Wow! October already. Here we are at Thanksgiving in Canada. Thought I would share with you what I'm thankful for. :)
NeoKnitter is thankful for:
- my husband who continues to learn and grow and change for the better as we share our lives together
- my kids who continue to surprise me every day and are a real joy in my life
- friends and family who are a positive influence on me and support me in so many ways
- yarn and needles that help me relax and enjoy some quiet times
- for each of you who stops in here to read what I have to say and share in the projects I'm making as well as my life
I'm sure there is more that I'm thankful for but this is good for now. :) Hope all of you have as many and more blessings as I. Happy Thanksgiving!
I am frustrated!!! :( I've been working away on the first sleeve of my sweater. I tried it on and I think it's too tight. Not sure what I'm going to do.... I think it's going to mean ripping it back some and adjusting where the decreases are. Oi! The work..... :P So I'm going to work on my shawl instead. Hopefully I'll feel like it this weekend. Wish me luck!
That's what I'm trying to do. I've got a load of WIPs that I would like to have off the needles before Nerd Wars starts again next month. There's also Christmas presents to start thinking of so the less WIPs the better.
I've got:
some Steeler-inspired fingerless mitts
my sweater
a shawl (sorry, no pic. seriously need to take one....)
and a pair of socks for Tookie
Here's hoping I get them done before the end of September....
I made a couple of things for a baby that's coming in October. A few of us are mailing a surprise down to the mom-to-be. :) Hope she will like the surprise.
Here's my contribution....
I can't believe it, but it's my birthday today. I don't really feel any different. I'm not feeling any older than yesterday. I don't think my hair is any more grey than the day before. The kids will still drive me crazy. The same things as yesterday have to be done again. The world still rolls on like every other day.
But I can make it special for me. So far it's been relaxing. The kids are getting along and being pretty good. We're going out for lunch with a dear friend of mine. And I'm sure to sit and knit some later. Must make sure to pick up the needles that have a project on for me. ;)
Here's to today and the next year. May it be a good one.
And LittleBlackDuck, if you read this, happy birthday to you too! ;)
Alright, before anyone gets excited... we are NOT having any more babies. LOL We have a daughter and a son, and that is enough for us. The reason I'm talking baby knits is I've been doing up some things for babies lately.
I forgot how fun it was to craft little things for wee ones. For each of my kids, I knitted a white blanket for them while I was pregnant with them. Afterwards I've mostly just made them hats for the winter months. I was never into making sweaters, and booties, and pants, and bibs, and... When they were small, I figured they would grow out of them too fast so why bother? A blanket was good and way more practical. Sometimes I wish I had more small things for my darlings but then I also didn't have much time for knitting then. I was happy to get a hat made before it got too cold or they outgrew it.
But now I've got friends having babies and more time to knit so I've added a few baby items to my never ending WIP. (There are so many WIPs, I haven't even updated my list, just trying to knock them off.) I'm hoping to get better at writing down my patterns so that I will be able to publish some, or at least be able to knit them again. ;)
Do you do that? Do you loose patterns that you make up? I recently got a larger notebook so that I can write my patterns in it after I've knit something up. I usually make notes in a tiny little book (like what line I'm on) but it's really not enough space for writing out a pattern. Hopefully that will organize things a little bit more. And I'm working at typing them up more often too. I've got a great publishing program. Just need to use it.
For those that have been commenting on my blog, honestly, I didn't notice until today. I keep forgetting to check that email address the notes go to. I will try to be better at seeing them and responding when you do. Thank you for writing to me. And thank you for reading my blog. :)
I have loved knitting for a long time. Some periods of time throughout my life, I've put down the needles to do other things, but they have always been there, waiting for me to have time again to pick them back up and knit again.
Not too long ago, I stumbled upon Ravelry, a website for yarn lovers of all kinds.
Those who knit, crochet, weave, etc. gather on this website to share patterns, yarn, and unite other interests in beautiful projects as well as sharing their lives with other yarn-focused crafters. This group of crafters has renewed my passion for knitting and inspired me with a new one - designing my own knits.
I never thought of doing this before. I always figured some knitting gurus created patterns for me to follow. But I've realized lately that I can create my own. :) How exciting! I've started off with some small stuff and am learning different techniques as I go. Sometimes I look at other patterns to get some ideas of how I could start something or a way to do a stitch pattern. Sometimes I just make it up as I go. I've even been making up my own charts (by hand). I'm hoping that as I progress I'll be able to and brave enough to tackle larger projects.
I need to have a lot of patience for this. I've learned new cast on methods and practiced them multiple times till I think I've got it. And while the knitting goes on, I've decided to change things which means wripping it out and starting again or tinking back to the place where I need to make a change. A lot of times the projects have to get started again and again until I'm happy with it.
Lots of Ravelers design their own patterns and give them away or sell them on the website. Some day I hope to get to that point and be able to sell my own. It's getting it all written up with good pictures that slows down the process for me right now. I get the pattern written down by hand, knit up the item, take some pictures, and then get blocked by my own desire to craft more rather than typing it up.
Are you inspired to create your own designs? What would you make that you haven't been able to find? Do you think you could brave it and take an idea out of your head, scribble it on paper and create it on your needles?
