My newest endeavor this summer was learning to knit. I thought it might be fun for Madison to learn to keep her hands busy. One Sunday my SIL came over and we traded craft assistance. I helped her make a stepping stone (that my 2-year old promptly destroyed necessitating a do-over) and she taught us how to knit.
I didn't intend to learn but thought if I learned also I could help Madison if she needed help. My SIL cast on for each of us and I was hooked, instantly! I LOVE knitting. It's very soothing and appeals to the task/goal-oriented side of my brain. Plus, I can pick it up and put it down as needed, unlike using the sewing machine.
I spent two weeks practicing on a ball of yarn until it was almost gone. Mentally I lined up two projects; dish cloths for myself and a gift for someone else. Since my SIL wasn't available at 10p to help me with a pattern, I turned to Ravelry.com to look for free patterns. SIL was kind enough to send me the link to this website. It's great! I even downloaded Ewe Stash app on my iPhone to keep track of my stuff! I told you I was hooked!
So, now I have two sets of needles, 5 balls of new yarn and projects in my head. I checked out about 20 books trying to figure out how to cast on since I taught myself to cast off. I couldn't get the casting on to save my life. I turned to the internet hoping there would be a self-help somewhere and I found one! I figured out what I was doing wrong when casting on and managed to figure it out. Go me!
So, my first project is now complete. I think it took almost a week. I can't remember which day I started it but I finished it this morning. I had to refigure out how to cast off. I used Bernat Cotn Corn yarn in a Peach Tree ombre. It's very pretty peaches, tans and browns and *very* soft. I'd love to make a scarf or something with something similar. I chose this over my cotton yarn because it was softer but that also made it difficult to work with. It was very splitty.
So my final work is not perfect by any stretch of the means, but since it's just a dishcloth not that big of a deal. I can't wait to start the next one. That will be my practice to get ready for the gift I'm making. I bought my SIL a book for Christmas last year called Mason Dixon Knitting or something like that. It didn't appeal to me at the time but I think I'd like to read it now. I also want to crochet some little animals, shapes and knit some bean bags for the kids. One of the kids' knitting books had a project for making your own knitting needles and I think if Madison sticks with it, I'll make her some for Christmas. I LOVE my bamboo knitting needles from JoAnn's. They are nice to work with, smooth and feel nice in my hands. I love how the ends got smoother and shiney as I worked the yarn. Can't wait to get to Cloverhill Yarn store one of these days!
Guess I'd better do some chores and take care of some kids before I start my next project! Perhaps I should also brush my teeth.
