Learning to Knit: Day Seventeen

I have finished Diamond Peaks square. Screwed it up in a few places. Hard to tell for sure because I haven't blocked it but I definitely see a few misplaced stitches. Still its not bad. I think my knitting is tighter on the last rows than the first. This section had some really interesting sidebars on reading charts and abbreviated charts. I really like how this book is laid out and how things are explained in more than one way.

Now on to project 2.4 Maple Leaf square. The leaf is worked in purl stitches against a stockinette background with a seed stitch border. To be tricky the boarder is not charted and I have to read my knitting to keep in the seed pattern.

With this square instructions are included to make pillows by appliqueing the practice squares onto a pillow.


Nah

Learning to Knit: Day Seventeen

I think the Seed stitch is really beautiful. Just saying.

Learning to Knit: Day Seventeen

I am making my very first gauge swatch. Excitement abounds!

I am doing this to see if I can make Isabelle's sweater with the needles I have in the yarn Mom gave me. Cross fingers

Joyous Christmas Card

Credits:

• Christmas From the Heart Value Collection by Elizabeth Weaver

Learning to Knit: Day Sixteen

It seems my Auntie Donna is magical. Whenever I email her whining and complaining about how many times I've had to tink a sampler my troubles go away. I lost count of the resets I had done on the Diamond Peaks sampler. At least seven I think. I emailed Auntie Donna, bitching and moaning, then I took the square apart one more time and now its coming together almost effortlessly.

Same thing happened with the Rib sampler and the Checkerboard sampler. Auntie Donna is magical. I am so thankful to have her in my life.

Our Little Kewpie Doll

Scraplift of handkl's Being Me

Credits:

• This Way Page Kit by Nicole Young

Gah

Man this sampler looks like poo. I am screwing up all over the place and just need to start over. I am on row 18. I have completed two sets of four peaks (3 peaks and 2 half peaks) but there is not one peak without a mistake in it.
I'm not sure where I am screwing up because I think I am keeping track of the work. It is extreemly difficult to read the knitting on the wrong side but pretty easy on the right side. Oh well I am off to tink. Hopefully I will figure it out on my second do-over.

Learning to Knit: Day Fifteen

Ahh back to needle knitting.

I have already pulled apart this stupid square five times. Chart reading is not my forte. It is pretty stupid that in one row a symbol means one thing and in another row the same symbol means the exact opposite. I understand why, I do. I totally get it. But while reading and working the chart it goes against the grain.

Doing better now. I've managed to get to row 12 (of 61) without any mistakes.

Christmas Card

Credits:

• Christmas From the Heart Value Collection by Elizabeth Weaver

Learning to Knit: Day Fourteen

I had a very merry Christmas, thank you.

Now that the holidays are over I can knuckle down and get to work on learning to knit. Over the holidays I learned to make a simple cable on a loom and knitted a pair of fingerless gloves. They are very cool and photos will be posted soon. I have to learn to "block lightly" first.

One minor setback to my Fearless Knitting progress was the lack of a marker for the chart in the next project. I do not have a fancy magnetic chart reading thingie. Mom does but we have not been able to find it yet. So I went to the evil empire and picked up some Post-it notes. Not as good but it will get the job done until I can find a magnetic board. The baby is facinated by my Post-its. I think its the colour - I should have gone with pastels not brights.

I also purchased a little knitting accessory kit bursting with intriguing little doodads. In a small zip loc bag I now have some safety stitch markers, point protectors (small and large), stitch holder, large and small row counters (very exciting), tape measure, steel wool needles and a knitting gauge. I'm not sure how many of these items are really important but I know a couple are needed and I hope none are useless. Time will tell.

Christmas Morning Card

Credits:

• Christmas From the Heart Value Collection by Elizabeth Weaver

Book Lover

Scraplift of mum2riley's Kindy Christmas Party

Credits:

• School Days Mega Kit by DSP Designers

Joy Card

Credits:

• Play It Cool PAge Kit by Elizabeth Weaver from the December 2010 Club Digital by DSP Designers
• Holiday Chips Word Art by Lauren Bavin
• Christmas TraditionsOverlay set by Elizabeth Weaver

Learning to Knit: Day Eleven

I had a really difficult time with my first cable pattern. Making the cables themselves is easy (on a loom). But I just could not wrap my head around how the rows were laid out. You see, I was supposed to be doing a left cable but from where the working yarn was located the logical place for the cable to lay was to the right. I assumed I skipped a row and tore everything apart several times. Didn't help. I kept making the same mistake. No matter how carefully (I thought) I kept track of my rows. It wasn't until I finally decided to just give up and make the glove the best I could and see how it looked that I discovered my mistake.

