astra yarn which hasn't arrived yet. I plan to make both my girls the puppy and I also want to make the frog. I got enough yarn to make all of that. I'm also wanting to start a new pair of socks with my Dyeabolical Neapolitan yarn soon. I just have to roll the yarn into a center pull ball. I think I'm going to try the Jaywalker pattern. I think I will be happiest being a monogamous knitter, so why am I starting all these new projects? :-)

My sweet daughter Lindsey turned 5 last Sunday. The day before we also celebrated the 4th anniversary of the day we first met her in China. Joy in the midst of sorow.

Here's to happier days ahead...

Just checking in.....

2008-05-24T14:50:00.000-05:00

....to let you know I'm still alive! Knitting has been very s-l-o-w for me lately so I don't have much to report. I haven't been knitting 5 days a week per my resolutions, maybe 2-3 times per week. I've been so tired at night!

I finished the body of the messenger bag. I made a few mistakes on the cables in the first 10 rows or so but they look good after that.

The flap of the bag will actually be as wide as the bag - I just can't pull it out full-size for the picture otherwise it will come off the needles!

I don't like the cable needle I have. This is the only one they had at my LYS when I went to buy it. I had a hard time knitting from it. I thought it would be easier.

I have to make the I-cord handle and then felt it. I still haven't felted my Sophie bag!

I'm almost finished with the ballband dishcloth, just have to bind off and weave in the ends. I think I started it last year! so it's about time I get this thing done.

Sorry to be so boring!

I apologize for my pictures - my camera isn't that great and I don't have a lot of time to set up for pics - I just put a towel down, took the pics, and uploaded them. :-)

Podcasts, Podcasts, and More Podcasts!

2008-04-29T16:03:00.001-05:00

These are all the knitting podcasts I listen to that I haven't talked about in previous posts (those are listed in my sidebar, I will update it with the new ones soon.)

I also started listening to some non-knitting podcasts, if you're interested in things other than knitting. (Other interests besides knitting????? Gasp!!!)

American Idol Podcast (don't have a website link for this, just search on iTunes)
The Big Boo Cast (LOVE this one, so funny!)
Idol Thoughts 2008
Journey for the Heart
KidsWifeWorkLife
Love Long and Prosper
Pediacast
The Divacast

Addicted to podcasts???? ME???? NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You've got me mixed up with someone else! :-)

2008 Knitting Resolutions....and more

2008-04-25T08:42:00.001-05:00

Dawn at Texas Purl Gurl just reviewed her 2008 knitting resolutions so I thought I would do the same here. This is what I wrote back on January 1:

Make 6 pair of socks.
Make matching spring ponchos for my girls (pattern suggestions welcome!)
Learn to cable in the first half of 2008.
Learn to do either intarsia or fair isle, sometime in the second half of 2008.
Knit at least one item for charity.
Learn to use dpns, at least do one project with them.
Knit 5 times a week (would love to knit every day but I think that's impossible).

And the update on each:

I have made 2 pair so far. I started the first pair in 2007 but finished them this year so I'm counting them in the total. Since it took me 3 months to knit them, and almost 7 weeks to knit the second pair, I know I am not going to make my goal of 6 pair this year. To meet that goal I'd almost have to knit nothing but socks and although I loved making both pairs, I do want to knit other things too. So I'm going to revise that goal to make 4 pairs.
I couldn't find a poncho pattern I like for the girls and even if I found one now, I will never finish them on time to wear this spring, which is what I wanted them for. So I'm taking this goal off my list and will possibly put in on my 2009 goals.
I am currently making a mini-messenger bag which has cables on the flap. I am ready to start the flap so I should meet this goal very soon. I haven't knit much at all in the last week! I haven't lost my "knitting mojo" or anything like that, it's just been busy or I've been really tired at night.
I still plan to learn intarsia or fair isle in the second half of this year. I haven't picked out a project yet for that. Any suggestions on a good beginner pattern for either technique?
I haven't knit anything for charity yet.
I haven't knit anything with dpns yet either. Any suggestions once again for a good beginner pattern? Mittens or something? I plan to start making some mittens about halfway through the summer so they are done for next winter.
I think I've knit 5 times a week the whole year so far up until the last week or so. So I'm doing pretty good on this goal.

So here are my official revised 2008 Knitting Resolutions:

Make 4 pair of socks.
Learn to cable in the first half of 2008.
Learn to do either intarsia or fair isle, sometime in the second half of 2008.
Knit at least one item for charity.
Learn to use dpns, at least do one project with them.
Knit 5 times a week (would love to knit every day but I think that's impossible).

I guess they're the same except I changed the number of socks and deleted the ponchos.

***************
In other news:

**Awhile back I mentioned I was making a gift for a friend but I couldn't say what it was until she received it. She got it a few months ago! but I forgot to post about it. It was a dishcloth. She lives in North Carolina so I made her this:

**Podcasts! My sidebar is so not up to date. I listen to many more podcasts than what I have listed. In addition to knitting podcasts I now listen to at least 10 other misc. podcasts. Call me a podcast junkie! I will try to update my sidebar soon and post about some of my favorites. My current favorite knitting podcast is Stitch It! More later....

Thanks! And Socks!

2008-04-18T09:00:00.004-05:00

Thank you all for your kind comments encouraging me to continue blogging, even if it's not very often! You're all so sweet! Like I said I have been tossing around completely ending all my blogs, but then I think about all the friends I have made through them, and I don't want to do it. So I think I will just post as I am able, and make a better effort to comment on others' blogs. You're all the best!

I finished my Tidal Wave Socks a few weeks ago. It took me 4 weeks, knitting just about every day, just to finish the first sock! I then made it a goal to knit the second sock in 3 weeks, and I finished a few days ahead of schedule. So it took me about 6 1/2 weeks total to make the pair.

They turned out pretty well. The second sock ended up bigger than the first. I think I loosened up my knitting or something, because I kept track of how many rows in each section on the first sock and repeated it on the second. They both fit though and you can't tell when they're on that they're not quite the same size. The toe decrease section on the second sock is fairly loose. I don't like that. But they're still wearable.

I love the way the colors patterned themselves (can't think of the term to describe that!) in the leg of the first sock. In the second sock the colors pooled, didn't look the same as the first at all. Again it's fine with me, but I like the first sock so much better.

I'm now making the Mini Messenger bag from one of the One Skein books (can't think of the title at the moment, if it's the yarn shop one or the designer one) using Cascade 220. I finished the body of the bag and next will be the flap where the cables are. One of my New Year's Resolutions was to learn how to cable, so I thought this would be a good first project for that. I haven't taken any pictures of it yet.

