A Little Like Quilting

They say quilters are a little crazy. They take perfectly good fabric and cut it up to make a different perfectly good piece of fabric. I should know, I am a quilter. There is something rewarding and comforting about creating something both useful and aesthetically pleasing. Knitting has a similar affect. We take wool from a sheep, clean it, spin it and use tiny strands of yarn to create something both useful and beautiful. Fair Isle or stranded knitting is especially tedious and time consuming. I don't know if I really like the looks of the sweater but when it is finished and blocked, I'll let you know.

Projects started

At the beginning of the summer I took a picture of all the projects I was working on. Some needed minimum work to complete like adding buttons or piecing together while others needed considerable more work and were in the beginning stages. I had a cardigan to complete, a pair of socks, an Ishbel shawl, a fair isle sweater and other random projects. Mostly, I worked on completing projects but I did start, and complete, a few so I could work on something new for my trip. Here is a picture at the beginning of summer. In a few days I hope to show a completed version of this picture. I can't wait to see it!

It might be a girl....

I found out a few days ago that one of my best friends is going to be a grandmother. I sense some knitting may be in order. Who knows, it may be a girl!

Knitting for a Friend

Okay, I know this is a crocheted blanket and I just gave it to a friend when I missed her baby shower but I like the idea of knitting for a friend. Crocheting for a friend just doesn't have the same rhythm. Isn't it crazy how you go through times and you want to make things but you feel like you don't have anyone to make them for and then when you have someone to make things for everyone ends up pregnant or celebrating something special!

Entrelac

I love learning new skills. I've been watching some videos on Craftsy and Entrelac has captured my attention and I can't wait to see where this goes....

I'm weaving - where are you going?

My husband has an interesting sense of humor. Often when I say that I'm sewing he will respond with, "so what?" Last week he topped himself and responded to my comment "I'm weaving" with "where are you going?" He was cracking himself up! Looking back, I'm sure he thought that was hilarious.

Check Up

In order to really make progress, you have to occasionally check in and see how you are doing. It seems like I'm always working on a project but I also have so many looming in the back of my mind that I forget how much I actually produce. Looking back at the list from over a month ago puts it all into perspective.

13 hats - I think this is the first one I want to complete but we'll see what I really end up doing. I think the yarn is what makes it so pretty and I may not like it as well if I don't choose my yarn wisely. I also like this hat because it has that unisex look to it and I can decide after knitting who it may go to. 

I've completed 4 of them

13 scarves

I've completed 2 and started the 3rd

13 mittens/gloves

13 socks - I have a great pattern idea for Stacy and I to work on Christmas gifts this year. I'm going to share it with her tonight and see what she thinks!

13 dishcloths- mostly I like knitting these and found that several of my family members also like receiving them which makes for a perfect combination.

I've finished almost 8 of them!

13 ornaments - I think I want a tree with all knitted ornaments. It may just be a small tree at first but I'd like to at least begin. I think these may also be a good idea for tags on presents.

13 rows in my sock blankie. There are four diagonal rows all the way across with the exception of the ends.

13 baby booties

13 baby hats

13 charity items - these might be for GAGE or for another charity. I'm actually thinking about getting involved in the ministry at my church which may or may not involve knitting for infants.

13 baskets

13 cup cozies

13 random items

 I'm certainly not finished but I like that I'm making progress and checking some of the items off the list I have ideas about getting started on some of the other items like socks and baby sweaters but that will happen when it happens.

Conferences

What do people do at conferences with long, boring lectures if they do not knit?

Jocelyn's Birthday

It's hard to explain unless you've experienced the birth of a child but there is nothing I would not do for her. Of course, I try to make decisions that will enhance her life and the parenting choices I make now are different from what I may have made when she was fourteen. However, she has made it easy to give freely, and to love freely.

I'm overwhelmed that my daughter is twenty four years old and can't believe how quickly the time has gone by. She is beautiful and accomplished, she is professional and intelligent, she is kind and faithful. Happy Birthday, Jocelyn. I can't wait to see all God has in store for you during the next twenty four years!

I LOVE Weaving!

I have found my new love. There is something soothing about the back and forth action of moving the shuttle through the shed and watching patterns and textures develop. The warp is a little scary because I've had an unfortunate incident when it popped off the rod.

But when it starts to fill, it can be beautiful.

And then you begin passing the shuttle through the shed and the weft begins to develop and the pattern becomes visible. (How is that for some weaving vocabulary!)