To finish the glove you need to make increases. When I went back to the general instructions portion of the book I discovered that I am supposed to work clockwise EXCEPT for casting on. When I cast on I am supposed to go counter clockwise. So now I know why everything was going so wrong. I am debating ripping it all apart again. I am three rows from finishing. I probably will do it right but for now I am going to go to sleep and leave it. Its been quite frustrating but ultimately will be worth it. I love the colour and feel of this yarn and its a cool little project for my first cables.

Merry Christmas everyone. I love you and wish you all the best. I miss you Grandma.

Project 52: Week 52

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Project 52: Week 51

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Learning to Knit: Day Nine

Decided to take the plunge and try cables. I am using a pattern from one of the books I got at the creative convention this fall.
I am not quite sure I am doing it right but everything looks good on the project so I guess I am. Almost finished but so much to do I will probably not get to work on this again until after the holidays.

Learning to Knit: Day Nine

Hooray! I finally found the yarn I needed to make a cool poncho for Isabelle. Unfortunately I had to buy it from the evil empire but every other place I looked it was either 5 bucks more per ball (yes 5 whole dollars! A rant will come when I can stop swearing) or they didn't have the right colours. I had to change 2 of the accent colours but I love how they all look together so I am not worried. Unfortunately the alternate store was missing the two main colours and I couldn't substitute them. The evil empire was only missing accent colours and it was easy to switch them out. I cant wait to start this but it will have to wait till after the holidays.

I don't know what happened but these first few rows I am knitting for the newest sampler are super tight. I am using smaller needles but that doesn't explain why the knitting is tighter on them. It is almost difficult to move the stitches along the needles. Very weird. I hope this is all typical noob knitter problems and I am not some sort of freak.

Project 52: Week 50

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Learning to Knit: Day Eight

Huzzah! I am finally finished my second sample. Man it is huge. I can't measure it right now but I estimate it to be about 2 inches bigger than it is supposed to be. I think I better go down another size when I do the next sampler.

First Project Chapter 2.3: Diamond Peaks Square. This sampler also calls for a size 4.5 mm needle. I accidentally used a 5mm on the checkerboard. Hopefully using the right needle will keep this square from getting to big. This sampler also uses knit and purl to create a pattern but this time I am to follow a chart not written row instructions. Kind of cool hope I don't get lost.

Oh and I am not 100% sure but I think the mistake I kept making that was driving me nuts in the checkerboard is called an unintentional yarnover. It is discussed on page 50. Nice to put a name to the cursed face.

Project 52: Week 49

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Learning to Knit: Day Seven

The holidays are really interfering with my plans for world domination through knitting. I am still working on my Checkerboard sampler (only 2 rows added) but I have made more progress elsewhere. I have sourced the yarn needed for Pat's Dr. Who scarf. I have a rant about this subject but I am still to hot (two days later) not to swear every other word while telling it so the rant will have to wait. I have finally found something that has been missing a long time but will save this for another post because it is a story in its own right. And I found some yarn I can use for the Loom a Long group. Doesn't seem like much but with all the holiday stuff and looking after Isy I think its a lot.

I am really enjoying this even with the frustrations I have been having with yarn. Pat is practically peeing his pants he is so excited about his scarf and the poncho project for Isabelle I showed him.

I finally connected with ZombieFarmer on Ravelry and got to look at her cool hats. Can't wait to start sharing!

Project 52: Week 48

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Learning to Knit: Day Six

Learned the coolest thing today. How to make a center pull ball from a skein. So cool because I have a bunch of stuff that was unraveled from other projects or got into a tangled mess. It really is the coolest. Unfortunately I can't find my original source as it was from a convoluted bunch of surfing and blog hopping. Google searches are finding other sources but I would really like to credit the person who "showed me". As soon as I find it I will link it.

