Knit and Learn

And the Craziness Continues

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Mon, 28 May 2012 11:35:00 +0000

Well, since the last time I wrote, I have finished the Mithril vest. I have worn it several times and I love the way it looks and fits. The only thing I might have done differently was to put the beading on it. Maybe next time! I do not usually reknit a project but I can see myself knitting another Mithril. This was a fast knit. I just could not put it down. I have yet to get pictures of the completed vest on me, but have pictures of it on the blocking boards.


Blackened Mithril blocking!

I have also completed my Crazy project. The shawl turned out beautifully. I used a variegated yarn I have had for about 6 years. It was some of the oldest yarn in my stash. Even though it was variegated, I went ahead and used a lace pattern. The lace pattern does not show up as well as if it was made of a solid yarn, but I just wanted a shawl with this yarn. Since I did not have very much, I decided to use a lace pattern to get the most out of the yarn. As it was I had to leave off a few rows, but it still turned out the way I wanted. An over the shoulder lace shawl I could wear this summer with tank tops and on cool evenings. Here it is on the blocking boards.

The crazy shawl!

A few days before my birthday, I went to the yarn shop looking for some beads for the Evenstar Shawl, when some yarn jumped off the shelf and wanted to go home with me. It made me feel like Gollum asking his friend for the ring, ‘We wants it cuz its our birthday.’ Only I do not see myself killing someone for the yarn. So,for my birthday, I bought enough yarn to make the Argonath stole by Susan Pandorf. Ever since this project came out, I have been looking at my stash trying to find a way to make it (my mom even asked me ‘When are you going to make this for me?’). I just did not have enough of any one color in the right weight to make it. This yarn made me immediately think of that pattern. So, to continue the craziness, I have cast it on in addition to my other planned projects. I hope that I can get it done in time to wear on the airplane when I go back to the States for furlough.

My stash of birthday yarn with part of the Argonath.

I have also cast on for the Isengard stole. I have called it Orthanc in Ravelry. I have about an inch made and about 71 more to go, but I have a feeling that both this stole and the Argonath are going to be like the Mithril vest… hard to put down. I am making it in black merino wool from Rosários 4. I like the fact that this yarn was made here in Portugal. I have made socks out of this yarn before but I really like the way it is working up as a stole. There is a subtle sheen to theyarn so the twists and turns of the pattern should show up somewhat. It reminded me of the description of the Orthanc.

First inch of the Orthanc

I have learned that some craziness goes a long way and that it is ok to be crazy occasionally. I have also learned to read the Ravelry notes on patterns. If not for them, I might still be stuck at row 57 on the Mithril vest. It helps a lot to go and see what someone else who has made a particular pattern says about it. Sometimes it saves you a lot of time, hassle and of course your hair. Until next time, keep on knitting and learning.

Mithril almost complete

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sat, 19 May 2012 14:50:00 +0000

Just a quick update today. I will write more when I have more time.

The Mithril vest is almost complete. As I write, it is on the blocking wires. All that needs to be done for it to be complete is the back neckband. It was a relatively fast knit, but it was also hard to put down. This allows some time for me to complete my craziness.

Until next time, keep on knitting and learning.

Progress and some craziness

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:21:00 +0000

Prana Socks

Now that the birthday’s I was knitting for have come and gone, I can share what I made for the girls. The first birthday gift was a pair of Flutterby socks by Cat Bordhi. They used her new sweet tomato heel. I like how the heel was made and will probably use it again in the future. Sorry I did not get a picture before I gifted them, but they were made of a lime green yarn that you can see here. The second birthday gift was a pair of Prana socks from the Knitter’s Book of Socks. I enjoyed knitting these and since they had no heels or toes the knitting went faster than normal.

The lovely silk and merino Blackened Mithril vest.

