MIlestones

As I contemplate all the joy I have gotten from knitting, I was thinking of the things that I learned along the way that made it more rewarding- oh, after that day I bought the kit at Hancock Fabrics and thought, I'll knit! Struggling awhile, I learned the knit stitch....and then...hmmm....what's all the 'purl' business. The 'purl' stitch is just the 'knit' stitch backwards! Said the book. It's easy! Said the book. You might go watch a friend who knows how to knit...warned the book. I didn't know anyone who knitted. So after knit stitching until I grew bored, I threw the whole pile into the closet until I remembered I had the internet so I got on Youtube and found 'purl' and voila! I learnt me to purl. That was big. A lot of stuff came pretty natural, like changing colors (Although I am still not sure I do this right) and Fair Isle. SIMPLE Fair Isle. Cabling was pretty cool- I loved each new skill I learned. I tried everything, lace stitches (mixed success) and all kinds of 3-D knitting- horns on hats, my snake scarf, ears on hats--ALL KINDS OF EARS- and when I learned how to pick up stitches it was like someone handed me a set of car keys or taught me to weld. I can do anything!!!!

More Hats

I knitted a cabled hat yesterday- in green. Green is not my favorite color. I mean, I love it to surround myself- my bedroom has a lot of green. But wearing it...it's just not my color. Probably because of my skin tone. It doesn't flatter me at all. But I had tons of this bright grass green I think mom bought during one of her last attempts to crochet again (That sounds every bit as sad as it is. A girl at work even brought her a special wooden crochet hook to adapt her arthritic hands. The problem is the eyes, though. And the mind. But that's for another blog.) Anyway, I started looking online and found some cool cables slippers- more boot like, just adorable, which I will probably never knit- and stumbled across some hats that were cabled horizontally- which I have already made, thank you very much. But these were a little different, they didn't have a brim- the cable was the brim. The body of the hat rose from the cable in poofed out. The hat I knitted didn't poof much- this was my first try and I was knitting it on big circulars- but I like it. I started a muffler. Also cabled. And I am thinking of making boot cuffs...also cabled. I am going to get a picture of everything I've made this last week- there's a lot. And I fully intend to wear the bright green ensemble in the dead of winter. No matter how washed out it makes me look.

Magic Loop

You know I think I have done this accidentally while making hats. And I have made a lot of hats- just since I've been off. I made a pink cap...

And then I made a beard hat- silly but surprisingly warm....

And the sad fact is I want to keep them both. I was thinking, the whole time I knitted the pink cap that it was going to have to go to a kid- but it fits perfectly. Hugs the head! I LOVE it. I must keep it. I made the whole thing Friday mostly at the dentist office. I am not paying enough attention to the cable slipper tutorial. But I will make some for myself. And maybe mom for Christmas. Blue ones for her. Of course what I've seen I can already do in my sleep. I am proud of my knitting- like, if someone asks me about it, I admit that I have only been knitting awhile (probably close to 10 years. Frankly I can't recall!) But right out of the gate I was making cables and doing 3-d stuff and really challenging myself. I do love to knit. It has been such a gift and blessing in my life. How many long waits would have been dreadful without yarn and needles! How many people I've been able to give something handmade and personal thanks to the yarn. I love it. It's enriched my life to a degree I can't really emphasize enough. Knitting has made me happy.

Scarf and Hat

I knitted a soft pink baby yarn hat- it gave me some ideas. I finished the ribbon scarf in purple. I liked the hat well enough but I have some ideas now about the top- which I did as usual in cable. I think I might try it again, without the purling around the cables. Maybe. I'm going to make one for Linda at Canoe Brook, because she is one of mom's and my favorite- though there are so many great people there. I'm going to make a purple and black hat for William at work too.

Three Hats and two Dishcloths

While that could be a fascinating movie title, it's more likely a list of stuff I've knitted. I finished the two caps for Natalie and Diana, and whipped up a quick beanie with a little ribbon for my dear friend Ruby who is battling breast cancer. The blue cap was so easy because there was a prayer for her health and happiness in every stitch. I kept thinking, Dear God let this bless her and ease her and help her feel better. I hope it works. It's made of baby yarn, so soft, and not too heavy, with a little navy blue ribbon.

I am not sure about the dishcloths. The first one I followed a pattern and wasn't that impressed. The second one I went off on a tangent and still...not that impressed. It doesn't help that I have no idea what she wants. I am sure she will be disappointed, no matter what. People always are.

Little Girls' Hats

I've got the hats for Natalie and Diana knit- no pom pom on top yet. And gearing up to make the dishcloths for my friend at work. I found a pattern on Lion Brand that I like and I am hoping to turn out some great dishcloths in short period of time. All the reviews talked about how fast they knit up and how great they are. We'll see! I've been knitting for years and never wanted to make a dishcloth. I figure I'll make one and then see if that's what she wanted.

Keyhole Scarf

As old as I am, I learn something new every day. This time it was the fuzzy muffler, to go with the fuzzy hat- I didn't have enough yarn to make a proper scarf so I was just going with a muffler. But then on impulse I made a keyhole to slide the scarf through, and I am DELIGHTED with the results. Not to mention that I can make a really cool scarf in a fraction of the time with a fraction of the yarn. I know I've seen this done but this was the first time I ever tried it. Awesome. I am planning on making some hats for Natalie and Diana, the little girls at Los Indios, and then of course the DAMN DISHCLOTHS...oh, dear. I am pitiful! At least it's a small project. I'm going to try and get a pic of the keyhole scarf.