I had originally bought some Cascade 220 yarn for the bag in a beautiful blue color. The first time I made something with that yarn (the Sophie bag I made which has yet to be felted!) my husband held the yarn for me while I wound it into a center pull ball. It went really well, no problems. So with this skein I decided to try to wind it into a ball without any help. BIG MISTAKE! It got all tangled up and after spending TWO HOURS trying to straighten it out, I finally threw most of the skein out! I hated to do it but I had no choice! I went to a different yarn shop to buy another skein and they didn't have the original color so I bought more in a green heather color. This time my husband helped me wind it into a ball and it went smoothly. :-)

Thanks again everyone for your input!

********************

I take terrible pictures. The sock in front is actually the first (and smaller) sock. But in this picture it looks bigger than the sock in back. You can see the difference in the way the yarn patterned in each sock. I like the one in front better.

Just a little while longer....

2008-04-17T08:32:00.003-05:00

WOW, I haven't posted in over a month. I promise to update soon.

I have been tossing around deleting all my blogs. But I can't quite bring myself to end them either. I just don't have the time/energy/ambition to post much of the time. Things are going on in my personal life (the biggest one is my dad is ill) and with 2 active little girls and a teenager in his final year of (homeschooled) high school with college decisions being made, I just can't seem to do more than read other people's blogs. I don't think I have that many readers either, but if you're out there, please stick around! I really don't want to only talk to myself. :-) So anyway it remains up in the air what I'll end up doing. I will post an update here sooner or later.

Fyi, the Tidal Wave socks are done. :-)

How do you knit so fast?

2008-03-03T12:50:00.000-06:00

I started my Tidal Wave socks over 2 weeks ago. Since then I've worked on them almost every day for anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. Actually 2 hours a week ago Sunday when I went to my local Knit & Sip. I finished the heel flap of the first sock last night. HOW DO YOU KNIT A WHOLE PAIR OF SOCKS IN A WEEK? OR A WEEKEND? I've heard of both. You don't sleep? :-) Or what?

It doesn't matter that much to me. I am totally enjoying making these socks. I just wonder.....

So here they are so far....

Other knitting notes:
-Sophie bag still not felted
-Haven't heard yet if friend received my gift
-Not sure if I'll start another project soon or work on socks until they are done

Note to Chris: I so planned to participate in your book thingy here on my blog. I really did. But here it is over 2 weeks later and I haven't done it yet, so I hope you don't mind if I don't do it. I do love to read! And thank you so much for your kind comment about my knitting. I won't tell you about the mistakes I made in my sock so far. LOL

Pair of Socks #2

2008-02-17T11:13:00.008-06:00

I finally started my second pair of socks last night. I'm making the Tidal Wave socks using my Tofutsies yarn.

I cast them on and frogged them THREE times before I got it right. I kept making stupid mistakes. I don't know how good my cast on edge is going to be in the end. I've only done 2 rounds so far so it's hard to tell. I'm not having a problem at all working with fingering weight yarn and smaller needles. I've crocheted many doilies in my lifetime with thread so I guess I'm used to using thinner yarn. It was still a good idea, I think, to use worsted weight yarn for my first pair of socks. But I also think I would have been fine starting out with regular sock yarn too. I should probably hold my tongue though until I finish one sock and see how it turns out!

I finished knitting the Sophie Bag about a week ago. I just have to felt it, but I have to find someone who will let me borrow their top loader washing machine first. I'm not sure when I'll get around to that.

I finished the gift I was knitting also, but it hasn't been mailed yet so I still can't say what it is or post a picture.

I'm debating if I want to exclusively work on my socks or if I want to also cast on for Fuzzy Feet. Part of me wants to just focus on only one project right now, but I think I might like a little variety too. I'll let you know.

I guess I haven't been doing a ton of knitting lately. I hope to get back into it more now that I started my socks.

Happy knitting!

Socks are Done! (and January recap)

2008-02-03T10:19:00.000-06:00

I finished the second sock on Wednesday night. I haven't had a chance to take a picture and post until now. It's not the greatest picture but here they are:

It looks like one sock is smaller than the other in the top pic but it isn't. In fact, they are both exactly the same size. I did a good job on that anyway! :-) The color looks different in these 2 pics - the actual color is closer to the pic on the bottom, where they're on my feet. :-)

************

January Recap:

On my needles when the month started:
-First socks
-Sophie bag felted purse
-Gift that can't be named yet
-Ballband dishcloth

Off my needles by the end of the month:
-First socks

Goals for February:
-Finish Sophie bag
-Finish gift
-Finish ballband dishcloth
-Swatch and begin second pair of socks, hopefully finish!
-Find a pattern for ponchos for my girls
-Start small felted purse pattern with Boku yarn

Stash

2008-01-29T08:28:00.000-06:00

I have a stash! Okay so it's only 6 skeins. LOL I will probably never be one to have a huge stash - the main reason being finances. I just don't have money to spend on yarn that will just sit there for a long time. I wish I did though!

Also I really prefer to pick a project first and then buy the yarn to go with it. I'm just not good at buying yarn without knowing what it's for - how much do I get is one issue. The exception may be sock yarn, and if I do end up with any sort of real stash it will probably be composed mainly of that. It's easy to know how much sock yarn to buy.

So anyway, other than a million half used balls of Sugar & Cream or Peaches & Cream cotton yarn, some leftover thread from crocheting doilies, and I believe I have a skein of Red Heart for Kids yarn that I didn't end up needing for Lindsey's scarf, here's "my stash":

Dyeabolical Yarns - Alter Ego Merino Sock Yarn
Color: Neapolitan
I just received this last week. I bought it from DyeabolicalYarns.etsy.com. I actually had it in my cart a few times before Christmas, and then deleted it right before finishing the order. I wanted to wait to see what I would get at my LYS a few weeks ago first. I didn't see anything like it so I got home and bought this. I just love the colors. Not sure what sock pattern I will use for this yet.

Knit Picks CotLin
Color: Fiesta Pink
No idea what I'm going to make with this 70% cotton 30% linen yarn. I was placing an order from Knit Picks and just decided to throw this in my cart and try it.

Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted
Color: Chianti
Bought at my LYS, 2 skeins, to make Fuzzy Feet from Knitty.com

SWTC Tofutsies
Color: #800?
Bought from my other LYS, not sure what pattern I will use this with yet either.

Plymouth Boku
Color: Olives
When I bought the Cascade 220 from Patternworks for the felted bag I'm making, I also threw in this - it came with a free pattern for a very small felted purse.

