My 1 Year Knitaversary!

In celebration of A YEAR IN THE KNIT, I will be doing a random drawing for a really cool prize (because that's what knitters seem to do ;)).  

(This is not the prize. I just REALLY love this photo).

As it is Thanksgiving in this part of the world, I would like to ask you all what you are thankful for.  Just a thing or two.  I'm only putting one thing I'm thankful for because I've been knitting for 1 year.  I have millions of things to be thankful for but since I haven't been knitting for millions of years...  I'm thankful for my hands ;).

The little beauty below is how it all began. Kara (knittinglemonade) taught me how to knit 1 year ago this very month (maybe even this week, I can't remember exactly). In fact, I was in tears one year ago last night over this very scarf. I had taken my needle out to "fix" something and getting it back in was not as easy as when Kara had done it. The yarn for "sort of short, fat" (name of scarf) was given to me by Erin (girlwhoknits) after I had my first baby, in a vain attempt to get me to knit. I kept saying "I REALLY want to learn... some day". 

Well, I just couldn't keep looking at the amazing things Erin and Kara were making, saying I wanted to learn, and doing nothing about it. SO, I finally begged Kara to teach me. I think she actually took matters into her own hands and said "I'm coming over this week, feed me and I'll teach you to knit. This is mental". Or something like that. Anyway, a year later, here's a look back at some of the highlights and not-so-highlights of my knitting career. Obviously, "sort of short-fat", couldn't be worn so I felted it and made it into potholders. Really cute potholders.

This scarf, as you might notice, is just a random jumble of knit rows and purl rows. I HATED purling at first and so this was sort of my "cilice" scarf. Every time I REALLY didn't want to purl, I made myself (like pulling that chain tighter). It was very Opus Dei. It worked though, because now purling doesn't bother me at all ;).

After this I knitted about 75,000 additional scarves because I realized that I LOVED knitting. Loved it! I got on knittinghelp.com every time I needed help, and figured things out. I also knitted with Kara when I could. Kara, you see, was preparing to abandon me for London. This worked out for my knittinghood better than I could have hoped because it made me learn to fix mistakes and figure most things out on my own (I admit that since her return I've become the teensiest bit lazy).

The next project I did was the adorable Brooklyn Cap which I renamed the "Jon Merrick" because of its ridiculous size before felting. It could have been a LIFE SAVER for the poor elephant man and covered all his wonky bumps.

This was a wicked fun project wherein I learned how to knit in the round, how to use double pointed needles, pick up stitches, and some bind off that was new to me at the time (I don't remember what it was). All very simple now but it was quite an undertaking that night and I'm sure Kara wanted to slit her wrists. Oh well.

Next we have my first hats I did on my own. These are a bit tatty but I still love them and make the kids wear them.

Thus began my obsession for hats. Well, accessories really. You see, they're very quick and make such great gifts and aren't expensive and... Well, these ARE very cute. And what baby wouldn't want to be seen in one?

I tend to be a very careful knitter. Thus the title of my blog. I have to remind myself that I'm not on the bomb squad, I'm just playing with sticks and string. What's the worst that could happen? Well, I could have to frog something which IS super annoying but it's not like I'm losing a limb. Right? Anyway, I got sort of brave for awhile and learned fair isle. It was so great and straight forward so then I tried cabling. What a treat! Granted, I haven't done anything remotely complicated in either of these techniques but at least I've tried!

This hat will likely never be worn for more than five minutes as "IT ITCHES!" but it's so cute that I shall continue to try and force Will to wear it through the winter.

This hat I just gave away to our kids favorite babysitter who has moved away for a few years. She'll look much better in it that I do since she has long hair. Also, she deserved it-she's an amazing girl.

Some other knitting wonders I've tried this year (it's all very magical, isn't it?) are lace knitting...

Turning a heel...

The amazing Kitchener stitch...

Entrelac... EEK! (Obviously this baby HAD to be FROGGED!).

Sometimes we create things, when knitting, that make us want to gouge our eyes out with our needles. My shell was one such project. Bad yarn (for the project). Bad pattern. Bad knitter? I don't know. The stars were not aligned for this one and I have yet to wear it. It's a bit too shlumpadinka. Ahh well, you can't win them all and I did learn many new techniques so I guess it's a triumph. Right?



Knitting has not only provided me with an art that I ADORE, it has introduced me to women all over the world who I now consider my friends, and it has allowed me to help others less fortunate. Earlier this year I found out (through Marit's blog) about a girl in California who was going to Ukraine to do some volunteer work at an orphanage there. 300 children were in need of hats because they don't always have heat indoors in the winter. Enough people responded that Kristi was able to collect enough hats for 2 orphanages and all the children in the surrounding village. How's that for knitters pulling together?

This is a picture of just a few. My sisters in law made a few as well and I think we sent 8 all together.  I'm so glad I came across "Kristi's Hat Quest".  What a great experience.

And finally, knitting has provided me with a crazed obsession. Fingerless mitts. I'm in therapy and hope to overcome it soon. WHATEVER! I LOVE them and I'm going to keep on knitting them. I don't have a single pair for myself yet-they have all been knit as gifts! HA! How's that for selfless ;)? Yes, it's my most recent pair. I still haven't finished that idiot thumb. Oh KARA!

So there is my summary for A YEAR IN THE KNIT. It's been so much fun and I look forward to many more years of knitting and getting braver and braver! Hooray for knitting!

