Trish Knits.com

Category: Knitting

A Glutton for (Knitting) Punishment

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week is March 28 to April 3!
It’s that time of year again! (What, already?!?) It’s time for Knitting and Crochet Blog Week! This was started last year by Mimi from Ravelry (Ravelry Profile Link), moderator of The Blog Hub group (‘nother Raverly link). I don’t know how or why exactly she started it, but I think that a) it helps people to get in the habit of doing more regular blogging, and b) it also promotes staying on topic while going in new directions on that topic, thus allowing people to get more creative with their blog’s content.

I mean, it’s good to have more than just the “here’s what I’m knitting today” kind of posts, isn’t it? Especially if you’re like me, a painfully slow knitter for whom the project progress photos all look the same if taken too soon one after another. Which is why I include family stuff and book reviews and occasional appearances by the cat on my blog. But Mimi has proposed topics that are all interesting and thought-provoking, so I’m going to give this a try again. I can’t promise a post every day, but I’m going to do my best.

Yes, I’m going to do it again, even if it kills me. Or rather, I have to find a way NOT to let it kill me. Last year, I did a post for every day of blog week (at least I think I did!) and by the time it was over, I was EXHAUSTED. Ever since that killer week I have, in general, blogged much less often. Now, as you can see, I’m making an effort to get back in the habit. I still won’t have daily project progress reports on this blog (“See that half row right there? That’s what I knit today!” Snore.), but it turns out that I do have lots on my mind all the time so I might as well share. Maybe it’ll be more family-related content from time to time, or more resources added to the other parts of this site. Whatever it is, it is my goal that you’ll be hearing from me more often again. And I shall try to keep it focused as much as possible on knitting, while at the same time not making it too boring for those who have never experienced the rapture of holding yarn in their hands.

A tall order? Maybe. But then, there’s Blog Week to get me started.

March 26, 2011
Shawl Update

View of the back of the shawl
I’m excited to share with you yet another update of my shawl in progress. See? It’s starting to look like a shaw! Yay, me! I’m almost done with the second skein of my lightest color, and then I can move on to the next shade of lavender in the progression. I still have about 18 rows left in the current lace section, and I am thinking the color change will happen before I switch to the next lace pattern. Which, incidentally, I don’t know what that’s going to be yet. Nothing like making it up as I go, eh? I just hope that the thing will be wearable in the end. Haha!

Closeup of the lace pattern
And here’s a closer view of the lace pattern. It’s Gull Wing Lace, which is a traditional Dutch pattern that has been included in A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, by Barbara Walker. I like it because it’s a lace pattern I know and I don’t have to think about it, beyond counting to seven. Also? It’s easy for me to read, so easy for me to fix. Knowing how to fix it is important, because even with the familiarity I have with the stitch, the occasional missed yarnover or dropped stitch does happen. And so, I can fix this one pretty easily by now.

I don’t know that there is another lace pattern that I know so well, so the final section and the border are going to be a challenge. Hopefully, by the time I get there, I’ll be up for it.

Wish me luck!

March 24, 2011
Book Review: Knit This Doll

I just received the book, “Knit This Doll!: A Step-by-Step Guide to Knitting Your Own Customizable Amigurumi Doll” after waiting almost 6 months for the publication date. I love dolls! And I was intrigued by what this book would have to offer. After paging through the whole book I can say that I think I’m really going to like it!

The book starts with the basic formula for making the dolls. It talks about yarn choices, and other materials needed. After giving you the basic layout of how to knit a doll, the majority of the book goes into how to knit the numerous variations that will create the various parts, including feet and legs (or shoe and pants style), numerous clothing and sweater/body styles, and tips for doing various hairstyles and facial expressions, using a variety of materials. Overall these seem like quick little knits, perfect for using up small bits of yarn, odd little buttons and various other things.

The book takes a mix-and-match approach to body parts, clothing styles, and accessories, such that the design possibilities are practically endless. The book even includes such details as whether or not to knit individual fingers, separate clothing pieces, and a variety of shapes that could easily turn your doll into an animal, or even a mermaid.

Me? I’d probably be interested in creating knitted amigurumi dolls of people I know. I’d probably start with someone wearing purple sneakers, a long denim skirt, a hoodie, and purple bangs sticking out from under a rasta hat.

Hmmm… I wonder if that sounds like anybody I know?

I almost can’t wait to start, except there’s this shawl… back to that–tomorrow.

March 23, 2011
Moving On…

You know, change happens all the time. You’d think that at 45, I’d be used to it by now, but I still find it hard. But, often it happens because it has to. Such is the case for my knitting group, which had been happily knitting away at our local Borders bookstore for the last three years.

Sadly, our Borders was one of the ones set to close with the company’s announced restructuring. We’ll miss it, for sure. The staff there was always friendly and accommodating, and there was never a shortage of knitting books and magazines nearby to encourage discussion or the starting of new projects, or the learning of new techniques. Over time our group grew from just a few regulars to more than 20 at most meetups, and no one on the Borders staff ever said we were taking up too much room, or too loud. In fact, another customer complained about us once to the staff, and that person told the customer in no uncertain terms that our group was always welcome and good for business! It was a rare and good situation.

