Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Knitting And Crochet Blog Week 2011 Day 2 (2KCBWDAY2)

If you want to read about more Knitting and Crochet Blog Week 2011 just click HERE.

Day Two: 29th March. Skill + 1UP
Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year. Have you learned any new skills or forms of knitting/crochet (can you crochet cable stitches now where you didn’t even know such things existed last year? Have you recently put a foot in the tiled world of entrelac? Had you even picked up a pair of needles or crochet hook this time last year?

Wow.  Seeing as I've only been knitting for a total of 14 months this one is pretty easy.  However, I realized that I haven't ever posted photos of the VERY FIRST knitting project I did.  So this seems like a perfect time.  My Honey Mustard Scarf was the first adventure in knitting.  I was on a vacation month and just felt like I needed to do something with my hands.  I found a free pattern from Lion Brand in a booklet near where I found the Lion Brand Wool-Ease Yarn.

Free Knitting Pattern: Berry Ridge Hat And Scarf

Lion Brand® Wool-Ease® Thick & Quick®
Pattern #: L0068

Rating: *****5.0 (based on 1 review)
Most current review /
Write a review SKILL LEVEL:  Easy
SIZE: One Size
Hat: 21 in. (53.5 cm) circumference, will stretch to fit a range of sizes
Scarf: 7 x 48 in. (18 x 122 cm)

       CORRECTIONS: None


I read the pattern instructions to figure out how to cast on.  I knitted and purled over and over - checking the internet when I couldn't figure it out.  I couldn't tell the difference between knit and purl stitches, and I made some mistakes.  I didn't care.  I figured out how to join new yarn in.  When I got to the end (7 FEET later!) I didn't know how to cast off.  Bry watched and laughed at me as I watched a YouTube video while I cast off.

Since I finished this scarf I haven't stopped knitting.  I jumped in head over heels - and fell in love.  I knit ALL the time - anytime I can.  Things that used to annoy me (long car trips, long lectures, downtime at work) don't now because I always bring along knitting.  I have come pretty far in 14 months - and I don't plan on stopping anytime soon.  Check out my Knitting page to see how far I've come!
Here are some of my most advanced items:
Beaded Hat
Pattern: Bead Scarf and Hat by Amanda Blair Brown from Knit Simple Holiday Issue
Yarn: Can't remember.  It was a sport weight wool
Beads: From Micheal's Crafts. Glass beads.  Entirely too small for this yarn!
This took me the entire month of December 2010 to finish.  I was painful, since my hats normally take only 2-3 hours to do.  I am not sure that I will ever be repeating this pattern, but I do get tons of compliments on it.

Pattern: Habitat by Jared Flood
Yarn: Shelter by Brooklyn Tweed
I bought the yarn and the pattern at Knit Purl in Portland, OR.  I finished the hat on the plane ride back to Milwaukee.  It knit up pretty quickly, and I even figured out how to cable WITHOUT a cable needle during the pattern.  The chart was easy to follow - and I just hung it up on the plane seat in front of me.  I have another skein of yarn to knit this again for myself since this was supposed to be for Bry (I steal it....a lot.)

These are my finished socks.  This makes a whole new TYPE of garment that I've knitted.  So far I have made:
Scarves
Hats
Mittens
Washcloths
Sweaters
Socks
Booties
Toys

And I don't plan to stop!

5 comments:

  1. That's pretty good for a first project!

    I really like the beaded hat.

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  2. You've come a long way in 14 months. You are fearless. Way to go!

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  3. I remember you knitting those socks during the Packers Super Bowl game! They turned out great! You turned me on to self striping yarn that night! I am so loving the look of that cabled hat! It looks WAY TO HARD for a beginner like me to knit right now. It feels good seeing your first knit scarf and learning that you struggled in the beginning like me but I am doing well at learning the differences of knit & purl stitches!

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  4. She's right, she doesn't stop. Love you.

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  5. If you love hats, and it looks like you have had a great start in making them, here are my current favorites! Jared Flood's Quincy hat, easy garter stitch mindless knitting, with applied I-cord (so very easy). and then Horizontal Cable hat. If you go to my project page on Ravelry, you can find the links. I am 19vesperstreet on Rav.

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