A Truly Pathetic Showing

After two hours at Knittervention, this is all I have to show for it. 

Cast on 5 stitches, work a few rows with some unusual increases, swear, order a second beer, rip out and start over.   Repeat. 

When I look in the clear, bright (sober) light of day, I think I should go up one needle size. I didn't swatch, because the yarn is unforgiving and I am concerned about yardage. 

So I may be starting over. But a bad night knitting is still a good night. 

Today it is all about the starts and restarts. 

Post-Downton Letdown

I swear, I didn't know what to do with myself last night.  No more Downton Abbey.  I know that it isn't like I didn't have a nine-month hiatus between seasons every year anyway, but this year, knowing I had watched the last made it more poignant and depressing.   

Downton was so knit-friendly.  Lots of dialogue in crisp British accents, with little action to miss while I glanced down at my hands.  Lots of eye candy of costumes and scenery, but nothing that prevented knitting.  And the era somehow made me want to knit yards of lace so I could look as sophisticated as the Countess of Grantham.  Downton will be missed, but it nice to know that I can still visit on DVD. 

Today, it is all about the melancholy.   

Here Endeth the Lesson

Last night, Mandy was introduced to the stockinette stitch. She got to knit and purl at the same time. Her conversion is complete. She is a knitter. Last night we talked about her first project.

Meanwhile, I saw something at Knittervention that I have NEVER seen before. I have seen organized knitters with all necessary tools in a handy dandy bag. Measuring tape, scissors, crochet hook, needle, and such.

But I have never seen anyone who carries around twenty or more needles in their bag. 

Congratulations, you just made the blog. 

Today, it is all about the needle overkill. 

Second Guessing

I am having second thoughts about my mitten guage. It seems like I should have used a smaller needle, to make a tighter, denser mitten. A warmer mitten. But I am quarter through the second mitten. 

That isn't too late to switch, is it?

Today, it is all about the timeliness. 

Purls of Wisdom

 Lesson 2: learning how to purl. Mandy had a decent amount of garter knit rows from the past two weeks. So I moved onto how to purl. She had finally gotten comfortable with knitting, and started to purl, immediately reduced her back to newborn deer trying to walk again.

One beer and two hours later, she was starting to get the hang of it. 

But it would appear that her purls are looser than her knits. Next time, we will work on tension. 

Today, it is all about the tutorials. 

I am Remembering to Measure this Time

It was not so very long ago that I knit a 10 foot wrap. That wasn't my intention. I was trying to make a wrap that would adequately fit my 5'1" frame. But somehow "10 skeins of Noro is plenty for a wrap" imperceptibly transformed into "don't stop knitting until you run out of yarn."  All was not lost, since it was simple (and a wee bit painful) to rip out a few feet of knitting. 

I am trying to learn from my mistakes. Four feet of scarf, and continuing. 

Today, it is all about the measuring. 

The First Taste is Free

I completed only a small amount of knitting last night at Knittervention, but that was by design.  I had another mission: to create a new knitter.  "I have needles and yarn, all you need to bring is yourself," and to my delight, she came.  I started off easy: cast on a few stitches for her, then taught the knit stitch.  At first, she said she felt like a newborn deer trying to walk, very awkward.  A few rows later, she was getting the hang of it.  I was on hand to correct any minor problems.  As she gained confidence and lost awkwardness, her tension improved. 

After two hours, I sent her off with the homework assignment to practice a little, and next time, we would learn the purl stitch. 

Today, it is all about the teaching.