So, I have just submitted request for membership in The Knitting Guild Association.  My plan is to work toward certification as a master knitter with this organization and begin broadening my techniques as well as get serious about designing.

M

I completed this very cute unisex sweater–had to pay my 6-year-old grandson $1 to try it on so I could assess accuracy of size.  🙂  It is difficult (for me) to determine how tight or loose I should make the bind-off around pullover necklines as there is a fine line between sloppy-loose and too-tight-to-stretch.  Anyway, this one went easily over his head.  A dollar well spent.  🙂

I had enough yarn to complete this girl’s pink bolero (size 2T).  (It is available for purchase at my shop on Etsy: MTThings.

So, ok…this week in Kansas has been very, very, VERY hot (it’s July) and I’m knitting, for Heaven’s sake.  Anyway, one of my goals this year has been to aggressively use my stash.  However, I can’t seem to master how to determine whether or not I have enough yarn because well, it’s skein ends.  Thus, I can’t rely on labels for length information.  Here is an example.  I’ve got approximately 1/3 of a sleeve left as well as the collar and not very much yarn left.  Fingers crossed I have enough.  If not, I’ll go back to Hobby Lobby and get more of their I Love This Yarn #100 Pink–enough for the remainder of this project and enough to complete another.

What started out today as a routine skein-to-ball wind ended up as a big mess.  This is what I get for trying to hurry.  When I’ve gotten it untangled, though, it will become a lovely item.  🙂

I saw a quote today that really resonated:  “Every book you’ve ever read is just a different  combination of the same 26 letters” (-unknown author).  (Technically true using the American English alphabet.)  It occurred to me that knitting is no different.  Every project is a combination of knit and purl stitches and enhanced by buttons or other add-ons.   Let me illustrate.  I saw this pattern in an old Vogue knitting magazine and finally had the time to make it.  Mine is a little different than the pattern due to unclear directions and it still needs to be blocked, but it turned out well, I think.  🙂

I can’t remember learning to knit or sew.  Thanks to my (very patient) mother, creating useful and lovely things out of textiles is an integral part of my life.  These are skills that, for me, are never fully mastered but forever intriguing and joyously satisfying when completed, although the end results are not always what was expected.  Along the way I have come to appreciate the patterns and colors that surround me–both literally and metaphorically.  Because working on projects such as these requires concentration, I have found a way to relax and think as I continue to learn and hone my craft and along the way create items that I love and may reflect your style.  I am curious to see where this goes.  🙂

M