I mentioned to my friend M recently that I felt I was knitting faster. Last year when I made my Fiddlehead Mittens, it took me a long time. Almost two weeks to knit the first mitten. It was my second fair isle pattern. This year I'm making them again and its taking me less time. I'm almost able to complete half a mitten in a single two and a half hour sitting.
The reason for this change? I'm confident.
For my Rhinebeck 2011 sweater I knit Eunny Jang's Deep V Argyle Vest. I've wanted to make this vest since I learned how to knit. I was challenge on practically everything I knew about knitting. How to measure for a correct fit, how to read a chart correctly, how to keep consistent tension.
Its important to pick a project that will challenge you. By being challenged, you grow.
Tell me: What your challenge project?
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
A Very Stashy Christmas
This year I decided to have a Very Stashy Christmas. Instead of buying gifts, I would make my family something from my stash. (I did have to buy an entire project's worth of yarn for one person. But only one person!)
Without further ado, the photos:
Would you like to see the project contenders? Can you match the yarn to the project?
Without further ado, the photos:
Would you like to see the project contenders? Can you match the yarn to the project?
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Why Knit?
The night before Rhinebeck, one of my knit buds posed a question. "When did you learn to" she said "knit?"
I learned when I was nineteen, almost twenty, years old. It was the summer between my freshman and sophomore years at college. I was lost. I was lost emotionally, spiritually and mentally. I had no idea who or what I wanted to be in life. I felt paralyzed.
I decided to teach myself how to knit. I'm not sure why. Knitting was something I had always wanted to try and it felt like the right moment to start.
I dug up a 1970's magazine clipping on "How to teach yourself to knit" my Mom saved. Then I headed off to JoAnne Fabrics. There I selected knitting needles that felt good in my hand (US 2), and a (sport weight) yarn I liked.
I taught myself to cast-on in the parking lot. Later in the day I had a few rows of garter stitch completed. At the end of six months I had a skinny black scarf completed. It was so long that I could wrap it around my neck, and still have it reach my knees.
Knitting felt good. And more importantly, it was something that I choose. I choose the yarn. I choose the needles. I choose the pattern. I choose how much time to spend on it. I choose when to put it down.
It was having those little choices, when all the choices were felt too final, that helped free me.
Why do I knit? Because knitting doesn't care if I'm perfect. It just cares that I show up and participate.
I learned when I was nineteen, almost twenty, years old. It was the summer between my freshman and sophomore years at college. I was lost. I was lost emotionally, spiritually and mentally. I had no idea who or what I wanted to be in life. I felt paralyzed.
I decided to teach myself how to knit. I'm not sure why. Knitting was something I had always wanted to try and it felt like the right moment to start.
I dug up a 1970's magazine clipping on "How to teach yourself to knit" my Mom saved. Then I headed off to JoAnne Fabrics. There I selected knitting needles that felt good in my hand (US 2), and a (sport weight) yarn I liked.
I taught myself to cast-on in the parking lot. Later in the day I had a few rows of garter stitch completed. At the end of six months I had a skinny black scarf completed. It was so long that I could wrap it around my neck, and still have it reach my knees.
Knitting felt good. And more importantly, it was something that I choose. I choose the yarn. I choose the needles. I choose the pattern. I choose how much time to spend on it. I choose when to put it down.
It was having those little choices, when all the choices were felt too final, that helped free me.
Why do I knit? Because knitting doesn't care if I'm perfect. It just cares that I show up and participate.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Why a knitting blog?
1. I like to knit.
2. My friends like to knit.
3. I like to talk about knitting. Often.
4. I don't have enough knitters with which to chat.
5. I own a bookcase stuffed with yarn.
6. Sometimes I need help thinking of what to do with this yarn.
Now, a picture of the blog mascot, Arya:
2. My friends like to knit.
3. I like to talk about knitting. Often.
4. I don't have enough knitters with which to chat.
5. I own a bookcase stuffed with yarn.
6. Sometimes I need help thinking of what to do with this yarn.
Now, a picture of the blog mascot, Arya:
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