Knitting Passion

Yarn is, of course, the most important part of knitting. (Unless you’re knitting with spaghetti that is.) Yarn can be used with any type of needles, (chopsticks, pencils, etc.)and with the popularity of knitting taking off like so many bottle rockets, the choices in yarn have become plentiful, varied, and a bit overwhelming.

For the beginning knitter, I usually would recommend starting with a worsted weight yarn. This is the general middle-of-the-road yarn, and is easy to work with on most needle sizes.

I can hear you say, “But wait! I want to use this fuzzy frilly feathery yarn I just got at Wal-Mart for 4 bucks! You mean I can’t use that?”

Now, I didn’t say that. But if you try to start out with a novelty yarn on needles any smaller than a US 13 (9 mm), you’re asking for trouble. Novelty yarn is a bit tricky to work with if you’re not used to it, so if you insist on using it, might I suggest using large needles, or my favorite method of teaching kids with fun yarns, on your fingers! (That will be lesson #3!) Finger knitting is a way easy, way fast, and way fun *way* to knit a scarf or belt, while at the same time learning the basic knitting theory of pulling loops through other loops to create fabric.

As far as color goes, that’s entirely up to you. Although when you’re comfortable with knitting with one strand of yarn, I recommend using 2 strands at the same time for really neat effects and textures.

All yarn images are from gotyarn.com.

yarn, knitting

Haha, I’m so dang witty…

So I thought it was time for an update with the WIPs. (Works In Progress, in case you weren’t aware.) So… here they are. (PS: Just found out a new trick with the pics. Makes for easier reading, no?)

This is SNB scarf #2. As noted before, I get to use my Knit-Lite needles, as they are the only size 9 needles I own. I’ll probably not do a tick on this because it’s in k1 p1 ribbing, and it’s way harder to do intarsia on ribbing and make it look good. As it is, I’m half way done with this scarf. (If you look closely, you can see the “keyhole” half way down.)

These are both future ties for the Missionaries. The variegated green is for the one who prefers the polyester look, and the purple is a shiny, silky yarn for the one that wants to look “GQ” (in his words). I haven’t worked on these for a while due to the fact that I feel like I’m getting nowhere. But I guess that’s because I’m not working on them, hmmm?

OK. I am on an Elizabeth Zimmerman kick, right now, and thus have committed to knitting along with her in Knitter’s Almanac. It just so happens that the first project of the year is an Aran sweater. I have not gotten far at all, as you can see. I really just wanted to try out the Aran patterns, and am taking her advice and making a cap to start. The red pieces are markers to show the end of a motif, and the blue is to show the beginning of a round. I’ve done about 5 rounds total. I WILL finish this, if it kills me, which it might seeing as how I already screwed up and included an extra ribbing motif. But it’s not like I’m going to give this to anyone, is it? So who cares! It’s great practice with cabling… even if you hardly ever use a cable needle…

This is sock #2 for Claire. I am just about to start the heel flap. There is actually a shadow-box pattern on the leg, but you can’t see it in this pic. You’ll have to take my word for it.

This is one finished mitten and one unfinished mitten. The second one is a little smaller than the first, and subsequently I lost interest. I’ll finish it eventually.

And finally, this is a sock for Marie using actual sock yarn. I’m just about to turn the heel here.

And that’s it! Phew!

… and it looks more like a shawl. Josh says it looks “regal.” I’m thinking of sewing the ends together and using it like some kind of shrug, shoulder-warmer… thing. It’ll probably be a gift for someone… ooh it would go great with a prom dress with similar colors. And my sister has a purse made of the same yarn, so if anyone wants to use it… wink wink…

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Congratulations to me! I have finally finished my first sweater!

::cheers, whooping, applause, all that jazz::

Granted it came from a sucky pattern, with yarn that wasn’t called for, and the sleeves attach to the arms REALLY weird, but hey… it’s a milestone.

