OK, so I am still working on the sock. Yes, the first of the pair. Hush!
I have turned the heel, and am starting the foot decrease design (for any of us that have also seen or knit this pattern).
(Please excuse my unpainted toes, Dr wants me to air the nails a bit….)
Soon I should have a sock! And need to knit the other one!
Have been ripped out and restarted.
The first attempt was turning out WAY too big.
Darn it!
So I am now on the cuff again, and will post something once it looks more like a sock and not just a blue circle.
Crafting Balance
Are you a knitter or a crocheter, or are you a bit of both?
When asked what I am doing, when crafting in public (which I do a lot), the answer is always knitting. Some people confuse it with crochet, or macrame (yep, got that once. Confused me terribly). I can understand, if you don’t do it, it may not be clear.
Every once in a while I come across a project that I REALLY want to try, and sometimes, that project is crochet.
I am a crochet virgin. I have a few hooks, but for rescuing stitches and weaving ends.
I tell myself I will learn crochet. I was even gifted a “teach yourself to crochet” kit by one of my fellow knitters. I have wonderful intentions, but seem to get distracted by knitting projects and works in process that are waiting for me.
I am teaching myself (again) how to sew (there are some knitting projects that would benefit from a nice lining), but that is also being back burnered in favor of a knitted sock in progress or a sweater I am going to start.
If nothing else, I need to learn crochet for the bind offs and edging that is possible with those little hooks!
Improving Your Skillset
Each year I set my intentions to try something new before the end of December.
For 2011, I was planning to try a sock, two at a time, toe up, of which I started, got about halfway through, realized it was WAY big, ripped it out and started over. Yeah. I am still sort-of-actively working on that as well as another sock, similar problem.
For 2012 I would like to knit a sweater (got the yarn all ready to go!) and try something with beads.
As I go on, I see great projects and knitted things that I want, so I want to make them, this leads be, inevitably toward something new to learn. Gone is the girl who only knit scarves, even though she lives in FL and has very little use for them on a normal day, gone is the acrylic only user because she was afraid of felting something (which I have now done, on purpose, and was lovely!)
I will continue to cast on new, bolder projects and reach beyond my current abilities to be a better, stronger knitter.
How about you, do you have the learning bug?
Something A Bit Different
Sorry, having issues direct linking this to play on the blog. Please check put my link below. Thanks!!
When talking about knitting, many people note they have someone they look up to above all other knitters.
I have met a number of knitters while learning this craft (as I still am…) and have picked up things from each of them.
I appreciate all my fiber friends and read quite a lot of knitting blogs as well.
I think if I had to chose one knitter that I return to for help or just some commiserating, it would be the Yarn Harlot.
I love her patterns, the wonderful drool-worthy pictures of fiber and her stories. Be it a triumph of mastery over that string or an honest (and often hilarious) bit about what went wrong and possibly why.
I can still remember when I first learned of the Harlot, I was in a bookstore, looking for something funny, when I saw a book, seemingly about… knitting? Now I had at this point, just recently decided I was going to knit. I do not remember what made me want to undertake this, but that is neither here nor there. I was teaching myself through books and pamphlets and had just been turned on to this thing called YouTube, where you could find videos of people knitting.
Being new and obsessed as most new-to-something people are, I picked up the book. I remember being particularly amused that she called herself the Yarn Harlot. What a name! Now, today I have picked up and read anything she writes that I can get my hands on, including her blog, of which I check most every day.
I have not met her yet, though I am trying to save up for a trip to the Sock Summit one day, but life keeps getting in the way. Until then I will content myself with the blog and the hopes that she will write more books about knitting and all the funny things that can happen at 3 am when you are frantically trying to finish that blanket/scarf/sweater/pair of socks in time for whatever event calls for it.
Thanks Stephanie for helping a new knitter to realize that the silly mistakes and yarn lust can happen to anyone.
The apple of knowledge.
And no, we are not really naked in our yard, the photo was just cropped. A lot. 
If you have seen me on Ravelry, you know I have a thing for color. Goodness, I can be sidetracked by a pretty skein any where (ask my friend Trisha, who has been with me more than once during an “Oooo!” moment).
I, like many fiber crafters, have bought/ordered/drooled yarn that just called to me, (yes, I am talking to you Columbine) 
Or a great name (Cinderella Blue) 
I plan projects around colors less then what yarn I have (and I REALLY need to work on that. Hubby is not going to let me order more yarn when I have a room full).
I am particularly swayed by purples (see Columbine above) and blues, generally in such shades that might hurt to look at (yes I am 5 at heart.)
I relish everyday I can see a new skein or something that inspires me to find a skein or a project to go with that skien I just bought…
How about you? What colors call to you?
Yes, I have been missing for a while. Thanks to Tami for still hosting us crazy fiber people.
In the process of trying to get myself organized and on a schedule as well as working and trying to keep my marriage going (conflicting schedules…) I have not been knitting as much as I would have liked.
That said, the Glass Slippers are still going, slowly, but going.
In the mood for something a bit faster, and not so small needles…
I cast on the Pucker Cowl
And here’s where I am today…
It’s Very blue.
Tags: WIP Wednesday
A Knitter or Crocheter For All Seasons?
As spring is in the air in the northern hemisphere and those in the southern hemisphere start setting their sights for the arrival of winter, a lot of crocheters and knitters find that their crafting changes along with their wardrobe. Have a look through your finished projects and explain the seasonality of your craft to your readers. Do you make warm woollens the whole year through in preparation for the colder months, or do you live somewhere that never feels the chill and so invest your time in beautiful homewares and delicate lace items. How does your local seasonal weather affect your craft?
Looking through my finished projects, I noticed a definitive break between what I knit because I just want to and what I knit for others.
For example, for me in a “I just like/am intriged by/want” project I have a lot of little things. I tend to use things that will decorate my house more than not.
Sometimes it’s a geek thing, like Disney or Doctor Who.
I also tend toward smaller wearables, like fingerless mitts and scarves. I am finding I am also being drawn to shawls recently, but I am mostly interested in the larger ones, that will be more of a wrap then a shoulder length.
For gifts, I look to their wish lists or favorites on Ravelry to see what they are intersted in. (and what I think I am talented enough to pull off!)
Sometimes I just a bug for some immediate gratifiaction. That’s when I hit my stash a pull out some partially used skein and find some quick knit or something to adore with yarn. Like my keys…
I had a bit of a run where almost everything I knit was a gift, play kitchen ingredients for my nephew, baby stuff for my soon-to-be nephews, gifts for my sisters, mom or Grandma, swap receipients….
I also had a bit of time where almsot everything I wanted to knit was a one skein project, hats, mitts, cup cozies…
All knitters seem to have their scarf period. Mine was in part taken by requests once the fact I was knitting got out. Hubby was no exeption.
I even picked a few patterns out, just for fun, then realized I meant to give it away…
So, I don’t really have a ‘typical’ project. I am too unfocused when it comes to yarn and patterns. I want to make them ALL!!!
