Are you an Inny or an Outty?
I recently discovered that not everyone knits in the round the way I do. Since I basically taught myself this technique, it's not all that surprising. But who knew??? I've been knitting
inside out. (I mean, I know which way the stitch pattern is facing, but the work goes down the tube on the inside and I reverse it when I'm done.) Up to this point it hasn't had any impact on my creations (that I am aware of...)
So... are you an inny or an outty? And how has it affected your knitting?
Actually, this reminds me of my first sweater. I had been knitting for 6 or 8 months by this point, and finally tackled a child's guernsey. I triumphantly took the pieces to my LYS for supervision of the sewing up, and in the nicest way possible the woman there mentioned that it was beautiful (let's just get that in there first), but there was something "off" about my work. Maybe something in my technique? Since I had been consistent in my, umm, "unique texture" there was no need to panic, but I was mortified. Again, since I taught myself (with the help of
Debbie Bliss), it wasn't surprising, but I raced home to my "teacher" to see what the problem was.
Knit: wrap counter-clockwise. Purl: ALSO wrap counter-clockwise. Whoops.
Coming soon: Fritz the wondercat
WIP -- finally.
Okay, here goes. Nothing too terribly exciting on the needles right now to be honest.
Turtleneck Shrug from Scarf Style (what a good book... join the
KAL)
I really wanted to do this one with the Rowan Kid Classic recommended, but trying to find that wool, late in the warm-wool season was tricky. Could have ordered a whole bag for the 4 balls required, but... in the end I went budget, using Patons Classic Wool Merino because of the delicious "tree bark mix" color. I can't wait to have this garment to wear, but at the moment I already feel like I've been 3x3 ribbing forever. And I'm about half done the first sleeve. Yikes.
Yet another tube... here is the first of my "Arm Warmers" in
Bravo Crazy Color. I love this yarn, even though it's (say it softly)... acrylic. Just look at the striping! Anyway, I'm a violinist, and climates are variable at many of the rehearsal venues I end up at. I'm a tank-top kind of girl, so the purpose should be clear enough. It's not a pattern... I ribbed for an inch at the top, and will go round and round til it's as long as my arm. Haven't decided yet whether these will have cuffs, rolled edge, or a thumb hole...
And here ar
e a couple for the wall of shame.
First "the ugly scarf". I started calling it that right off the bat, because I'm not a fan of fun-fur. I just thought I'd try, and honestly, doesn't it kind of look like a muppet threw up? (and I say that with love).
Michael's had a huge sale on Moda Dea when they stopped carrying it, and the fuzzy stuff threw itself into my basket because the green matched my brand new coat. Then I hated the knitted texture, so I picked up some Sirdar Snuggly in the coat color to sort of flesh it out. I'm still debating the fate of this project.
Last but not least is my (embarassing) LONGEST RUNNING unfinished object. It's been on the needles for just over 3 years now. I enthusiastically started cabling a scarf (what was I thinking), about 2 months into my knitting career, with Patons Kroy Sock yarn (again... brain???), on 3.5mm needles. Adding to the insanity was the fact that someone convinced me to "try" the wibbly flexible needles pictured (bent!) here. They made me nuts. Loco. Absolutely crazy. Unstable... both me and the needles. I was splitting stitches, couldn't aim properly... gave up. I don't think I've touched this in a year and a half, however there is new hope: I recently bought myself a new set of bamboo 3.5s, plus I am currently coveting the wooden cable dpns at KnitPicks, so I may soon be ready to resume... for now I'll stick with my tubes.
VK Spring!
Yay! I went on my (recent) daily tour of local booksellers to try to find
Harlot's new one (to no avail, as is usual). However, on my way out... Vanilla Latte in hand (Starbucks makes me a nicer person)... I saw:
On schedule, on the shelf, and PINK!
Should be a good evening.
Gasp...
So, I just found
this amazing shop by way of
Harlot and I gasped out loud when I saw the wonderfully, beautifully, deliciously stocked walls of yarn (especially the gorgeous Koigu selection).
Then I checked the address... I actually felt a little sick when I realized that at one point in my illustrious past, I lived mere
MOMENTS away from this gem, and I didn't even know it. Seriously -- little sick feeling in my tummy when I saw the map.
There will be a detour when I travel past Toronto on Easter weekend.
(oh, and really, projects will be up soon, plus a little story of Stash Enhancement over the March Break...)
*** 31 March: I went there today... it's not Easter weekend, but I had business in Toronto and -- well, I'm sure you understand. It was incredible. Colors, textures, inspiration. Wow. I enhanced my stash. This has been the best stash month EVER. I have a long list called "next". Pics when I get back.
I'm especially happy to note that the store has only been there for about 2 1/2 years, only since AFTER I moved away from the neighborhood!
Getting Started
I'm new at this blogging thing... I'll post some pics and projects soon, but I thought I'd start with a quotation that's always made me think of knitting.
What is the dimension of a ball of twine? It depends on your point of view. From a great distance, the ball is no more that a point, with zero dimensions. From closer, the ball is seen to fill spherical space, taking up three dimensions. From closer still, the twine comes into view, and the object becomes effectively one-dimensional, though the one dimension is certainly tangled up around itself in a way that makes use of three-dimensional space.
- Benoit Mandelbrot
Well, I'm guessing that Benoit was NOT a knitter. If he were, he would realize that from closer still (like while still browsing your stash or the LYS), a knitter can see all the potential of that ball of "twine". And with a little love and attention it can be knit into something really, really special. It all depends on your point of view.
