It’s been awhile

Yes-it has been a while since the last post. But I haven’t stop knitting. There has even been some sewing. Knitting has helped me remain calm and added some balance to my life so although I was posting I was still knitting. It really is stress relief. For me at least, it is the idea of taking some yarn to create fabric that will become a finished item. I didn’t even take pictures of some of my knitting and some I frogged as I didn’t like the finished the project. Someone said the other day, any mistake made in knitting can always be corrected.

I’ve been thinking of ways to add to my knitting experience with a little designing and learning how to read charts. The chart reading has been interesting since it is new but I found an easy design to try. The pattern is the Diamond Mosaic Washcloth though I am not knitting a washcloth but a scarf. I know what a way to dive in with a modification to a pattern. Learning to read a chart could open up more knitting due to the pattern having written instructions in another language along with a chart. Or the pattern has a chart only. The patterns are amazing.

The designing has been nice as well, a couple of simple scarf patterns but nothing posted to Ravelry or some other knitting pattern site. I would like to expand my knitting into other ventures. I just haven’t decided what is the next step. But I know it won’t happen until I do something.

I will have to post some pictures of my current project the next time I post. I’m ready to complete this one so I can get back to my Diamond Mosaic scarf.

Until next time

COVID Baby blankets

The only upside of pandemic are all the new babies for 2021. I think babies remind us of the happiness and hope that we can have in our lives. Babies bring so much joy not just for the parents and grandparents but to the whole family and friends. I’ve found a lot of enjoyment knitting baby blankets. The Elizabeth Zimmerman Pi blanket is not only a easy knit but it is easy to make variations to it. The Pinwheel blanket-found on Raverly.

I didn’t think knitting a blanket in the round could be a fast or easy. I’m off to start my next blanket.

It will another variation of the Elizabeth Zimmerman PI blanket. I’m just learned how to make bobbles in the round. So I want to add this technique into this blanket. It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been knitting it’s always great to learn a new technique. I knew how to make a bobble flat which is different from how you do so in the round. I kept getting gaps when I tried making them the way I have in flat work. I was able to go watch a video on YouTube by Black Crow Knits that helped. I frogged and starting over so I can’t wait to post the progress or the completed blanket. I want to add a design or something different to make it unique.

Getting into the groove

GROOVE

This word conjures up so many song titles-

New York Groove

Groove is in the Heart

Don’t Disturb This Groove

But in thinking of my knitting groove. I’ve taken some time off from knitting. I have a WIP and many other projects in the queue. I’ve explored some new hobbies from gardening, cooking, and rowing. I think with having to be at home. I wanted to do things that got me outdoors. I usually knit to unwind and always thought of myself as a solidarity person. I tried a zoom knitting meet-up and didn’t like it—more on this in another post.

So now I’m getting back into my knitting groove. I am finishing up my WIP sweater that has changed as I’ve started the project. The hardest for me is trying to find a new project. I had another sweater I wanted to knit, but now I wouldn’t say I like the pattern, so I’m trying to find something else to make with the yarn. The second time this has happened. Initially, I liked the pattern, but then the excitement left.

This time it was the pattern. It was not easy to follow, or it could be me. When it comes to knitting, I think I need both text and charts so I can see the pattern. In another post, I may explore charts and text

Rapid Fire Questions

Socks – toe up or cuff down? toe-up
Hats – top down or bottom up? top down
How do you hold the yarn when you knit – English or Continental? Continental
What do you prefer to do – Colorwork or Cables? Both
Favorite cast on? Long Tail Cast on
What kind of needles do you use more – DPNs or cabled needles (circular or interchangeable)? Interchangeable circulars
What kind of needles do you like more – wood, plastic or metal? wood generally, metal for lace
If you had to pick just one to use, which would it be – Animal fibers or Plant fibers? Animal fiber
Which do you like more – Cats or Dogs? both
Lunch time – soup, salad or sandwich? sandwich

The questions are were originally from the KnitPicks podcast. I wanted to answer for myself as it seem like alot of fun.

Give it a try for yourself.

Crafting during COVID

Although it has been a stressful time over the past few weeks, crafting has helped to deal with coping. I hope others are doing well. Sewing and knitting has helped to get through the past few days. I’ve been sewing face masks to wear and for a few friends and family. I have WIP knitting projects on hold.

