The month of Finishing

Learning to knit right handed did not turn out well. It aggravated the carpal tunnel that's starting in that hand and was just uncomfortable. I now say to knit the way you like and don't let anyone tell you you're knitting incorrectly. That and I wasn't too thrilled about what I was knitting (baby hats).  Medically I may not be able to have kids (i.e. these projects weren't for me...I'm a selfish knitter/crocheter what can I say).

Over at Ravelry (which if you haven't seen and are reading this blog, go check it out!) I'm a member of the HP knitting/crochet house cup. Yes, I'm a Harry Potter nerd, and you had no idea how much. They have 3 month terms with 6 classes each month. Then a month in between terms for sign-ups (sign up will be happening this month if you want to join in on the fun).

This month the focus there is on not starting anymore projects but finishing the ones you have. So far I've finished 2 projects. Both are not for me surprisingly.

First, my husband's birthday was Tuesday. I'm constantly showing him patterns and asking if he likes them. I'm still trying to understand his style, we've been married for a year and together for 4 so still not that long. I knew he would like this hat though since he had 2 just like it.

I'm not too thrilled with the pattern (Lidsville from Son of a Stitch and Bitch). Hubby has a big head, 24" around. Most hat patterns are sized for  23" heads. Sizing up wasn't the problem, just used a size bigger hook, the inside lining didn't size up, and there was a lot of seaming. Hubby loves it and wants a couple more.

The other project is a Christmas present, so it won't be posted right now. I'll just say they are lovely soft and I want to keep them for myself.

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!)

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.

What's on my needles

This month I've been trying to finish what's on my needles, with varying degrees of success.

In March, I started making a baby blanket for a friend who has her baby shower this weekend. I'm going to be unable to attend since I'm 7 hours away, but I do want to finish the blanket and send it to her relatively soon. I'm making it in strips and hopefully will use SimplyKnit's Join as you go.

In February, I started a binary cable hat for hubby since he left his in the apartment before it burned. This is the third time I've made one, and it's becoming more difficult every time. It's not that it's a boring pattern either, it's lovely and the cables turn out wonderful. It's  just that making the same pattern 3 times (and 4 if you count I want another) it wears one out. I've been making progress on this and should finish today.

In March, I also started an Elephante. I planned to have it finished my niece and nephew's birthday in April. It didn't happen.  I've picked this up every so often. I'm not thrilled with the pooling colors.

I also lost my sock needles. I could have swore I had them when the fire happened, but they are no where to be found. I ordered a new set from KnitPicks and am trying to avoid casting some Devon Socks (in Sock Innovations). I have enough projects right now.

Queen C's Crown

I started this pattern as a joke over at one of the Ravelry groups. I liked the pattern so much that I decided to post it over here. Feel free to use it for personal use. Any corrections can be e-mailed to ghargis at gmail.com

Basic knowledge of crochet is needed. Pattern is worked in double crochet with some single crochet. Knowledge of increases and decreases needed.


Required items:
Size H crochet hook for child, Size I/J for adult
1/2 skein (about 100-120y) Worsted WeightMC (purple)
very little Worsted Weight CC1 (black)
1/2 skein (about 100-120 y) Worsted Weight CC2 (gold) 1/2 skein (about 100-120 y) Worsted Weight

Top:
 Ch 3.
 Row 1: 11 dc in first chain. (12sts)
Row 2: 2 dc in each stitch around. (24 sts)
Row 3: 1 dc in same space as ch, *1 dc in next st, 2 dc in the one after   repeat from * end with 1dc in st (36 sts)
Row 4: 2 dc in first st, 1 dc in next 2 sts, *2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 2 sts repeat from * around.(48 sts)
Row 5: 2 dc in same st as join, 1 dc in next 3 sts, (2 dc in next st, 1 dc in next 3 sts) around. (60 sts)
Row 6-10: 1 dc in each st. (This should end just above the ears).
Join row using CC1

Crown:
For adult hat, switch to larger hook
Row 1 &2: ch1,  1 sc in each st across (60sts), at the end of  row2 join round 2 with CC2
Round 3: 1 sc in each st around
Round 4: Ch 3, 1 dc in next st, *3 dc in next, 1 dc in next 3, 3dc decrease (yo, pull up loop from st below, yo bringing loop through 2 loops on hook, yo pull up loop from st below, yo bringing loop through 2 loops on hook, yo, pull up loop from st below, yo bringing through 2 loops on hook, yo bring through all 4 loops on hook), 1 dc in next 3 sts repeat from *.
Round 5-8: Continue in ripple pattern (row 4) following peaks an troughs.

Note: When the trough includes the join st, yo, pull up loop from st below, yo go through 2 loops, yo pull up loop from st below, yo pulling through 2 loops, go through ch st grab a loop and pull through all loops on hook.
On the next row, sl 2 sts , then ch 3, follow ripple pattern end with 3dc decrease through the slipped stitch.

Row 9: Using CC1 or CC2, ch1, *sc in next 3 st, [sc in next st, picot st (ch 3 , sl st into first ch, sc in same st] sc in next 3, 3sc dec repeat from * round. Bind off and weave in ends.

Fold up hat on CC1 (black) section.

 Copyright ©2010 by Gretchen Barr

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Update on not updating

I haven't used the blog much. Right after I got it, I had finals and then we lost everything in a house fire December 19.

My entire stash was gone.

This was remedied by ladies in the knitting group, and by a group on ravelry. I now have a 34 gallon bin overflowing with yarn.

I haven't really been knitting much lately. I have a baby blanket for a friend on the needles,, hat for Jason, my husband, that I've been working on since late February; and zero motivation.

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Introduction

I'm Gretchen aka Galena. I enjoy knitting and crocheting. I am a student studying library assisting and all the courses for this are online. I started this blog mainly to keep up with what I'm working on, to think about or publish some patterns I've made, and to post some modifications to other patterns that work well.