I have missed my little blog. I have no defense for anyone who would say I couldn't have missed it that much since I've let almost a year go by since my last post. I should say no unique defense. Anything I offer as to my being an absentee blogger can simply be summed up in one word...LIFE! Shhh! It happens (lol).
I did complete my test knit of the Samantha (in the required time frame). I did techniques I'd never attempted before, will not be intimidated when and if I come across them again such as picot hems, etc. I'm glad I knitted it in a not really expensive yarn, but I could think of some yarns that would result in a beautiful version. Though I made a larger size, it was not meant to have ease. The body was not long enough for my tastes. I will post pictures of it one day soon.
I completed a ChicKnits summer sweater, the ChicKami---so easy!
Here's the biggie! I have been a Craft Yarn Council of America certified knitting instructor since 2001! I decided to put that to use. I contacted the CYCA to let them know I didn't need to take the new course, at a cost of $125...that I was already certified to teach at Michaels. So I've been allowed to teach at Michaels. Since I didn't have to pay for the courses, just get them done by a certain time frame, I decided to do both knitting and crochet. I really really really prefer knitting so I've drug my feet on the crochet end. I've taught a few crochet classes but I really prefer teaching the knitting classes. The coursework and what you have to do (submit homework samples to be critiqued by some of the top CYCA teachers) has become more stringent so I chose to do the revamped program. More about that later. Just had to start somewhere to get back to blogging.
Oh oh oh oh. I have to share that I taught my 8 year old grandson to knit (thumb cast on, knit & purl stitch) and crochet. He's taken to knitting like a fish to water! Next time!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The Oblivious One
Well true to the motivation for this blog, I am challening myself in a big way. Let's just say if I crash and burn along the way . . . it will be a bonfire!!!!!
First I have joined a Ravelry group, 11 Sweaters in 2011. Members of that group have committed to knitting 11 sweaters in, yes, 2011. Some of these members are about to start number 7. And 6 through 1 were not all WIPs, UFOs, or OTNs! You don't know what those mean? Learn to knit. Well I have completed one, the one in the post before this one. Thankfully the Administrator/Moderator allowed for WIPs, UFOs, and OTNs.
Okay. If that weren't a challenge enough. I eagerly "raised my hand" when it was asked who would like to test knit a sweater. I was totally oblivious to what I was getting myself into. I've only wrapped my brain around the fact that this is not your already-published, in the magazine and/or book, all-the-kinks-worked-out, ready-to-knit pattern. Well either I'm in too deep now or my pride won't let me say, sorry another time. I've purchased the yarn, ECO +. It's a bit heavier than the yarn called for but I got guage, on-the-money guage! I think I want to really stick with this because I am learning techniques I've heard of but never used before. I've never done a provisional cast on before, or a knitted in hem with or without picot edging. I am using a picot edge and it's so cute. I am familiar with charts on flat knitting, but this is the first time I had to shift my thought to follow a chart for circular knitting. No doubt there are going to be other techniques I will learn and be the better knitter for! I've had a few false/slow starts. That's good because fortunately we are doing this as a KAL and others who are moving faster are working out the kinks I will encounter, and asking the questions and getting answers for that I will no doubt ask later. So on with the challenge. Here is the link to the sweater, Samantha, I am test knitting!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91317672@N00/1463953646
First I have joined a Ravelry group, 11 Sweaters in 2011. Members of that group have committed to knitting 11 sweaters in, yes, 2011. Some of these members are about to start number 7. And 6 through 1 were not all WIPs, UFOs, or OTNs! You don't know what those mean? Learn to knit. Well I have completed one, the one in the post before this one. Thankfully the Administrator/Moderator allowed for WIPs, UFOs, and OTNs.
