Sunday, February 12, 2017

YOP Week #33

Not much progress this week on the handwork front but a little...........I finally finished both cuffs of the Hermione's Everyday sock...I have no idea why I've had so much trouble with these...I'm thinking maybe my mind is just not on socks these days............... 
I also made a couple progress keepers....this was a stitch marker I got but I made it into a progress keeper...........
and then this one..... as Mary Engelbreit says, I am "the Queen of Everything" and my daughter is "the Princess of All Things"..........
I did finish the first of 5 blocks for my daughter's Frida Kahlo basket for her birthday in July.....I still have ends to weave in and it definitely needs to be blocked!  Not a very good picture either.
No giraffe work this week but I did start taking a Craftsy class........Fearless Knitting by Lucy Neatby.....I think I need a class after all the troubles I had with those sock cuffs.....because I still don't understand what went wrong......it is not great yarn for sure but can you really blame the yarn?  I think maybe it's time to learn a bit more and understand the process.  I hope this class helps me understand what I am doing and especially when I do it WRONG! LOL!
I hope you had and will have a wonderful week!
Happy Trails! 

25 comments:

  1. The Frida Kahlo blanket will look amazing when you have done judging by your first block, great colours. I have knitted socks with that yarn before, so nice to see what you will make with it. I always have difficulty at the beginning of a sock but then somehow get my flow, I am sure you will find yours xx

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    1. Thank you, I have manages to get to the foot on both socks now so hopefully I will not run into any more problems! Whew! Glad to know I am not alone in starting difficulties.

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  2. Glad the socks finally cooperated with you. That crochet block is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for all your sweet advice on my last blog post. I'm not sure what's happening with me lately, but it seems as though I'm falling apart. Last night a migraine struck. Oh well. It always seems to be something. I was up and around the house a bit more yesterday because the back pain seemed to be much better. Thank you again for your sweet words of wisdom.
    Blessings, Betsy

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    1. Thank you, Betsy...I was so afraid I might have offended you but I want so badly for you to feel better. My daughter always tells me I should be a "patient advocate"....not sure about that but I'm glad you got up and about....like I always tell myself....baby steps....it has taken me years to get to this healthy place...Rome wasn't built in a day! You go girl!

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  3. Mary Engelbreit rocks. Love her artwork. I think using Craftsy is a great idea as you can watch over and over again anytime from the comfort of your home.

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    1. Yes, ME rocks....I have some of her "pieces"...mugs, pitcher, posters framed and a whole board on Pinterest devoted to her. Craftsy is great...I agree....I have several classes out there!

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  4. I love the colors in the Frieda block. Can't wait to see that project finished. I hope you get some clarity about what may be going wrong with the troublesome sock cuffs, but I do think, sometimes yarn is to blame for some of our knitting and crocheting woes. ;^)

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    1. Since I taught myself to knit I'm thinking I may have developed some bad habits. I did discover one problem that I was twisting the yarn around my circular needle so that issue was solved and now I'm on the foot so hopefully I will have a respite for awhile until I get to the heel! LOL!
      I picked the yarn colors to match the Frida fabric....finally got smart! LOL!

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  5. I love Lucy's classes. I gave up on magic loop with my latest socks too. Usually it is a no-brainer but ACK I went back to my dpns for better result because my circulars kept twisting in a weird way. I love your progress markers! and I think your Frieda project is going to be awesome!

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    1. Coming from an expert knitter like you, I feel much better now! That is exactly what I was experiencing....twisting and ending up with yarn over my needle that looked like a stitch but wasn't and the stretching of the yarn because of it. I love magic loop but not this time! Practice usually makes perfect but not this time! LOL!

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  6. You can definitely blame the yarn if it's not consistent in thickness or twist, or if it's split. But it might just be distraction.

    I'll be interested to hear about the class. I love Lucy Neatby (fellow Canuck from the East Coast I think). I've always been interested in Craftsy classes but never ventured to put down the money or invest the time. I've been looking at jewelry metal working classes, like Viking knitting. But probably the last thing I need is another hobby!

    Circulars drive me crazy. Hate the joins between the needle and the cord and hate how the excess cord twists around and always seems in the way. Give me DPNs every time!

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    1. I may have to go back to DPN's....Lucy is amazing and she is from Nova Scotia? She was a marine shipman for years until she decided to write and design and teach knitting. So glad she did! She lives on New Hope Island....what a cool place to live! Distraction could very well be my issue also as we are still waiting on consultations and tests for my son. In fact, today is his first appointment/consultation. I probably need something really mindless to work on....the Frida blocks are good for that! LOL! Mostly hard work is my balm for any issues....get myself really exhausted so I can just fall into bed at night and go right to sleep without thinking too much. Thinking is highly overrated! LOL!

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  7. I love those beautiful colors of the Frida project. And it's nice to have the videos to learn new stitches and patterns now. So much better than a book! Enjoy your evening sweet lady!

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    1. Thank you, Diane. Yes, I am definitely a visual learner. Not sure I would have ever been able to learn to knit if it hadn't been for You Tube! LOL!

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  8. Love the stitch-keeper/place-markers. Had a chuckle at your Princess of All Things quote, lol, yes, daughters are certainly that.
    Frida Khalo basket blanket will be gorgeous when finished, and I see what you mean on my blog that it is similar to my Block #4.
    Enjoy your Craftsy class and brush up on skills.

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    1. I really enjoy making those Frida blocks and especially since each uses the same colors but in different combinations. Your projects are so inspiring! So glad you joined our group!

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  9. Those are neat stitch markers. I have no idea what a Frida Khalo basket it is, so I will go google that. I may have missed it if you posted that. It looks nice.

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    1. I think it was originally a free pattern from Deramores but I will provide a link later. Are you on Ravelry? I need to put it out there with the info too. Sorry about that....we're usually all about 'full disclosure' on YOP! LOL!

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  10. Love your progress keepers and the block is gorgeous. I too am a self taught knitter and also have habits (not bad ones - just ways that others do not) - I have creativebug and use that for the same thing, to pick up hints on certain techniques. Your socks I'm sure, will be fine now and are so pretty.

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  11. Love your progress keepers and the block is gorgeous. I too am a self taught knitter and also have habits (not bad ones - just ways that others do not) - I have creativebug and use that for the same thing, to pick up hints on certain techniques. Your socks I'm sure, will be fine now and are so pretty.

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    1. You certainly taught yourself correctly as your knitting is beautiful and you must knit very fast! I need a faster method although knowing me I would just make more mistakes....faster! LOL!

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  12. Hi Sam,
    I see you are busy as usual. Hope you figured out the sock problem. Did you go take a class yet. My knitting is pretty basic. Nothing fancy. I should take a class myself.
    Miss Peeps is a real cute kitty, they are a lot of company that's for sure.
    Snow here the last few days, then warmer this weekend. Funny winter this year.
    I have been reading so much that I haven't done any needlework. I think I will do another embroidery. And read. How can you not read??? You and I both love our books.
    Nancy Jo

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    1. It's an online class through www.craftsy.com They have every kind of class imaginable and I always wait until they have a sale. It has been a very mild winter here...in fact, Spring has arrived here in the Ozarks...it will be coming to a neighborhood near you soon! LOL! Yes, I have to read every day....it's in my DNA!

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  13. Hi Sam,
    Just wanted to say that yes the foxfire books are really interesting. I just ordered Alex Stewart portrait of a pioneer. And- Aunt Arie a Foxfire portrait. Did you read either of those?
    Nancy Jo

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