I have made some progress on the Blackened Mithril vest. The pattern calls for beading but I could not find any beads that I liked so I am just knitting it plain. The yarn is Knit Picks Gloss fingering weight in Black. Knitting with the silk and merino mix is lovely. I have to stop occasionally to pet the vest. I am nearing the part of the pattern where it makes its first deviation from straightforward. However, the vest itself is lovely to knit. It is a challenge and because of the complexity of the charts, it is a home project. I learned this the hard way. I unexpectedly was able to go to a football game and thankfully had brought my knitting bag along. However, the only thing I had with me was the Mithril vest and it is not conductive to sitting in the bleachers with a big binder holding the pattern. I had to settle for knitting on the sock I keep in my purse. Live and learn.

Today ,I am borrowing a segment from the Knitmore Girls. My knitting attacked me. Actually I did not pay attention to the chart and therefore made several mistakes. I was able to use a couple of double point needles (DPNs) to drop down and fix the problems in just the affected areas. The fix is unnoticeable and is much easier than ripping out a couple rows and then trying to pick up the stitches hoping and praying that you will not lose any.

My bit of craziness.

And now for some craziness. As if I did not have enough going on this year with planning my furlough, ministry here and the year of knitting selfishly, I decided to cast on something extra. Here it is, the EZ 100th Anniversary CampingHalf-circle shawl. Yes, this is my bit of craziness in the midst of all the normality. I have named it Crazy for casting this on. It is made from Lorna’sLaces Shepherd sock multi in the Devon colorway. I have had these two skeins of yarn for almost 6 years. I just could not find a sock that it wanted to be. Therefore, I finally pulled them out and said this year I will make something with these. Voila, the half-circle shawl idea was born. I wanted to wear these next to my face and since I am planning my furlough wardrobe to revolve around peach and teal, this would satisfy both. I have no set schedule for when this will be done so you may see it for a while or I just may surprise myself and whip through it.

This last week has taught me that a bit of craziness now and then is a good thing. To be thankful for double points that can fix mistakes in the middle of knitting without ripping back. To have two projects on hand, one of them simple. I also learned that masking tape makes a good chart marker when you use it in combination with plastic sheet protectors. So having learned a lot in the last week, I admonish you to keep knitting and learning.

Dreaming and Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:06:00 +0000

I have started the Mithril vest. In honor of knitting this pattern, I watched thefirst Lord of the Rings movie. I thought it was apropos. The vest is about an inch and a half long but so far I am enjoying the pattern. At this stage, I am finding that it is less complicated than the In Dreams shawl that Susan designed at the beginning of last year. However, I think that it will complicate itself soon.

The first inch of the Mithril vest

In addition to the Mithril vest, I am still working on the last part of the second gift. I must finish it this week as it is for a birthday in the early part of May. I think that I will be able to finish in time, but who knows the future … only God and I am not Him.

Corrie Vest pattern

I have also been plotting and planning a sweater that I will be knitting in September. I will be using Palette yarn from Knit Picks and the Corrie vest pattern from the same company. Because the vest pattern is a strong horizontal, I will only be using part of the pattern as an accent to emphasize the waist. I am planning for it to be a long sleeve, deep v neck cardigan with the pattern only at the waist and a bit at the cuffs. My sister, the artist, helped me pick out the colors. I would not normally pick the peach color, but the blues are my favorite colors.She said the contrast would be good and peach looks good on almost everyone. The photo above is the portion of the pattern I am using along with the color choices. Also pictured is a small sketch of the sweater shape. What do you think? Leave me a comment about the design.

The sketch

I think that I have a lot of learning in my future. I will try to share the lessons here on the blog as I learn them. ‘Till then keep knitting and learning.

Finished ... Almost!

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:36:00 +0000

I finished the knitting on Drily Amused last night. I wove in all the ends and popped it over my head. I made a good choice in making the sweater a size smaller than normal. I modified the sweater by making the waist shorter and the ribbing not as long. However, the sleeves were supposed to be 3/4 length and ended up at my wrists because I forgot to allow for the armhole. The armhole is a little longer than I normally make it. My gauge had less stitches in the height than the gauge called for in the pattern and so I ended the raglan shaping early and just cast on the needed stitches at the underarm. Still it is longer than I usually calculate for and so my sleeves by extension are longer than I normally make them. I am going to rip back the cuffs and reknit them at a shorter length. I will also use a smaller needle to make the ribbing at the cuffs tighter. I am going to try to have this done so I can wear it this weekend.