Project 52: Week 47

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Learning to Knit: Day Five

I'm doing pretty good with my sampler. Once I figured out how I was making that one mistake that was making me crazy things went much smoother. But my hands are freezing so I have decided to make myself some of those fingerless mitt I see all over. Luckily it is the featured project this month in my new Ravelry group Loom-a-Long. Bunch of peeps all do the same project and help each other out with questions and stuff. Should be fun.

Project 52: Week 46

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Checkerboard Sampler

I finally figured out what I was doing to get that extra stitch every once in a while. I cant describe it. I don't have the knitter's vocabulary to explain my mistake but I've finally figured out what I was doing. Needless to say it involved the purl stitch.

I hate purl

Checkerboard Sampler

I don't know how but I keep adding a stitch in the same row. I keep having to go back and get rid of it. I seem to be good at reading my knitting.

Project 52: Week 45

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Note from Day One

My generosity was NOT rewarded.

Learning to Knit: Day Three

I am enjoying this book a lot. I think the instructions are really good and the translations of knitting terms to english are excellent. Unfortunately I think the book falls down really hard on a couple points. Now to be fair although I assumed this book was for beginners it may be for advanced beginners not newbs. Even though it explains with pictures how to cast on there is no instruction on:

• the knit stitch
• the purl stitch
• binding off

All three are very important and I think not explaining them is a big mistake. Which is a shame because I think this book is great in so many ways.

So off to youtube I go to learn how to bind off my rib sampler. It is not the suggested length but the book says I can stop when I feel I've "got it". And I do. Purling is still a wee bit awkward and I still find holding on to everything a bit of a challenge but I feel I have a good grasp of what this lesson is teaching.

After a paragraph translating what BO in patt. means the book just says:

Pass the worked stitches over and off the right needles to bind off as usual.

And then an explanation as to why you BO in the pattern you knitted. I find it really odd the book feels the need to translate BO but not explain HOW to BO. I looked in the index and the only binding off instruction is towards the back for binding off three needles.

Maybe I am missing something or not understanding the part in the translation which is actually teaching how to bind off but I honestly dont see it there and it is no where in Chapter One with the other general information. (Nor are the knit and purl stitches) The only bits on finishing is weaving in the ends and blocking.

Oh well I will look for a video.

Which reminds me I should credit the videos which helped me with what I couldnt get out of the book.

Long Tail Cast On - the book has diagrams and pictures of this but I just could not get it. I had to watch the video many times to finally be able to do it myself.

Knit stitch - not in the book

Purl stitch - not in the book

All from knittinghelp.com

For the bind off I watched two videos. One on just binding off and on on binding off in pattern which is what you needed to do for this project.

I will post pictures tomorrow because I forgot the camera in the other room and I dont want to wake the baby.

On to project 2.2 Checkerboard Square.

Ravelry

I spent all my free time last night on Ravelry. I inventoried all my yarn and projects- including linking pictures from flickr. And I added 80 (yes I said eighty) projects to my projects queue. There are SO many cool free patterns on this site. From yarn companies and other users. Really fantastic I am so excited.

I also made myself knit two more rows before I turned in. I'm getting better. Mom showed me how she's holds her knitting and it looks like I learned the European way. Which is funny when you think the needles mix up was the opposite.

Here is my profile on Ravelry. I am hoping my Aunt and my sole knitting friend will join me there. If they aren't already. Seems like such a cool place. I need to take different photos of my projects because I would rather not have photos of Isabelle there and I am sure Mom doesn't want her photo up. even though I think she looks really good in that picture.

Project 52: Week 44

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Ravelry

If I had know about this site I may have become a knitter much sooner and I am now more committed to my knitting goals. I MUST find a quilter's equivalent. I'm stupid excited right now

Row Two

Huzzah! I knitted row two without any mistakes - as far as I know. I am trying to "read" my knitting as the book shows but unless a mistake is huge I doubt I could spot one until I get better. Still very awkward holding the needles and yarn. I kind of prop one against my leg and get the yarn a bit tangled in the needles from time to time. Plus it's annoying having to move the stitches up and down the needles all the time. I am probably missing something. I think starting on a loom has made me a bit lazy. It's so nice that the loom holds everything for you and its so easy to keep the yarn in place. All you have to watch out for is wrapping it too tightly. Maybe I am just spoiled.

