My 2012 Knitting Resolutions

Please pardon me, dear readers, for not blogging much the last few months. I was quite busy with Christmas knitting (will post pictures soon) and, of course, the “job that pays for the yarn that keeps Cindy knitting and sane!”

So, without further ado, here are my very own 2012 Knitting Resolutions:

1. Before June 1, learn a new technique – knitting with beads.
2. In the Summer, participate in the 2012 Ravelympics games.
3. Knit from my stash yarn one project a month.
4. Knit one item from my WIP, current kit projects (not listed on my Ravelry project page), or hibernating projects every other month.
5. Teach someone else to knit and continue to encourage all knitters, new and experienced!
6. Knit a pair of socks every other month.
7. Knit 4 items (once a quarter) for charity projects (i.e. newborn caps, prayer shawls, etc.).
8. Take pictures and put my yarn stash on Ravelry to help me keep organized.

So there are my 2012 resolutions. While I belong to several groups of “12 in 2012,” I don’t think that I want to plan to knit 12 of anything for this year. If it happens anyway, it will be a lucky coincidence!

So, dear reader, do you have any knitting resolutions? Feel free to share with me. I’ll be sure to keep you posted on my progress throughout the year, as well.

TTFN!

I Love Yarn Day – October 14, 2011

Some Ideas for today (or tomorrow)

• Write a new yarn pattern
• Check out Ravelry, a special “Facebook” just for knitters and crocheters
• Go to a yarn festival or shop
• Organize a yarn bombing. (Yarn bombing, yarnbombing, yarnstorming, guerrilla knitting, or graffiti knitting is a type of graffiti or street art that employs colorful displays of knitted or crocheted cloth rather than paint or chalk.)
• Teach someone to knit or crochet
• Do something for charity
• Wear a knitted or crocheted item
• Give a gift of yarn
• Take your yarn to work day
• Host a yarn-a-bration party
• Knit, crochet and craft in public

TTFN!

Sometimes the Yarn Fools Ya!

A while back, practically everyone I knew was raving about Noro Yarn. They loved the colors, loved how it knit, etc. So, I bought some. But I just didn’t like the “feel” of it. It seemed scratchy to me…and the colors were fine, but I’d seen other yarns with bright colors so that wasn’t quite the big deal to me. There it lay in my stash for a long time.

Until I came across the Revontuli-Huivi Northern Lights Pattern on Ravelry. The projects that others’ had knitted with this pattern simply blew me away. I HAD to knit it. So, I took out the Noro and began.

Wow! I was amazed. After blocking, the yarn was less scratchy. The colors worked out well and, I just gotta tell you…sometimes the Yarn fools ya! See the picture below (taken before the corn has been harvested!).

TTFN!

Some Completed Items

Haven’t posted in a while, so I thought I’d just post some pictures of some completed items. Enjoy!

Baby Christening Shawl/Blanket

Andrea's Clapotis

Market Bags - making a bunch of these for gifts

TTFN!

Where Seldom Is Heard A Discouraging Word

I was reading One Skein Wonderwoman’s blog  the other day and she noted how a clerk at a Michael’s store discouraged her from trying more challenging knitting for a while. It got me to thinking about all of those nay-sayers who belittle other crafters.

I had a similar experience as Cindy the One Skein Wonderwoman. Mine was with the owner of a now-defunct yarn shop. As a young bride with not much money, I stopped in her shop to purchase yarn but it all seemed so expensive and I said so. Her response was: “If you can’t afford my yarns, you probably shouldn’t knit.” I was flabbergasted and a little embarrassed so I left.

Then there are the “knitter police,” who take it upon themselves to tell others, “You’re not knitting correctly!” Don’t forget the “yarn snobs,” who wrinkle their noses in disdain for any yarn that’s not 100% natural fibers! And for crocheter’s, there are the “knitting nazis” who tell them that they are bad for crocheting and not knitting.

I don’t know why folks feel the need to be so nasty, but I try not to let them discourage me. That’s why, when I run across those who ask me, as I am busy KIPing, “What are you crocheting?” I simply tell them I am knitting and explain my project. I feel it’s my duty to educate those who may not be aware of the difference.

By the way, I never did go back to that shop. At that time, I did not have Ravelry or the internet, so I did not know anyone around me who was knitting. But I did have Mary Maxim. I made many nice garments with her yarn and my skills grew and grew.

So, don’t let those discouraging words bring you down, cowboy! Here’s to your skies not being cloudy all day!!!

Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam,
Where the deer and the antelope play,
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day.

Chorus  Home, home on the range,Where the deer and the antelope play; Where seldom is heard a discouraging word And the skies are not cloudy all day.

TTFN!

Knitting for Babies Is Such Fun!

I love to knit for babies! You can knit so many different cute things and they don’t complain about the colors, style, and/or pattern! I try to knit a few baby things to keep on hand for when I am asked to attend baby showers, as baby gifts, etc.