I'm so proud of my little stash. :-)

I'm almost finished with my socks! I need to finish them by Thursday, the end of January. It will only have taken me 3 months from start to finish. LOL A full month of that time at least was spent with the socks "on hold" either waiting for help when I was stuck or waiting for more yarn to come in at Knit Picks. I don't plan for my next pair of socks to take that long! I just have 3 rounds of the toe then kitchener it together.

I was going to finish the socks last night but by the time I got the kids in bed I was way too tired to do anything but watch TV. My husband left to go out of town for work yesterday and wouldn't you know it, I woke up with a sore throat. So not only will I be shouldering the whole load of taking care of 2 active little girls and homeschooling my son, but I'm sick on top of it. Then I was up 8 times with my youngest last night who came down with a cold late in the day yesterday.

I'm also almost done with my felted purse and the other project that shall not be named since it's a gift. When I finish all those I will post pics. Then I will start swatching for my next pair of socks. I can't wait!

Sigh

2008-01-21T07:30:00.000-06:00

Back to your regularly scheduled knitting....

I'm so disappointed that the Packers lost last night. Sadness in Packerland this morning. Hats off to the Giants though who deserved to win, and I hope they crush the Patriots in the Super Bowl. What a horrible game. They couldn't move the ball and they couldn't stop the Giants. Except for the 90 yard TD by Driver the whole game was miserable. But, life goes on. We didn't expect this season to go the way it did, we had a blast, it was a great ride. Too bad it didn't end better but what can you do.

So, what am I working on right now? I actually didn't knit at all this weekend. I had my nephew's birthday party on Saturday and then my sister watched my kids so my husband and I could go out for awhile. After all that I was too tired to knit. Yesterday I didn't get a chance while Allison was napping and then last night was the game. I can't knit during a Packer game especially one like that. :-) Other than that though I think I've knitted every single day this year so I'm still keeping up my resolution to knit at least 5 days a week. Of course it's only January 21 but hey. :-)

I'll be working on my second sock hopefully tonight. I ran out of yarn after a few rounds of the foot. I knew I would since I had to use some of the second ball for the first sock. Then Knit Picks was out of that yarn for awhile. I got another ball last week. Obviously it's not the same dye lot but it looks about the same, and the sock will either be in a shoe or just worn around the house so if it doesn't match exactly that's okay.

I'm almost done with my felted purse. I just have to bind off, do Icord for the handles, and then felt it.

I'm working on a gift for a friend. I don't think she reads this blog but just in case I'm not going to say what it is. Just something small.

I also have a ballband dishcloth that's been in progress for over a month now. I really don't like working with cotton yarn, even using bamboo needles as some have suggested.

I bought a ball of Tofutsies from my LYS to make another pair of socks, and I also have some sock yarn coming from Etsy for another pair. Not sure which yarn I'm going to use first, or which pattern I'll be doing. I haven't decided yet. I just bought some Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted Weight yarn also from my LYS to make a pair of Fuzzy Feet. Haven't started any of that yet.

So that's about it! Pictures hopefully in my next post. Happy knitting!

WAHOO!!!

2008-01-14T11:02:00.001-06:00

We interrupt this knitting blog to bring you breaking news......
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THE PACKERS ARE IN THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AND IT'S COMING TO LAMBEAU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!GO PACK GO!!!!!

Relaxation

2008-01-08T12:53:00.001-06:00

I sent a friend of mine this picture and she said....

"I WANT A DOG'S LIFE!!!"

I totally agree with her (especially on one of *those* days!), don't you????

And a close up.....

Hope your knitting makes you this relaxed! :-)

More Podcasts

2008-01-06T18:14:00.000-06:00

I recently found 2 more knitting podcasts that I love:

Knit Naturally

Gwendolyn's Gifts

Edited to add: I forgot about one more new knitting podcast! I've listened to 2/3 episodes so far and I think it's great:

Stitch It!

I also just finished listening to all 12 episodes of a podcast that is no more :-( called Unwound. It is too bad because it was a GREAT podcast! I love the "Listener's Poll" she had each week and people could call in and leave a voice message with the answer to her poll questions. She would play those responses as part of the podcasts. ANY PODCASTERS OUT THERE LISTENING???? I would LOVE it if someone would start doing the same thing on their podcast. It was so interesting!

Speaking of podcasts, I also listen to some that are not knitting related. First, I used to sew about 10? years ago or so (you can read about it on my neglected sewing blog here) and I started to get back into it about a year ago, then lost interest again. Well now I'm wanting to sew again so I've been listening to some sewing podcasts to get inspired.

Stitch by Stitch with SewMommy (Connie has been a good friend of mine for years, I love her new podcast!)

Sew Forth Now

Material Mama

Grandma's Sewing Cabinet

Miss You Sew Much (only 2 episodes but they were good, wish they would do more)

And two aviation-related podcasts (I'm fascinated by this stuff, I love to fly! "Betty" is full of funny and interesting stories.)

Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase

Fly With Me

What is your favorite podcast?

New Year's Knitting Resolutions

2008-01-01T17:28:00.000-06:00

Here are my knitting resolutions for the new year:

Make 6 pair of socks.
Make matching spring ponchos for my girls (pattern suggestions welcome!)
Learn to cable in the first half of 2008.
Learn to do either intarsia or fair isle, sometime in the second half of 2008.
Knit at least one item for charity.
Learn to use dpns, at least do one project with them.
Knit 5 times a week (would love to knit every day but I think that's impossible).

Things I do NOT want to do in 2008:

Make anything without a pattern (I LOVE following patterns!)
Design my own pattern (I am not that talented.)
Do a lace project (will probably be a 2009 goal).
Spin or dye my own yarn (Although so many knitters seem to love this, I have NO interest in these things! Maybe someday I'll look back at this post and laugh, but for now it's not for me.)

I may think of more, but that's it for now. I also want to crochet some, maybe some thread coasters to give away here on my blog for fun. :-) I want to get back into sewing more too. There are NOT enough hours in the day!

************

I finished the heel flap on my second sock! I have not been bit by Second Sock Syndrome. I guess I want to finish this so I can make a pair of socks with regular sock yarn. I want to use something much more colorful next time. I really like this Knit Picks yarn and I like the color too, but I am itching to knit with something brighter.

