Babysitting my infant granddaughter today and brought my #knitting for her naps. As I turned around from attending to my granddaughter I saw that one of their cats had taken out the small ball of yarn I had hoped would not run out before I was finished with the rows I needed it for. Half of it was unraveled and she was gnawing on it. Tonight, as I’m using it, I keep coming to a shredded spot. The little dickens destroyed more than I thought.

I had cats my whole life. Why wasn’t I more careful?

Knitted a cowl while on vacation. That’s what happens when you are on a ski vacation and don’t ski. 😜

#knitting

I’m now making another one, one needle size down, because I’d like it to be a little tighter. It’s a pretty easy knit once you get past the bottom section. (Not that the bottom section is hard, you just have to pay more attention.)

Pattern is Civetta Cowl on Ravelry.

Does anybody else do this? I take photos of interesting color combinations I come across to save when picking yarn colors for a future #knitting project.

Yesterday I was on a walk with my daughter and loved how the dark blue and tan colors of this building looked together.

Hat finished. Needs blocking. The waviness in the photo was from me trying to get the pom pom showing. Which looks too small. Because the hat is waaaaay too big. I think these men’s hat/women’s hat pattern instructions are unnecessary. The women’s hat could just be the adult hat.

Need advice on shrinking. It’s wool, but superwash. I’m thinking of washing it by hand then throwing it in the dryer. Please stop me if that’s a bad idea. #knitting is humbling. Just when I think I’m getting better….

Ran out of the color thread I was using for the baby #quilt I’m making mid zig zag AND decided I need a lighter green yarn color than I have for the trees on winter hat I’m #knitting. Oh, poor me, I shall have to go to the sewing and knitting stores. Hopefully I won’t spend too much money. It’s a challenge, especially in my LYS.

It's amazing how much happier I am when I have a project on my #knitting needles. Starting a hat for my son. I love stranded knitting in the round. And now that I knit Norwegian style, knitting (without purling, besides the ribbing) is so fast!

Just took a steeking class today at my LYS. Now I'm ready when the time comes to use it. The teacher said she heard someone say steeking is about the most exciting and daring #knitting gets.

I just found a local #knitting store that’s a little further than the one the next town over but I went to check it out after being frustrated by the yarn selection at the closer one - and that my recent knitting lessons weren’t really all that helpful. The new (to me) store was great. Lots of classes, lots of yarn, very friendly. Plus they have a section of the store selling handmade items from various makers. I’m on their mailing list, now, and I’ll be going back!

So about that #knitting brioche project? I'm still doing it and, as I thought as the pattern emerges, it's easier to see what's going on. I've figured out how to fudge a bit when needed. I've decided the beginning of knitting in the round is always a struggle for me. I need more hands.

Interestingly, as I went to my LYS store to buy some yarn for a future project (frog and toad, squeeee! https://www.frogandcast.com/frog-and-toad-home), the owner told me she doesn't like knitting brioche.

I wonder who does?

NOT a fan of brioche #knitting. Too hard to fix mistakes (or fudge a fix). I have started over close to a dozen times. Hoping it will be easier now that I can see the pattern emerging. The actual pattern is terribly written. I had to figure things out via YouTube videos. The chart doesn’t even stagger the yo slip stitches and the knit/purl together on the next row. I’m actually feeling good about sticking with it, though. (The last starting over I may or may not have let out an expletive. 😜)

I was winding my skein of newly purchased yarn and there were at least half a dozen knots where it was broken and joined together. Is this normal, fellow knitters? I’ve not run across it, at this level, before. At most one knot. Wondering if I’ve just been lucky up til now. #knitting

Finished my hat - a lesson in two-handed stranded knitting. Took 3 times to get the tension right. But I learned to do picking (just for knitting, I know purling is going to be harder) and now I feel ambidextrous! Love trying new techniques and opening up my #knitting options. The Pom Pom awaits and will be attached once blocking is finished on this mannequin head (I got it to help me study lighting when I was doing photography).

I may be biting off more than I can chew, but I paid for a knitting class* and wound up having to figure out two-handed stranded knitting myself, so I thought I’d try a different project while I’m there. Should have tried learning straight cable but, no, I’m going to add in brioche. I think this also might stump the teacher so I’m asking for any #knitting tips you might have for either of these techniques.

*it shouldn’t be called that. You just bring your project and get help if you need it.

I got my 6 year old granddaughter crocheting supplies because she sees me knitting and wants to learn. But her mom crochets and they live a couple of hours away and it’s easier to start with than knitting. Her first try she couldn’t figure it out. Then her mom started a project herself and was able to show her and teach her at the same time. As Leiana is on her second row of crocheting she asks
“When can I use the needles without the hook?” The girl wants to knit! It might not be long. #knitting

First pair of socks, ready to be blocked on these nice sock blockers I bought from a Ukrainian Etsy shop. Now that I can see myself doing this again (probably not with this pattern), I’m going to try the couple of sock patterns I bought from her. And then, of course, I’m going to need some additional sock blockers for men and child sizes. #knitting is addictive. (I just sewed something for my granddaughter and realized it doesn’t bring me the joy knitting does.)

This might be an unpopular post, because it seems like much of the #knitting community is down on Ravelry because of accessibility issues. However, I am a web developer who focused on accessibility while I worked at IBM. We had to create accessible websites to bid on government contracts. If you analyze the Ravelry website using browser tools, the site has a very good accessibility score. And most of the issues flagged would impact users of assistive technology, not visual users. 1/2

I’m going to sign up for a #knitting class. I missed their color work one but can sign up for a class where you bring your own project and get help. For 6 weeks. Not exactly what I was going for, wanted to step back and get some basic technique, since I’m basically self taught after being shown how to knit as a child. I have to pick out a color work project that will stretch me beyond the basics while I’m in class. Ideas?

I started a local #knitting group. 2 hours one day a week at my home. There is one in town at the local senior center, which I’ve gone to before but they sit in a big room at a folding table on metal chairs and I’m of the opinion that knitting requires cozy. We keep inviting more knitters as we find out people knit and I’m glad I stuck with this, because one friend was very regular. Now I think we’re on the verge of having to spread out into multiple rooms so we can all have comfy sitting spots.

So, I know how to knit, but I stick to basic things, slowly stretching myself to take on more of a challenge. I decided to try color work and carrying thread. Watched some YouTube videos and went to town. Then headed to my LYS for help. The owner lets us film her showing technique. Thank goodness because I had to keep rewinding to get the weaving of the carried yarn correct. And I feel like I am all thumbs! Open to any suggestions or neat tips and tricks! #knitting #colorwork

#introduction post. A #permaculture class almost a decade ago changed my life for the better. I then became an #herbalist. I was a #webUIdeveloper at #IBM, retired early to do my #herbalism. Now I'm primarily a #nana to 3 sweet grandchildren. I'm also discovering I like witchy things like #tarot and anything nature-based, really. That is my spirituality; I no longer identify as Christian. I believe that walking in #kindness and #integrity is everything. Also: #knitting, #photography, #writing