Yarn Cake!

What is a poor knitter to do when she has some lovely, squishy yarn that she needs to wind into a center pull ball without a yarn ball winder or swift?  She improvises!

Take one used toilet paper roll:

Cut a slit into one side and stick the end of your yarn through it:

Wrap your yarn around the toilet paper roll.  I sit in my comfy chaise with my knees up and put the skien of yarn around my knees in place of a swift..sorry no silly  pictures of that.

And, viola, you've got yourself a yarn cake.

It ain't pretty and it takes a bit longer than using a ball winder, but it does the job nicely!  No, I'm not the first person to figure this out, but I there are probably others out there that didn't know this little trick.

Changes, They are a Comin'!

I am mad at myself for only writing a post once a month the last few months.  There are many excuses, like a couple of sickly dogs and being generally busy at work, but I'm still not happy about it.  The dogs are all on the mend now.  The oldest had a back problem which lead to the discovery of a mass in her liver.  It can't really be operated on, but it isn't really causing her any problems except that her liver becomes infected at points.  Our middle doggie also had two masses, but these were causing problems and he had to be operated on.  A huge incision and mucho money later and he is well on his way to recovery.

I guess it is not as bad as it seems.  It doesn't seem to bother him too much.

I've got several projects going on that I am excited about.

1.  I am studying for my Certified Online Teacher Certificate.  I've taken the online classes, now I have to pass a test and develop and teach 2 online courses for the certifying association to critique.  This is for my position at UT, but I envision myself working on some outside interests with this new skill.  My mind keeps coming up with ideas to use this skill with my knitting obsession so hopefully I can make that happen soon.

2.  I am test knitting a wonderful skirt by Andrea Rangel I have been a fan of hers since I saw her Hex pattern in the Fall 2009 Knitty.  Truth be told, it was that pattern that finally made me get off my butt and learn to knit.  As soon as I finish this test knit for her, I will be casting on a Hex shawl in burnt orange!  It will be a fun knit while I am enjoying some longhorn football.

Here is a sneak peek of my test knitting

This skirt is a very fun, but a bit of a slow knit, especially for a slow knitter like me.  Since I am working on a deadline, I've had to put aside some of my other projects for a bit including my summer sweater university project and my own first pattern.  After I finish the skirt, I am going to concentrate on my first hat pattern because I already have a second pattern in mind!

3.  I don't know if it is a mid-life crisis or what, but I have been struggling with wanting to make some major changes in my life.  I couldn't figure out what it was I wanted to do differently, just that there needed to be a change.  It has been something that has been going on for awhile, but I have chosen to ignore it since I didn't for the life of me know what direction I wanted to go in.  After spending a lot of time contemplating what was going on with me, I think that I finally have it figured out.  I can't go into any details right now, but in the next few of months I hope to be able to announce a pretty major change in my life.  While this change isn't directly related to my knitting, I hope that eventually it will allow me to explore knitting in a more professional way too!!

I also hope to post more frequently on my blog than I have been.  If you have any topics you would like me to discuss on this blog please share your ideas!

I'mmm Back!

There have been a few things going on that seemed to have sucked the creativity out of me.  Mostly in the writing department...thus the lack of posts this month.  But that does not mean that I haven't been actively knitting and/or learning more about knitting.

We started the Sweater University this month.  I only got to attend the first meeting because of a visit from some family, but I am excited to see everyone tomorrow at Very Pink Headquarters.  I have made great progress on my Que Sera sweater!  I should be past shaping the armholes today!  Very exciting.  I love this pattern by Kristin Kaper of Through the Loops fame.  I've also just seen her newest design which will be released around my birthday!!  I may have to knit the new pattern as a birthday present to myself.

I attended a great class with Franklin Habit on Lace Knitting and its history.  He is a great instructor and I learned a lot.  I wish I could have stayed to be a part of his second class that day on lace borders, but family obligations kept me from attending.  I look forward to him coming back to Austin!!

I've had to back step a bit on my featherweight cardi. :(  I had knitted the arms using dpns and it just wasn't working out for me.  I've ordered some 9" circulars and will be giving it another go as soon as they arrive.  I can't wait because I really am happy with the way the rest of the sweater was going.  I think I will be knitting another one of these...perhaps in yellow to go with a new skirt.

I finished one knitted birthday present and began another.  After that project is completed I must turn my attention toward Christmas knitting.  I know many ladies who will be getting some French Press Slippers this year and a couple of guys who will get a Dwarven Battle Bonnet for a good laugh (and some good photos).  I'd rather get everything done early so that I can relax and knit something for myself for Christmas.

Finally, I just cast on for my first knit design!  I am very excited.  It has been bouncing around in my head for awhile now.  It is a hat and I will hopefully have the design written out soon.  I'll then have to have some other knitters look it over and make suggestions.

So while my writing has been slow, the knitting creative juices are flowing!!  I'll turn more attention to my post now too.

Going Back to School

I am very excited that the Knitting Nest's Sweater University begins tonight.  We will be meeting in their new store for the first time.  Starting this course got me thinking about my history with knitting...