For the purse I am making I am using Cascade 220 Plum Heather which is also a muted darker color similar to my sock yarn. I picked up the stitches along the sides and bottom this afternoon, not sure if I did it right, but I'm going to move on to knitting the sides and see what happens. I know felting hides some mistakes so I'm hoping that is the case for my first felted project. :-)

************

For Christmas I got 2 knitting related items - Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's book Yarn Harlot, the Secret Life of a Knitter, and a knitting pattern a day calendar. The calendar offers a free online second calender so I chose the Stitch and B---- calendar. Two for one, yea! I also got some money from my dad which I plan to use at my LYS to buy sock yarn. When am I going to do that you ask? Well...........my husband is giving me a day out by myself for my Christmas present. Hopefully next week one day will be the day. I plan to visit my 2 LYS's, go to the library, Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, and who knows what else. I can't wait!

************

Happy New Year!!!

DONE!

2007-12-27T20:26:00.001-06:00

I finished my sock on Sunday night! I think it turned out pretty good. It's not perfect but it fits. Well it could be a little narrower and a little shorter and still fit. It's so thick, being made with worsted weight yarn, and it's just a little roomy. But they will be nice wearing in the house while watching TV on a cold winter night (and we have plenty of those here in Wisconsin!)

After I finished I immediately cast on for the second sock and am about halfway done with the leg. When I get to the heel I'm going to put it aside for a bit and work on the felted purse I started. I have the bottom done on that and am ready to pick up stitches along the sides.

TA DA!!!!!! .........................

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-23T09:03:00.001-06:00

PODCASTS!!!

2007-12-22T08:16:00.000-06:00

I LOVE knitting podcasts!!! I am so addicted, it's crazy. I have listed all the ones I listen to on my sidebar. I tried out many many more than that but they didn't make the cut. :-) There are two VERY popular podcasts that I do.not.like! Get ready to gasp, they are Cast On and Lime & Violet. I listened to about 10 episodes each and did not like either one.

My absolute favorites are The Knitting Cook, Stash & Burn, Socks in the City, She-Knits, Yarn Thing, Knit Picks, Knit Spirit, Sticks and String, Pointy Sticks, and Damknit. (She swears an awful lot in that last podcast but I really like her style.) I also really like It's a Purl, Man which took about 5 or 6 episodes to grow on me. Some of the podcasts I have listed haven't done a new episode in a long time so I'm not sure if they're done or not. I know Unwound is finished after 12 episodes which is a huge bummer since I just recently found that one and I love it. I've listened to half so far. Socks in the City is a hoot!

I tried to start at the very first episode of each podcast if possible. Some of them didn't start with #1 in iTunes. Then I went through and listened to each subsequent episode until I caught up. I'm still not caught up on some of them.

If you haven't listened to a knitting podcast yet, give it a try! But beware, it's addicting. :-)

Socks....or boots? :-)

2007-12-18T08:37:00.000-06:00

Sorry I haven't updated lately! I decided to forge ahead and do some "fearless knitting", and try to pick up the gusset stitches on my own and guess what...........

.............it worked! I'm almost done with the foot! I've been working on my sock just about every day (I'm a slow knitter). I think the sock looks a little bit like a boot. :-) Since it's in worsted weight, it's pretty thick. It seems to fit so far though.

Here's a picture taken a few days ago before I started the foot....

Success!

2007-12-09T11:39:00.001-06:00

I think! :-) I frogged back to the end of the leg rounds again and redid everything. I got some input regarding that weird section of stitches that I was confused about - I just redid it according to the instructions, disregarding my confusion about it, and this time it doesn't look so strange.

Last time my heel turn was not centered - this time it is and I figured out why! Last time I was looking at the wrong number for the heel flap and I did 26 rows instead of 24. DUH.

So now I am to the point of picking up the stitches at the heel flap. I'm not sure if I want to just give it a try on my own or wait until the next Knit Night. I will probably give it a whirl since I'm not sure if I can make it to this Tuesday's get together and there won't be another one until after Christmas.

I'll try to get a pic up later - gotta run as it's almost time for the Packer game!

GO PACK!

Thanks!

2007-12-03T08:36:00.000-06:00

Thanks for your sock encouragement. :-) I wish it was just picking up the stitches at the gusset that was the only problem though. If it was, yes, I could just have someone show me how and hopefully I would get it (!) and move on with the sock. But there are several other wonky things before even getting to that. I don't even know how to explain it! There's a weird section of stitches at the base of the heel that aren't in the picture in the book; somehow it looks like there are more rows on one side of the heel flap than the other which I don't get if I was working back and forth, how that could happen; and then there are some extra stitches to the side of the heel turn that I don't think are supposed to be there. Also with those rows being off, I have no idea if I have the right number of rows in the heel flap or not. See it's just a mess! :-)

I hope to make it to tomorrow night's Knit Night and get a little help, at least figure out what went wrong and maybe I can try to fix it at home. Meanwhile I have a good start on my felted bag, am about 1/3 done with the dishcloth, and I FINISHED Lindsey's scarf. It's quite basic and could really use some fringe or something but it ain't happening! It's DONE and I never want to look at it again (except on my daughter). LOL It's nothing special and has a few little holes and mistakes, but it really was a good project for me just to get the hang of knitting and purling. It really did help me master purling, I even *like* to purl now.

I will try to get a picture of the scarf up in the next few days.

Sock Woes

2007-11-21T21:24:00.001-06:00

I can't even begin to detail all my frustrations trying to knit my first pair of socks. But I'll tell you a little bit about it. :-)

First of all, huge thanks to Brandy who helped me move past the leg to the heel flap, at the last Knit Night I went to (a week ago yesterday, didn't make it last night because we went to our city's annual Christmas Parade, a tradition!). Finished the heel flap, went on to the next step, screwed up almost immediately. Due to not knowing how to fix it, and fatigue and frustration, I ripped out the whole heel flap and started over. And again, and again. Noticed a hole at the end of the leg I didn't notice before (the lifeline knot was in the way). At this point I'm not going back, I'll sew up the hole later when the socks are done. :-)

I'm pretty sure something was messed up before I started to turn the heel, but I pressed on anyway just in case it was okay. :-) Finished that, I get the concept of that no problem, it looks *almost* like it's supposed to, but something doesn't look quite right. So I think I may have messed something up, not sure! Now I have no idea how to pick up stitches along the side. I looked at various tutorials online but I still don't get it. I need someone to show me.

Here's my problem now. I have people who could help me. I have my new friends in my local knitting group. BUT, I fear there is just too much for someone to help me during Knit Night. I need to sit down with someone for, oh, probably 2 or more hours. I don't really have 2 hours to do that (I am swamped and Christmas coming doesn't help matters) AND I sure don't want to ask someone to take a few hours out of their own busy day to help me.

