Things I've Completed

Here is a list of things I've completed:
baby blankets (several I have five nieces)

• full size blankets (almost everyone in my family has a blanket)
• sweaters for kids (Alexis, Sara, Anna, Suzy)
  
• hats and scarfs for everyone (one year I decided to use up my scrap yarn and made hats and scarfs, I packed them all in one box, shipped to my mom and everyone picked the ones they liked)
  
• sweaters for mom
• sweater for sister
• dress for Sara
• dress for Suzy
• vest for Anna
• leg warmers for Suzy (she takes tap classes)
• bikini top and bottoms for me
  
• oh yea, sweaters for me
  
• hats, scarfs and gloves for me
• Shawl for me

Hmmm, can't think of any more right now, I'll update as I remember with pics if I can find them. I should have started this when I was actually home to add pictures.

Projects in the works

There always seems to be something I'm working on. I'm sure that's true of most knitters.

In Progress:

I'm making a shell. I bought two skeins of Knit Picks Sparkles in Beach awhile ago (which has four variegated colors: white, yellow, peach and blue), just to see if I liked it. Well, it's a little stiff and prickly for my taste, and now a discontinued item, so I couldn't buy more even if I wanted too. What to do with only two skeins? Scarf? I decided to use it as edging. I didn't want to put too much money into the project, so I went to Michaels and picked up four skeins of the Lion Brand microspun in french vanilla (the yellow is a close match to the french vanilla).

The microfiber is a stretchy yarn so a semi-fitted shell seemed perfect. I'm knitting the base in stockinette stitch. As for the edging, I decided to use the lotus lace stitch I found in the Interweave knits summer 2006 pattern for Lotus Blossom Tank. I wanted a square neckline rather low cut, so I'm thinking about knitting the sparkles in a broken rib pattern to give it some texture. Lastly sleeves, cute cap sleeves I think.

I'm not a hundred percent sure yet how this will look, since the front isn't quite done, or if I'll even like it.

I'll keep you posted and with a few snap shots so you can follow along.

How I learned to knit

Left-Handed knitting
My third grade teacher had all the students in class knit squares for a blanket to send to The Red Cross. She showed us the basics of casting on and garter stitch. When all the squares were done (I think I knitted like ten squares) she sewed them into a blanket and we shipped it from school. I remember really enjoying making those squares. However, squares knitted in garter stitch are not very interesting and being left-handed was a challenge of it's own.

My mother only crocheted and could never get the hang of knitting to teach me anything new. So, I made a lot of pot holders - ha ha squares. I lost interest in knitting being only eight years old.

As the years went by, I eventually got the urge to teach myself to knit again. I asked for a knitting machine for my graduation present from high school. I know most kids want cars, but I wanted to make sweaters. The knitting machine is not a quick fix to knowing how to knit. Sure you slide the carriage across the bed and it knits stitches (stockinette stitch) but you still have to know how to knit to actually knit anything other than scarves. I managed to make a couple of sweaters, one for my sister and mother. However, I have never seen them wear them so who knows if they still have them. I'll have to find out if they do to get pics posted. (probably given to the goodwill after all these years)

So, I put aside the knitting machine to actually learn on needles. I bought a few books of stitch patterns and in one long, arduous weekend, I finally figured out how to purl left handed. I think the hardest part in purling was where to place the needle and after that everything just clicked. My first project was to be a blanket for my sister as a wedding present. Needless to say, I didn't finish it in time (who knew it would take a year to finish). After the blanket was done I decided to give it to my brother instead. It was kinda manly chevron pattern in bold colors - he loved it and I think still uses it, although it's a little threadbare now.