As far as my other projects, I am half way through my second gift so I should be able to finish it on time. If I can get some dedicated knitting time. The first half went a lot faster than I was anticipating. When I have given the gifts away, I will post pictures of them here on the blog. Until then you will have to make do with the hints I have given you.

My shoulder is doing better and this allows me a longer knitting time. I am still taking frequent breaks, however. I don’t want to be in a position like that again. I missed the knitting.

Next month’s project is the Mithril Vest by Susan Pandorf. She is running a KAL (Knit a Long for you newbies) that runs through the 10^th of June. I am hoping to get this one done before the end of May. As this will be my only project, I have a good chance at getting it done but it is also a complicated piece of knitting. The charts alone are complicated enough. However, I am looking forward to the challenge as the last few months have been mostly in stockinette. I have named this one Blackened Mithril because I am using black yarn. I was thinking of the black armor that was used in medieval times.

I have learned this month to take things slowly. Sometimes the race is not worth the pain. I have also learned (again) that the height of stitches on a gauge does make a difference. For now, I am signing off and looking forward to learning more in the months to come. Keep on knitting and learning.

One Down and Two to Go

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:09:00 +0000

Remember my challenge for this month? Well I am one third of the way done. The first of the birthday gifts is done. I have started on the second of the birthday gifts and hope to have it done in time. I have three weeks to complete it.

The Green

Meanwhile the Amused sweater is coming along. I have reached the ribbing at the waist. After that I just have to finish the sleeves and the collar. I think I have made pretty good progress considering that I took on three projects this month and I have done something to my right shoulder. With my shoulder acting up I cannot sit and knit for very long. I have to take a break and then come back to it. Guess I will be taking Jasmin from the Knitmore Girls Podcast's advice, knit for about 50 minutes, then take a short break. With the regular rest periods, the shoulder is doing better.

Guess what I have learned so far this month is to take it one day at a time, don't stress your body just to complete a ridiculous time frame set by you and take regular knitting breaks to rest.

The Red

Now to leave you with a hint of what I am making for the second birthday gift. Remember I said that this month's colors were Green and Red? Well, you have seen the Green and here is the Red. Until next blog post, keep on knitting and learning.

A Hint

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 16:22:00 +0000

The following picture is just a hint of what I am working on. It is for someone's birthday so I can only give you a hint. The good news is that you only have a month to wait to see the finished project.

Birthday Surprise

I am also working on the sweater Amused. It is going well in spite of the fact that I only get to knit on it after having worked on the birthday project. Such rules we impose onourselves! No one is demanding that I finish a project a month for myself and two projects for birthday's in May, however, what do I find myself doing? Just that and on a schedule no less! Ah well, the life of the project knitter.

Drily Amused

To correct a misunderstanding, I put forth the following. My sister and I were talking the other day and she corrected my spelling of Blood Oranje. It is spelled this way on purpose. The original sweater pattern is named Oranje from Dutch. Because of this I chose Blood Oranje as my project name because the yarn reminded me of the color of a blood orange. However, I kept the original name of the pattern to provide a sort of continuity. Just in case I did not make myself plain, here is the explanation.

Speaking of Blood Oranje, I have been able to wear it a few times. I have to say that it is a warm sweater, good for spring nights that are a bit nippier than they should be. I am enjoying the little details that went into the sweater.

The last couple of sweaters have taught me a couple of things. First, I prefer a princess style decrease in the front (stitches are decreased under the bust instead of from the sides). In the back, I prefer the decreases to be in one central location up the back (or down the back depending on what way you knit it ;). Secondly, I need a bit of a bust dart to accommodate a larger bust line but if I knit a yoke sweater it is NOT necessary (learned that one the hard way!).