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I have officially begun my first sock made with actual sock yarn. I am also using a pattern from a book called Knit Socks! (This book is so cute! It’s shaped like a sock. It’s set up pretty nicely, too, with charts depicting the directions so they aren’t that intimidating. Although I think there should have been more than one tech editor. The directions aren’t always clear, and sometimes make no sense whatsoever.)

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Yeah, I thought that sounded cool. The Lyme doesn’t actually stop here. But hopefully we might be able to help slow it down.

Check out what Denise is making!

(She’s going to add a little bitty Tick on there somewhere! Neat!)

crochet angel, Lyme Disease

I originally started being serious with knitting when I read Debbie Stoller’s Stitch ‘N Bitch. The way she writes and teaches knitting through real-life experience and easy to understand illustrations, makes you feel like you’re hanging out with your buddy, laughing and learning a new hobby. She’s witty, and sometimes downright hilarious. (I have actually laughed out loud while reading this book, and subsequently received strange looks from members of my immediate family.)
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… and here they are! Click on them to get the bigger pictures.

This is Lyme Scarf #1. It’s actually uniform in width, but it seems wider at one end in this picture.

This is Tick up close.

Here is the first Lyme Mitten. I finished both, but haven’t taken a pic of the other one yet. (Mostly because I screwed up the 2nd tick…)

This is the matching hat I tried to make with my Knifty Knitter loom. It looks more like a strawberry than anything else. I’m going to felt it and see what will happen.

That’s all for now. I’m going to try to make a collage of my backyard so you can see how awesome it is.

Lisa has finished her first crocheted Lyme scarf, and it is beautiful! It’s black and purple striped with Tick embroidered on. I’m still waiting for her permission with the pics.

I have officially finished my very first mitten ever. Sans Tick. Wanna see it? OK, if you insist. Keep in mind this is pre-blocking.

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Wanna see something great?

That’s size 50 knitting needles. Yes you heard me. 25mm. How unnecessary and yet awesome is that? (I’m still figuring out the camera so sorry about the reversed image.)

knitting, needles

I’m making mittens for my next Stitching for Lyme project. Scarves take too long, and take too much yarn. So I thought I’d spread out all the green yarn I got from Mary by using it along with the other yarn I got from Ranae. That way I can knit for as long as possible without having to pay and get reimbursed, or having to worry about tax write-offs.

So the basic idea for these mittens comes fron Knitty Gritty with Vicky Howell. Although I’m using different yarn, needles, and stitch pattern for the cuffs… But yeah, the thumb will probably be the same. Oh, and Tick will be on there too, and Vicky’s didn’t have that…

As it so happens, the socks I’m making use the same method for making the heels.

I’ll be posting the entire pattern as soon as I finish the first one.

Awww my llama!

blog fun

So my Relief Society President calls me…

“Hi Keri, are you home right now?”

“Yes, what’s up?”

“Can I drop some stuff off with you?”

“Sure come on over.”

I’m thinking she’s returning my bowl from Thanksgiving.

Heh heh… I was wrong.

This is what she brought:

And this:

Oh, and this:

Apparently all this belonged to one of the ladies that moved out of our ward, and when Ranae saw it, she knew exactly who would appreciate it the most.

Yeah, I think she was right.

knitting, yarn, Relief Society

So this here nifty computer has a built in webcam. Heehee! Here’s me and the Baby. In sepia tones, no less!

pictures, macbook

I’ve decided that I’m going to knit some socks with my handspun wool. I’ve knit socks only once before, and they were Marie-Sized.

However, they turned out so well, that I would absolutely try them in a size that would fit me. I just haven’t had the time, yarn, or need to make myself some socks.

Until Now…

I have all of 3 pairs of toe socks which are on the decline, and a couple pairs of tall black socks to wear with skirts, and that’s really it. I want some simple, warm socks to wear around the house, and I have yet to find actual wool socks in Target or Wal-Mart. So it’s up to me. Expect socks next. Maybe I could try to use that Jaime Baby yarn I got at the 99 cent store…

Wow… I really need to vaccum…

knitting, socks, hand spinning