Confessions of Knitting Knerd!

my 1st full week of summer is over and has actually proven to be filled with lots and lots of Knitting Knowledge!  i'm been flipping through my knitting books, searching on the internet and knitting and ripping and trying again until i felt like i had a really strong grasp of the concept that The Knitting Guild is looking for in the swatches that are submitted for review.

Did you know that are a million different ways to Cast On?  To INCREASE stitch counts? To Bind Off? ... and that's just the first 6 swatches i've done so far!

And in the midst of all the swatches and research i received a package from Knit Picks filled with more sock knitting needles and cables ... AND a couple of skeins of yarn - rightly called Gingerbread House - just waiting for another pair of socks!  I'm LOVING the Magic Loop method and have actually been able to incorporate (justify) what i've learned knitting socks into my Swatches for TKGA! 

 Things Accomplished on my To-Do List for this Summer                        6 of the 16 swatches completed  for the Master Level 1, as well as notes being taken for the Questions AND the Paper that is required (i've even borrowed a MLA book from a friend so i can cite my sources.  Another pair of socks have been started and i've learned yet another way to knit a heel - and i think i like it better than the 1st pair which has a heel flap - but we'll wait to see.  Who knew there was such a thing as an hourglass heel?

Socks on ONE needle
Magic Loop - Hourglass Heel and Toe
SO MUCH FUN!!!!

start the clock! ....................

Summer's here and all those things i've put off until "summer" are now .... being recorded on a list and requiring me to put my money where my mouth has been for the past 9 months!   Time to sit still long enough to MAKE a list ... and then start Checking it off! ....  Suddenly i'm a bit panicked at that option .... can it all be done????  let's make the list and see...

1st and foremost:  I want to complete Level 1 of the Master Hand Knitting Program.  This will require 16 swatches, a knitted toboggan and a paper to be written.  Lots to new things to learn .... which technique would be "best" in a given scenario rather than always reverting back to comfort of 'the way i've always done it!" .... knitting in the round - changing colors - all while creating 'jogless' stripes ... who knew?  and a 2 page, single spaced paper on Blocking and Care of Knitted Garments.  My ultimate goal:  to be a knitting nerd, complete with a knitting watch that sports a ball of yarn and needles on the face!

2nd:  i would like to have the rest of the lace 'calendar scarf' complete - or atleast all of the patterns picked out for the remainder of the year.  Once all the patterns are picked out, i'd be content with having July AND August also knitted, photographed and charts typed, ready to be posted at the appropriate time.

3rd:  Complete 2 more pair of socks!  i've learned how to knit using the Magic Loop method and would like to perhaps get a jump on some Christmas and/or birthday gifts.

4th:  In the midst of all of this i have once again joined in a traveling scarf group so that will require a new 'section' to be knit and mailed every 2 weeks ..... which will equate to approximately 4 sections of knitting during my 'summer' break!

Clock's ticking ..... 41 days of summer before time to report back to begin another school year.... better get those needles clicking too!

Sitting in the Seaweed

Summer ..... Sand .... Sun .... Seaweed? 

The only seaweed that i'm a fan of, from this point forward, will be those gentle waves that i can create (and control) in lace ..... the simple sway of stitches that wraps around my needles and not my knees!  It's hard to believe that I have already completed 6 months of lace patterns, learned many ways to create increases and decreases, and have probably learned even MORE ways that don't, or won't work!

I found this Wavy Lace Pattern in my Interweave Knits, Spring 2010 edition and think it would also make a beautiful scarf in this stitch alone.  The original pattern, as pictured in the magazine, uses the lace pattern in a cardigan which has a beautiful drape and would make a great accessory as well.  Working on this Calendar Scarf has taught me to look at patterns in completely different, and much broader, light.  Sweater patterns CAN be used for scarves ... Sock lace patterns can be used for Mittens .... lace patterns can be used in whole OR in part ..... as the knitter I get to decide what my options are!

So sit back, grab your favorite knitting magazine or book and browse through the pages and patterns and look for inspriration where you least expect it .... and don't forget the sunscreen!   Click Here for some simple waves that won't leave any sand between your toes!