I am enjoying this year of selfish knitting. It is pushing my knitting into new areas and stretching my technical skills. I think that it will make me a better and more confident knitter and thus will increase the quality of what I knit for others when I go back to knitting unselfishly. That is all for now but stay tuned and keep on knitting and learning!

What's Next?

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:24:00 +0000

In April, I set myself a big challenge. I am working on two birthday gifts and a sweater. The birthday gifts will be revealed in time but the sweater I can talk about right now.

The sweater is made of Miltons in an olive color. Luckily for me, it is a worsted weight yarn. This means it will knit up faster. YEAH! The pattern is Amused from Knitty. It is a pullover style and is knit from the neck down and the collar is added later. The directions are straightforward and I am enjoying the knit.

This month the colors are green and red. Last month they were brick, white and black. Next month they will probably go back to black. I plan to work on the Mithril vest from Sunflower Designs. She has started a KAL for the vest and since it was already on my list of things to do this year, I rearranged my schedule a little so I could join.

It took me four months but I just realized that I am spelling Challenge wrong. My dad always told a joke about missionary kids speaking two languages and not being able to spell either one. That is a little too close to home. If I did not have spell checker my Prayer letters home would look like the floor of an editor’s office. Please accept my apologies and I will try to do better in the future.

In the mean time, I have some gifts to complete and a sweater to knit. Keep on knitting and learning.

Done On Time!

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:19:00 +0000

I finished Blood Oranje last night. I just need to block it. The last couple of days has been a bit of a knitting marathon. I would rush through all the other work I had to do then sit down and knit.

The sweater was knit from the top down and when I reached the end of the skein after the sleeves were joined I decided to knit the sleeves before completing the rest of the body. Once the sleeves were done, the body worked up fast. Yesterday was taken up with knitting the button bands, stitching the collar and hem to the sweater, sewing grograin ribbon to cover the steek edges and sewing on the buttons. I chose some irridecent glass bottons and black grograin ribbon.

The day before that I took my courage in hand, set scissors to knitting and cut the steek. I then picked up stitches along the sides for the button band. I marked the places for the button band as you can see in the next picture.

The result of all this work was the best fitting cardigan I have ever made and also the most polished. I think that this is one cardigan that reflects the care and thought I took in making it. It truly looks like a well-crafted cardigan.

Aside from all the new techniques I learned with this sweater, I also learned that the finishing touches that go into making a sweater truly pay off.

Keep on knitting and learning.

Half Done

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:41:00 +0000

The Blood Oranje sweater is coming along. I have 11 days to get the sweater done if I am to stay on schedule. I have turned the sweater upside down and left off the last stripes on the yoke. So far so good. I have really enjoyed working on this sweater not only because of the patter but also because of the yarn. I am using Happy Baby, a cashmere blend yarn. It is so soft and cushy!

I learned how to do the Latvian braid and how to strand with three strands. It is not as hard as I thought it would be, but I hate the way the braid tangles up the yarn. Oh well, that is life.

Keep on knitting and learning.

Blood Oranje

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:35:00 +0000

I know the title sounds a bit grusome, but the yarn I am using for the main color on this sweater reminds me of a blood orange. I am having a lot of fun with this sweater. I have already learned how easy the Latvian braid is and am looking forward to learning how to strand three colors. As you can see by the date I wanted to start this one so badly that I started it early. I have reconfigured it a little bit so that it is knitted in the manner I prefer. I am knitting this one upside down. (I know do I have to change everything?) I have finished the collar and am starting on the yoke.

Keep knitting and learning, as I will be this month.

The collar of the Oranje Sweater.

Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:41:00 +0000

I am taking a Sweet Sabbatical with my sister. At least that is what we call it. It means that we are not eating sweets and trying to cut back on the sugar in other things. This being the case I have not had Chocolate for a month and a half. The Chocolate Jacket is my substitute.

Chocolate Jacket

Knit in a beautiful dark chocolate brown merino, the Chocolate Jacket is a loose interperetation of the Shocking Jacket from Interweave Knits. I finished it last night just in time for me to wear it on a retreat this weekend. I just need to find the perfect buttons.