Face mask using diy bias tape

I’ve picked up a few other new hobbies from homemade yogurt and creating a vegetable garden. I learned double knitting and how to make my own bias tape from fabric.

Knitting Squares

During my move of my craft room, I learned a new technique-the pin wheel cast-on.   Of course I had to practice it.  I started out making small squares that I was going to connect and make into a scarf.   I was working on the project while on a quick “sister trip” with of course my sister.  She really liked the yarn and color and mentioned that it would make a great hat.   The scarf was going to  be for her so at least I know she will like the yarn.  I’m frogging all of the squares to make her a hat.   I can still use the pin wheel cast-on but I will divide it differently.  Into six sections instead of four, it is a better fast knit so I should have the hat finished pretty quickly.   There is another stitch pattern I would like to try next so she will be getting a scarf as well.   I post some pictures of the project later this week.

The move of my craft room is pretty much completed so I will get back to sewing soon too.   I got so excited to learn a new technique that I put some other projects on hold.  I think we all get excited to learn a new technique that we didn’t know.  I like adding to my knitting knowledge by trying new techniques.   Some other items I want to try is knitting on the bias, fair isle and instarsia.   I remember listening to a podcast about project knitter vs process knitters.   The project knitters focused on making a specific project whereas the process knitter enjoyed the knitting mechanism of making an item.   I think I flow between the two depending on the situation.  If I making a gift, then I certainly a project knitter but if I trying to learn a new technique or method then I am process knitter.

Moving

I decided that I needed a larger space to handle all of my crafts.   At first, it felt overwhelming as to where I would store everything.   I finally came up with a solid solution but the move is not going as quickly as I would like.  I decided to move my home office to my sitting area in the master suite and move all of crafting items to my old office.   I keep my crafting supplies fairly neat so this isn’t the problem.  It is all of the years of documents and notebooks from the office is the challenge.  This is a good time to clean and trash many of these items.   In the meantime, I’ve put a hold on the tote bag.  But of course, I have to have a project so I’m working on knitting square.  The Staci Perry from Very Pink Knits demonstrated a pinhole cast-on.  The cast-on creates the square along with increase on alternating rows.  It is a quick knit and already I have some ideas for other projects. This will keep busy at night while I’m slowly moving the two rooms.

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Tote progress

Hello. The tote bag is progressing along.  Here’s a quick peek at it so far. It is going to be a market bag for groceries. I’ve needed a large bag for shopping and I finally decided to make it.   I just need to add the lining, the straps for the bag and cover the cardboard bottom.  You can’t tell

 

Happy craftingContinue reading “Tote progress”

Can You Make—

Hello everyone-I don’t know how many times I’ve heard those words over the years.  Yes, I do enjoy making items as gifts but I prefer to do so on my terms.  The other day at work-one of my co-workers announced her pregnancy.  Great news until someone in the group pointed out that since another person and I knitted and crocheted then  we could make her a baby blanket and sweater.  It was so nice to be volunteered-I hope you could feel the eye roll.   I don’t mind making her a gift what I do mind is being told what to make especially when I’m not in the mood to knit a sweater.   The other person already had a blanket in-progress.

I craft for relaxation and it stresses me out to be put on the spot to make something specific.  I’m not a machine.  How do you feel about being voluntered to make something whether it’s a sweater, gloves, hat etc?  Do you like being put on the spot?

For what it is worth, I told the person that I would probably make her something but I wasn’t sure exactly about the item yet.  I’m leaning toward a toy since I’ve never made one.  A blanket would be nice as well-a quick basket weave baby blanket pattern I have on stand by.  You can’t have too many blankets with little ones.   Who knows I may give in a knit the sweater. But I don’t think so.

Happy crafting

New Sewing Project

It’s just too hot to knit so I’ve been planning on more sewing projects.  I’m currently making a tote bag from McCalls’ pattern M7611.  I’m using Moda Fabrics.   The body of the tote will be red with a solid blue bottom with the lining will be blue with white flowers.   See the picture below.

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I’ve been tracing the pattern on craft paper.  I will use some the pieces as interfacing since the paper will make the bag sturdy.

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I still a few more pieces to trace before I start cutting out the pieces and start sewing.

Happy crafting.

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