I feel stuck. There's nothing I can do right now. I think the socks might have to sit for awhile - weeks or months - and that BUMS ME OUT! I want so bad to figure this out and learn how to knit socks. I really think I am going to LOVE it once I know what I'm doing.

I do have some projects to work on while I wait to resume my sock knitting. I still haven't finished Lindsey's scarf (OY!) but I'm almost there. I started a ballband dishcloth a few weeks ago that has just been sitting. I also have yarn to make 2 different small felted purses (another new thing for me, can't wait to try it!) but I'm waiting on the needles I need to come from Knit Picks. Then there's the crocheted slippers I started last summer. I really don't want to abandon crocheting completely while I'm learning to knit. However knitting is priority for me right now.

So if you've made it this far, thanks for listening to my lament! I WILL get this, it just may be awhile.

Good night, Happy Thanksgiving, and......

GO PACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My socks!

2007-11-10T21:40:00.000-06:00

I'm so sorry, I've been wanting to write a post about making my first pair of socks since I started them, but I've been either too tired or too unmotivated to write whenever I sit down at the computer!

I started them on Monday night, October 29 when the Packers played the Broncos (and of course the Packers won, woo hoo!). NOT such a good time to start my first pair of socks. First of all I found when knitting my gauge swatch and figuring out the Magic Loop method, and when I first started the socks, that it seems to me that the whole thing looks like one big mess until an inch or so of the sock is completed. And let me back up to say (and this may be dumb but what can I say) I was SO nervous to start these socks! AND I was not just nervous about starting the socks but as is typical for me, I was so nervous about the game! So my hands were shaking and I had this mess going on, and I didn't actually get much done that first night.

Since then I've worked on the socks for about 1/2 hour almost every night after the kids go to bed and I have about 40 rounds, and 6 inches of the leg done. I need to get about 1 more inch done before moving on to the next step. I've gotten comfortable knitting the leg (K3, P1 rib) but as I get closer to the heel I'm getting nervous again. I have no idea if I'll be able to figure it out or if the sock will fit or if I'll make a mistake I can't correct or whatever. I know, reminding myself what the Yarn Harlot said:

"Be afraid of skydiving. Be afraid of wild boar. Be fearless with knitting."

Here's a picture taken a few days ago. I've gotten a few more inches done since I took this pic. I'll post another picture once I move on to the heel.

I am still working on Lindsey's scarf! I don't work on it much. I could probably end it now, it's probably long enough. But I have it in my head I want it to be 50 inches and I'm about 6 or 7 inches short of that yet. I think it was such a good first project, just to get comfortable with knitting and purling, and not having to worry about mistakes. I've made a few, just kept going and didn't undo them, why bother. Who knows if she'll even wear it! It's really scratchy. I'm making it out of Red Heart Kids. Funny that almost all my crocheting was done with Red Heart yarn and I didn't mind it (I didn't really know about better yarns) but now that I'm knitting and I'm using a non-acrylic yarn for the socks, I realize how scratchy the RH is. I think it has it's place and I'm certainly no "yarn snob" but I don't think I'll be using it much anymore. Neither can I afford anything super expensive though!

Coming soon: More about my knitting podcast obsession, what I'm waiting on in the mail, and dreaming of future projects!

Go Pack Go!!!

2007-10-30T17:30:00.000-05:00

THE PACKER GAME ROCKED!!!!!

Although I was sweating there at the end, what a finish! WOO HOO!!!

That's all I have time to write at the moment - will update on the socks at a later date. Just had to get that Packer stuff off my chest for now! :-)

Ready, set, go!

2007-10-29T11:04:00.000-05:00

I am done swatching - I switched from size 6 needles to size 7 and my gauge went from 7 stitches per inch to 6 stitches per inch, so I am going to make the 6 Stitches Per Inch socks from Getting Started Knitting Socks by Ann Budd. Even though the recommended yarn weight for this pattern is sportweight or DK weight, I'll be using my Knit Picks Swish Superwash worsted weight. I don't have time during the day today to start but I don't care how tired I am, I am going to cast on as soon as the girls go to bed tonight. I'll be up late watching the Packers play (and hopefully BEAT*) the Broncos. I doubt I'll knit the whole game but I will for awhile. Wish me luck!

Question: Since I played around with the yarn quite a bit, swatched twice, etc., can I still use it to knit my socks or did I totally stretch it out? I guess I only bought 2 balls so I have to use it, will hope for the best!

NEXT PROJECT: I am already itching to get the supplies to start something else. I probably won't start anything until my socks are well underway, but I'm going to start researching what to make next in the meantime. Some things I am interested in are a felted bag, felted iPod or cell phone holder, toddler sweater or poncho ..... any other ideas??? I know that is totally up to me, but just throw some suggestions out there - novice patterns please! But they don't have to be all garter stitch or anything like that. I think I can purl okay and I like to purl. I'd also love to make something using my new circs. But I don't have to either. So just something not too hard, but it doesn't have to be a garter stitch scarf. LOL In fact, NO SCARVES! I still haven't finished Lindsey's. :-)

*It's sad but I still hold a major grudge against the Broncos for beating my Packers in Super Bowl XXXII - GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! My 4 most hated teams, in this order, are the Vikings, the Bears, the Patriots, and the Broncos.

FRUSTRATED

2007-10-28T10:39:00.000-05:00

I knew I'd be the first person ever not to be able to knit socks. I can't even do the gauge swatch. I am trying to learn Magic Loop and all I get is a tangled mess of yarn. I tried for over an hour last night to get it and I couldn't. I watched the how-to video on knittinghelp.com this morning and tried again and I still can't quite do it. I will continue to practice this afternoon while watching football but if after an hour I still can't do it, I'm going to give up and work on the crocheted slippers I started for myself before I decided to learn to knit, then abandoned when my knitting obsession took over. :-)

If I just can't get Magic Loop, should I try dpns? I do have a local knitting group where I can get some help, but it's almost just too embarrassing. :-) My yarn is turning into a mess and I don't even know if it's usable after I knitted and pulled it out a zillion times.

Sigh.