The beautiful shawl collar

The modifications I made where to knit this in the round and to knit the collar with the body. My shoulder width is less than the width that was called for in the pattern, so I had to heavily modify the pattern in order to get a sweater that would fit in the shoulder and the bust. I used the set in sleeve from Barbara Walker's Knitting from the Top. The collar I knit to the shoulder seams then knit around the back picking up the stitches from the neckline. I then Kitchner stitched it to the other side of the collar. (Can you tell where?)

This sweater taught me a lot of things. It taught me that I can take an idea and transform it to fit my needs and tastes. It taught me that I can use the Kitchner stitch for something other than socks. It taught me that if I ever do Princess seams in something again I need to decrease for the underarm so that I don't have a lot of fabric under the arm. It taught me to be bold and confident in my own design skills. It may not turn out perfect but who wants perfection. I also steam blocked for the very first time. When I have a picture of it on me I will post it. Until then here it is on the blocking boards minus the buttons.

This is the second of my selfish projects. I have one for every month of 2012. The next project I will be working on is the Oranje Cardigan by Ann Weaver and published in Knitty. I will be knitting this cardigan out of a cashmere blend yarn in a tomato red, black and pearl.

In the mean time I will keep knitting and learning and I hope you do the same.

Sweet Treats

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 13:57:00 +0000

Since my last post I have been very busy. I finished this lovely shawl from a Knit Picks kit called the Chinook Shawl. I bought the neutral colorway and added a Sherry Shimmer yarn for the edging. I finished it in time to wear it to our Gala banquet for the teens. It is very big and is wider than my arm span. I really like the colors though and it is very warm. Just right for cool spring nights to come.

I also cast on for the brown merino sweater I mentioned in my list of selfish knitting projects. I am making a modified version of the Shocking Jacket from Interweave Knits. I dislike sewing up a sweater after having knit it so I modified it to be knit in the round. So far it is turning out. I have knit up to the arm holes and am working on the back up to the neck. The shawl collar I knit into the edging of the sweater. I will post pictures when I can. I am trying to finish it in time to wear it for the retreat we have coming up with the teens. The retreat center is in the mountains so it will be colder than it is here. Just right for knitted sweaters!

I am also in the planning phase for my next selfish project the Oranje sweater from Knitty. I have the yarn bought and the pattern printed. I am planning to make it out of a yarn called Happy Baby. It has 10% cashmere so I am the one who is happy. I don't know why they labled this yarn as a baby yarn, it felts in the wash. Not the ideal yarn for a new mother or baby. However, it is very soft. The colors are a tomato red, black and pearl. Yum Yum!

I have been learning lately that slow but sure wins the race and that knitting is great when you are sick. It takes you mind off the yukies and lets you relax a bit.

That is all for now. More next time on the Chocolate Jacket and the Oranje sweater (also time for a birthday pair of socks). Until next time keep knitting and learning.

Long Shanks Strides

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 23:42:00 +0000

Finished!

Finally finished my first selfish project. It is very warm and I love it already.

On to my next project, the Shocking Sweater from Interweave Knits. I think I will call this one Shocking Round as I will try to make this sweater in the round. We will see!

In the mean time keep knitting and learning!

Slight Change Of Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:49:00 +0000

Well ... After a two hour conversation with my sister over Skype, I have decided to change a few of my selfish projects. Instead of the Freyja Sweater, I am going to knit the Oranje Sweater with a few mods. Also instead of a blue striped sweater I will be making a sweater of my own design with the motifs from the Corrie Fair Isle vest from Knit Picks. The black sweater is also out. But I did decide on a design for the Purple sweater, Amused. I have also added three secret projects for this year.

My sister is an awesome artist. She has a good eye for design and fashion and helped me pick knits that will flatter my figure and coloring. She is like my own personal What Not To Wear crew.

