Posts Tagged ‘Keeping Warm’

First Knitted FO

I learned to knit a couple of years ago. I finally sat down with multiple youtube videos and strained my brain until I finally got it. (For the crocheters out there, I recommend learning Continental style with short needles to improve your odds of picking it up!).

The motivation for learning how to knit was actually borne out of my desire to figure out how to do crochet entrelac properly. I thought learning how to knit it would help things along. So, once I had the basics of knit and purl down, I tried out knitting entrelac. I learned how to increase, and decrease, and how to pick up stitches (though, I’m not convinced I’m doing that right yet – entrelac should look like rectangles not trapezoids). I taught myself how to do cables and knit in the round and change colours, too.

With all of this knowledge, it’s only natural that my very first finished knitting project be…

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Wait… garter stitch?

Yes, my first knitted item ended up being a Doctor Who scarf for my brother-in-law.

For those not familiar with this pattern, it is the knit stitch, worked over and over and over again until the scarf is freakishly long (and then you add tassels). (Specs: Vanna’s Choice yarn in Brick, Burgundy, Charcoal Grey, Beige, Toffee, Mustard, and Olive. 4mm circular needles)

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Even though I had to go out into the main hall of our apartment building to get a picture that showed the length, the scarf did end up a bit shorter than the authentic one worn by Tom Baker (the fourth Doctor). It was supposed to be 20 feet long, but mine is only 14 feet. I do believe it’ll stretch out over time, though!

Come to think of it, taking pictures of this thing was quite a challenge. Usually to display scarves I employ the services of my trusty sidekick, Roopurt,
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but…
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In a neat turn of good luck, a few days after I finished the scarf, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee was launching her new book here in town. I, of course, brought the scarf to show her:
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I think she was impressed. ^_^
(Also, I love that the people in line behind me are knitting while they wait to have their books signed!)

Rainbows Make It Better

So sorry about the blog outage! We had a family emergency and ended up accidentally missing the renewal date for the web hosting. Whoops!

All is well now, so check out this scarf I made:
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This is a Queen Anne’s Lace scarf using Bernat Mosaic yarn (Psychedelic colourway). I believe this pattern is available in many places; I found it as a free download on Ravelry (you need to be a member of Ravelry to get it, I think!)

It looks more complicated than it actually is. This pattern had a bit of a tricky bit, at least it seemed so to me! Whenever it says “work into the first (whatever)” it means to work into the one closest (to the left) of your hook. Clear as mud? ^_^

ETA: I posted this project on Craftster and it was declared one of the “Best of 2010″. Go me!

Craftster Best of 2010 Winner
I’m a Craftster Best of 2010 Winner!

Random 1

1. I’ve started up the Crochet Board challenges again on Craftster (click here). This time around the theme is “fantasy”. You have to have a Craftster account to enter, but accounts are free (and rewarding, imo!)

2. I’ve also started compiling Craftster-hosted “How To Crochet” tutorials here. There are only a few there at the moment, but that will change soon! Read the post and help out if you can!

3. I’m officially a “designer” on Ravelry (here I am – you need a Ravelry account to see this. Again, it’s free and rewarding!)

4. One of the main reasons I love crocheting is this: one day my feet were cold. The next:
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Problem solved!
(yarn: Bernat Solf Boucle, hook: 6mm, pattern: winging it!)