Now I'm a camel...

I guess I'm getting older and more set in my ways...
Camel – Consistent and inflexible
“Camel has very little elasticity, and it doesn’t felt easily. The fiber also doesn’t bleach easily, so you’ll normally find it used in yarns whose color either masks or enhances the natural tan shade of the camel fiber.” –The Knitter’s Book of Yarn

Camels are frank and straightforward in their manner. You know what you want and, while you are extremely polite and tactful, you have no difficulty being firm and definite. You are not very flexible or adaptable; you like things to be a certain way.  

 

Amblings

I've been wandering around and found a few sites that look good.  I'll try to compile them today here.

The first is for learning to finesse your knitting.  All those little technical details that you want to know before you start your next project.  TECHknitting.

I also like WendyKnits for her patterns and instructions.

For finishing a large project that starts off as 12 small projects.  You can knit Scarves to Throw at Jimmy Beans.

I like lemons... and I like her free patterns, too.

The Knit Kit

Oh. MY. Goodness!!!  I squealed when I saw this.  I must have one.  Why, oh why, must I wait until March?!  I'm slightly heartbroken... but, I'll get over it.  My oldest asked if that's what I want for Mother's Day.  

Uh,... YEAH!

Look.  Look.  It's the Swiss Army knife for knitters.  It's available for pre-order here.

~a sigh of relief~

It went pretty well.  Left no scars.  Caused to tantrums or headaches, even.  Several students were knitting when we left and that's what makes us happy!  I'm looking forward to next week.

I'm a little nervous

This is the email I sent out to friends a week or so ago:

Calling all yarn crafters!

You are invited to a Knitting/Yarn Craft Workshop.  For 5 weeks on *(info deleted)* there will be lessons for those just learning to knit and/or crochet and those who want to improve or if you just want to come and knit-along, there will be a seat for you, too.  There will be free patterns.  There MAY be snacks :o)  There will be fun and encouragement, Lord willing.  There is space for 10.  Please reply and let me know if you are interested.  We hope to begin the first week of 2009.

What projects are you most interested in making?  Right now I'm thinking "dishcloths".  They range from simple to advanced in construction and are fairly quick to finish.  We will be able to help with some patterns other than dishcloths.  

We'll show you how to navigate through Ravelry if you've never been there.  Ravelry is a great place for free patterns, but it is not a place for children to be "browsing".  Here are some more of our other favorite yarn crafting locales:

Knit Picks 

Shuttles, Needles, and Hooks 

Great Yarns, Etc .

If you do not yet own knitting needles, we highly recommend Options and Harmony needles from Knit Picks.  For crochet hooks we recommend Susan Bates Silvalume (available at most craft stores).  If you have any other questions, email is the best way to reach me this week.

God bless,

So now, I'm a little nervous.  I'm trying to put some things together.  Gather my wits... you know, the impossible...  There has been great response, so far.  I'll let you know if I survive.

My foray into Toe-Up Magic Loop socks

Wish me luck.  These are videos I've found helpful.

The Cast On:

The Heel:

A thousand colors

My Mille Colori Scarf!  I love how it turned out!  I used 2 balls, Crochet CO 24, Box Stitch... sigh... my first totally selfish knitting.  Now, if only we'll get a little cold weather.

Box Stitch:

Cast on multiple of 4.

Rows 1 & 2:  K2, P2

Rows 3 & 4: P2, K2

Repeat.

It looks like this when finished.

Crochet Cast On is so wonderful!  It looks identical to a regular Bind Off.

the little golden rose summer dress

Sorry I haven't posted in forever.  I've been playing with the baby. :o)

A plethora of baby socks

With all the babies coming,... and because they're so quick and simple... I've been knitting baby socks "like gangbusters" as my husband might say.  I don't know what that means, so maybe I shouldn't say it.  I hope to post pictures soon.

a ditto of "Surrounded"

Nesting... isn't that what all pregnant people in their last 2 months do?  Until she makes her appearance, I'll probably be knitting and napping.  Please pray that she is born close to her due date, is less than 10 pounds, and that the delivery goes smoothly.  That is, of course, besides the healthy and strong request which goes without saying, but I just said anyway...  Thank  you!

I'm working to complete this baby's blanket.  I hope it's finished soon.  I have 11 of the 16 sections completed... the lace border keeps "messing up".  I'm trying to really focus when I'm working on that part of it, but I've had to rip the edge twice in the past 2 times I've worked on it.  This makes the mistake I made in the beginning really stand out to me... I don't know whether I'll just let it go or attempt to fix it.

93, 94, 95.... ?

