Knitting Experience (meme)

Vicki1 Comment

I saw this over on Gypsy Coins & Peacock Feathers and thought it was an interesting list.

Bold = Have already tried this
Italicized = Plan to try this
Unemphasized = Have no desire to try this

– Afghan
– I-cord
– Garter stitch
– Knitting with metal wire
– Shawl
– Stockinette Stitch
– Socks: Top-down
– Socks: Toe-up
– Knitting with camel yarn
– Mittens: Cuff-up
– Mittens: Tip down
– Hat
– Knitting with silk
– Moebius band knitting (I’ve done it accidentally)
– Participating in a KAL
– Sweater
– Drop stitch patterns
– Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
– Slip stitch patterns
– Knitting with banana fiber yarn
– Domino knitting (I had to look this up, but sure)
– Twisted stitch patterns
– Knitting with bamboo yarn
– Two end knitting (this one is weird)
– Charity knitting
– Knitting with soy yarn
– Cardigan
– Toy/doll clothing (does our dachshund count as a toy?)
– Knitting with circular needles
– Baby items
– Knitting with your own handspun (I have never spun, and I’m not sure I want to)
– Slippers
– Graffiti knitting
– Continental knitting (I’m really happy with English though)
– Designing knitted garments (patterns coming soon)
– Cable stitch patterns
– Lace patterns
– Publishing a knitting book
– Scarf
– Teaching a child to knit
– American/English knitting
– Knitting to make money
– Buttonholes
– Knitting with alpaca
– Fair Isle
– Norwegian knitting
– Dying with plant colors (it was awesome)
– Knitting items for a wedding
– Household items
– Knitting socks on two circulars
– Olympic knitting
– Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
– Knitting with dpn’s
– Holiday-related knitting
– Teaching a male how to knit
– Bobbles
– Knitting for a living
– Knitting with cotton
– Knitting smocking
– Dyeing yarn (need to do more of this)
– Steeks
– Knitting art (seems like I should)
– Fulling/felting
– Knitting with wool
– Textured knitting
– Kitchener BO
– Purses/bags
– Knitting with beads (I’m doing this soon!)
– Swatching
– Long tail CO
– Entrelac
– Knitting and purling backwards (will have to if I want to try entrelac again)
– Machine Knitting
– Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegated yarn
– Stuffed toys
– Knitting with cashmere
– Darning
– Jewelry
– Knitting with synthetic yarn
– Writing a pattern
– Gloves
– Intarsia
– Knitting with linen
– Knitting for preemies
– Tubular CO
– Freeform knitting
– Short rows
– Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers
– Pillows
– Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
– Rug
– Knitting on a loom (when I was a child)
– Thrummed knitting (honestly, I get irrationally creeped out).
– Knitting a gift
– Knitting for pets
– Shrug/bolero/poncho
– Knitting with dog/cat hair (maybe)
– Hair accessories
– Knitting in public
– Double knitting

It turns out I have a lot more experience than I might have thought, and I’m pretty open to trying new things. I’m looking forward to adding more techniques to my repertoire in my next few projects.

How about you?

Gift Knitting

Vicki2 Comments

This year I’ve decided to replace my usual flurry of selfish knitting with handmade Christmas gifts.

I’ve made a rather ambitious schedule for myself, and while this is mostly a to-do list, it may inspire you in your own gift-knitting as well:

– for DAD – slip-stitch socks, Cobblestone Pullover, finish Oiled Wool gloves from last year
– for MOM – Baby Cables and Big Ones Too, Odessa hat (yay shiny beads!)
– for my BROTHER – oiled wool Broad Street Mitts, finish his birthday hat
– for a FRIEND – matching hat and fingerless glove set

I may also be able to tack on:

– for my GRANDMOTHER – tabi socks
– for an AUNT – lace picture mats (may do something else instead)
– for our DACHSHUND – a custom-sized cabled dog sweater (kind of a gift for my mom)
– for our KITTIES – catnip-filled mice

For the rest of my family and friends, I think I’m going to go with batches of these cookies, which are insanely delicious, or some other baked treat.