UPDATE: I got it! Whew, I figured it out. My only issue is I have a hard time moving the stitches from the cable back onto the needle. I think I knit pretty tight, even though I tried real hard not to! I was planning to make the 5 stitches per inch sock, and my gauge was 7 stitches per inch, using a size 6 needle. There is a pattern for a 7 stitches per inch sock in the book. It calls for fingering or sportweight yarn and I'm using worsted. So I'm thinking I could just use that pattern, even though I'm using a different weight yarn? Do you know what I'm saying? I am trying one more gauge swatch though using size 7 needles. After that I'm just going to go for it and hope they fit. :-)

Knitting time (or lack thereof)

2007-10-17T22:24:00.000-05:00

I feel like I picked a bad time in my life to learn to knit. I just don't have the time, or maybe more accurately the energy, to knit all that much. I have the desire though! But between homeschooling my son, chasing around 2 active little girls, and taking care of home and husband, in my free time I am just pooped! The best time for me to knit is after the young ones are in bed, but by then I am usually just too tired. I think about picking up my knitting, then I choose instead to read or veg in front of the TV for awhile.

I know there will be a time when I can knit more, so for now I'm just going to be content with whatever time I do have to do so. As I've said before, I am certainly enjoying reading about knitting and listening to knitting podcasts - THAT I can do much more than actually knitting! So for now I am learning a lot and dreaming about future knitting projects, and knitting when I can.

We're leaving for a week-long family vacation tomorrow. My Knit Picks order didn't come yet, and even if it comes tomorrow before we leave, I'm not going to bring it along. I don't think this trip will be a good time to start learning to knit socks. Also I don't know that I'll have a lot of knitting time on the trip. I'll just bring Lindsey's scarf and hopefully finish that while we're gone, and start on my socks when we get back.

Our trip involves a 16 hour drive so I do have my iPod loaded up with knitting podcasts for the trip! Yea!

I am also reading Drunk, Divorced & Covered in Cat Hair by Laurie Perry (a/k/a Crazy Aunt Purl) and although I've never been in her situation I am enjoying the book. I hope to finish that before we go.

Good night!

I did it!

2007-10-11T19:11:00.001-05:00

I placed an order, that is. I hope hope hope I didn't screw that up. I decided to order everything I needed from Knit Picks since I have heard great things about their circular needles. Here's my plan:

I'm going to knit the "5 Stitches Per Inch" socks from Ann Budd's Getting Started Knitting Socks. I am going to give the Magic Loop method a try. So I bought a size 6 and 7 Options Harmony Wood Interchangeable Needle Tips with a 40 inch cable. For yarn I bought Swish Superwash worsted weight yarn, color Delft Heather. I also bought stitch markers and a stitch holder and a case for my cables.

ACK! I hope that is what I need and I didn't forget something or goof something up! I hope I get the right gauge with one of the needles sizes I bought. The pattern says anywhere from size 4-8 so I got sizes in between. I guess if I don't get gauge I can order some more needle tips. I'll use the ones I bought now for a project somewhere down the road. I'll just have to wait longer to start my socks. I don't want to wait any more, but I'm not going to stress about that now! I can always make some more dishcloths while I wait. (sigh) I am still working on Lindsey's scarf - have about 6 inches maybe to do yet. I'm not sure how long I'm going to make it. I haven't had much actual knitting time lately and don't forsee a lot in the near future either but I do what I can (and listen to my knitting podcasts, and surf around Ravelry in the meantime!)

I received so much good advice here on my blog and other places. THANK YOU to everyone who gave me input and advice! Even if I didn't do what you suggested, please know I appreciate your input and will probably use your advice at some point. Thanks!

Fearless knitting and sock woes!

2007-10-08T23:19:00.000-05:00

"One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do."

Henry Ford

This quote was in Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's At Knit's End, Meditations for Women who Knit Too Much. After I finish Lindsey's scarf I want to get started on some "real projects". But I'm afraid I'll be the first knitter who cannot knit a sweater or socks! I've been crocheting for over 10 years and I consider myself fairly good at it, but I've never made anything that had to be fitted in any way. I've always made afghans, dishcloths, coasters, doilies and things like that. I've never had to worry about gauge. Everything always turned out an appropriate size (except maybe the afghan I made my youngest sister that turned out really BIG! but she likes it anyway).

I really can't afford to buy a sweater's worth of yarn and then have it not fit in the end! But I'd love to make myself one someday. I probably need to just take it one step at a time and not fear it! Stephanie says she is surprised to hear of knitters like me, who are afraid to take on a big project or make a mistake. She says "Be afraid of skydiving. Be afraid of wild boar. Be fearless with knitting."

I will try to take her advice! As she also says: "...no one has ever been killed or maimed by being adventurous with knitting, no matter how pointy the needles."

So I am ready to make my first pair of socks - BUT - I need help!!! Bombard me with your suggestions. I don't know what yarn to buy, I don't know what needles to get, I don't know if I should use dpns or two circulars or magic loop. At first I thought I'd try magic loop right away and was fairly set on that, then I thought maybe I should use dpns for my first socks and my first project in the round, and then I thought, I'm not sure! I'm confused! I can't wait to get started but I don't know what to do. I was thinking I would go to my LYS and ask for some help, but with my 2 little ones I don't know when I will be able to get there, so my best bet might be to order what I need online. But what to get? HELP!!!!!!!!!

I'M IN!!!!!!!!

2007-10-05T08:37:00.000-05:00

In Ravelry, of course! Woo hoo!

I got my invite yesterday, exactly 2 months after I signed up. I had NO idea what it was when I first put my name on the waiting list. When I joined my local knitting group someone told me to put my name down, so I dutifully did even though I hadn't a clue what I was signing up for. I'm glad I did it right away!

Being a new knitter, I don't have much to offer the community but I do have lots to gain! I already spent some time last night (when I should have been in bed!) looking through the site, adding some friends, and joining some groups. I could spent 24/7 there I'm sure! But I have 3 kids, a husband, and a dog - no can do! :-) I'm going away for the weekend too so no Ravelry fun for the next few days either.

If you're on Ravelry, let me know! My name there is WiscKnitter. I'm not super crazy about the name but I was under pressure to choose one! All along these past 2 months I had planned to be N-E-W-Knitter just like my blog title. But I found out at the initial login that you can only have numbers and letters in your name. So I tried NEWKnitter, but it was already taken. I should have thought ahead what I would do if my name was used. I could have taken some time to think of something better but I HAD MY INVITE AND I WANTED TO SIGN ON, AND DO IT NOW!!!!!!! :-) I've lived in Wisconsin all my life and will probably never move out of state, so WiscKnitter I am.

Happy day! Happy knitting!

P.S. Did I tell you my husband got me BOTH sock books I asked for for my birthday? Yes he did! I still haven't started any socks though because I need the yarn and needles and I haven't had time to get anything. I hope to finish Lindsey's scarf this weekend or early next week and have the supplies to start my first pair of socks shortly after that.