Oh Dear.

Well, as many of you out there probably are, I'm in a mad rush to get Christmas prezzies done.  A hat for him, a scarf for him, some mittens for her...  (Kara, I hear you in the background murmuring "accessory knitter, accessory knitter").  I've found some fabbity fab patterns that I'm really excited to try and some fantastic yarns that feel like a dream to knit with.  Do any of you find yourself in a pickle when you combine a particular pattern and a dream yarn?  I fear I have knit myself a bit of a fiasco...

This pattern is so cute and I think I've done it a bit of a disservice with the yarn I chose.  The friend I'm making them for is allergic to wool so I chose a lovely Llama/Silk mix but it's really a bit too slippy dippy doo for these!  I had to use 4 different needle sizes during the course of this pattern (one to cast on, one to knit, one for the top ribbing, one to bind off)!  They're still a bit shlumpy.  The receiver is a non knitter so she won't notice the shlumpadinka parts of these and will probably love them (they feel AMAZING) but I don't like the result.  What would my fellow knitters do?  Yes, you've noticed the thumb isn't done.  Well, I started knitting it and noticed it was inside out and got so mad that I ripped it back and decided that Kara was going to have to help me on this one.  I know it shouldn't be that hard but now I'm frustrated and stuck.  This is what happens when the Sensei returns from London.  I have stopped crying over knitting mistakes (and then figuring them out), instead I wait until Kara can help me and all is well.  Thanks friend!  

Pattern: Cabled Fingerless by Kimberly (ravelry download)

Yarn: Scacel Llama/Silk something DK

Mods: Done in magic loop.  Threw me off a bit since I'm not well versed in this method!

For: Friend (can't say unless she reads this) 

On a happier note, these are perfect (of course, they're pathetically simple...)

Aren't they cute?  Another baby gift.  They take about an hour and a half each and you're done!  

Pattern: Baby Mittens by Malin Nilsson

Yarn: Knit Picks Felici in Arugula

Made For: Baby Mason

I'm also working on a scarf for one brother in law and picked up a hat pattern for another brother in law.  

The Silky Flamme is for the hat and I think it'll be great.  The pattern has got sort of a medieval warrior look to it (earflaps and all ;)).  The Kathmandu is working out really well for the scarf.  I'm using a pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts (best pattern book) which is terribly boring but has a really great look.  The yarn is amazingly soft (merino, silk and cashmere) but has this wonderfully rustic look to it.  It'll need a good blocking but I'm v v excited for the end result (especially because I'm going gouge my eyes out from boredom!).  

I'm tiring myself out with this post.  This is only the tip of the Christmas iceberg!  I think I'm going to have to start buying things, ripping the tag off and saying I knit it myself.  I'm kidding, of course.  I have a bit more class than that (I think).    

Now for a tag.  It's called the 7  things tag.  Here goes...

7 things I can do:

1) Sleep

2) Knit

3) Eat

4) Swim

5) Scuba Dive

6) Go to an ice cream parlor and not eat anything!

7) Learn

7 things I can't do:

1) Keep my house organized

2) Be patient

3) Cook

4) Draw/Paint/Sketch

5) Play an insrument

6) Organize my time

7) Go a day without TV

7 things I always say:

1) You cannot be serious

2) ENOUGH!

3) I have had it!

4) Lizzy, stop hitting

5) Will, stop crying

6) I love you

7) Who's my best?

8) That is MENtal! (I had to add this, Cinda is right-I say it ALL the time)

7 things I always eat:

1) Cheese

2) Bread

3) Apples

4) Soup

5) My kids stupid chicken nuggets

6) Pancakes

7) Used to be Diet Pepsi but my neurologist has forbidden it.  I'm still counting it.

7 tags:

1) Cinda

2) Hege

3) Amanda (from BYU)

4) Marie

5) Blah

6) Blah

7) Blah

Norway, we're hard on your heels!

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.  Well, I did.  I saw all the lovely snow on Hege and Bea's blogs and I wanted some for myself.  We got it.  Lots of it. 

The first snow of the season is always so fun.  It's such a surprise to wake up to a white world. Everything is muffled and the only things I heard were the neighbor kids yelling to each other to get their sleds.  

Lizzy has no memory of snow since she is not yet two.  When I told her to go look out the window this morning her response was "eewww"!  It was very cute.  Will was beside himself with joy and I had a hard time shoving breakfast down his throat.  I got them both kitted out like Storm Troopers and plopped them in the back yard.  Will got to work throwing snow immediately but Lizzy took some time getting used to it.  Her faceplant into the snow about 5 minutes in didn't help matters ;).  

Lizzy is still getting used to the idea of snow at this point.

She didn't dare to brave the snow alone and had to be escorted by "Buddy" (her name for Will) for the first 20 minutes.  He's such a good big brother to her.

Of course, it always turns to fighting in the end ;).

After about 40 minutes (a pretty long time for a little girl) Lizzy had had enough.  Will continued to play for about another hour since his cousin Logan came over to join him.  When they finally came inside, it was time for hot chocolate and a viewing of "The Polar Express" (I can't help myself, Christmas movies come out VERY early around here!).  It's been a fun day for the kids and even though I'm sad to say goodbye to fall (my favorite time of year), it's so fun to have the first snow.  Will asked me, "does this mean it's Christmas now?".  Yes, it does!