Wow

I found Ravelry! A very cool site for knitters. I wish I could find something similar for quilting.

Project 52: Week 43

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Learning to Knit: Day One

The scene:
Knitting the first sampler from the book Fearless Knitting Workbook while watching Survivor: Gabon on my laptop.


First thoughts: I don't remember knitting needles being this long and I only ever knitted once as a kid so you would think I would remember them being bigger.
Second thought:
I found out I don't have to make a ball of yarn so I am already ahead of schedule. Huzzah! Now to sit down and begin.



First Project Chapter 2.1: Rib Sample:
Due to earlier confusion about US vs English needle sizes I asked Mom for the wrong needles (or she grabbed the wrong ones) because I was thinking US sizes and she assumed English. I thought that one of the sets she lent me (5mm) could be used for the first project but it turns out I was wrong yet again. I haven't even started and already knitting is too hard. I can't even get the materials list right. Well it doesn't matter. I am here, I have youtube up and I am ready to knit so I'm just going to do it even though I am supposed to use smaller needles. Apparently ribs are knitted smaller because they are used to fit snug for wrist and waist bands This is fine but I want to knit and all I have are 5mm so the book is just going to have to suck it up.

Learned the long tail cast on and using the tail to tell wrong side of knitted fabric from right side (depending on pattern)

The cast on was my downfall when Grandma tried to teach me. As I was trying to figure it out from the book I remember she finally gave up and cast on for me. Poor Grandma. I hope you are proud of me now. The book made sense just like Grandma but I still couldn't quite get it and even after watching a video on youtube 10 freaking times I almost gave up. But 11 was the magic number and I finally cast on. Gram, its only been what? 30 years? But I finally did it! I know you are proud of me.

Aw man...

Tear break.

Lately everything seems to remind me of Grandma and makes me cry so I should have known this would make me emotional but wow that is a bit much. I should have guessed that if Vegetable Thins can make me break down in the grocery store and Tetley can make me weep in my kitchen casting on would bring out a shower. Ok on with the rest of the first freaking row.

An hour in and I think I have worked out the purl stitch but I had to unravel the first row. I screwed up near the front somewhere and the pattern isn't working right I'm supposed to k1 p1 10 times but the purls are on the odd stitches for some reason.

Gah! Screwed up unraveling the one row and have to cast on again.

I don't know why I thought I could watch Survivor my first night. I'm glad I didn't put on a movie. I'd be really pissed if I was missing my movie and trying to do this. Not that I'm not pissed at how long this is taking me to get these stitches because I am . I'm just not really pissed. I mean come on these two stitches are supposed to be the simplest and this combination the foundation. Man I am frustrated.

I can tell knitting is one of those things that once you get it it just flows but getting it is going to be a bitch. Simple isn't easy. Don't let anyone tell you different. Well you can let them but be sure to call them a big fat dirty stinkin liar. In your head if they are bigger than you and prone to violence or drama.

One thing I did do right was make my tail long enough for the long tail cast on. From the book I would have been to short but the video stressed how you want it to be super long so I just went all out ridiculous (I thought) and wound up with very little left over after all the stitches were on. I am a total penny pincher when it comes to craft materials. Scrooge has nothing on me when it comes to this stuff. I can see I am going to have to watch this tendency.

Geeze what the hell am I doing wrong now?

My second cast on the yarn looks like its unraveling on the bottom. The plys look like they are coming apart. Now I didn't buy expensive yarn but I didn't cheap out either so I just don't get this new wrinkle.

Wow. I totally got in the zone there casting on. Lost track and just kept going and cast on a bazillion. Tail much longer this time. I hate that. My generosity better be rewarded later.

Crap. I finally seem to be getting it and have successfully knitted and purled almost a first repeat thing only to discover I am using the damn tail not the working yarn. Weeping again as I try to undo without having to cast on again.

Whew. I managed to unknit without having to recast. First marker on and I double checked I am definitely using the working yarn this time.

OK WTF because I don't even know how to describe what went wrong this time. Here is a picture. I am off to bed and I will try this again tomorrow.


Well we all knew I was going to come back. No way I can sleep with something like this hanging over my head.

Finally. I have finished the first row. Also refered to as the set up row. Or (in my head) the last thing I will ever knit in my entire life. Forgot to place the last stitch marker but luckily I only had to unknit 4 stitches.

