The Itch 2 Stitch

Stuck in Denial

2006-10-25T17:50:00.000-07:00

So I'm stuck on one particular project - my tunic. And I'm frustrated. Not just because I can't finish the project on my own...but because I now realize that I may have gotten a little ahead of myself. I've always thought of myself as an "advanced beginner"...but I found myself getting stuck on simple increasing and decreasing. I was so excited about making something I could actually wear in public, that I didn't read the pattern well enough to know that it was a little too advanced for me.

Ah well. You live and you learn. On a lighter note, I've also realized that I can teach myself to do things from books. I taught myself how to purl, cable, increase and decrease from a book. And this week.....*drumroll* I taught myself the Continental style of knitting! Once my hands get used to it, it will probably make my knitting go by a little bit faster. We shall see. My knitting circle is working on a community service project called Warm-up America, where we make tiny caps for newborn babies overseas. And I'm confident that I can do that!

It's Been a Long Time...

2006-10-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

....since I've knitted AND posted, unfortunately. But I'm back, complete with new projects! But before I get into that, I want to shout out the lovely members of Yarn4More Yarning Circle (including Kelly and Stitch Mistress in Blog World) and Harlem Purls, it was great meeting you and checking out those fly socks! Here are a couple of pics from the Knit Out 2006...

The pics include myself and members of my knitting/crocheting circle, Yarn4More, and Harlem Purls and her oh-so-fly socks. The weather was great, and we got free yarn, needles, magazines, and tons of patterns. It was really a great day, and of course, inspiring.

So I went back to work on my tunic, which I refuse to post pictures of until it looks like something I could actually wear in public. I started a "garbage" scarf with some of my leftover yarn...and that's exactly what it looks like - garbage. I'll be taking it apart VERY soon. I am also about to start my very first project on circular needles, and I'm kinda nervous. But I think I'm ready take that step!

I've been experiencing some light shoulder pain since I picked up my needles again, and I'm hoping it's just because I haven't knitted in awhile. More pics and updates to come, so stay tuned...

My Other Crafts...

2006-05-12T17:37:00.000-07:00

I recently found a really cool pattern for washcloths on the label for some kitchen cotton yard I had acquired. And for those of you who don't know, I have also been getting into soapmaking. Here is a pic of some of my early work...

I was all over the place with the soap...LOL...but the brown soap is infused with Black Tea. My idea was to make gift sets with soap and washcloths...so these both were experiments. I think they both turned out pretty good myself... I can't wait to try new things, especially with the soap. And washcloths to match!

I Finished The Shrug!!

2006-03-28T00:24:00.000-08:00

Finally! It's finished. To be honest, I'm not that happy with it. One day, I'm gonna learn my lesson about trying to change patterns and use different yarn...but it could've come out a lot worse. Here it is:

Still not sure if I would wear it in public, but I love the colors and am just glad I completed another project. The neck is a little wonky - still not sure how that happened! I also did something funky with the seams on the sleeves, but you can't really see it. I'm done with shrugs for a while...I have two under my belt. I think my next project will be something felted, cuz I'm dying to try it. Since I started back making soap, I've also knitted a few dishcloths. They are easy and fun, and the pattern I found is really pretty. I'll post some pics of those soon...

Current projects: a cable knit purse - I came up with the pattern myself! And I bought the prettiest handles for it. We'll see how it turns out...

Yarning Circle Meets Again

2006-02-14T17:01:00.000-08:00

For one our regular meetings, we decided to meet at Knit New York. Although there were only three of us, I got a lot done with my project. I was getting confused with my stitches (as usual) and luckily, DivineLadi was there to help me! Below is a picture of her fixing one of my mistakes! I won't post any more pics of my shrug untill it is finished - I'm currently experiencing some technical difficulties! ;o) But at least now I'm doing it right. DL was working on a scarf for the fiance' using a really cool crochet stitch. It was coming along nicely, and she has probably already finished it - she's a pretty speedy knitter.

Current projects: My mom's poncho is on hold; I started my cable knit purse (YAY!), and I'm about to start the cropped crocheted sweater in the new Knit.1

My Favorite Project (of the moment)

2006-02-03T13:53:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I've decided to post a picture of what I'm working on. Obviously, it is in the very early stages, but it will eventually be a shrug. The pattern called for a rib stitch - knit 2, purl 2. I mistakenly read the pattern to mean knit 2 rows and purl 2 rows. I considered frogging it, but then I realized that I think I might end up liking it.

I'm using the subject of my new infatuation, Noro Kureyon. I think it will turn out ok. From this picture, you can't even see my wonky ribbing, but it actually looks kind of cool. I'll keep you guys posted on how it comes along. I'm using small needles (which are the bain of my existence - give me a skein of anything that I can use size 13 needles on, and I am in heaven!) so this project may take some time. This will test my patience, but it will be worth it. Below is a pic of what it is supposed to look like. Forgive the flash, I was taking a picture of a picture.

