Week 49 of 52! I am so excited to start again! I love a fresh start of anything. LOL!
I am sure to be more organized this year....or do I say that every year?
I am organizing and making lists and I have yarn and supplies to order and I am having so much fun! I am dedicating Sunday's to YOP projects and organizing and probably Saturdays too. The week days are just too busy with household maintenance. I work on projects when I sit down and take a break and in the evening but on the weekends it's going to be all YOP!
For my weekly update I am just starting the toe of sock #2 of my Hudson Bay Blanket sock............
I was beginning to find my wooden needles grabbing too much which was fine when I started out with DPNs and beginning my knitting journey but now they are starting to hamper my speed....can you believe it? Me.....Sam like a slug....I actually went back to the old aluminum cheap sticks and they seem to work much better although these are a little bit long 7" as opposed to 5" that I was used to. I may order some carbons and try them. Have any of you tried carbons? What are your favorite needles before I place an order?
I am also going back down YOP "memory lane" to revisit projects I never finished, or frogged or wasn't quite skilled enough yet to tackle. My knitting confidence is pretty high now so I started back on some old projects. This is a gift so I won't say too much but I understand patterns so much better and I can focus more whereas in the beginning there was so much to think about. Again, I found a pair of old aluminum needles that are working better than the wood ones I started out with.
I also got supplies in this week so I can continue on with another secret gift project and a wonderful book that I bought which I read cover to cover already.............
I loved it and plan on gathering my supplies today to start making numerous idea books. I first got the "idea" watching Stitched in Sweden podcasts where Maria uses a yarn journal to take notes about her projects, list any changes she makes to the pattern, yarn choices and labels, sketches of future designs, needles used etc. I thought it was a great idea and then I saw Arne & Carlos's book and that "sealed the deal" ...finally a way to organize all those little 'bits and bobs" of cute items or pictures or inspiration and also to clear my head as it seems like it would burst some days with all my ideas! No wonder I can't focus! LOL! I'm not a scrap booking person but I am a paper lover and idea books are right up my alley! I highly recommend this book and it gets 5 stars from me! Have any of you read any of their other books on crochet or knitting? They are also on You Tube so there is something else to watch. Oh, did I tell you I cancelled my satellite? I'm so happy I did! What a waste for me anyway. I am immersed in podcasts and learning and old movies and the Feeln channel which costs less for the whole year than satellite cost me for one month and all I got was local channels.
For a little peek into YOP 2016-17 here are my categories..........
KNITTING
CROCHETING
QUILTING
SEWING
EMBROIDERY
CROSS STITCH
WOOL APPLIQUE
WOOL RUG HOOKING
HAND SPINNING
PAPERCRAFTS
There you have it folks! Onward and upward!
Oh also...a question....in watching knitting podcasts they mention ripping back like it is very easy and I don't hear them mentioning a life-life when they do it. Is there something I don't know? If I rip back in knitting it is tearing out the whole project. I have no idea how to go back just a few rows to where there is a mistake but it seems there are knitters out there that do it all the time. Is there a class I can take on this? I want to make sweaters and bigger projects but I am afraid....very afraid! LOL! Any information would be appreciated. I do know about life lines and if I were to do a big project they would be utilized for sure!
I am also reading this book. I got a used copy on Thrift Books
my favorite book store!
Happy Trails!
I am sure to be more organized this year....or do I say that every year?
For my weekly update I am just starting the toe of sock #2 of my Hudson Bay Blanket sock............
I am also going back down YOP "memory lane" to revisit projects I never finished, or frogged or wasn't quite skilled enough yet to tackle. My knitting confidence is pretty high now so I started back on some old projects. This is a gift so I won't say too much but I understand patterns so much better and I can focus more whereas in the beginning there was so much to think about. Again, I found a pair of old aluminum needles that are working better than the wood ones I started out with.
For a little peek into YOP 2016-17 here are my categories..........
KNITTING
CROCHETING
QUILTING
SEWING
EMBROIDERY
CROSS STITCH
WOOL APPLIQUE
WOOL RUG HOOKING
HAND SPINNING
PAPERCRAFTS
There you have it folks! Onward and upward!
Oh also...a question....in watching knitting podcasts they mention ripping back like it is very easy and I don't hear them mentioning a life-life when they do it. Is there something I don't know? If I rip back in knitting it is tearing out the whole project. I have no idea how to go back just a few rows to where there is a mistake but it seems there are knitters out there that do it all the time. Is there a class I can take on this? I want to make sweaters and bigger projects but I am afraid....very afraid! LOL! Any information would be appreciated. I do know about life lines and if I were to do a big project they would be utilized for sure!
I am also reading this book. I got a used copy on Thrift Books
my favorite book store!
Happy Trails!
