Instant gratification with knitting

I love projects that finish quickly. Case in point: the beret I made with Noro Kochoran was done in two days. Compare that to all my WIPs of three scarves, one baby cardigan, one vest, two ponchos and three shawls. Oh yes, and the Bonsai Tunic that has been on my needles since last spring. Actually with the last one, I've made considerable progress. OK, it may not look like it, but I think it's been pretty good, considering I had only done two rows when I last worked on it and had frogged it FIVE times (grrr)!

The beret was done because I wanted a cold weather hat that had a bit of style to it. Plus I had this beautiful skein that I had no idea what to do with. After looking through my zillions of pattern books and magazines, I finally settled on the basic tam pattern from Ann Budd's book (a terrific book, BTW). I made is a little larger than needed, but I wanted to have it be big enough so that I would cover my ears. Mission accomplished (sorry fellow liberals, for the Dubya reference).

Super bulky yarn and/or large needle knitting is great, but I'm not so sure if I could wear knitted items in that style all the time. I first saw this in The Yarn Girls Guide to Simple Knits, then in Twinkle's Big City Knits. Fun knitting, to be sure, and there is a real satisfaction in getting a considerable project done in no time.

But sometimes, huge gauge knitted garments just look - well, weird. It's almost as if you took a jumprope and knitted with it. Even I, as a person with a small medium build who could get away with wearing chunky knits, don't think of it as a permanent fashion statement.

I guess if I knit something up like this, and don't like it, it can always be frogged and made into a rug.

Coffee, scones and yarn addictions

So I love to knit and to a lesser extent crochet, and that's only because I'm still learning. But eating is right up there with my fiber fever. In my perfect world, I could do both, all day long, and not have to worry about weight gain, finances, my creaking house or who will be the next President of the U.S.

I've only found a few LYSs around here that have a coffee bar in the store: The LambShoppe in Denver and KnitKnack in Arvada. Maybe it's due to restrictive health code laws or a fear that spilled coffee permanently damages the yarn merchandise, but I think more LYSs should have coffee bars. Offering a few treats (such as my all-time favorite, scones) would be even better. This little extra would encourage me to sit down, pull out one of my 20+ WIPs and most likely buy something. Plus, I'd love to talk with the owners or whoever happens to be there, too.

The above scenario is what I do at Starbucks all the time. I'd just feel more comfortable in a yarn shop.

Better get some pics for here...

What is it about my picture-phobia? And what's any self-respecting blogger without showing off her latest triumphs in all their visual glory?


For some reason, I am reluctant to post pictures of my stuff on this blog or on Ravelry. Maybe it's just mere shyness about the quality of my work. I have this vision that other knitters will look at my completed work and go apoplectic in fits of laughter over how horrible they are. No, that would never happen. Knitters are an incredibly forgiving group.

How pathetic...I let my husband take more pictures of my kids/his stepkids more often than I do! So if I'm reluctant to photograph my own daughters often, imagine how it is with my own completed projects and WIPs. It's also ironic, because photography used to be a primary hobby of mine.

Resolved: As of this weekend, I will take pictures of my knitting - with my kids whenever possible. Then I won't feel so bad about it.

Project ADD

I work with many kids who have attention deficit disorder. Of course, I don't believe that it's contagious, but I have to say that I must suffer from some form of it, because I seem to start more projects than I finish. Project ADD, if you will.
Mind you, I do finish projects, but I'm not sure why I flit about so much when it comes to having so many WIPs.
Sometimes, I wish I could be like my husband's friend's wife, who once stated in no uncertain terms that she starts one project, finishes it, and doesn't even think about starting another one. A true model of efficiency, but really, what fun is that?
I like to have my mindless stockinette or garter stitch project, one that has more engaging stitchwork, one that has colorwork, one with lace, one with an interesting pattern, and just all those of family and friends.
Nothing wrong with that, right? Frankly, it's nothing to be ashamed of.
And I don't want to find a cure for it, medical or otherwise.