But, move on, we must. So, we’ve started meeting in our local shopping mall food court. It has advantages and disadvantages. Food is a plus, or a minus, depending on which side of the scale you’re standing on; and the ability to spread out is also a plus or a minus. It’s easier to take up more room in the food court than it was in the cafe, which is helpful for working on larger projects, and there’s never a shortage of tables and chairs. But more space also means less intimacy, and I’m not as fond of feeling a little farther apart from my friends.

Then there’s the issue of the loud video jukebox in the food court, which I suppose is a source of easy cash for the mall (but does anyone actually use it, or is it just there, being loud?). I could do without that. But, the space is open and easy, centrally located, and free. Not to mention probably good business for the mall. I saw lots of our group making food purchases all throughout our meetup. So, while not our cozy little bookstore cafe, it’ll work for now.

I just hope, as someone who’s not a huge fan of change, that I’ll get used to it. At least I’ve got all my friends in it with me:

Knitting a fabulous and super-soft sweater!

Closeup of the shawl in progress

Modeling a finished wrap–gorgeous!

Blossom, the unofficial mascot, loves teddy bears with tattoos!

Crocheting

Trying Knitting in the Round

Lots of knitting going on!

Cool mobius wrap

Speaking of change…

I’ve been playing with the format of the blog a bit. I was going to do something completely different, and I may still, but instead I upgraded my theme and redid the color scheme a little. I swear, one of these days, I’m really going to LEARN wordpress and how it works. It sure seems like the design possibilities are practically endless, and I’d love to challenge my brain a little. That is, if I could work up the energy…

Until then, I’ll just keep knitting.

March 20, 2011
Progress!

Pie Are Square Shawl Progress
Some days, I don’t really have a lot to say. It’s Saturday, my 9-year-old just went off for his first sleepover birthday party, and not a lot else is happening around here. But I did want to show you that, hey! I’ve been knitting! And the progress is actually visible.
I keep wavering back and forth between the thoughts that wow, this shawl is really pretty, or man, this shawl is very funny looking. Ok, so all you lace knitters are going to jump up and say that the magic happens in the blocking. I know this, but man, I think maybe some of my design “decisions” look like wonky knitting mishaps. I guess I won’t really know until the very end, when I actually do block and see what happens. Either way, I’m going to wear this shawl and be happy. I can tell already that it’s going to be the first of many shawl adventures in my knitting life.

Uh-oh.

March 12, 2011
A Whole Lotta Cotton

Cones of Dishcloth Cotton
A funny thing happened to me last week. Actually, it started a couple of weeks ago, but I’m only just now getting the chance to talk about it. I was reading the blog The Magpie Knitter a few weeks back, and it was there that I learned that Pisgah Dyeworks is being sold to a Canadian company, and they were liquidating a lot of their product. I wanted to be sure I had some of my favorite colors in my stash, because I’m frankly still a little confused about what’s going to happen to the famous “Peaches n Creme” yarn in the end.

I ordered 5 cones. I know, it’s a lot, but I couldn’t help myself. Two were a rainbow colorway, and the other three were one each of a bright, solid color that would coordinate well with the rainbow yarn. I don’t make lots of dishcloths, but I am fond of the famous Ballband Dishcloth pattern, made famous in Mason-Dixon Knitting, especially when it’s done in bright colors. So, I wanted to be set for life on making a bunch.

So, I placed my order on the night before Valentine’s Day, already excited and anxious for my yarn to arrive. And I waited. And waited. Two weeks passed, and still no yarn. Then, I got a phone call from the yarn company. They had a strange question for me: why had I returned the yarn to them, and what did I want them to do with it, since there was no note in the box? Huh? I told them that I never received the yarn in the first place and was still eagerly awaiting its arrival. I guess UPS says they damaged the box and sent it back, though the folks at the yarn place inspected the yarn and said it was fine. So, I said, please send it! And they did.

The very next day, which was a Wednesday, my box of yarn arrived. I thought this was really fast, but maybe someone was making it up to me since the shipment had gotten screwed up. Later that evening, I got an email notification from UPS that my box of yarn would arrive on Friday.

Again, huh? I figured it must just be some administrative snafu and I shrugged it off. But then Friday rolled around, and whoa, there it was. A second box of yarn, with a complete duplicate shipment. I called the folks at Pisgah and said that I hadn’t paid for that much yarn but would be happy to do so (at this point, easier than sending it back, plus I’m sure I could find something to do with it). They thanked me for being honest but invited me to keep the yarn. So now, I have not 5 cones, but 10. Is that crazy, or what? I guess I’ll probably be making ballband dishcloths for the next 5 years.

The shawl project is going really well. I’m about done with my first skein of yarn and will be adding the second one in the next day or so. I’ll try to post an updated photo this weekend.

Finally, what do you think of my new blog background image? It’s busy, I know… but I’ll keep it there for a little while. I’m itching to do a whole blog/site overhaul. and I’m busily trying to decide what I’m going to do with it. Stay tuned on that one… it’s probably a long way off.

Happy knitting! I’m going to go knock out another row before bed. Ciao!

March 11, 2011