I Can't Stop!!!

2007-09-27T21:06:00.000-05:00

Checking knitting books out of the library, that is! I think I've said before, that I don't spend a ton of time actually knitting. Not as much as I'd like! I homeschool my son who is a senior in high school, and I chase my 2 very active little girls, ages 4 and almost 2, around all day. I usually nap when they nap and when they go to bed in the evening, many nights I'm way too tired to knit. But it is much easier to find time to listen to my knitting podcasts (still obsessed with those!) and get in some time here and there to read my books. So for now that will have to do and one day I hope to be able to spend more time per day actually knitting.

So this morning I took my 4 year old to her "Alphabet Hour" class at the library, and during the hour she was in her class I went for a walk with my younger one, listening to Stash & Burn and Sticks & String on my iPod while I walked. Then I went back into the library. I decided ahead of time NOT to go looking at the knitting books since I have a stack at home I haven't read yet. Oh yeah, right, I CANNOT ever go to the library without checking out some books! (See my book blog post at Books and Hooks.)

Alas, I couldn't help myself and I went upstairs to the knitting book section and found these:

Itty Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson
Knitting Without Tears by Elizabeth Zimmerman
Not Tonight Darling, I'm Knitting by Betsy Hosegood

And then I got this fiction book:

Knitting by Anne Bartlett

And then I even checked out a mystery book involving knitting!

Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Selton

I'm currently reading:

A Passion for Knitting by Nancy Thomas and Ilana Rabinowitz

In my stack next to my bed waiting to be read I have:

For the Love of Knitting by Kari Cornell
And So to Bed by Lucinda Guy
The Knitter's Bible: Knitted Accessories by Claire Crompton
Stitch & B---- by Debbie Stoller
Knit One, Felt Too by Kathleen Taylor
Knits from the Heart by Kristin Spurkland

I put this book on hold today:

The Knit Stitch by Sally Melville

And I have read these books already in the short 2 months I've been hooked on knitting!

The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood (fiction)
Knitting Rules! by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (my favorite!)
The Joy of Knitting by Lisa Myers
Mason-Dixon Knitting by Gardiner/Shayne
Stitch & B---- by Debbie Stoller
At Knit's End by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (another fave!)

I've also checked out 8-10 different mostly pattern books that I didn't write down the names of, and paged through a bunch of back issues of the magazine Knit & Style.

Tomorrow I will actually be the proud owner of my very own knitting book. It's my birthday and I know my husband got me one of 2 sock books I asked for - I gave him the names of 2 I would like. I'm not sure which one he got me so that part will be a surprise!

WHEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Lindsey's scarf progress - I have 25" done so far. It's the only knitting I've been working on. Sad, huh?

My knitting week

2007-09-16T11:11:00.000-05:00

There's not a whole lot to report today. I had a busy exhausting week so didn't do much knitting. I did work on Lindsey's scarf some and am up to about 12 inches of that, and did a few rows of the baby bib. Yesterday I also watched my DVD, the how-to on increasing section, and practiced that a little. While I watch the Packers today I will probably keep practicing that and work on Lindsey's scarf.

My birthday is in less than 2 weeks and I'm expecting from hubby either Getting Started Knitting Socks by Ann Budd or I Can't Believe I'm Knitting Socks by Cynthia Guggemos and then I'll make a trip to the LYS and get some sock yarn and whatever needles I need and hopefully will be successfully (?) knitting socks by next month! Until then I feel like I'm just piddling around but that's okay because I'm still learning. I am ready to get into some "real" knitting soon though!

I've been a little bit discouraged thinking about how my new knitting hobby won't be cheap and I don't really have much money to spend. I've always crocheted using mostly Red Heart acrylic yarn and Sugar and Cream cotton, but I want to use better quality yarn for most of my knitting projects. Just how many skeins of yarn at how much per skein does it take to knit a sweater anyway? How about a pair of socks? A tote bag? A poncho? (I KNOW this varies widely, but on average, for a good quality yet not top of the line yarn.) Those are some of the things I know I want to make in the future. I also want to get started using circular needles. How much are those, how many different sizes do I need? I'm seeing dollar signs everywhere and have no idea how I will afford much of this. Any tips? Any input on that subject?

I may not be doing much real knitting but I am happily listening to my knitting podcasts every day! Right now I have alternating episodes of Sticks and String, and Stash and Burn, on my iPod. My goal is to get up to date on these 2 podcasts, and then do the same with a few more, and a few more, until I am at least somewhat up to date on all of them, then start all over again!

Happy knitting!

My boring knitting update

2007-09-10T08:26:00.000-05:00

I finished the kitty dishcloth. It turned out SO tiny! 5.5" x 6.5" I don't know if it was supposed to be that small (the pattern didn't say) or if I knit way tight or what. I guess I did an okay job on it, doesn't really look that great but you can see the kitty on it so that's good anyway. :-)

I have 9 1/2" done on Lindsey's scarf. The scarf does NOT get wider as it goes down, that's just because of the camera angle or something. I'm satisfied with it so far.

I'm anxious to start some sort of *real* project, but I don't know what and I don't have the time or money to go to the LYS and look around, so I just started a simple baby bib using some of the tons of cotton yarn I have laying around (the only real *stash* I have, whoopie). I guess I can just work on these small projects along with Lindsey's scarf and consider it more practice until I decide what *real* project to do. I still have so much to learn anyway. All I know so far is how to cast on and off, and knit and purl. I watched my Nici McNally DVD the other night, the parts about increasing and decreasing, but I didn't actually try it yet. I just watched.

THANK YOU to everyone for the great podcast suggestions! I downloaded five million and one episodes and can't wait to hear them all! As I listen to them and decide which ones I like I will add them to my links. I'm on Episode 2 of Sticks & String which is the Australian bloke (as he calls himself!) and I'm enjoying it so far!

Podcasts!

2007-09-07T20:44:00.000-05:00

I am hooked on knitting podcasts! I really feel I've gone off the deep end of knitting when I'm looking forward to cleaning or ironing or whatever so I can listen to ladies talk about knitting! LOL

My favorite one is the Knit Picks podcast done by the owner of Knit Picks, Kelley Petkun. I listened to all 18 of them in about 5 days or so. (Oooh, while getting the link I see there is a new one!) I downloaded a few random knitting podcasts to my iPod and am enjoying them too. One is Knitting News Cast by Rhonda Bell and another is Cast On by Brenda Dayne.

Do you have a favorite knitting podcast you can share with me? (a free one please!)