The rest of the projects stay the same. I am nearly finished with the Strider Cowl, which I have named Long Shanks Strider. At first I had planned to do the long version of the cowl, but I think this will be too much fabric around my face. So I am going to stop with the short version. It looks great and I love the knitting. (even the cables which are normally not my cup of tea.)

My sister also put a twist in my knitting plans with some news. I can't share yet but it will rearrange some things.

This change of plans is exactly why I called my blog Knit and Learn. So keep on knitting and keep on learning.

Freedom Socks

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:23:00 +0000

Just finished the first project of the year, Freedom Socks! These were made for the middle child of my adopted family. Her birthday is close so I finished them right on time.

I used the Ariana socks pattern and modified it for a child. The heel was a new one for me. I like it so I will probably use it somewhere else.

There is also a hint of what else I am working on. This will be my first selfish project. I am looking forward to getting this one done so I can start on all the other projects in my to do list.

Keep on knitting and learning!

2012 - The Year of Selfish Knitting

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:41:00 +0000

So why selfish knitting? Well, the last couple of years I have collected quite a stash of yarn with projects for myself attatched. However, I have not been knitting those projects. Instead I have been doing a lot of gift knitting. Don't get me wrong I love to knit for gift giving. BUT, Those projects really need to be started and finished. I am beginning to feel overwelmed by the stash I have. I have not yet reached the point where my stash is at SABLE (Stash Acquisition Beyond Live Expectancy), but it is mounting and looming over my head.

So hence the concept of the Year of Selfish Knitting. This year I am determined to make some of the projects that have been lurking in my stash. They include but are not limited to:

Freya - Interweave Knits
Isengard -
Strider cowl -
Evenstar shawl -
Mithril vest - all by Susan Pandorf (love her designs)
Nutkin - Beth LaPensee
A black sweater with colorwork
A blue striped sweater
A brown merino sweater
A Purple sweater

All told about 12 projects. Plus I will still be getting in some gift knitting with socks for my adopted family. WHEW! I have set quite a challange for myself. We will see what gets done and what gets set to the side. If you would like to keep track of my progress, the progress bars from Ravelry at the right should have all the info. I will also try to blog about my progress from time to time. (With pictures even!)

Have a great 2012 and keep knitting and learning.

Christmas 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:14:00 +0000

I know it has been a while since I have posted anything. With my New Year's resolution for 2012, I hope to change that. However, I could not resist sharing these cute angel wings that are drying in my livingroom. They are for this year's Christmas play. I have garland for the halos and have made the wings from card stock. I added glitter along the bottom feathers for a bit of a pop. I hope they turn out ok. I will try to share pictures of my cute Christmas angels.

Yarn Karma

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:01:00 +0000

I have been listening to a few podcasts and have heard about yarn karma. According to many it is when you knit something for someone and are angry with that person. The theory is that those feelings are locked into that knitting. They are then transfered to the person.

Here is my take on the subject. I sometimes use my knitting time to pray for the person for whom I am knitting. My prayers are not locked into the knitted fabric, but God hears and answers the prayers I have prayed for that person. When you pray for someone you cannot stay upset with that person. So I think that praying while your knitting even if you are upset with that person is a good thing. It lets you get out the frustration you are experiencing because of him or her and you are praying for them. God understands frustration (remember the Pharasees) and He will help you not only deal with your upset feelings, He will also lead you to a better understanding of that person.

Your emotions can have an effect on the knitted fabric. That is when you are upset your gauge tends to tighten. And when you are relaxed your gauge is looser. So if you knit and pray for someone and you are upset with that someone, be prepared to have to frog (rip out) your work. ;).

As for me I have been super busy since August. I have been working on Christmas presents and various knitted items. Because I would like for the presents to be a suprise I do not have pictures of them at this time. However, I do have picture of some of the things I have finished in the last few months.

The frog was a present for a Boy's birthday, the pink hat a gift for the lady who watched my cats while I was away, and the lace doily was a wedding present for a friend of mine.

