Saturday, February 18, 2012

Dreams...

A lot of people talk about, "second sock syndrome" which I am sure happens... but for me it was, "first sock syndrome." For the readers who are non-knitters "second sock syndrome" is about doing half of something and not having the motivation to continue... Like doing the laundry but not want to fold it or put it away... but worse because you can still wear the laundry right out of the laundry basket even if they aren't folded; you cannot wear one sock without the other one being done.

For me I had what I am calling, "first sock syndrome." Ever since I began knitting everyone talked about how great socks were and how they were the most worn and useful item you would ever knit. In addition to these highlights they also talked about the dreaded "Kitchener Stitch." According to most, this  stitch was so difficult and confusing that they wouldn't even try socks even after years of knitting. After hearing this for so long and  making a couple pairs of fingerless mitts, I decided it was time for me to get over my fear and face it! So I chose a pattern that I could go through quickly because sock yarn is so thin I decided to use worsted. (For the non-knitters this means I selected a pattern with a thicker yarn so it would take less time to knit) This I think was a great idea for anyone who is teaching someone how to knit socks or is afraid to do it themselves. Last night, I tackled the Kitchener and with the help of this entry from one of my favorite blogs, I was able to go ahead and finish them. I finished it on the phone with my Knitting Fairy Godmother, and she explained that her friends read it aloud to her as she finished her first pair of socks. What I like about the Purl Bee blog is that you can do it for yourself by scrolling through their step by step instructions.

If you are looking for the pattern you can find it on Ravelry you will have to buy the book but they give you a link to buy it online. I want to make the other one before I block it out, I need to buy some sock blockers- any suggestions?

The next knitting dream of mine is to knit a sweater! (Sometimes I think it is silly how excited I can get about knitting but hey, it makes me happy!) So I am think about about knitting one of these two sweaters Textured Tunic or Split Neckline Cap Sleeve Tee. I was thinking the Textured Tunic would be more practical because by the time I finish it, I will probably be wearing long sleeves... Ho long does it take to knit sweaters anyway? Any suggestions on which one and which yarn you would recommend... I do not think that I would want an itchy sweater! (actually i know i don't)

On another not I saw this Meme on Vogue Knitting's Facebook this morning and thought I would share...



So true, I love it!

Monday, February 13, 2012

I know I know but I had to share!

This has been circulating in many online Knitting Circles but I had to share! I even saw it this morning on one of my FAVORITE knitting blogs Chic Knits.  (If you don't already read this on the regular- you should!)





I also wanted to take this moment to thank the "Knitting Fairy Godmother" for making me this lovely Bandana Cowl as I have yet to take it off!

Also, this is my first self picture on the blog (don't you hate self portraits... too difficult to take and so many deletes) anyway, this is the one that showed the best stitch definition (She did an amazing job!)

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

How to Spend Less Money on Yarn/Needle Crafts

So there were only two votes in the recent poll and one was not for the three available topics, but it piqued my interest and I have been jotting ideas down since.

The topic requested was "Willpower- how to resist buying yarn"

I have evolved this into how to spend less:
  1. 1. Budget yourself- We do it everywhere else in life why not with our knitting? If you don't spend the allotted amount each week/month then you can carry it over and buy more the next month.
  2. Work from your stash! If you are a knitter even one that does not have a closet or room full of yarn you undoubtedly have something in a "stash." Ravelry has this unique feature that enables you to enter all of your stashed yarn. What you can do is then look to see what patterns you can make with the yarn you already have! If you liked the yarn in your LYS or craft store, you will definitely like knitting with it!
  3. Go "stash shopping" with your friends. Chances are you are not the only knitter you know... If this is the case, you know me and we can go stash shopping with each other! To use this you invite your friends over and you can all knit, eat, and go shopping in their stash. Now, of course you have to return the favor... so if someone invites you over it is knitting etiquette to then invite them over to eat, knit and shop in your stash. (I made the etiquette part up, but it sounds like the polite and courteous not to mention FUN thing to do, right?)
  4. If you are in a knit group you can have a day/night where everyone brings a skein of yarn. You can set an amount of money so that it is fair and have an exchange and make a game out of it! I know this is more of a holiday type of game but you can play White-Elephant! I imagine the ladies in my knitting group fighting over two skeins of madelinetosh pashmina!
  5. YARNBOMB with your stash, or waste/scrap yarn!
  6. Find a project you can make with leftover yarn! My friend's blog j'eat yet? has the instructions on how to make the below! I made it this weekend for the GIANTS game and it was fun and easy! The Yarn I used was leftover from my Special Olympics project!

No matter what you choose to do to save money, make it FUN!


On a completely unrelated note I have started my first pair of socks and I am too excited not to show them now!  Here are two pictures I took while trying to figure out if the tiny little thing would fit! (Of course it did, it was super stretchy)



This is also my first attempt at DPNS, and let me tell you I am still a Magic Loop Fan! I have committed to finishing the pair in DPNS but I may buy another set (which will be the 3rd) - any recommendations?
My complaints:
  • They get in the way of my knitting
  • They clank and click A LOT
  • They aren't Magic loop
Okay- that is all I can think of....

The other selected topic will come in next week's blog!