One more goal has been achieved on my resolution list.
I Learned to Knit!!!
I can make washcloths. All you have to know is cast on, knit stitch, and bind off. I love it!!! It is completely relaxing to me to sit and knit away. My favorite position is in front of an episode of Without a Trace or Criminal Minds while all stretched out on the bed. I let all the troubles of life whiz past me and knit away while the T.V. drones on and on and on . . . The children can come to me with their needs and I don't get upset. It all just rolls off me as the yarn unwinds from the skein into another washcloth.
So far this knitting frenzy has produced 5 washcloths, 3 of which are pictured here. The pink one is made from two strands of the thin #10 size cotton. It's soft, but odd in the finished product. The others are from Sugar and Creme Cotton. Below are the left overs.
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| I'm thinking that perhaps I'll just whip up the leftovers into "ugly style" ends and pieces potholders when I'm done. That should be entertaining. I figure potholders get spaghetti sauce stains on them anyway, so the color combos don't always matter. |
This Velvet Orchid yarn was selected by Sweetheart to become a scarf for him. The pattern looks pretty easy and doable for this beginner. I am hoping to get some 9" needles in a size 8 for the project. The pink needles are much too long to fit in my travel bag, and they produce a terrible feel in my hands when used with this cotton yarn. If you can imagine the sound produced by scratching your nails on the chalkboard turned into a tactile feeling then you have conjured up what this needle/yarn combo feels like to me. The needles are going to be a reward for me after I successfully go to the gym 5 morning this week.
I really need a reward system in place to encourage me to go exercise right now.
It's much more fun to just sit and knit.
I also added this cute little carrier to my supplies.
It is just the right size for a set of 9" needles, yarn, and a small project.
The yarn threads out the end thus keeping your skein in place where you can easily find it, and it stays clean.
The small project fits right inside when you aren't knitting . . .
. . . and is ready to travel with you at a moments notice. It is made by Creative Couture. The website says their products are available
at Michael's and Hobby Lobby stores nation wide.
I found this at Tuesday Morning for $4.
I truly must recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn to knit. Lily explains things so well. It has been a life saver. I'll have to order a copy soon, though, because this one belongs to the library. Love the library for "try before you buy" moments.
There were also some wonderful knitting classes on youtube. They are listed by CitalL86. These are knitting tutorials, 13 to be exact. I am a very visual learner so these were indispensable. I could watch them over and over and over until I understood a step. She goes slow. The camera is at an angle right where your eyes would be if you were the one knitting. The gal is teaching teens and has a pleasant manner about her. I highly recommend them if you want to learn to knit.
Copy this address into your browser space if you want to check out the first one in the series:
http://youtu.be/G9hv44QwQ-A
Lastly, a big thank you must be sent out to my Sweetheart. He is a smart fellow. When he discovered how relaxed I am after sitting and knitting he acted on his new found knowledge. Sweetheart whisked me down to the local craft store to take advantage of a fabulous yarn sale ($1.25 a skein). Promptly he offered to buy me LOTS of yarn--27 skeins to be exact. He even stood for 20 minutes and helped me choose yarn.
Current score: 1,000,000 for Sweetheart
Well, alas, I must be off. The library is calling, as are the knitting needles.
Chou!