Someone recently asked me where the name for my blog came from. I comes from the phase 'live and learn.' I was talking to someone on the Knitpicks Community and I said that instead of live and learn it was knit and learn. So I took the idea and ran with it.

So until next time I hope you have time to knit some and learn some.

Something I learned and taught to others

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 09:01:00 +0000

I have been so busy lately that I haven't had time to blog. I have finished several projects since my last blog and started several more. I will post about them soon but for today I wanted to share with you something I learned and taught to someone else.

This summer I finished my first lace shawl with laceweight yarn. I brought it to summer camp with me where I was a counselor. I used the shawl as an illustration of the Christian life and how God views us. We are like an individual stitch. We cannot see the complete pattern as it is being made but the Knitter can. He sees the beginning and the end of the knitting piece. He places each stitch with care and unlike us He does not make mistakes. However, without that one stitch the whole piece would suffer. I know how I feel when I have dropped a stitch and I can imagine how many of you feel. God has placed us in the great knitted design of time for a specific purpose. First of all to praise Him and bring Him glory. After that He has some other purpose for us that is specific to who we are. A completed knit project brings glory to the knitter and each stitch has a specific function in that piece (even if it is just to hold up the next stitch). So next time you knit, think about your Creator who loved you enough to die in your place and the special purpose He has for your life.

Finally I can show you!

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 10:30:00 +0000

I can finally show you what I made for my Nephew. My sister had her Baby Shower this week and I called her through Skype and showed her what I had made. So now I can show you.

I had so much fun knitting these things that the time went by quickly. The blanket and the Turtle are meant to go together and the little shoes and the jacket are a set. I also made some more practical items, burp clothes and wash clothes. These will keep my Nephew warm and clean. I can't wait till he gets here to try them on. Not much longer now.

On my needles I have the second pair of socks for my Brother-in-law (my Nephew and Niece's dad). The first time I started them, I used a number 2 needle, but the fabric created was very loose and I was afraid they would wear out very quickly. So having turned the heel and started up the leg, I frogged them and started over with a size 0 needle. (all needle sizes are in American sizing) The fabric produced is much tighter and better then before.

I also have the rest of my gift for my Grandmother. It is coming along nicely and I have trouble putting it down to do something else. However, even though my Grandmother is not connected to the internet, I will not be posting pictures until I give it to her. I will just tell you that I am learning a lot of techniques with this one.

As this is supposed to be a blog about knitting and LEARNING, I will fill you in on some of what I have been learning lately. When we were still living at home, I asked my sister, who is an awesome artist, how she could be so patient about getting the smallest details right in her work. Recently, she reminded me of what I had asked her and said she had the same question for me about knitting. I understand how she could be so meticulous now, but then I was amazed. Knitting sometimes requires a lot of patience. (See above about frogging the socks) I have learned that you are more apt to be patient with something you enjoy doing than with something that is a chore. However, the patience I learn with knitting is beginning to translate itself to other things I do.

Something else I have learned is,the time I use to knit a gift for someone is an excellent time to pray for that person. My friend, Nina, once told me that she prayed for her family while hanging out the wash. As she came to an article of clothing that belonged to that person she would pray for him/her. I have no one to do laundry for other than myself so I find myself thinking of the person I am knitting for and praying for that person.

That is all I have for now but birthday's are coming up soon so you will be able to see more of my secret projects. Until then keep knitting!

So much to do and So little time to blog

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:02:00 +0000

I have been so busy knitting and doing that I have not had time to catch up on my blog. I finished the mitts for my friend and she loved them. Since then I have been busy starting and finishing a few projects. So here they are.

I finished a baby set for a friend of mine who is expecting a Girl. Arn't those shoes adorable! The sweater called for the eylet on the sleeves as well but I decided to go with plain sleeves so that the baby would be warmer.

My brother-in-law is being deployed so I am also in the process of knitting several items for him. My problem was finding 100% wool yarn over here in Portugal. (that was the color I needed for the military) I have finished the helmet liner and started on some socks. I decided to do them one at a time, so you can see where I marked the sock so the second one matches the first.