Yesterday, I attended a baby shower for my friend, Shea, and while I did not get a chance to take a picture, her gift was the ever-popular Baby Surprise Jacket. After the gift-opening time, several of the ladies rushed forward to get a glimpse of the jacket and asked me about the pattern. As of today, there are 15,311 Baby Surprise projects on Ravelry. Wouldn’t surprise me if there were a few more after this shower. It’s really a fun and easy knit!

I also enjoy knitting Kids’ Fruit Caps by Ann Norling. I have knitted quite a few of these and they are great gifts! One year, for the fall, I knitted Pumpkin Hats for all of the babies in my Sunday School Class!

I have even knitted a few baby blankets, but most of them were ‘way before Ravelry and so I don’t have pictures. But, I did start a new circular baby blanket yesterday after the shower. It’s more of a Christening Blanket/Shawl. I can’t wait to see how it turns out. Since it’s 100% Merino Wool, it should block beautifully!

I probably will start some more fruit caps, as well. I have plenty of yarn in my stash!

TTFN!

2011–The “Summer of Shawls”

Completed yet another shawl this summer, the Heartland Lace Shawl, designed by Evelyn A. Clark. I knitted it in the DK weight of Misti Alpaca Pima/Cotton blend that I purchased from my favorite LYS – Atkinson Farm Yarns.

This shawl is unique in that I actually used the yarn that I purchased the pattern for. Normally, I start a project with one type of yarn and end up using a different yarn for one reason or another. But this yarn was a dream to work with and so soft to touch that I did not want to put it down. That’s why it took me only ten (yes, 10!!) days to complete the project! I spent a few nights knitting ‘way into the early hours as I was so fascinated by the pattern and the softness of the cotton/silk blend.

I was a bit worried as to how it would block, but as you can see, it blocked like a charm. I can’t wait to wear this shawl. Yes, folks, this one is for ME, ME, ME!

But, not to worry, I already started on another Christmas shawl;

this one is a beautiful blue tonal lace weight from Knit Picks. The pattern is Charlotte’s Easy Lace Shawl, designed by the wonderful designer Lily M. Chinn. The pattern itself is very, very, very easy. Almost boring, in fact. But it’s looking great and I think I’m about half-way through the ball. I am hoping to have this one done by the end of August 2011. I already have another shawl in the que for another Christmas gift.

At this rate, I’ll get everyone’s shawls done early. At least that’s the plan.

TTFN!

I’m Beginning to Knit for Christmas….(Sung to “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas”)

I absolutely love, love, love hand-made gifts! But, until recently, I never gave that many out to my friends and family. So, what changed? My knitting organization plans!

Now, beginning every July and through December,  I use the first two weeks to knit Christmas gifts only. The last two weeks can be whatever kind of knitting I want to do–even Christmas knitting, if I so choose.

It worked beautifully last year so I am really putting it to the test this year as I am giving away a number of shawls and shawlettes to some of my good friends.

To help me organize, I pulled out the yarn that I wanted to use (nearly all of it is stash yarn), then chose the patterns I wanted to do. I then put all of the patterns in plastic sleeves and into a one-inch binder. The patterns that I used and completed are in the back of the binder. That way, if I decide that I want to knit another shawl/etc., the pattern will be nearby.

How do you plan your Christmas knitting? I would love to know!

What’s on my needles today? Well, since it is still in the LAST two weeks of the month, it’s something for me. A shawl, of course.

Heartland Lace Shawl

One Shawl, Two Shawls; Peach Shawl, Blue Shawl

I’ve been busy this summer. See!!!! Both shawls are (shhhh!) going to be Christmas gifts!

The peach one is the Traveling Woman pattern. It’s knit with Sockotta Limited, a cotton/merino wool blend. The second one is the Holden Shawlette pattern. It’s knit with Happy Fuzzy Yarn sock yarn in merino/tencel blend. They were both very fun to knit and I would probably knit them again. I especially loved the Happy Fuzzy yarn. It really knit up like a dream. That shawl only took about two weeks to knit!

TTFN!

Been Knitting More Than Writing Lately

Have you missed me? I have missed writing for  you lately. I’ve been mostly knitting and not much writing lately. In fact, I have one project, Traveling Woman, made with Sockotta Limited, that I have completed but I don’t have a picture yet to post on it. The yarn for this project was generously given to me by a very good friend, Judy S.

I am also working on a Holden Shawlette with a superwash merino/tencil yarn from Happy Fuzzy Yarn. It is looking really great and I am nearing 3/4 of it done. Again, no picture.

I am also still knitting on the Little Loopy Monkey socks. I have one completed and one about 1/2 way done. I also have a pair of plain vanilla toe-up socks in my purse that I knit on when I have a small slice of time. This yarn was also generously given to me from my good friend, Orvietta.  I think I’ll do a separate blog on how all of the yarn from friends has been used.

I’ll try to get some photos and more information on my next post.

TTFN!