I'm giving myself a goal of February 18th to have this finished. It'll be like a belated Valentine's Day gift to myself.

Other current projects: my mom's poncho, the earwarmer that I frogged and had to start over, and a pair of legwarmers for my sorority sister.

Project Overload

2006-01-28T00:53:00.000-08:00

Ok...first of all, I don't know why I'm up at this hour. But that is besides the point. I literally have four projects that I have started and aren't finished. When I first started knitting, I made a promise that I would only have two unfinished projects at any given time. So much for that! I even started a project, and binded off early because I was bored with it! And of course it came out looking kind of janky.

I should have learned my lesson.

It's just that there are so many different yarns, and needle sizes, and different stitches - it entices me, lures me in. I can't finish one thing fast enough before I flip through a book or magazine, and want to start a new one! Is this something that only neo-knitters experience? For the more seasoned knitters out there, I need guidance!

On a brighter note, I did pick up an unfinished project from October and finished it. That should count for something, right?

Sometimes, I don't even think I'm addicted to knitting...I'm just addicted to starting projects! Help!

Yarn4More

2006-01-23T14:36:00.000-08:00

...is the name of my beloved "yarning" circle. We met this past Saturday, and had a blast as usual. Don't get it twisted; we don't sit around only discussing stitches and patterns! We had some pretty intense conversation, and a great amount of laughs. AR hosted this month, and her place is hella cute!

We're called a yarning circle because some of us only knit, and some of us only crochet, and some of us do both. But we all use yarn, so we refer to ourselves as "yarners". Here are a few pics:

L working diligently on a new project... AR learning a new stitch!

AM starting and finishing a hat in twenty minutes! And the spread of food we had...after we finished it, of course!

All in all, me and my fellow knitsters had a great time, as we always do. Gives me something to look forward to every month.

Current projects: Well, I had to frog my earwarmer. :o( The good news is, I found a better pattern than my own freestyle version, so I'm starting over. With a different yarn and everything. I'll be done with my double textured scarf tonight, so I'll post pics when it's finished. I have also found the pattern for my very first sweater! I'll be starting that soon as well. Stay tuned!

Selling my stuff

2006-01-20T00:44:00.000-08:00

So, I was out the other night, and of course, I was rocking my hat and scarf duo. For the record, I am still super geeked that I made something that I can actually wear! Anyway, someone approached me to make them one, and the offered to pay for it.

I didn't know what to say.

Is my stuff good enough to sell yet? I feel like I need a little more experience before I start capitalizing. I mean, God forbid someone ask me to make something that I don't know how to make yet! I might make him one for free to start, and then what kind of response he gets from what I made. You know, word of mouth. I don't know. I'll keep you posted.

Current projects: an ear warmer, two scarves, and a poncho. I'm going to try my hand at cabling on one of these scarves - pictures coming soon!

Able 2 Cable

2006-01-16T20:39:00.000-08:00

That's right - today I taught myself how to cable! YAY! Below is a picture of a small swatch I made to practice.

What do you guys think? Not bad for a first-time cabler. Cabling was one of the things that was intimidating to me when I first learned to knit. A few weeks ago, I was watching an episode of Knitty Gritty, and a woman was cabling without a cable needle. It looked easy, so I decided to try it. It was a disaster, to say the least! One of my knitting mentors told me that cabling with a cable needle would be easier than what I had attempted. But I still managed to grasp the concept of how it is done. I went and purchased a cable needle, pulled out one of my knitting books, and the rest was cable history. I can't wait to try this new technique on a project!

Before my cable epiphany, my project of choice was hat and scarf sets, because I also recently taught myself how to crochet in the round. Here are a couple of my first projects:

I even made the little flower on the hat! I am getting better and reading and comprehending patterns, which is how I was able to create the hat and the flower. Of course, the scarves are just basic garter stitch, and on the orange scarcf I played with different yarns and textures - I used a little fun fur with the burnt orange.

Current project in needles: a double textured scarf and a poncho.

Welcome to my knitting blog!

2006-01-10T07:05:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Finally got this thing started. I actually used a bit of a generic term - this blog is for more than just knitting. I also crochet, and have been trying to dabble in making soap. I learned to crochet about two years ago, and I've been knitting for a little over a year. I've been going steadfastly for about six months, only picking up every now and then before that.

I think I'm in love.

I can sit and knit/crochet untill my fingers cramp. I would consider myself to be an advanced beginner. I just recently learned to crochet in the round (I was running away from it for a while!) and I am currently learning to cable. I am thinking it's not as hard as it looks. We'll see. ;o)

Below I posted some pictures of some of my first projects:

More pictures to follow, but this is good for a beginning. Thanks for checking out my blog, and feel free to come back and check for updates!