As The Yarn Turns

Knitting Stuff

Quite a title, huh? Just to show I actually have been knitting, I have finally completed one of the May socks in the African Grey Cherry Tree Hill yarn.

This was one of those times when I was afraid I wouldn't have enough yarn for a second sock. After weighing the sock and remaining yarn today, I should have enough yarn. Normally with a larger ball of yarn, I have lots left over, so I figured that I would have enough but sometimes fate doesn't cooperate. I really like the colors in this yarn. It's actually more orange, rust, and purple than what shows up here. I also didn't carry the pattern over the foot, because I just like my socks that way. On the Shetland Tea Shawl, I'm just 6 rows shy of the promised land, the edging. Now those of you who have made a Pi Shawl are probably laughing hysterically right now. However long those last rows seem, I'm sure the edging will seem like it's a million times longer. It's just the finality of having reached the edging that gives me that sense of accomplishment.

Knitting Tricks and Tools

One of the recent discussions on the Knitlist involved tools and tricks for keeping track of your knitting - increases, decreases, patterns, etc. That got me thinking about the things I couldn't do without and the things I could do without.

Things I couldn't do without:

• Tape measures and rulers
• Various lengths of scrap yarn and crochet cotton. They get used for everything from lifelines to markers to stitch holders.
• Safety pins. They make great removable markers.
• Cable needles. I know people who make cables without cable needles. I'm not one of those people. I can do it but it seems to take forever. Now I've been known to use toothpicks in place of a cable needle, but I'd rather use something than nothing.
• Notebook, pen, sticky notes, index cards. The notebook keeps track of all my essential data about a project - the pattern, the size, the yarn, and any changes or notes. I also keep measurements here, for me and others. The sticky notes and similar things help me keep my place in charted patterns. The index cards are for traveling information such as stitch patterns, measurements, generic patterns (socks for example).
• Tapestry needles in a variety of sizes
• Several pairs of scissors, since they seem to walk off.
• Stitch holders. Sometimes I use them to hold stitches but most often I'm hanging other things on them.
• A small reference book that can be tucked into my knitting bag helps from time to time also.

 

Things I can do without

• Row counters. I have row counters. The problem is that I never can remember whether I've advanced it or not. So I end up counting rows. I eventually decided that if I'm going to count rows anyway, I might as well do without a row counter. Likewise with tick marks. Now I do use tick marks from time to time but I end up with the same problem. So usually it's reserved for the times I cannot see the stitches well.
• Purchased stitch markers. I have a lot of them and I use them. The ones that work the best though are the loops of scrap yarn.
• Point protectors. The more I knit, the less I seem to need them. When I have used them, they either fall off or a cat or a ferret steals them.

 

Everyone is different. That's just my list and I've probably left some things out. Have a good weekend!

by Sydney  |

Back to Life

I'm still here. It's just that Katie and I had to take a few naps...

Then I had to finish our taxes. Our taxes are never simple, so I dread it every year. It's never as bad as I imagine it to be though. Getting all of the material together is the worst part. But the taxes are done and I feel like I can join the living again. I just need some intensive knitting and spinning time to relieve the tax stress.

I did indulge a little in the sale at our local yarn shop this weekend, the Sheepy Yarn Shoppe in Florence, Alabama. Unfortunately, unless I have a project in mind, I have a hard time taking advantage of yarn sales. But I did buy a few things.

I bought some sock yarn for some socks for Rick, in bland manly colors. I recently realized just how much he has been wearing the other socks I've made for him. So it's time for another pair. I also bought some mohair yarn for a lacy scarf or shoulder wrap and a magazine. Plus I did some serious browsing of the summer yarns. It's most definitely spring here. The flowers are blooming and the trees are starting to leaf out. I've got visions of knit summer tops dancing in my head. I also went to knit with our local yarn group. I hadn't realized how much I had missed it. It's been way too long since the last time.

I been getting some knitting in too, but no spinning. I only have a few more rows on the Shetland Tea Shawl before I start on the edging. That's a really good feeling. And no, I still haven't put a zipper in my Ribby Cardi.

by Sydney  |