Good for you for moving to faster needles. I quite like Karbonz although sometimes the yarn catches at the join between the tip and the shaft. They are smoother and less grabby than wood, but stronger, warmer and less slippery than metal. Right now, they're about my faves for sock knitting.
ReplyDeleteI don't have an idea book, but since I'm all about socks my Revelry favourites list works pretty well for that. And these days it's usually more about finding a pattern that'll suit the yarn I have on hand than picking a pattern out of the blue.
Ripping back is pretty easy - I do it quite often. It's easiest in plain stockinette and considerably harder in lace, or with YOs, lots of increases and decreases or travelling stitches. If you want to try it risk-free, then knit yourself a 4x4 swatch of stockinette in smooth non-splitty light coloured scrap yarn on appropriately sized needles but don't bind off. Now grab a smaller metal needle, go back a handful of rows and pick up the first loop of each knit stitch "V". Once you've done that, take the yarn off your original needle and unravel back to your new smaller metal needle. Et voilà, you've just ripped back.
Truth be told I usually just rip back willy-nilly and then pick up the stitches again (sometimes on smaller metal needles) as I rip the final round. Sometimes I need to tink back one more row just to get all the stitches mounted correctly and all of the same row, but it's still way faster than tinking a bunch or starting over.
You can DO IT!!! Look how awesome a knitter you are already!!!
Thank you for your instructions....I copied them into a print off to put in my knitting notebook. I did the same with your wonderful advice about sock measuring you gave me in the past. I am honored that you think I am an awesome knitter but I give credit to all of you on YOP who have been so supportive and such great inspiration!
DeleteLynn already told you how to rip back w/out losing your sts. You can YouTube it also I bet so I won't be redundant. I think it would be fun to have a knitting journal as I want to get into journaling but I am pretty good about noting down things in my Ravelry notebook...hmmm. I have a set of Karbonz DPNs in 2.0 mm/size 0 US. I like them as they are slick but I am more comfortable w/my Takumi bamboos. I know those that knit Magic Loop love the Addi Sock Rockets but that's w/a cable I believe and not DPNs.
ReplyDeleteStephanie....how do I comment on your blog? I just read your book post....wow! Thank you for so many great recommendations. I want to read so many of them! Wonderful reviews!
DeleteAhhh double points.......I love Knitters Pride Nova Platina Cubics. They are perfect for my arthritic hands and I can knit for much longer periods of time. They are extremely slick but I like that in my needles. Makes it easier on my hands when sliding the stitches. They also have a nice point on them. I use their fixed circulars too for magic loop two at a time socks.
ReplyDeleteI too am a paper person. My hubby is a techno type guy and can't understand why i wont use my phone or tablet to their fullest extent. Nope, gotta have my paper trail. I will look forward ro how you use your idea book.
Thank you for that info as I have RA and anything that extends the knitting time is a good thing! I'll be ordering some new needles this week. I am a techno gal but my tablet broke, the pc is no longer reliable but I can always count on my paper trail! I'll keep you informed!
DeleteAhhh double points.......I love Knitters Pride Nova Platina Cubics. They are perfect for my arthritic hands and I can knit for much longer periods of time. They are extremely slick but I like that in my needles. Makes it easier on my hands when sliding the stitches. They also have a nice point on them. I use their fixed circulars too for magic loop two at a time socks.
ReplyDeleteI too am a paper person. My hubby is a techno type guy and can't understand why i wont use my phone or tablet to their fullest extent. Nope, gotta have my paper trail. I will look forward ro how you use your idea book.
I use Knit pro symphonie if I'm using dpn's, but mostly I like magic loop. As for ripping, I tend to knit for myself so most mistakes I fix without ripping. I will tink back if necessary, but rarely rip.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that info. I have heard people talk about those needles before. I'm ordering from Deramores this week so I'll let you all know what I get next week. I need circulars too.
DeleteI use Knit pro symphonie if I'm using dpn's, but mostly I like magic loop. As for ripping, I tend to knit for myself so most mistakes I fix without ripping. I will tink back if necessary, but rarely rip.
ReplyDeleteI rip back similarly to How "Minding my own stitches" does. Also, my favorite DPN's are Knitpicks harmony needles, but they're wood so I'm not sure hotly would like them. I'm so glad you're enjoying knitting so much. :-)
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
I have some wood ones and they're fine but I must knit tight because it seems I am always stopping to push the stitches up. I thought maybe I would try the Karbonz and see if I like them. I'll let you know!
DeleteI think I need your organizational skills :) could come in handy when I am planning my teaching assignments lol!
ReplyDeleteIf you saw my house you would not think I was organized at all! LOL!
DeleteThe Idea book...book looks awesome! I'm going to look for that one! Enjoy your day sweet friend. Hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteJust what we need, huh? Another craft project! But isn't it fun? LOL!
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