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.

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!