Everyone comes to knitting in his or her own way.  Mine included an almost 25 year hiatus before I became obsessed with knitting.  I was around 16 when I expressed an interest in knitting to my mother.  She was encouraging and signed me up for a beginning class in my hometown.  Although she doesn’t knit, she is a crafty woman and always tried to encourage that in me.  Immediately after finishing the beginning course, I decided to knit a sweater as my first project.  Then I picked out some cotton yarn that screamed 80s.

I started out the project and it went ok for a bit, but I suffered from a syndrome that I now know often plagues new knitters…super tight knitting.  That, on top of the fact that I was using cotton yarn, which does not have the nice springy action of wool, made my hands and head ache.  I remember throwing the sweater down in frustration with just the neck completed.  I don’t think I ever picked up needles again until the fall of 2009.  Surprisingly, my mother still had the yarn from 25 years ago!

Once I was reintroduced to knitting, how I wished I had stuck it out as a teenager!  I could just imagine how skilled I would be now, but when I was honest with myself, I realized that even if I had picked an easier first project or some more friendly yarn, I just didn’t have the stick-to-it-ness needed to complete any project as a teen.  My closet was full of different craft projects I had started and never finished.  I think I had a lot of growing up to do to before I would get over that problem.

Now that I have rediscovered my love of knitting, I want to do what I can to encourage other new knitters out there or those who just can’t finish a project to give it a try!

The Creative Juices are Flowing!

I had a minor health issue recently.  It is all taken care of now, but I had to take a few days off work.  I couldn't do much, but I was able to sit and knit quite well, thank you!  I finished the Toddler Tunic I was working on for a soon to arrive baby girl.  As usual I bought way more yarn than I needed so I figured why not knit a couple of other pink baby girl things.  Soon I had some baby booties and a cute hat, all in a sweet light pink color.  Now I just have to wrap them and get them in the mail (which is always the hardest thing for me for some reason...probably due to my laziness).  Once they are received and opened by the special expectant mother, I will share some photos.

After completing that project, I wasn't sure what I should start next, but settled on a featherweight cardi (ravelry link) in Spinning Colors yarn.  I got a skein of Emerald lace yarn that is to die for!  This is my first green sweater and since green is my favorite color I am very happy.  I had never knit lace weight yarn before so I was a bit intimidated.  I am happy to say that it is going very well and much quicker than I expected.  This will be a sweater that I can use quite a bit even here in Texas.  It's light weight makes it perfect for wearing inside in the summer, when people seem to turn the AC to freezing in my office.

My new sweater addiction is happily being supported by my LYS, the Knitting Nest's Sweater University.  This group will meet every other week during the summer to work on a sweater of our choice.  I can't wait to graduate! :)

Also, I just found out today about a great e-course in early June to help me get the creative juices flowing!  To make it even better it is FREE!  I hope to get some good ideas to revamp my blog and start getting some more ideas for some knitting designs by moi.

Happy Knitterversary!

I became a knitter 6 months ago today.  I took the beginning knitting course at the Knitting Nest with Staci Perry and started my first project (ravelry link).  Looking back, I can't believe how much I've accomplished over these few months.

• 17 projects of various sizes and skill levels completed.  Currently 5 WIPs.
• I can't even count the number of classes I've taken.  Well, I probably could, but I'm too lazy to go back through my calendar.
• I made my first sweater! (and developed a new addiction, I'm afraid!)
• I can make socks.
• I've learned if you make one French Market Bag, you will make many more.  All your friends and family will want one.

So this made me think about the future.  What do I want to explore in the next 6 months?

• Designing - I have my first design in my head.  I just have to knit it and then write the pattern.  It is a very simple, silly something, but you have to start somewhere.
• I'm signed up for a Beginning Lace class in June with Franklin Habit at the Knitting Nest.  This will be my first step into lace knitting.
• I'm so excited about the Summer Sweater Club.  I'm signed up to make the Que Sera Sweater and I have the best yarn.
• I suspect that both of these courses above will teach me to learn how to read a chart.  I haven't been able to wrap my head around that yet.

Whatever the future brings I am looking forward to it!  On top of this anniversary, I am celebrating being married to my hubby for 11 years!  It is a going to be a good weekend!

Catching Up

It has been a long time since my last post!  First, I had been waiting to finish my sweater, then I had a week-long conference to deal with.  Those conferences tend to suck the life out of me.  I did still find time to knit.

Anyway, my first sweater is complete, but lacking any buttons.  Tah-Dah...

I think some small silver buttons will look very nice!  Here is the obligatory headless sweater shot...

I'm very happy with the way it turned out.  It is very soft and I love the color.

I just finished by third French Market Bag for my MIL.  Now it is time to pull out the pink yarn for a new baby who will arrive in a few weeks.  I think a nice toddler tunic and baby booties will be just the ticket!

For myself, I think I am going to quickly knit up some French Press Slippers...so cute!!!