Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Podcasts

With the untimely departure of the Lime and Violet podcast, I've been looking for another podcast to listen to while I knit. This is difficult for several reasons.

I liked the community LnV gave, the forums were fun, and I met a lot of awesome knitter and crochet people through it. I also felt like I was a part of the podcast, like LnV were friends.  The second part is that I never really listened to any other knitting or crochet podcasts with the exception of KnitPicks Podcast. I also really liked the length of the LnV podcast. It gave me at least 1.5 hours of steady knitting time. With the help of some people over at Ravelry, I've started listening to some other podcasts.


Brass Needles -  knitting and scifi/cosplay. I've listened to about 4 episodes each about 20-25 minutes long. I'm really not sure how I feel about this. It seems to be more scifi than knitting for me. Don't get me wrong, I love scifi/cosplay/anime, but I'm kinda indifferent. I'm going to listen to a few more casts, and see how I feel.



Knitter with Critters - I adore this 'cast! They're short episodes (about 12 minutes each) but she does something that I like. She talks about what's on her needles and what's off of them.  She also has a section in the 'cast about terms you may not know (double knitting, felting (fulling), what mercinized cotton is) which helps you learn while listening. The sad thing is that she doesn't have a lot of podcast space so she has to delete some back episodes, but don't let that stop you from checking it out!


Sticks and String - I remember liking this but I don't remember much about it.  Will listen again and update.

Lets Knit Together -  This is a video podcast that I love to watch. It's another podcast where I always learn something new while watching. Steeking doesn't seem so scary after this podcast (and that's saying something!)

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

First projects again

I learned to knit from Deb Stoller's book "Stitch and Bitch" back in March 2006. The first project I made was the kitchy kerchief (spelling may be off since the book burned in the fire and I haven't yet repurchased it). It was a mess yarn overs everywhere. But I didn't care I made it.

Before this even, when I started crocheting again in 2003 (I learned when I was 6, and that wasn't 2003). I made a double crochet scarf the first 10 rows went in, since I wasn't crocheting the chain stitch. Even worse I tried to make a bear and wasn't making single crochets but slip stitches. That thing would have taken forever to make.

Right now, I'm at a first project again. I'm learning to throw. My first project with that? Baby hats. I thought it would be easy! But there's new motions, wrapping the yarn, and moving the yarn to the front to purl. I think I should have added some flat things in like dishclothes in with it.

Thinking back on first projects makes me realize my skill level has increased quite a bit in both knit and crochet. But learning right handed is completely different. I may go cast on a dishcloth since then I can learn a little at a time.


I need some cheering up, so if anyone reads this post about your first project in knitor crochet.