bee creative

two projects, knitting reflections

Last night, looking in the basket where I keep the two knitting projects, the knitting needles caught my eye.

Size 11 bamboo needles slowly being stained by the indigo dyed yarn that I am knitting with.

Size 4 wooden needles already stained blue.

The large needles I hold loosely in my hands, purling along without much thought. Making a poncho.

When holding the smaller needles I tend to tighten my grasp as I go along, need to remember to loosen up. Knit, purl, knit, purl. Pay more attention.  Making a sweater.

I think about my hands, flexibility and grasp.

A lot of knitting is about tension. 

Especially if fit matters.

 

lifeline

In knitting a thread can be run through a row of stitches to keep the stitches from unraveling. It creates a stopping point when you need to unravel.

It's called a lifeline.

In boating terminology is the line that a crew member or passenger on a boat might be attached to so that they don't fall over.

I am starting to add stripes to the "next" sweater, starting with green.

Green for growth.

Green as a lifeline.

knitting lessons: knit 2 purl 2

Knit 2 Purl 2, it feels a little like a dance step.

The foundation for the next sweater, the rows that keep the edge from rolling.

I know there are some stitches that don't follow the pattern.

It's okay.

 

 

knitting tip...knowing when not to

 

I've posted this before, that I like to bind off edges of my knitting using a crochet hook. Using the crochet hook just like a knitting needle but utilizing the hook to make it easier to pull one stitch over the other. 

I probably mentioning that most people either knit or crochet; rarely both.  

As I was binding off the bottom of my sweater (I'm on the sleeves now!) I thought about other things we think about as either/or and about how that doesn't need to be...

Tip: Use a slightly bigger crochet hook than your knitting needle.  This makes the bind off loose. 

early in the morning

Strange things come to mind at 3:30 in the morning...while trying to learn how to knit a cable.

"What shall we do with a Drunken Sailor" for example.

I did have an a-ha moment with the cable making and figured it out.  But not before deciding it was a drunken cable and needed to be pulled out. 

 

Tools

I have the next four days off work and things to do...

On my mind: there was a second knitter on the bus yesterday. We ended up giving two other people a pep talk about how, like everything else, knitting mostly takes practice. And that sometimes it doesn't matter what techniques you use but rather that when you are done it looks the way you want it to and that you are happy with the results.

next up: strippy mitt

Using up some yarn in the stash.

Pattern is here (tiny owl knits...and I'm ready to try the beekeepers quilt, aiming for January I think):

The mitts are rated for beginners but I'd say within some parameters.

It's a great first project for someone ready to try mohair, making increases or using small needles. 

It's also a great project for experienced knitters needing a quick gift...

 

 

three flaws, maybe more

Perfection never works for me...

Sometimes I go back and fix things, other times I don't.

In addition to a bump (maybe I was considering a cable?) there are a couple spots where I added a hole or two (lace maybe?).   These socks are for me.  They will get the job done. 

Stripes, because they make me happy.  

Knitting tip #1:  Wooden needles, especially on cables, are the easiest needles to start with.  Your stitches won't slide off as easily as they will on metal needles.