What are your gift plans?

Lacemaking

Vicki1 Comment

I mentioned that I’ve been working on a project that was getting a bit emotional. This is about where I’d left it when I moved out:

What makes it even more emotional is that it’s a lace shawl that I was making to wear to a wedding this Saturday.

I invested all my nerves and emotions and more than a few long train rides into knitting this silly blob of lace. This evening I happily bound it off, in a sense closing that chapter.

I’m going to block it later tonight and wear it to the wedding on Saturday. I can’t wait to see how it comes out.

Practically knitting

Vicki1 Comment

Lately I have been all about the KALs and fun projects: Sockdowns, Sexy Knitters Club, Knitting 19th Century Novels, Summer of Socks… and then for my own diversions, scarves, design projects, and lots of frivolity.

While these are a great time and I really enjoy the process, I’m not sure that what I’m producing is as, well, practical, as it could be. I should say that I don’t think knitting has to be practical, nor that it should. However, I have some goals that I set for myself this year, and to this end, I’m not reaching them.

For example, I want to seriously reduce my stash. We’re going to be moving at the end of the summer, and my mother has offered to refinish a gorgeous glass-doored secretary desk that I want to use for yarn, needle, and pattern storage. Unfortunately at this point, my stash couldn’t possibly fit, and it’s more than a little unwieldy.

I decided that primarily I want to knit up the acrylic portion of my stash, and I have made some progress with that, but really nowhere near enough. If all I’m casting on lately are luxurious socks and little lacy items, I’m never going to get to those big hunks of Caron One Pound lurking in a suitcase.

The other thing is that my wardrobe is in serious need of certain basic items. I know that I could just buy them and spend all my knitting time on other projects, but part of why I started knitting is so that I could make exactly what I want, the way I want it, to my measurements.

So from this point onward, I am trying to be realistic and casting on sensible projects as much as I can. They’re not going to be boring and utilitarian – rather, still fun and exciting – but they’re going to use up my stash, fill gaps in my wardrobe, and be worn more than once.

I’m going to continue with the KALs I have in progress, but I’m going to try for more practical, wearable knits within these contexts.

Phew. I guess I just had to put that out there for myself.

Knitters are the nicest people in the world

VickiLeave a comment

Recently, a very nice knitter named Julia (purlia on Ravelry) contacted me because I’d mentioned that I love colorful anodized aluminum knitting needles.

Preferring bamboos herself, she had a large collection of various sizes that she wanted to give to me. Awesome!!!

But the awesome didn’t just stop at the needles:

I am thoroughly convinced that knitters are the most generous, thoughtful human beings in the world. My boyfriend looked over my shoulder in amazement as I pulled out so many fun, sweet treats.

This funny card had beautiful stitch markers inside.

She included Halls Vitamin C drops (my favorites) and tissues with the note “Because you’ve been sick”. So sweet!

I am thoroughly enjoying Lindt chocolate truffles and drinking chocolate – they may be a secret recovery cure.

A note taped to light-up needles addressed my recent insomnia, “For when you can’t sleep but don’t want to wake the boyfriend.” He’s never seen these needles before and thought they were a positively brilliant invention.

This Lantern Moon needle case is gorgeous in my two favorite colors:

And my goodness, she put in a skein of Malabrigo Worsted in a breath-takingly lovely shade of Forest green.

I’ve never felt Malabrigo in person before, much less owned a skein, and it is everything it’s rumored to be – so soft and luxurious in the hand and such an intense and rich blend of colors.

The needles themselves were overwhelmingly cool, in colors I’ve never seen!

They are a fantastic array of sizes, and yes, I’ve already cast on a new project with them. I think so much of the appeal of knitting is the sensory pleasures and all these beautiful supplies.

As you can see, I’ve been completely spoiled rotten, and I am thrilled. It’s totally heart-warming to know there are such generous, kind people who share this hobby I love.

Thank you so much, Julia!!! You made my day!