Time For Learning

After many years of teaching, I am now retired.  I am hoping that this gives more time for personal learning.  One of the ways I am learning is through YouTube channels and podcasts.

I have learned so much from the Grocery Girls YouTube channel!  Techniques, indie yarn dyers to shop, and designers to follow are just some of the topics I find interesting. 

Purl Together is another wonderful channel on YouTube.  Jana provides many instructional videos, as well as a fun podcast all about a knitting life.

I highly recommend these podcasts on Spotify:

Fiber Nation

I Thought I Knew How

Very Pink

Make Good

I never really had enough time to dedicate to learning more about knitting.  I am grateful for the opportunity to now grow my skills.  This is a great time to be learning.  So many resources exist out there through social media and the internet.  

Do you have some of your own favorite learning sites?  Let me know; I'd love to check them out.

Happy learning!

A couple of weeks ago an adorable 4th grader came into my classroom.  She was holding a ball of yarn and some knitting needles.  "Can we start a knitting club?" she asked.  I melted.  Hooray!  I have a whole new bunch of kids wanting to learn to knit.  We started our lunchtime knitting yesterday.  Twenty cast ons later, the girls were ready to roll.  I thought the knitters and families might appreciate some basics.  There have been a lot of questions as well as excitement.  I sure hope they learn a lot and become life long knitters.  Knitting School is open again!

Published!

My pattern is published!  I received, in the mail, this 2014 Knitting calendar and was very confused.  I had forgotten that I submitted a pattern about a year and a half before.  I guess they notify you of your published status by sending you a free calendar.  The eReader Cozy is on December 29th.  So exciting!

Stress Injuries From Knitting?

I recently picked up a copy of the Summer 2012 Interweave Knits magazine and found this great article hiding on the very last page.  The author, Rebecca Watson, shares some great stretches and tips for preventing injuries that may interrupt knitting productivity.  Back aches, neck aches and definitely wrist and hand tension can be a problem for the type of knitting I do.  I never considered that I may be sitting poorly, or tilting my head down too much.   I try to think about my body position now while knitting, to prevent some of those head aches and shoulder aches I get after a long knitting session.  I thought this was a great lesson to keep in mind for those just learning to knit, or those who have been knitting for years.  I hope to be knitting well into my old age and these stretches may help me get there.

Easiest and Quickest Mittens Ever

Finally a pair of mittens I can make!  Using Debbie Bliss Chunky Cashmerino
and Michelle Porter's pattern, made these a cinch!  If you have ever wanted to
knit mittens, but thought you couldn't, this is the pattern for you.  The first pair
was acceptable, but after that I have been knitting about 2 pairs a week and they
all look great!  These are GREAT holiday gifts and the exquisite softness of the
cashmerino yarn makes them feel so luxurious!  Trust me , if I can make these, so
can you.  GREAT pattern and it was FREE! 

Holiday Gifts for the Family

My family will be receiving ribbed hats and scarves, knit from Debbie Bliss
Cashmerino Chunky.  This yarn is so soft and luxurious!  I decided to use the photo boxes because they were large enough to hold all the items, but they also don’t need wrapping ; just a sweet ribbon. They were on sale to boot which made them even more practical! Everyone needs storage boxes.

The pattern for the ribbed hat came from this book; such  an easy, quick knit!  

The ribbed scarves were made using a 2x2 rib pattern, until I thought they were long enough.  

The girls will get a pair of mittens too.  Using the chunky yarn is a great way to

knit because the project is finished in no time!

The Power of the Knitalong

A while back I read about magic loop method of knitting socks.  I was determined to find out about this mysterious trick, thinking I would have to wait a few years, and learn to be a better knitter first.  After knitting my first pair of socks on double points, I knew I wanted to learn magic loop and soon.  This is the exact moment when having a knitalong group is necessary, and valuable.
I went to knit night where a few ladies were knitting socks, among other things. I noticed Dawn was knitting socks with magic loop! I didn't want to intrude on her knit time, but was obviously staring at the knitting.   I mentioned that I really wanted to learn that, and she offered to show me.  She was concerned about showing me because she didn't feel she mastered the method, but to me she knew a whole lot more than I did, and I was eager to hear it. Between the cast on, and her demonstration of how to pull the needles, it took about 10 minutes to demonstrate.  I think I may have said, "That's it?"  Everything I knit in the round is using magic loop now.  A simple sharing of a knitting technique has totally changed how I knit and I am so thankful for the quick lesson.  You don't have to be a master to share knitting skills.  You only have to know a little something more than the next person, who wants to learn.  I was, and still am, so thankful for that little lesson.  I love the knitalongs!

My sock frenzy: Left, top down on magic loop. Center; toe up on magic loop. Right; started on dpns but learned magic loop and immediately switched while in the middle of the sock!