Okay. If that weren't a challenge enough. I eagerly "raised my hand" when it was asked who would like to test knit a sweater. I was totally oblivious to what I was getting myself into. I've only wrapped my brain around the fact that this is not your already-published, in the magazine and/or book, all-the-kinks-worked-out, ready-to-knit pattern. Well either I'm in too deep now or my pride won't let me say, sorry another time. I've purchased the yarn, ECO +. It's a bit heavier than the yarn called for but I got guage, on-the-money guage! I think I want to really stick with this because I am learning techniques I've heard of but never used before. I've never done a provisional cast on before, or a knitted in hem with or without picot edging. I am using a picot edge and it's so cute. I am familiar with charts on flat knitting, but this is the first time I had to shift my thought to follow a chart for circular knitting. No doubt there are going to be other techniques I will learn and be the better knitter for! I've had a few false/slow starts. That's good because fortunately we are doing this as a KAL and others who are moving faster are working out the kinks I will encounter, and asking the questions and getting answers for that I will no doubt ask later. So on with the challenge. Here is the link to the sweater, Samantha, I am test knitting!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/91317672@N00/1463953646
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Catching Up!
Wow! Time really flies!!!! At least I'm still in the beginning of the year!
I completed my Super Cupcake Cowl & Hat! My Grandson obliged me and modeled it for me until I settled on a photo of me wearing the items, that I was satisfied with. Lots of knitting, but surprisingly I didn't get bored with it! This was the first time I've worked the K1B stitch. It is an interlocking stitch that provides more warmth than a regular rib stitch. And, AND, how did I notice the K1B stitch in the hats that others were wearing out in public--I was amazed. This is all about stepping out of my comfort zone and learning new things!
Khalil J.
Susan
I also finally finished my Knitting Pure & Simple #283 Top Down Scoop Neck T by the fabulous knitwear designer Diane Soucy! I've been wearing it. I used, IMHO, a yarn that was way too expensive for this project. But the yarn feels really good on my skin. The tweediness of the yarn sort of hides the garter stitch borders around the neck, sleeves, and hemline. I will do this pattern again, in yarns more suitable for summer. And I might modify it and use a Seed Stitch for the borders. We'll see!
I completed my Super Cupcake Cowl & Hat! My Grandson obliged me and modeled it for me until I settled on a photo of me wearing the items, that I was satisfied with. Lots of knitting, but surprisingly I didn't get bored with it! This was the first time I've worked the K1B stitch. It is an interlocking stitch that provides more warmth than a regular rib stitch. And, AND, how did I notice the K1B stitch in the hats that others were wearing out in public--I was amazed. This is all about stepping out of my comfort zone and learning new things!
Khalil J.
Susan
I also finally finished my Knitting Pure & Simple #283 Top Down Scoop Neck T by the fabulous knitwear designer Diane Soucy! I've been wearing it. I used, IMHO, a yarn that was way too expensive for this project. But the yarn feels really good on my skin. The tweediness of the yarn sort of hides the garter stitch borders around the neck, sleeves, and hemline. I will do this pattern again, in yarns more suitable for summer. And I might modify it and use a Seed Stitch for the borders. We'll see!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Welcome 2011
Well, I had good intentions (lol). To complete the hat and thus my Super Cupcake pattern, by the final hour of the outgoing year. I seriously had an inkling that wouldn't happen, and once all the Grand kids were here . . . well it's not rocket science to figure out where my attention and actions got redirected to (laugh). 9:40 AM and they are still asleep--the baby woke up but I managed to get him back to sleep. Sipping on a cup of coffee now, about to knit a few rows on my hat (or however many this peace and quiet will allow). But, before the day is out, I will start on my 11sweaters2011. I'll share more about that--it can't happen until I finish the hat though.
Happy New Year!!!!
Happy New Year!!!!
Friday, December 31, 2010
2010 Coming to an End!
The year has gone by so fast! But I guess that's what we, or at least I, say each year. Since I have some catching up to do, I'm going to leave this post up to add to until I finish it. That should coincide with the end of this year, and begin with the start of the New Year of 2011! There is much to start the New Year with, here, but not before I wrap up the old year! Rather than lose anything that I type here, I'll just publish the post and come back and add to it by editing the post, as it hits me and/or I am through with the interruption of the moment.