But what I really love, is the scarf when it is all finished with its twisted fringe and is ready to be gifted.

Immediate Gratification

Sometimes you just need to make something that will work up quickly and provide you with the immediate gratification of an easy project. I love cables but they take more time than something like a 4X4 ribbed stitch. We (Stacy and myself) just needed the ribbed stitch. However, it isn't just for easy projects and it really is great depending on your desired goal. One of the things that makes the ribbed stitch work is its stretchiness and stitch definition. You can use a variety of yarns and show off variegated patterns, hand dyed or even solids. You can use a variety of weights and colors depending on your overall purpose. I am using some RedHeart Mystic that I got on sale last year when Joann's had their summer clearance on yarns. The hat is already finished and the scarf will be completed today. Sometimes you just need immediate gratification!

13 Hat and Scarf Sets

Stacy and I have a plan - which is always a little dangerous.

This past summer we had a plan to complete all of our Christmas gifts early and we were on a great roll. The problem is when you decide to make one thing, you find something else to complement it and so you need to make an additional item. We decided on embroidered towels and knitted dishcloths and then that let to matching coasters and then that led to ..... Well, you get the point. We had great ideas. Unfortunately, we rarely had the time to complete all we had planned.

This year we have decided to make hat and scarf sets but with no particular person in mind. This way we can try new skills and play with whatever yarn we are inclined to at the moment. We don't have to worry about having enough for each person because really we don't know who we are giving them to. If we have enough for all the sisters and nieces, then that's who gets them. If we only have enough for a few girlfriends, then that's who gets them. I like this idea of making something and then deciding who we will give them to. One down and twelve to go!

Will you be one of the happy recipients?

Officially a Weaver!

I am so excited about my new craft/hobby/passion. For Christmas I was blessed with a Kromski rigid heddle weaving loom and I can't wait to begin making gifts. I wanted to make rugs but was told by some more experienced weavers that might not be my best choice for a rigid heddle loom but I'm not completely giving up on the idea. For now, I'll be weaving kitchen towels. Everyone beware. If my production matches my enthusiasm, friends and family alike will be getting them for Christmas!

Because I'm quite the beginner, I needed a little help to get started. Craftsy was having a sale on classes and I couldn't pass it up. For $10 I downloaded a video with instructions and worksheets that I keep watching over and over. I think I've watched it so much I think even Jason can quote it and do some weaving of his own. What do you think of my progress?

This is prior to washing but they still look nice after they've been washed. I'm just not sure if I should wash them before giving them as gifts. Actually, I do need to wash them first but need to figure out how to maintain that fresh, new look.  Woohoo, another hobby!

Wipe it Clean in 2013!

I'm all about a clean slate. Starting fresh, new start Mondays, beginning afresh! Our pastor is beginning a new series this week titled Clean Slate and I adopted it as my own motto for starting the new year.

Although I didn't get every project completed before starting the new year, the yellow garter stitch baby blanket is finished and I'm ready to begin another. I really like the way they look and it makes for wonderful, mindless knitting. Plus, there is always someone having a baby and I can list them on my Etsy shop for others to enjoy!

So, I've been thinking about what I want to accomplish this year and I have come up with my 13 of 13 Knitting Goals for 2013 and they are as follows:

1. 13 hats - I think this is the first one I want to complete but we'll see what I really end up doing. I think the yarn is what makes it so pretty and I may not like it as well if I don't choose my yarn wisely. I also like this hat because it has that unisex look to it and I can decide after knitting who it may go to.
2. 13 scarves
3. 13 mittens/gloves
4. 13 socks - I have a great pattern idea for Stacy and I to work on Christmas gifts this year. I'm going to share it with her tonight and see what she thinks!
5. 13 dishcloths- mostly I like knitting these and found that several of my family members also like receiving them which makes for a perfect combination.
6. 13 ornaments - I think I want a tree with all knitted ornaments. It may just be a small tree at first but I'd like to at least begin. I think these may also be a good idea for tags on presents.
7. 13 rows in my sock blankie. There are four diagonal rows all the way across with the exception of the ends.
8. 13 baby booties
9. 13 baby hats
10. 13 charity items - these might be for GAGE or for another charity. I'm actually thinking about getting involved in the ministry at my church which may or may not involve knitting for infants.
11. 13 baskets
12. 13 cup cozies
13. 13 random items

I'll keep you posted on how things come along. What are your goals for this year? Be sure to make some that include knitting!