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. 

I Needn't Have Worried

There is a risk to buying discontinued yarn at a great clearance price:  Will I have enough yarn?  What happens if I run out of yarn. (Admittedly, this is also a fear with regularly priced foreign purchased yarn.  Cough, Fuchsia Wave, cough. )

So when I found the perfect yarn for my brother's Smittens, I bought all that they had. Four pink, three gray, two black, and a couple variegated pink and blue skeins, just because they were pretty. 

I worried for nothing. One mitten finished, and I only used half a skein of yarn. So, even though the male half of the Smittens will be larger, I will still have plenty of yarn. 

Today, it is all about the yarn relief. 

The Coolest Knitting Group

We had a muggle guest at Knittervention. Someone brought her tween/teenage daughter, and she won first place, second place, and an honorable mention for the most mind boggling comments of the night. 

Regarding her lack of sociability with the group. "I just don't fit in with the cool knitting crowd."  I mentally examined her tone for sarcasm, but I really don't think she was being sarcastic. I think she really did want to be home playing video games. 

"Can we go home now? I'm hungry."  

"We are in an eating establishment. Order some food."

As for me, I just sat quietly and plugged away at my Elegant Ensemble scarf. Actually, I finished the skein, so I had to switch to a mitten. And I had to remember where I had stashed my stash.  (successfully located in my mothers basement last night) so the scarf goes on. 

Today, it is all about the cool comments. 

A Bad Day Turns Good

Yesterday wasn't REALLY a bad day. Not for me, at least. (Can't speak for my client.). I had a full-day Termination of Parental Rights trial. It was a long day. And a high stress day. But it ended with new yarn, and that is s good way to end any day. 

New, luscious, super soft and silky yarn. In fact, one of them was half silk. My fingers are just itching to pull out the needles and start knitting. Except that I already have soooo many things I am working on. If I get above 20 works in progress again, it will really get embarrassing. 

Maybe. I mean, is someone going to report me to the knitting police? Is there some sort of project maximum law of which I am not aware? Aren't I just doing my part to help the economy?

Someone stop me. Soon. Before I start another shawl. 

Today, is it is all about the new.