A few weeks ago I had a fit of ambition and decided to learn to knit 2-at-a-time toe-up socks.
I found them shockingly easy.
They’re sloppy and ugly and they don’t fit, because I didn’t have the tips to go down my more typical couple-of-needle-sizes. They’re made from Cascade 220 and I’ll probably wash them accidentally at some point.
But you know what? I feel really freaking awesome right now.
(This knitting accomplishment once again brought to you by Silver’s Sock Class.)
Posted in Knitting
I have a deep and inexplicable need for my knitting to be insanely simple. I wouldn’t find this at all remarkable if it weren’t for the fact that I don’t feel the same way about crochet. Or at least not to the same extent.
I’ve tried knitting cables, and I’ve tried knitting lace. I’ve even succeeded a time or two. Hell, if the pattern is rhythmic enough, I’ve even enjoyed it.
Building that rhythm seems to be the key for me. I suspect this is why I took to spinning like the proverbial duck to water. (Nevermind that I’ve worked with it for all of an hour or so…I know love at first sight when I see it.)
I look at projects on Ravelry sometimes and wish for a few minutes that I were the kind of knitter that could and would make those things. But really? I’m happy over here in the corner with my dishcloths. Knitting for me is sort of like my old Birkenstocks…simple, useful, and dead comfortable.
Which would be why I love it.
But I just might have to try it. Reading this makes me feel braver. Maybe even brave enough.
Posted in Knitting
Just saw this on Rav…where else? LOL.
The subtitle: Why Facebook can’t match Ravelry, the social network for knitters.
Oh hell yes!
Of course, in my case it’s more likely to be crochet, but it all comes with the same set of issues:
I am not an overly social person, and nothing that I do while out and about seems to draw as much comment as pulling out a project and yarning away.
This drives me absolutely nutty.
When I’m in a waiting room, all I usually want is to blend into the woodwork. I’m stressed out by small talk; I’m even more stressed by it when I’m stressed already. I generally don’t make a public appearance unless I have to. I’m a homebody. I work in retail and I already talk to people all day. It absolutely exhausts me. The last thing I want is to chat with random strangers at a time I could be enjoying the quiet. Having my rhythm broken is far more annoying than never having the rhythm in the first place.
I don’t knit at work anymore, either. Same issues, but magnified, as I feel compelled to not be standoffish with those I have to see most days.
I don’t know if I really have a point, other than finding it soothing to grumble about having to either talk to folks or leave the crochet home. But I suppose grumbling is part of what a blog is for. 
Though I’m sure there’s an interesting thought in there somewhere about the difference between random people in public and random people on the internet. In public once removed, or something.
It’s lovely, and I enjoyed my copy immensely, though I have yet to make that grilled cheese sandwich.
Posted in Knitting
Ok, ok, cheesy title but it’s early. The important thing is that the Winter issue is up at Twist Collective!
Posted in Knitting
Trip to Maine was nice. Got to stuff myself silly at my favorite local eatery and spend an hour or two cursing at Traveling Woman. I don’t know what it is about that project, but even the simple stockinette portion kept going wrong for me. Methinks that I am currently lacking the focus to knit lace. Or the yarn is angry at me for making it live in a ziploc bag in the dark between bouts of working on the thing. You never know.
This afternoon I have the house to myself and in the absence of three small loud children I’ve been working again on a new pattern template. Nothing elaborate…I’m not in a good place right now to purchase or learn anything more elaborate than Word, but I’ve managed to jazz it up a bit all the same and I’m pleased with the results. I also set to writing the pattern that I think will make its debut the soonest. It’s been pulled from the pile of swatches and scraps and will shortly, with any luck, be made to behave.
I have no FO to show for this weekend, but the scarf project I’m trying to finish right now should be all set by the end of the week. Yay!
Got no pictures, either. I can be incredibly lazy sometimes, and moreso when I’m tired and bouncing between happy and cranky. On the plus side, the boyfriend gave me this to keep my moody self out of his hair, and I’m finding that I quite like it so far. So a book may actually get read around here for the first time in ages. Exciting stuff.
Ah, well. Back to the pattern thing. I have to do this writing in little pieces or it wouldn’t get done at all. Watching a design grow under my hands is easy. Writing it out so someone else can follow it? Not so much.
But it feels like my knitterly duty to point out that the fall Twist Collective is up!
Posted in Knitting
While in Maine, I also:
–Picked a stitch for the new design I just couldn’t find a blasted stitch for. Unfortunately, I think said stitch might just use too much yarn to be practical in the application I wish to use it in. I need to swatch again and get a good yardage estimate.
–Helped my partner replace the pullcord on the generator. This involved a crochet hook and needlenose pliers. Couldn’t have done it without the crochet hook. I’m handy to have around, lol.
–Discovered my inner little old lady. I found myself sitting in a rocking chair, knitting by gaslight. And I was happy.