Knit Knack

I thought I’d share this great site with all my readers.

I don’t know if everyone feels like this, but I often think that maybe I’m doing something wrong, maybe I can’t quite understand what an instruction means or the picture/writing just isn’t giving me enough to go on.

In cases like these, I find that animated examples of stitches can be a great help. I used video tutorials to teach me how to cast on in a tidier and more efficient way than I had been doing previously.

If you learn best through watching someone else do something, take a look at Save Knitting,which might be just the help you need.

Happy knitting!

I fear I may have misled my readers a little with my post about buying knitting materials from Costco… 

I have a confession to make. I live in England, so the knitting sets are quite possibly only available in the
UK – and even then, they may not be in every Costco over here. I know from experience that the stores in the USA stock different items to those in the
UK. While the two stores near to where I live carry broadly the same stock, they often carry some different items to each other.  

These were the only knitting items in Costco last time I visited, fortunately for my bank account, but perhaps if these sell well they may consider bringing in more craft items in the future. I know that they regularly stock scrapbooking and card-making materials. Some more needlecraft materials would be fantastic.

I did so well in January. I vowed that I wouldn’t buy any more yarn until I’d used up some of what I already have, and I stuck to it. In fact, the only temptation I caved in to was to buy a knitting book.

Last night, we headed to Costco to pick up some food and I was confronted by something I was completely unprepared for: knitting sets.

Obviously, any resolve I may previously have had went right out of the window as I was so unprepared for this temptation. At least when I go to John Lewis I know to steer well clear of the haberdashery department so that this doesn’t happen.

The sets were everything a knitter - from novice to time-served, according to the box - needed to knit a matching hat, scarf and bag set. I dashed home and got out the instructions, expecting the three items to be relatively straightforward. Instead, I was introduced to a hat knitter with some very vague explanation of how to use it, a pattern to crochet a zig-zag scarf with no clue how to do that, and a bag that looks incredibly similar to the one I’m already part-way through knitting.

Obviously, I’ll blog about my progress if I ever figure out the instructions that came with this knitting set. This could be a rather steep learning curve - anyone want to join me?!?

Well, January wasn’t necessarily the best month for my knitting goals.

I did finish knitting my scarf as I’d intended, but I didn’t do any work on my cardigan, which was a big shame. I didn’t buy any new yarn - and managed to restrain myself from buying the sewing machine that I’d been longing for - but I did buy a new knitting book.

The goal for February, therefore, has to be to get on with my cardigan. I’ve also vowed not to buy a sewing machine until I’ve moved house mid-month, by which time I should have a better of idea of whether I’ll actually use it and how much space I have for it.

What crafting goals are you setting for yourself for the month ahead?

Progress has been painfully slow with my knitting recently.

I’m still working on this ever-so-simple tote bag that I started a couple of weeks ago. Front and back panels are done, so I’m working on the straps at the moment and then have to do the gusset and just sew that bad boy up. Being a terribly unadventurous knitter, as I’m still a bit of a newbie so am scared to try things out in case they go horribly wrong, you can’t imagine how excited I was to give moss stitch (seed stitch for my American friends) a try. I know now why my mum used to knit in it so much, it’s lovely, it just looks so nice!

What’s also probably not helping is the fact that I’m still lusting over sewing machines. I think I’ve found the one I want, but I’m going to hold off buying it for the time being. I don’t have anywhere to use it in this apartment, so I’ll wait until we move next month and see what sort of room I have for a sewing machine there.

By mid-February I should also have an idea of whether or not this is just a passing fad or whether I really, really do want a sewing machine.

I’m making progress with my latest project, the tote bag.

Today I finished the front: cast on 80 stitches and knit in stocking stitch for 86 rows. Tomorrow, it’s time to move on to the back, again knit in stocking stitch, before knitting the gusset and handles in moss stitch.

I honestly have no idea how long it’s going to take me to get this finished. I would have liked to have done it this weekend, but as it’s taken me so long to get just the front knitted it isn’t looking hopeful!