I got to the end of row 4 in my repeat on the linen cover I'm knitting where the instructions say "k to last 6 sts", so I got to the last FIVE sts and said to myself, "Wait a minute..."  Go back and count... (I always count by 3s and when I get to 30 start over.)  The cover has 96 sts, so it sounded something like "....24, 27, 30. Umm... 3... 5?"  I finally found the elusive dropped stitch about 12 rows down.  Arghhhh!

The good news is that linen is so much softer to knit once it's been worked previously.  I have been seriously contemplating ditching the whole project and selling the yarn that has me so confounded.

Disappointment, sort of.

I keep forgetting to take pictures of my FOs before I give them away!  I just finished knitting the BSJ in stockinette and it turned out so cute!... with little heart buttons!  I put on a collar and ribbed the cuffs and then realized the collar was too small, so had to rip and add (which is fine for how cute it turned out).  I had to wash and block it because it was a little wrinkled... AND THEN, didn't take a picture!  *sigh*

I finished a pair of booties for the new baby and since she's ours I won't be giving these away.  When I finally get them documented, I'll post them.  

Eeeee!

That's what I said when I saw that the yarn store had the color I wanted!  My 15yo cracked up.  She didn't know I'd been dreaming and hoping desperately that it would be there, thinking that it might not.  I also found beads to knit onto the dreaded "nursing cover"/wide scarf.  I think it's going to turn out well.  I've had a happy/content feeling ever since Friday (eeeee) night.

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick...

A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul"

                                       ~Proverbs 13

Switching Tactics

I'm wrapping up my blue projects and hope to be purchasing pink yarn in the very near future!  We found out the latest baby is a girl.  Some of the blues will go to the midwife's new grandson and some will be saved for future gifts.

I have been able to bind off several projects but am still looking for the camera!

Mohair... who knew?

I just found out what fiber I am.

Mohair – A smooth, polished surface“Mohair is warmer than wool, with larger, flatter scales that contribute to an overall silky-smooth appearance. The fiber absorbs dye readily and, thanks to that smooth surface, reflects it back brilliantly.” –The Knitter’s Book of Yarn

"Mohairs are positive and confident. You always strive to make a good first impression because you are a proud person, and you care a good deal about what people think of you. You are careful with your words and are always tactful. You enjoy having a broad base of support and respect from those whom you come in contact. You attract this with your warm, sunny, and inquisitive personality."

What fiber are you? Find out here.

Knit vs. Crochet

I began my yarn crafting career as a crocheter. Now that I've learned to knit, it seems I do that almost exclusively. If I were to start my career over, I wouldn't change a thing. Learning to crochet in the beginning trained me to hold the yarn in my left hand (I'm right handed). I've since learned that this is a more efficient way to hold the yarn for knitting (aka, continental). Here's an excellent video that explains it: Since I am both a knitter and crocheter, I've complied my own personal list of reasons why I would choose a project in one method or the other. Knit, Pros:

• Seems to take less yarn for the same projects.
• Seems to be a little quicker.
• Many garments (clothing) look better when knit.
• Two basic stitches: knit and purl. Sure, there are varieties, but once you know how to do those two, the rest is pretty simple.

Knit, Cons:

• Learning to hold a needle in each hand AND the yarn.
• Cost. You really must budget more for knitting than crochet. In the beginning it seems every project has a different type of needle (straight, circular, double point); and then, there are stitch markers, cable stitch holders, storage cases for needles, etc. Then, different types of needles (bamboo, wood, metal) work better with different types of yarn (cotton, wool, silk, acrylic, etc.) I wish someone had told me to buy circular needles when I was starting out. They are so much more practical. They hold your project on the cable and you don't lose a needle when you set it down amongst your other projects.

Crochet, Pros:

• Hook in one hand, yarn in the other.
• Once you have a set of hooks, there's nothing else to purchase (besides yarn). My grandmother started me out on Susan Bates and I've not found any others that please me as much.
• Usually looks very "homey" and warm... like you want to wrap up in it and sit by the fire. I've been making baby blankets in large granny squares lately. I don't use it for much else now, except blankets.
• Like knitting, is making a comeback (even for garments) =).

Crochet, Cons:

• Takes more yarn for similar items.
• Slower.

I know that this list is very personal. I wouldn't expect anyone else to have the same reasons for knitting or crocheting, but sometimes it's fun to learn others' reasons.

Cast On

Inspired by Debora, I'd like to begin tracking the projects I knit. Perhaps I'll begin my next post with pictures of all my UFOs... that could possibly be depressing. My favorite things to knit are baby booties. They're quick and easy. I don't usually like to knit with more than one color, as in intarsia or fair isle knitting. That would take too much thought on my part. Thus, my love of color changing yarns. I do knit baby blankets when I'm pregnant. It gives me time to be quiet and pray for the coming little one. Currently on my needles is a pink and white striped blanket in stockinette, courtesy of Bernat Baby Coordinates.