As you can see, I left off with actually completing a project! I've been as I weave day-to-day life around 2 needles and a ball of yarn! Isn't that the story of a knitter's life (lol)! Have I actually finished anything else? Well, yeah, if you count a no-brainer, 2-hour winter scarves made from Lion Brand Homespun (that's about the only thing I like making out of that yarn). It's such an easy, relaxing knit, very addictive. I've made several and have thought about putting them on a coat-tree at my front door for anyone who visits to avail themselves of one. They are so warm! Knitted with two strands, from the center and outer part of the skein. Oh how my memory fails me! I actually completed a prayer shawl for my Mother. I will take and add photos! Be back.
(L) 3-year-old grandson Aiden models the Lion-Brand scarves.
(R) 7-year-old grandson Khalil models the
Pocketed Prayer Shawl I made for my Mom!
With my sandwich-generation responsibilities, I'm sure you can understand what it's like to find me time in and away from home. Well I manage. On November 19th, I met up with knitting friends from the Chicago area for a meal, chit-chatting, knitting, swapping secret-partner gifts! These ladies and I frequent the same LYSs here and belong to a Ravelry group called Mocha Knits. We met at Iona's a tiny soul-food cafe in the Beverly neighborhood. It was fun and even though the both-gendered-use bathroom was closer than I like, I had such a wonderful time! And to get a secretly-packaged gift to boot. My gift was from MnMKnitter (Donna). It was a beautiful box, placed inside a beautiful shopping bag. There were stitchmarkers from our own PassionKnits; 3 skeins of Cascade 220 yarn which is almost knitted up into the Super Cupcake Cowl and Hat by Chicago designer Bonne Marie Burns of Chicknits. There was the cutest little point protectors, cable stitch needles, a gift card from Starbucks and a beautiful card. Donna reminded me, the few times I mentioned I wished I could bring dinner for my family back home, that this was my time!
As you can see, I left off with actually completing a project! I've been as I weave day-to-day life around 2 needles and a ball of yarn! Isn't that the story of a knitter's life (lol)! Have I actually finished anything else? Well, yeah, if you count a no-brainer, 2-hour winter scarves made from Lion Brand Homespun (that's about the only thing I like making out of that yarn). It's such an easy, relaxing knit, very addictive. I've made several and have thought about putting them on a coat-tree at my front door for anyone who visits to avail themselves of one. They are so warm! Knitted with two strands, from the center and outer part of the skein. Oh how my memory fails me! I actually completed a prayer shawl for my Mother. I will take and add photos! Be back.
(R) 7-year-old grandson Khalil models the
Pocketed Prayer Shawl I made for my Mom!
  |
With my sandwich-generation responsibilities, I'm sure you can understand what it's like to find me time in and away from home. Well I manage. On November 19th, I met up with knitting friends from the Chicago area for a meal, chit-chatting, knitting, swapping secret-partner gifts! These ladies and I frequent the same LYSs here and belong to a Ravelry group called Mocha Knits. We met at Iona's a tiny soul-food cafe in the Beverly neighborhood. It was fun and even though the both-gendered-use bathroom was closer than I like, I had such a wonderful time! And to get a secretly-packaged gift to boot. My gift was from MnMKnitter (Donna). It was a beautiful box, placed inside a beautiful shopping bag. There were stitchmarkers from our own PassionKnits; 3 skeins of Cascade 220 yarn which is almost knitted up into the Super Cupcake Cowl and Hat by Chicago designer Bonne Marie Burns of Chicknits. There was the cutest little point protectors, cable stitch needles, a gift card from Starbucks and a beautiful card. Donna reminded me, the few times I mentioned I wished I could bring dinner for my family back home, that this was my time! 
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