Crocheting

I haven't yet written about crochet...that'll change today.



Crochet was something that never appealed to me when I began knitting. I didn't maintain the purist approach, that knitting was the bomb and crochet wasn't. It just seemed so much more limited to me, that I wouldn't be able to make as many things with the hook 'n' wrap as I would with the needles, knit and purl.



There was a counselor at the school I worked at two years ago who crocheted really beautiful sweaters, scarves and ponchos and actually sold them every so often. That began to help me change my perceptions, the crack in the door.



Just like when I got the first Stitch n Bitch knitting book, I looked at the companion crochet book and became intrigued. Now, I have to say that I didn't like about half of the patterns in there - way too hip and edgy for my liking. But I finally wanted to give it a go.



I attempted the basic stitches - and wasn't able to get them, because I completely misunderstood the nature of the turning chain. Why were my swatches coming out as triangles? I put down the hook and went back to knitting, quite humbled.



When I saw both the Interweave Crochet magazine and the Teach Yourself Visually Crochet book, I was persuaded to try again. This time, success! OK, even if I made a beret that looked more Rastafarian than French. But now, I am, ahem, hooked (you knew that was coming) - and can't wait to try my next project!

I'm a bit overwhelmed.

I flew back to Colorado early (WAY early, waking up at 2:30 AM and leaving by 6) Sunday. I felt like I got hit by a truck, even with a two hour nap when Rob finally picked me up at Denver International and we drove home.

What can I say? Stitches West was way cool, so much I'd love to return next year or go to the one in Illinois. Of course, the Santa Clara Convention Center floor burst at the seams with fiber nuts like myself, to the point where I couldn't enjoy just browsing at all the luscious yarn and other necessary paraphenalia and the whole exercise became a test of sensory overload. I also only managed to make three purchases: one for an extra copy of Interweave Knits' current issue, the second for another skein of Handmaiden Sea Silk (a scarf for my sister), and a considerable purchase from WEBS' massive booth, which was practically half the marketplace.
Almost bought some qivuit (sp?), but just couldn't make the financial commitment...or the justification to Rob.

Nevertheless I loved being there, especially the two classes I took that centered on creating your own knitting from Sandi Rosman and Melissa Leapman. Both helped in building confidence and skill, plus they were just fun.

Going to Stitches West

I'm headed to Northern California this weekend for my first fiber convention (is that what they're called?), Stitches West. I never would've thought about going to one, but my friend Wendi attended last year's, and asked if I wanted to go, too. So in addition to getting in some family visiting time (I grew up on the coast south of Santa Cruz), I'll be learning how to design and write my own patterns. Needless to say, I'm pretty jazzed.



Now, because there will be a marketplace, I'll have to practice incredible self-control and not buy yarn...okay, too much yarn, and whatever else I might encounter, knit or crochet-wise. It'll just be fun to be around and chat with other fiber nuts like myself and Wendi. I probably should warn my husband Rob about what could transpire, since I don't want him to collapse from shock at seeing our credit card statement next month.



As far as my WIPs go, I'm getting through the two scarfs - one for Niki, the other for myself. Mine is actually an ingenious combination hat/scarf, the Nomad, which is in the Fall 2007 Interweave Knits. I'd love to use it for skiing, but it's not lined on the inside. That's pretty much essential for me and my cold-blooded self.



Other WIPs - the Composed Mitts (also from IK Fall 07, and my first venture into fair isle knitting), the baby cardigan for a work colleague who is expecting in June, the Bonsai tunic, the Icarus shawl, the Charlotte's web shawl, a shawlette, Rob's vest and the girls' ponchos.



Maybe if I'm out there for others to see, I can somehow be held accountable!

Welcome to my personal site!

I have KnitWit and Wisdom - then I have my fun blog.

Not that there's any shortage of knitting blogs out there, far more extensive and sophisticated than my own. But I have to start somewhere, right?

The odyssey started in December 2006, during one of the rare major snowstorms we had here in Denver. There's only so much TV you can watch and books you can read, so I took up my year-old Susan Bates teach yourself to knit scarf project and had another go. While that first project was eventually frogged and discarded, I moved on to Debbie Stoller's first Stitch and Bitch book, which pretty much taught me everything I needed to know. And I've never looked back.

I now have a place where I can write and share my knitting and nascent crocheting efforts and how the fit into my crazy life of being an mom, wife, friend, yogi and writer.

It's great to be here!