Tea and Knitting

After a wonderful trip to Minneapolis, it is nice to have some time to relax back at home.  I am sipping my new tea, Roasted Chestnut, which I got at the Tea Source, out of my new mug, which I bought when we went to Dunn Brothers Coffee on Thanksgiving Day.  I won't be drinking coffee out of it, but I like to collect mugs to drink my tea out of.  We always like to spend time at coffee and tea shops.  I think this is an especially good cup to have, because Colin's last name is Dunn.  I have been spending the morning knitting, journaling, and sipping this delicious tea.

Knitting Projects

I haven't photographed and posted any of my knitting projects in a while, but I am still knitting.  In fact, I have about four projects going on right now.  I always like to have some dishcloths or washcloths going.  It's an easy knit and I don't have to concentrate when I work on one of these.

I am starting to panic a little because I have two of these little sweaters that I'm trying to knit for Christmas. This one is for Juliette.  It's finally beginning to look like a sweater.

I'm almost finished with this scarf for Michael.

New Socks

Every Thursday evening, from five until seven, you can find me in Ankeny at Knitting Next Door where I'll be sitting and knitting.  Tonight I did the bind off on my socks.  I feel like I've been working on these socks forever!  Finally they are finished and ready to wear, only I'll have to wait for some cooler weather.

Being the Student

Yesterday was a very busy day, with two classes at Knitting Next Door.  In the morning I took a Crocheted Jewelry Class.  We used a ladder yarn to crochet jewelry.  It was a lot of fun, and super easy.

After that I went home for a few hours to hang out with the dogs before going back for my 5:00 class.  This class was a knitting class.  We were learning how to knit a shawl.  The pattern is called Highland Fling, and is the most complicated pattern that I have tried so far.  My evening class had it's ups and downs, and you can read more about that on my Day's Class Notes blog.

On the Cuff

It's taking me a while, but I am almost finished knitting my second pair of socks.  I am working on the cuff, and then I will be ready to bind off.  I really like the way they are coming out, and I have improved a lot from the first pair I knitted.

Yarn Overs

I learned how to knit the yarn over stitch tonight.  Thank God for YouTube "how to" videos!  After a trip to JoAnns for yarn and needles, I started this dishcloth.  The pattern is called "Grandmother's Favorite Dishcloth" and I found it first on Pinterest and then on Ravelry.com.  It's easy and I'm having fun with it.

Cozy Slippers for Lisa

Wednesday was Lisa's birthday. She was lucky because this was the second time I used this Slipper Loafer pattern. That means I learned from the mistakes I made on Mom's.  Lucky for Lisa she won't have to "grow" into them.  I really loved the color and feel of the yarn.  I took the picture with Instagram on my phone.

Slippers for Mom

Today is Mother's Day.  My latest knitting project was to knit these slippers for my Mom.  I like the way they came out, but they are on the roomy side.  They should keep her feet nice and warm while she's sitting down. I'm just hoping she doesn't walk out of them when she tries to go to the kitchen to fill her coffee cup.

Socks With a Pattern

I have started my second pair of socks.  These will have a pattern.

Sock Success!

Today was my last sock knitting class.  The only thing we had left to do was to bind off the stitches.  Now I am wearing them!

Socks With Heels

Yesterday was my second Sock Knitting Class. This time we learned how to turn the heel.  Now my socks have heels.

Expensive Socks

Last Saturday I began taking a Sock Knitting class at Knitting Next Door in Ankeny.  It has been very challenging.  Although I first learned to knit in Girl Scouts, when I was about ten years old, it was only recently that I began knitting again.  Up until now, my projects have been very basic; slippers, a scarf, and a hat.  This class is using a Magic Loop, beginning at the toe and going up, and two socks at a time.  Add to that, the fact that I am left handed.  It is a right handed world, so patterns are written for right handers.  I always have to analyze the pattern and do the opposite.  When you are doing two socks at a time, you also have to coordinate your two separate balls of yarn.

After my class, I came home, ripped everything out and started over.  I love my yarn!  It is both colorful and sparkly.  I am making progress, and things are getting easier, but last night I realized that I had somehow picked up two extra stitches, so once again I had to rip out about an inch of one sock.

 As I was re-knitting that sock this morning, I realized that this is going to be one very expensive pair socks.  Between yarn, my Magic Loop Knitting needles, and tuition for the class, these will be $70 socks, and I'm not even sure they will be wearable!  Although these socks may prove to be one of the more expensive items in my wardrobe, it is money well spent.  I am really enjoying learning these new things. The fantastic thing about knitting or crocheting is watching yarn become fabric, and then an actual useful piece, and then knowing that I'm the one that did that.  I'm loving it!

Button Tab Hat

This is my first time knitting a hat. It was also my first time knitting in the round and using double pointed needles.  Good thing there were five bamboo needles in the package, because Winnie chewed up one.  I made a few mistakes along the way, but I learned a lot, and it fits.  I am really enjoying the time I spend knitting.

The Bows Win

I decided to go with the bows.  So I made another one and sewed them on.  These simple little slippers are so comfortable.

Sock Yarn

I signed up to take a sock knitting class at Knitting Next Door.  It begins in March, but I picked up my supplies today.  I met my teacher, and she helped me select the things I need.  This yarn  is going to make some pretty snazzy socks.

With a Bow or Without?

What do you think?  Do you like these slippers better with a bow or without?  I can tell you that they are really comfy.

Double Point Needles

My knitting skills are getting better. I'm trying things I've never tried before, like knitting with seed stitch and using double pointed knitting needles.  This is a hat that I am knitting for me.  So far, so good!

Day 24/366: Finished Slippers

These finished slippers are my first knitting project in more than thirty years.  I first learned how to knit when I was around ten or eleven.  It was a Girl Scout project. We used this very same pattern, but I was thinking as I was knitting these, that I know I didn't really understand what I was doing back then.  I hope these fit the person I made them for, because they seem pretty big.

Day 14/365: Relearning How to Knit

When I was in Girl Scouts, I learned how to knit.  We made a pair of slippers.  Over the years I tried knitting every now and then, but I was more partial to crochet.  It has been at least 30 years since I have tried to knit anything.  Several of my on-line friends are knitters, and I have been wanting to give it a try again.  I found that same slipper pattern that I first learned with, and I bought some yarn.

Today I went to the library and checked out some more books about knitting.  One of the big advantages of trying something new in this day and age is, if you get stuck, just Google a solution.  Up pop tutorials including videos to teach you how to do it.  I'll let you know how this goes.