I am also in the middle of making a pair of socks for a friend's birthday. The birthday was at the beginning of March so I had best get these done soon. Poor guy has to wait on the knitter. These where also made one at a time but this sock has a distinctive repeating pattern that makes it a lot easier to keep track of what I am doing.

I started a shawl for my Grandmother. She is in a nursing home and I wanted to give her something that would remind her that she is loved. It is made of merino wool in a lilac color that I think will be just what the doctor ordered. The knitting is coming along nicely and the pattern is fairly simple to do. I am having a lot of fun with this one.

I am still working on one of the gifts I mentioned last time but it is nearly completed. I just have to do the ... opps I am not supposed to tell you that. Guess you will just have to see the pics when I post them. Until next time keep those needles busy.

Ok I will give you a hint.

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:33:00 +0000

Ok Here is your hint at what I am making for my Nephew. Just a peek now. When I actually give the gifts to my sister then you can see the whole project but until then NO other hints.

I am working on a pair of fingerless gloves that I am making for a friend. She gets cold hands in school so needed something to keep her hands warm but still be able to write. I only have one done so far but I am working on the other. I started out with DPN's but then switched to magic loop for the upper half of the mitt. I am starting not to like dpn's the needles always get in my way, especially when working a small circunference. Oh well you can't have everything because I do like them for larger projects.

I have at least three or four projects going at any one time and have added some gifts to my knitting lineup. Oh dear, more pictures I can't share. But maybe along the line I will give you more hints. For now happy knitting and don't let the moths bite.

What a busy month!

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:13:00 +0000

After Christmas I seemed to get into a knitting mood. I have completed almost all of the projects that I had planned for my Sister's new baby boy. (he is due in April) I have also completed a pair of socks for a friend to give, an edging for a shawl, a hat for a friend and a purse for a little girl's birthday. The friend liked the hat and the girl was extatic with the purse. She likes little things (pads of paper, pens, Polly Pockets, cute little things you can put in a purse). I have many things planned for the coming months and hopefully I will have time to complete them. I am sorry not to post pictures of the things I have made for my Nephew but my sister looks at this blog and I don't want her to see them yet. (So Sorry Sis)

Some of the things I have planned for the coming year will stretch me as a knitter. I want to do several lace shawls, some socks for myself, two fair isle shawls, and a sweater. Some of these are for me and some are for others. I also have planned a sweater for a friend's baby. This is number two and will be a girl so I have let myself go wild looking at frilly, lacy cardigan patterns for the baby.

I learned something with the edging for the shawl. Good thing it was for me. I learned to add more rows of knitting than there are stitches in the shawl sides. If you don't then you end up with a bunched effect that even blocking can't remove. Oh Well, back to the old drawing board. One of these days I will go back take it all out and do it right. Until then I will just have to Grin and Bear it.

Christmas Socks and more

noreply@blogger.com (Aurora) — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:06:00 +0000

Well I finished just in time for the holidays. I even was able to finish the hat I was giving to my friend for his birthday. It fits!! Isn't it great when something works out just right. All the recipients loved the socks that I gave them. I even have a picture with them on their feet. All of them fit and I am happy to have that worry out of my life.
I have since made another pair of socks for a friend (worsted weight so they knit up fast) and a little bag for a little girl. I am now starting on all the projects that I want to do for my new nephew coming in April. I am working on a blanket and some burp clothes and wash clothes. I also have planned a sweater and a stuffed animal. Maybe I might even throw in some socks to keep his feet warm and a small hat. Have to see what time I have to complete the projects.
I also have the Mystery KAL project from Knit Picks that I was working on. I know what it is now but I set it aside to do Christmas presents. So it is time to pick it back up and finish it. I am changing the back side a little but still keeping all of the background colors. Then it will be time to (Gasp) Cut (Gasp) my (Gasp) Knitting! (Gasp)(Gasp)(Gasp). This is the first time I will be doing a steek so pray for me. (I really don't want to go crazy from this, hehe)

I hope you have fun knitting.