I’ve also never knitted anything in moss stitch, so that’s going to be an adventure in itself!

What is nice, though, is that compared to my bigger project I can see this knitting up so much quicker and having the front done gives a real sense of achievement.

Today I thought I’d just post a quick update on my most recent project and add a link that knitters visiting this site may find quite useful.

Progress on the bag I’m knitting is slow but steady – which means that it is coming along, but very slowly. I didn’t work on it at all over the weekend as I had so much going on, but I picked up where I left off again today. Hopefully, I’ll get a little more done this evening and have made a real inroad into it by the weekend.

One thing I have realised is that knitting could really help me to lose weight! As one of my non-knitting new year’s resolutions, I resolved to lose the excess weight I’m carrying and get fit. Today, while knitting away, it occurred to me that if I wasn’t knitting, I’d probably be snacking on chocolates or a bag of chips while I was watching TV – keeping my hands busy means I’m not eating out of boredom! What a great consequence of something I really enjoy.

The site I thought you may find of use is The Daily Knitter. As well as news, reviews and general knitting information, this site has a number of free knitting and crochet patterns. As most people look to cut back on unnecessary expenses in the current financial climate, finding free patterns online – particularly ones you can adapt and “make your own” – is one way of making knitting that bit more affordable.

Ah, what a fickle knitter I am.

After yesterday’s excitement about starting to knit my big blanket to snuggle under, I got up this morning and flicked through an old knitting magazine to check out a baby sweater that I’m thinking of knitting for my nephew.

While browsing, I came across a knitted shopping bag which completely distracted me from the project I had anticipated beginning today, as I had all the materials I need (apart from a giant button, which I can pick up any time) sitting in my knitting bag.

So, the blanket is on hold before it’s even begun and I’ve started work on my fancy new shopping bag. I’m knitting it up in black DK yarn on 4mm needles. The pattern is very simple – the front and back panels are in stocking stitch and the gusset and handles in moss stitch.

Being such a simple pattern, I’m hoping this isn’t going to be a very long project. Depending on how it goes, I should have enough yarn to make up several of these – ideal gifts if they turn out well!

I love the versatility of knitting and how many different things it allows you to create. It’s just a shame I don’t have the discipline to stick to one thing…

Oooh, the excitement.

I’ve decided what I’m going to knit next.

To all you advanced knitters out there, I’m sorry that my projects are so simple. I haven’t done much knitting over the years and I’m slowly getting to grips with things. As such, I’m happy to do nice, easy projects that knit up quite quickly to give myself a sense of satisfaction and to see some results. They might not be the most exciting items in the world, but hey, they make me happy!

So, I have a great big stack of peach yarn that, much like the brown fuzzy yarn, is just sitting there taking up space and that I have no plans for. I must have had it for five years and I can’t even remember what I bought it for! I’m also always very cold and have the heating on high while sitting bundled up in a big fluffy dressing gown. The perfect project, therefore: a nice simple blanket!

I’m going to get started on it tomorrow. Fingers crossed I’ll get it finished, rather than leaving it to languish in the bottom of my knitting box like I have done with the yarn up until now.

Hooray!

I finally got something finished!

I didn’t get any knitting done during the first two days of the year, spending most of my time writing instead. However, over the weekend, I managed to get stuck in and do a bit more work on my scarf.

Tonight, I finished it.

It wasn’t a very complicated project, which is probably for the best. If it had been difficult, I more than likely would have put it to one side never to be picked up again. I simply cast on 72 stitches (I think – it’s a while since I started it), and just knit and purled alternate rows until it was as wide as I wanted it.

Not rocket science, but hey, it was the thing I needed to get me motivated to move onto my bigger cardigan project. Plus, I needed a new scarf and had all that yarn just lying round doing nothing.

So, one resolution down. Time to get going on the rest.

I think it’s also time to start doing some serious baby knitting, as my nephew is due in two months!!