#35 - KNITCROBLOWEEK, DAY 5: WHEREVER I MAY FIND HER

busy at work on my Clapotis

Really, wherever I can get needles and yarn in my hands, I'll knit. At class, at the office, in cars, on buses (until my motion sickness kicks in), on the metro, on planes, in waiting rooms, on front porches, in bars. If I had to choose my favorite knitting location, it would be on my balcony at 7am with a cup of coffee. The sun is up, the morning is still in my tiny courtyard, and I can prepare for the day ahead... but I haven't had the chance to get knitting out there too often lately.

Where do I find myself most days with needles in hand, happily plugging away at my newest project? Actually, it's in my bed. Over the past months, my gloriously huge and fluffy bed has transformed into my knitting studio. With pillows fluffed, podcasts playing, pajamas on, and hot tea at my bedside, I can relax and wind down my busy days with some time well-spent, needles in hand.

Word of advice, though - don't ever actually fall asleep with knitting... unless you want a bamboo needle in the bum at 2am.

To read other posts by knitters and crocheters participating in 'blog week,' just google search 'knitcroblo1' for day 1, 'knitcroblo2' for day 2, etc.

#34 - KNITCROBLOWEEK, DAY 4: MORE TO LEARN

I'll probably start to sound like a broken record, but it's true: One of the things I so love about knitting is that there are seemingly endless amounts of things to learn. And for most techniques, I'm practically fearless and happily dive head-first into a project without the slightest clue what I'm doing. Knitting in the round? Sure, why not. Cables? Count me in. Lace? It's just a few yarn overs. Entrelac? Sounds good to me!

photo © hello yarn

But one technique has me (figuratively) shaking in my boots... Colorwork. Why oh why? So much of it that I love, so many knitters whose work with it that I adore, but I have yet to try, already years into my knitting life. And one poor pattern patiently awaits in my Ravelry queue: Hello Yarn's Fiddlehead Mitts. A classic mitten with scrolling detail, which I covet when I see it pop up on other's project pages. I am certain that after a bit of reading and perhaps a class or a little help from my friends, I'll be knitting away on these without a care. Until then, I'll look at them longingly, from afar, simply waiting... until I know what I'm doing.

To read other posts by knitters and crocheters participating in 'blog week,' just google search 'knitcroblo1' for day 1, 'knitcroblo2' for day 2, etc.

#33 - KNITCROBLOWEEK, DAY 3: ONE GREAT KNITTER

Ugh. I have been thinking on this for days now. How can I pick one great knitter who I look up to, who inspires me, who I aspire to be like? There are so many! First I started thinking of all my favorite designers and "celebrity" knitters (if you'll allow that term). Stephanie Pearl-McPhee is the woman who made me feel less alone as a yarn obsessive. Then there's Ysolda, Kim Hargreaves, Amy Singer, Jared Flood... I could go on. Each of them with an individual aesthetic and point of view.

photo © Marie Greene

So instead, I began to think about my blogging friends, and immediately, I thought of Marie. We met through the blog project French Picnic, and I got to know her through Permission to Unwind. She's an incredible knitter, and I think that almost goes without saying. But she's also incredibly positive, full of life, sassy, hilarious, kind-hearted, and she dyes pink streaks in her hair for fun. How couldn't you like this gal? Not to mention, she's given me a great deal of support as I've begun on this blogging journey of my own. So, go visit Marie at Permission to Unwind and tell her I sent you. :)

To read other posts by knitters and crocheters participating in 'blog week,' just google search 'knitcroblo1' for day 1, 'knitcroblo2' for day 2, etc.

#32 - KNITCROBLOWEEK, DAY 2: AN INSPIRATIONAL PATTERN

photo © Sadie Dayton

One of the incredible things about Ravelry is its role as a storehouse for information for knitters and crocheters. Before it, you could troll the internet for hours on end trying to find a blogger's errata notes on a pattern. Now, you can almost safely assume that if it isn't on Ravelry, it probably doesn't exist! Nonetheless, I find myself trolling Ravelry for hours on end, looking through patterns, designers, and yarns for things I've yet to use.

photo © Sadie Dayton

That's probably how I stumbled upon the Sylvi. At first glance, it's really not my style. A huge sweater coat. Appliqued floral details. But something about it struck me. It's quite obviously a beautiful sweater, yet there's more to it. The Sylvi would represent a dedication to time, would demonstrate my abilities as a knitter, would reinforce my love for the craft. And it would be something I wear with pride.

As of now, I'm attempting to complete a few of those projects that have been lurking on the needles far too long to make room for the Sylvi. I am so up for the challenge.

*The Sylvi pattern is available for download purchase from Twist Collective. Knitters looking for help with the pattern can join the Sylvi KAL on Ravelry, an ongoing group for knitters pursuing the project.


To read other posts by knitters and crocheters participating in 'blog week', just google search for 'knitcroblo1' for day 1, 'knitcroblo2' for day 2, etc.

#31 - KNITCROBLOWEEK, DAY 1: STARTING OUT

From Knitting, etc.

One of my early (and admittedly still unfinished) projects...

Now that I'm reflecting on things, it's almost funny that I still think of myself as a brand-new knitter... but one of the major aspects that I love about this craft is how much I still have to learn. It's sort of difficult for me to remember exactly how I began knitting - there was no inciting incident for me. Without sounding too hokey, I almost feel like I was meant to become a knitter, especially considering my favorite childhood memories.

When I was in elementary school, my neighbor Miss Vicky taught me basic crochet stitches. She gave me a beautiful granny square, in which I hand stitched a lining and turned into a crochet hook case. My mom would let me go to the craft store to get yarn and pattern books, but I don't think I ever completed one. I made little potholders for my mom when I wasn't working on rug hook kits, a lap loom, or making jewelry. Let's just say I was always a crafty kid.

But middle school came around and I quit crochet. I unfortunately don't remember much of it and haven't done it since. But my recollections of crochet in college had me thinking about starting to knit. I didn't know anyone who was an avid knitter, so I just went online looking for directions and tutorials. Being a lefty, I tried and tried to learn left-handed knitting on my own... and failed miserably!

On a whim, I decided to check out the right-handed knitting tutorials. And I got it. I made one lumpy square out of brown acrylic and finally figured out stockinette before I started work on a rugby striped scarf with that same brown and a steel blue that I gave to my boyfriend at the time for a birthday gift. The thing was pretty decent, but a little sad and misshapen, and I ill-advisedly allowed my mom to iron the thing on cool to flatten it out, since no one had informed me on the concept of wet-blocking yet. Nonetheless, he was so full of praise for me, as was my family, which really encouraged me to continue knitting away.

Even though I took a knitting hiatus for a bit - knitting just didn't seem like a summertime hobby in my mind - I still would read blogs and patterns constantly, and after getting a little involved in the knitting community, I never looked back. If you're not participating in KnitCroBloWeek, what got you interested in knitting or crochet?



To read other posts by knitters and crocheters participating in 'blog week', just google search for 'knitcroblo1' for day 1, 'knitcroblo2' for day 2, etc.