I had a really hard time keeping the yarn on my fingers properly. Like I wasn't having enough trouble with that bitch purl. The yarn has to keep slipping around. Plus all the stitches kept getting all twisted on the needle and I had to straighten them out constantly.

You know I honestly thought this was going to be fun.

Final thoughts:

• Grandma had every right to let me quit so we could enjoy our vacation together. If I remember correctly she taught me cross stitching instead that summer. Crochet was never mentioned even though she was working on a large afghan
  
• Looms are more fun and easier to learn. Needles better be helluva more versatile or there is no way Isabelle's Debbie Bliss Sweater is getting knitted. By me.
• Purling is a bitch.

Two hours of effort created this:

I'm so proud.

Not. You know I could have made an entire hat on a loom in two hours.

Project 52: Week 42

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Project 52: Week 41

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Project 52: Week 40

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Project 52: Week 39

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Project 52: Week 38

Credits:

• Ailee Page kit by Marcee Duggar

Pipers Turn (2)

Journaling:

This little rocking horse was handmade by Grampy and painted by Grandy 15 years ago for Kaytie. 8 years ago he was given to Aubree to ride. Now it’s Piper’s turn to love him.

 

Credits:

• Funky Teenscape Value Collection by Nicole Young

Let Me Play

Scraplift of MyPinkFlipFlop's Imagination is wonderful

Credits:

• Forever In Never Never Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Forever In Never Never 2 Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Forever In Never Never Add on Pack by Nicole Young

Elegant Silliness

Credits:

• Fancy Pants Page Kit by Tina Chambers
• Fancy Pants Add On Pack by Tina Chambers

Sweet

Credits:

• Sweet Lovin' Page Kit by Suzanne C. Walker

Learning to Stand

SpeedScrap inspiration

Credits:

• Chasing The Wind Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Forever In Never Never Page Kit by Nicole Young

Hard at Play

SpeedScrap inspiration
Photo from the U.S. National Archives photostream on Flickr

Credits:

• Just An Ordinary Day 1 Page Kit by Meryl Bartho
• Just An Ordinary Day 1 Add on Pack by Meryl Bartho
• Cracked & Creased No1. Overlay by Meryl Bartho
• Dotty About Acrylic - Black with White Spot Alpha freebie by Meryl Bartho
• Mad Moment Alpha by Meryl Bartho

Puppy Love

Scraplift of Marcee's Surprise

Credits:

• Olivia Value Collection by Marcee Duggar
• Natalee Page Kit by Marcee Duggar

Cowgirl

Credits:

• Rocker Chic Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Rocker Chic 2 Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Rocker Chic Element Set by Nicole Young

Love You

Credits:

• Olivia Value Collection by Marcee Duggar

Aubree

Credits:

• Olivia Value Collection by Marcee Duggar

Cherish

Scraplift of Ms M's Becca April 09

Credits:

• Tiny Teardrops Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Tiny Teardrops 2 Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Catch A Dream 2 Page Kit by Nicole Young

Angel

Scraplift of Mars' Angel Sent from Above

Credits:

• Angel Whispers Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Angel Whispers 2 Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Heaven Sent Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Heaven Sent 2 Page Kit by Nicole Young

My Happily Ever After

Scraplift of Nicole Young's Chasing the Wind Plopper

Credits:
Chasing The Wind Page Kit by Nicole Young
Chasing The Wind 2 Page Kit by Nicole Young
Unconditional Love Word Art by Tina Chambers

Friends

Scraplift of Nicole`s Heaven Sent Plopper

Credits:

• Heaven Sent Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Heaven Sent 2 Page Kit by Nicole Young

My World

Scraplift of PennyM's Keira Tiny Teardrops

Credits:

• Tiny Teardrops Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Angel Whispers Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Angel Whispers 2 Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Tiny Teardrops 2 Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Free To Dream Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Unconditional Love Word Art by Tina Chambers

Chippers

Women War Workers of Marinship Corp, 1942

Credits:
Photos are from the U.S. National Archives photostream on Flickr (Unrestricted Access and Use)

• Sapphires And Faded Jeans 2 Page Kit by Nicole Young
• Vintage Memoirs Value Collection by Nicole Young
• Vintage Memoirs Word Art by Nicole Young
• Silly Little One Quick Click by Nicole Young