Now if I just had more time to knit! It's hard during the day when the kids are up and many (most!) nights after they go to bed I am just too tired!

Knit Night and Lindsey's Scarf

2007-09-05T17:18:00.000-05:00

Right after I started to learn to knit I found a local group of knitters who meet once a week at a coffee shop to knit and gab. What a wonderful bunch of ladies! I am so thankful to have met them and I have been able to attend Knit Night twice since I joined the group. Last night was my second time. I loaded up my bag with my 2 knitting projects as well as a few crochet items (just in case) earlier in the day because I know myself, when it's time to go I'm doing this, that, and the other thing and I'll forget something in the rush. All of my knitting was in our bedroom except the directions for the kitty dishcloth. I figured I'd remember to add that "one more thing" to the bag before I left. Well you guessed it, I got about 5 minutes from home and remembered I forgot to put it in the bag. I had enough things to keep me busy for the 3 hours including Lindsey's scarf but I didn't want to work on that the whole time. So I turned around and went back home and picked up the directions. Or so I thought. When I got to the coffee shop I realized I only grabbed the first page and I was on the second page. So I had to work on just Lindsey's scarf after all! But I'm glad I did because I made some progress. I like how it's turning out well enough to keep at it until it's done. I think it's going to take me awhile though.

Thanks to all who have been visiting my blog and commenting,
sharing encouragement, favorite yarns, patterns, etc. This is fun!

Knitting Blogs and Yarn

2007-09-02T14:49:00.000-05:00

I just added links to other knitting blogs to my sidebar. If you have a knitting blog, I would LOVE to add a link to yours! Just let me know! (If you told me I could add yours and you don't see it here, then I just accidentally missed it, didn't skip it on purpose! Just let me know it's not there.)

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Note: Before you are allowed to look at the pictures to follow, please read what it says under "Learning to Knit!" at the top of my blog!!!!!

I'm halfway done with the Kitten Dishcloth, just finished row 20 of 40 last night. The picture was taken before I got this far though.

I (finally) found a pattern to make Lindsey her winter scarf in the stitch library of The Knitter's Bible by Claire Crompton. It's called Four Stitch Check. I've only done about 6 or 8 rows so far. I'm making it out of Red Heart for Kids Lt. Purple. I've mostly used Red Heart for my crochet projects but now that I'm a knitter ~smile~ I would like to start using wool and other better quality yarns. I can't afford anything too expensive but I'm looking forward to trying out other yarns. But if this scarf doesn't turn out so well then I haven't invested too much money into it.

What is your favorite yarn? What do you like to use it for? Where do you buy it?

I've always used Peaches and Cream cotton for my crochet projects which call for cotton and that's what I've been knitting the 2 dishcloths from. I have a bunch of it laying around. I do not have much of a yarn stash *at all*. I have never been a "buy the yarn first then decide what to make with it" type of person. I usually decide what I want to make first and then buy the yarn for it (with the exception of picking up the above mentioned cotton yarn when it's on sale or the mood strikes). I don't have the storage room or much money to build up a big stash of yarn for knitting but maybe someday.

Headband

2007-08-30T08:24:00.000-05:00

My beautiful daughter modeling the headband I made:

(sorry it's hard to get a good picture since the headband is navy blue and her hair is so dark)

She's also wearing her princess dress up clothes including butterfly wings. She walks around all day in that stuff!

I'm currently working on the Kitten Dishcloth, on row 10 of 40. I'll just take a picture when I'm done (if it turns out!). I was sort of encouraged after finishing my first 2 projects that I was getting the hang of knitting (somewhat!) but now again I'm feeling like every stitch is a struggle and I have soooo far to go to really be comfortable with knitting. I'll keep at it though!

I'm reading the book Knitting Rules! by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee and laughing my head off! (and learning a lot too!)

Done!

2007-08-26T10:44:00.000-05:00

My first knitted item!

I didn't notice until I was 3/4 done that I made a boo boo in one of the rows.

Kept knitting where I was supposed to purl. (I was watching the Packer game while I was knitting, guess I got caught up in a big play or something *G*.) But it's just a dishcloth, I don't mind the mistake.

I'll finish the headband for Lindsey today, THEN what am I going to make? I have yarn to make her a scarf but can't decide what pattern I want to use. I've gotten several suggestions for easy patterns for it but nothing really trips my trigger. I guess I may just start another dishcloth while I figure out what to make next.

I love that there are so many free patterns out on the internet. But there's nothing like browsing through pattern books (over and over and over). I have so many crochet patterns, sometimes I think I have more fun looking through them deciding what to make than I do actually making the item. LOL I don't have any knit patterns yet, but I do have a few books from the library.

Any suggestions for what I can make next?

Making progress

2007-08-22T10:12:00.000-05:00

Last night I met for the first time with the Northeast Wisconsin Knitting Circle at a local coffee shop. I had such a nice time! They meet every week and I hope to make it at least once a month. Thanks Deb for all your help with my questions and boo boos!

I made progress on my dishcloth. The pattern is the Textured Squares Dishcloth.

I'm also working on a simple garter stitch headband from the book Kids Knit! by Sarah Bradberry. It's for Lindsey (my 4 year old). (Sorry I couldn't get a very good picture. It's really not as lopsided as it looks here.)

Knitting is fun!

Getting started...

2007-08-19T12:13:00.000-05:00

I've been a crocheter for over 10 years and have wanted to learn to knit for awhile. I finally decided to take the plunge a few weeks ago. I made a practice swatch over and over and over - what do you think?

I tried knitting both the english style and continental, and find that continental feels more comfortable to me. Well, the knit stitch anyway! Can't seem to quite get a handle on purling either style. I can do it, but very awkwardly. I'll keep working on it!

So enough of practicing, I wanted to make something! So I started on a dishcloth. The first 9 rows are all the knit stitch, the next row is K6, P22, K6. My first 9 rows actually looked okay, for a beginner anyway!

But after I finished the 10th row, well......when I looked at my stitches I noticed that when I switched to purling I did something wrong, sigh.

I have Nici McNally's The Complete Beginners Guide to Knitting and I watched the section on how to "unknit" and that went well, at first! But then messed something else up undoing it, so I just ripped the whole thing out. Do over! I'm also going to attempt a scarf for my 4 year old daughter.

Someone said knitting is not rocket science. Well I've been at this a few weeks and I can't seem to get off the starting block! Ah well, I will keep at it! I'm going to knit this afternoon while the kids are napping.

Test

2007-08-18T09:38:00.001-05:00

Setting up....will finish later!