knitting {wip} and the {purl stitch}

I think I have a brand new love. 

It’s called knitting!

I’m not sure why I’m enjoying it so much…maybe it’s just the newness of it all. 

Or it could be that I can carry my projects to different places with me, or my love of scarves and excitement that I can totally create them, or maybe even that I can sit and chat with others & watch football/movies while knitting.

Whatever it is, I am truly enjoying my new hobby!

Well, I’m enjoying it except for the snafu I ran into the other night.  I had to step away from the needles on that one! (more on that in a minute)

Works in progress (wip)

I finished the previous dishcloth that I showed you.  I had intended to use it in the kitchen but my oldest daughter begged me to give it to her.  She needed a soft cloth for her face, she said.  So she is now the proud owner of my first knitting project.  Then I started work on this happy little orange dishcloth.  Now someone else is trying to claim this one too.  {smile}

I love the scarf accessory craze!  This weekend, David and I went on a little date to the craft store for yarn to satisfy my need for scarves.  (I love that man!)  I had to show some serious restraint in the yarn aisles, y’all.  I walked out with three different colors.  Trust me, I could have walked out with so much more! 

The original plan was that the deep purple would be a scarf that was a mixture of knit stitches and purl stitches.  This is where I got frustrated and started to doubt if I was cut out to be a knitter.  Every time I got to about the fifth or sixth row on that scarf, I would get in a bind.  I could not for the life of me figure out what I was doing wrong.  It was something with the purl stitch but it has me baffled.  After the sixth (or maybe seventh) time of unraveling my work, I decided to find another scarf pattern.  This time, I am doing much better.  But I am determined to figure out that other pattern!

The Purl Stitch

On that note, I wanted to link you to another video for the purl stitch.  The purl stitch is not hard.  My problems above were something with switching between the two and where my yarn was…so don’t let my troubles scare you.  I’m pretty sure that my problem is simply lack of experience.  A visit with an experienced knitter could probably fix my problem right up!

Anyway, here is a good video on the purl stitch:

Other posts on how I learned to knit:

• Casting on
• The knit stitch and knitting a dishcloth

learning to knit {the knit stitch and a dishcloth}

Last week we talked about learning how to cast on.  This week we will learn the knit stitch.  By learning this stitch, you will actually be able to make a dishcloth.  Seriously!  I love it when you have just learned a new skill and {sha-zam} you’re all ready making something…instant gratification at its finest!

Here is the video that I used to learn the knit stitch:

How to knit: the knit stitch

This video was also helpful:

Knitting tutorial for beginners

And after practicing the knit stitch, you are ready to make a dishcloth!  Here is the video that I used for that:

Learn to knit a dishcloth

I also found some videos on increasing and decreasing stitches very helpful.  These can easily be found by doing a search on Youtube. 

If you try it out, please let me know how it’s going for you! 

Next week:  pictures of my knitted dishcloth so far (forgot to snap a picture while it was light today) and the purl stitch. 

 

Learning to knit {casting on}

As of last week, I have added the title of “knitter” to my list of titles.  Every where I have gone with my new knitting project, I have heard others say, “I have always wanted to learn how to knit!” 

I too have always wanted to learn and bought a book about learning to knit.  However, I was never able to figure it out. 

One night, I decided to search Youtube for videos on knitting.  And let me tell you what – there are tons of videos about knitting! 

So I figured that I’d share the videos that I used to learn about knitting.  However, I do want to point out that I am newbie at this knitting thing.  That being said, I probably won’t be able to help you much other than directing you to a video or to someone who has much more experience than I do.  Right now my experience includes a few stitches and making progress on a dishcloth or two. 

So if you want to learn how to knit, grab some knitting needles and yarn and follow along with the videos. 

The first video that I am linking to is about casting on.  I tried a few other videos about casting on with just one needle but I couldn’t get it to work.  This video actually worked for me except I did a slip knot at the beginning like I do when I am crocheting.  (If I remember correctly, she just tied it on or something like that.)  Of course, I had to pause the video and play it a few times to fully grasp the technique but it wasn’t long before it just flowed easily like I’d been doing it a long time.

Casting on

Making a slip knot

 

If you are learning how to knit, practice casting on this week.  Next week, I’ll link to some videos on the knit stitch and making dishcloths.  However, if you don’t want to wait, just do a search on Youtube and you will find all kinds of videos on those two things.

Have fun knitting and let me know how it’s going for you!

Adriane

breathing, changing, and knitting

I truly have not meant to leave this blog without any posts for almost a month now.  But between the laptop needing a new power cord and the PC being in a not-so-easy-to-concentrate-so-you-can-blog spot…well, blog posting has become a hard thing to fit into my days. 

But I think that’s been a good thing.  The computer issues have caused me to focus more on things going on in our lives.  Instead of ignoring issues in my life, I’ve had to think on them. 

And with that thinking, pondering, praying has come changing…

That’s a whole other post that I may or may not write but…we shall see…

In addition to changing, there’s also been breathing and knitting!

 The lavender yarn pieces at the top are my first attempts at learning to knit. {smile}

A mom (and friend) of mine with grown children has known that I’ve been quite the frazzled mom lately.  She had been reading this book and brought it to me one night at church.  As she placed it into my hands she said, “This book made me think of you.”  I’ve not made it far into the book but so far it is like a fresh breath of air into my life. 

The first few chapters are about  slowing down and not hurrying.  And I’ve been doing just that.  Slowing down.  Not hurrying.  Savoring.  Realizing that life does not have to be high speed. 

Simply breathing.  Breathing in life.  Breathing in the blessings.

And I’m most definitely not doing it perfectly.  Sometimes I allow that frazzled mom to sneak in again.  Oh, how that steals my joy!  But then a reminder ( I think of it as a note from God) comes in the form of a text, a Facebook post, or a word from my children or a friend, and I breathe in and out.  And with each breath, I slow down again.

Even though I’ve not read the whole book yet, I highly recommend it based on what my friend has said and what I’ve read so far.  (See link at bottom of post for info on the book)

While I was in thinking mode these past few weeks, I’ve decided to make a “life list”.  (More on that soon)  One thing I put on my life list was learning to knit.  I’ve always wanted to learn this.  Quite some time back, I bought this book:

 

But I could not figure out this knitting thing.  I could not even get cast on (and you don’t knit if you don’t cast on).  No offense to the book either.  Now that I have learned some of the basics, the book makes perfect sense to me and I have used it to learn other knitting techniques.

So how did I finally learn to knit?

The wonderful world of Youtube!

I will write a post later and link to the videos that helped me.  However, a simple search will turn up a ton of useful information.

Right now on the needles:  a dishcloth… my first project!  It’s a little wonky in places but I’m learning as I go!  And if you ever need time to think and meditate on life’s blessings – knit a dishcloth!  {smile} 

So that’s what has been going on lately…besides the normal home schooling, washing dishes, folding clothes, etc. 

And reading…and breathing…

And if you are a mom juggling life and feel like you’re running on empty (ooo, me, me, me…) and you’d like to read something to help you slow down, grow spiritually, and make more room for God, then I recommend this book:

**Amazon does not appear to have this book in stock.  However, the link above will take you to a description of the book and some other sellers. **

See y’all soon!  Adriane