Knitting Update

Hi, my name is Jess, and I’m a knitting addict.

I have rapidly aquired a stash, a large array of needles, and a set of twitchy hands.

Here is a NeckWarmer that I knit in the last 24 hours… I love this yarn.

I have already got a scarf on the go with the rest of the skein. To see more photos of this one, and what else I’ve been creating, pop over to Epheriell Designs

What knitting has taught me about life…

Regular readers will have seen my foray into knitting recently. I’ve really been enjoying it - the creativity and the feeling of growing proficient at a new, constructive skill. It’s funny - I’ve never thought of myself as a ‘crafty’ type of person. Most of my life I have identified with intellectualism, and somehow looked down on traditional ‘feminine’ skills. I’m certainly not a girly girl - I’m not into the latest fashion trends, or shoes; I don’t wear makeup, or buy copious amounts of beauty products (though I still somehow seem to have a stash that rarely get used).

So, when I’ve told people that I’ve taken up knitting (and, also, jewellery making, but more on that in a later post), most of my friends and colleagues have looked at me askance, and said “knitting?!” Then I have to rise to my own defence. It’s fun, creative, constructive, and a skill for when the world reverts to a pre-oil society and chaos (okay, I don’t really say that last bit :P).

And, I have learnt something. One of the things I have been doing is experimenting. With different yarns, stitches, small items, adding beads… and more than once I have made a mistake, dropped a stitch, or just done something I’m not totally happy with… and I’ve unravelled it! I think it takes guts to undo something you have spent hours of your life creating. But it’s also queerly satisfying. Yes, I have created this, and yes, I am going to destroy it because I am not happy with how it has come out - and I’d rather re-use the materials for something else than waste them.

So, I will continue my creative/destructive journey with passion! Look out for some examples of my work. In fact, I have started another site, where I’m going to start selling some of this stuff when I make something I think is worthy of others! I already have a number of my photos and digital art pieces there and for sale on Zazzle, as well as some of my jewellery. If you ever want to check it out, have a look at EpheriellDesigns.com

My interest in jewellery making has also got me intrigued about the art of lampwork - hand-making unique glass beads. Check out a local organisation of mine to see what I mean! This stuff is seriously beautiful. I may have to investigate further…

Knitting Project Number 1 - Headband - Completed!

I was very proud of myself when I actually finished this headband yesterday:

Something to keep my ears warm next winter! Maybe by then I will have actually finished a scarf and a beanie of some description I have discovered that knitting is quite enjoyable, and I’ve now learnt the purl stitch and have been experimenting with that. I have also discovered that knitting the first row is the hardest - and I’ve knit a lot of those over the last few days!

I have also discovered that there is a lot of maths involved in knitting! Using the right sized needles, the right number of stitches to get the correct width, measuring to make sure I’m knitting witht the right tension - it’s all a bit complicated, to be truthful!

I think what I am enjoying about it the most is the feeling of creating something with my own hands. So much of what we wear and use these days is created and made by someone else, that it gives me a sense of achievement to make something myself! Working in a service profession, also, where I don’t actually make anything but appointments and lots of marks on paper, working with my hands is s nice change from the norm. And once I get into a rhythm, it’s almost meditative.

I’d show you a photo of what I’m working on now, but there are many little bits of different things, and it’s really quite an embarrassing mess…

Knitting, knitting, and more knitting!

Well, I ventured out today to the local knitting store, where I immediately bailed up the nice lady at the counter. Now, I was taught to knit by one of my babysitters as a kid, and about 6 years ago I tried it again - but I bought a terribly fussy yarn, with lots of fluffy bits, and it just got too frustrating. That project is still sitting in a box somewhere, needles attached!

So, I asked her advice about which yarn to start with, and which needles. I ended up with a colourful acrylic yarn, and some 5mm needles. Oh, and a Patons ‘Learn to Knit’ book. There are some nice simple patterns in there, but I thought I’d start really basic so as not to discourage myself.

The hardest part was learning how to cast on. There was a method described in the book, but I couldn’t figure it out - so I used the method outlined in this video on YouTube instead:

If you’re picking up the needles again after a long absence, it’s a great refresher! I’ll be going back and watching it again to learn how to cast off. So, my first few rows went well…

As of tonight, I have gotten this far:

I’ve only made two mistakes so far: I accidentally added an extra stitch in my second row, and I dropped a stitch a little ways back. But, overall, it’s been really easy.

Truly, as soon as I’d cast on and went to make that first knit stitch, it all just came back, and I just started knitting! My hands are a little sore from the unusual activity, but I’m hoping with time and practice this will disappear.

I’ve decided that this first project will be a headband, and I may try and find a few buttons to funk it up if possible. I’m really quite enjoying myself - I told Nick he may have to hide it from me, I just can’t seem to stop!

Those of you out there who knit - what was your first -completed- knitting project? And what cool things have you made?