Week at a Glance

It's been a rough week, one I wouldn't want to live again, even to correct mistakes I've made.

I'm still ill, so I'll be calling the doctor tomorrow.

Not much progress has been made on the sweater. I did finish my new square for the Healthful Throw, but alas, for some reason, it's too big again. It didn't start out that way. This is so frustrating. I'm thinking of sending it anyway, in case someone else sent one that it wee bit small. Then maybe this one could make up for it. Maybe I'll just send a little money to help pay to ship the finished throw to Georgia.

I've made a little progress on the blanket, not much though, as it's been a very slow knitting week. I don't think it will take much longer to finish it, once I have the time to really sit and work on it regularly.

I want to finish the sweater too but the week has been just too tough to attempt any complicated techniques (aka ie. techniques I have not yet tried)at all. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to do a little work to the sweater before going to bed. I'll be trying to figure out how to work the two colors at one time, as I have not yet mastered working with two colors at once. I'm sure it's just a matter of finding a comfort zone, rather than rocket science.

I'm looking forward to being finished with something. I NEED to finish something.

Nothing to do with Knitting

One of the ladies at the office just got two puppies. They are so cute. They are little Yorkies. With her permission, I'm posting the picture she sent me.

Just seeing them made my day a little brighter.
Hope it perks up your day too!

Knitting like crazy

I'm knitting the square for the Healthful Throw. This is the replacement for the one that I made that was too big. I have no idea why I waited so late to do this. I had every intention of knitting this over the weekend and sending it out Monday morning.

Hopefully, I'll be able to knit it up quickly so it can, in fact, go out tomorrow.

Knitting Needles

I need to get a few more circular needles or an interchangeable set. I'm really a bamboo kind of girl but I do like the Inox needles that I'm using for my sweater. I've been debating about the interchangeable sets and have heard pros and cons about several.

I love the idea of the portability and of an interchangeable set but I also like the idea of just having the specific needles sizes for whatever I need in a regular needle. I have found that the Inox are faster for me than bamboo but it's not the same calming feeling as with the bamboo.

Decisions, decisions...

Funny thing is, I took one of those tests at quizilla a while back. I know it really doesn't mean anything but it was interesting. It came with results of interchangeable. I took it again today, just for kicks and I came out as bamboo.

Wonder what I answered differently than the last time.

I've removed the picture and link because it made the page go beserk.

I think I need to join a guild

Class last night was very interesting. I asked my questions but ended up feeling more cautious than ever! I think I'm just going to keep knitting and attempt to do it all on my own. I'm just going to finish out the class to be able to ask questions that I think will help me finish.

Class was pleasant, other than my inability to just spit out that I didn't want to do any extra cutting, just the cutting specified in the pattern. I also failed to express that I wanted to do the cutting and sewing myself so that I could learn to do it properly. I just feel like a little alien being when I tell them things because I'm guessing everyone feels really comfortable just doing things this way.

While moving the stitches to mark the center of my garment, I dropped a stitch. Of course it was a stitch within a cable. I was planning to rip back to the dropped stitch but my instructor, kind soul that she is, fixed it right up for me. She pulled out some books for me to see that had beautiful patterns and we talked about some of the different possibilities for socks and hats.

One of the other students gave me GREAT compliments on my progress so far. They are all impressed about how quickly my sweater is going and said my stitches look really even. I will really miss being with other knitters when this class is done.

Knitting Class Prep

I'm getting my questions together for my class. I think I've figured out a few things but I still have some questions about the instructions and techniques required.

I'm still concerned about finishing before the class ends. I've decided that I can't repeat this class. It seems just crazy to do so. I have no idea how much time I'll have to put into knitting to be able to finish by the end of the allotted time but I need to figure it out.

There are for three classes left after this week's class, thereby leaving three weeks for me to finish.

I need to do the colourwork, knit the upper portion which I'm guessing will include the steeks, knit the neckline, knit the sleeves on double points, then attach the sleeves. Seems like a lot of work is still left.


I've got to keep the needles clicking! I must do EVERYTHING that requires assistance within the allotted time! I've just got to figure out how to get everything done within three weeks, or, at the very, I've got to finish all the areas I can't do without the assistance of a knowlegeable knitter present.

I refuse to repeat this class.

Clueless but Continuing

I read over the directions again last night for the colourwork on the sweater. It may as well be written in hieroglyphics. I'm going to keep reading over it until I figure it out. I'm thinking of even writing it out in separate little steps for more clarification.

When I was reading it last night, my head was in a fog and none of it made any sense to me. Today, I'm understanding more and more of what they mean...at least I hope I am.

Got a few rows done on the afghan when I couldn't sleep. I'm anxious for a finished project so I've got to keep going. With a little luck and determination, I should have a Finished Object very soon.

Allergies, Flu, Cold...Something

Yuck, yuck, and triple yuck! I'm not quite sure what's going on with my body but there is some form of crud within me that is making me feel awful. All I want to do is sleep but since breathing is either painful or difficult without regular nose blowing, even that isn't as enjoyable as it could be.

In any event, I got a few rows done yesterday on the afghan. I have no idea how I measured the thing the last time because there is no way in the world that's it's going to be a full-sized afghan. Whatever the case, my son has pretty-much claimed it as his own. I guess I'm just knitting for him.

I'm going to try to get to Wal-mart today for more tissues, medication, and such. While I'm there, I'm going to try to pick up a battery for my camera. This is an older 35mm camera that probably needs some work done to it. I need to know if it's in operable order, as the last time I took pictures with it I think there was a problem. I'll try to get a few shots of the afghan. Please let me remind you it is not an object over which I expect oohing and ahhing? It is, however, a project that will soon be finished!

Speaking of finishing, I need to make my square for the Healthful throw. It should have been finished and gone by now. I had planned to knit it this weekend. I had even put the yarn, needles, scissors, and tape measure all in my purse on Friday. I have lost one of the needles! Can't find it anywhere! Going to do the square on the next needle size down as I don't have time to spare with the deadline being next Monday!

I'm already on my to becoming a circular needle convert. This last incident is just pushing me one step closer. I am now on a missing to find even shorter circular needles to replace my regular straights and also for Thuy who wants some small circulars as well.

Vintage

I am now the proud owner of Learn How Book, No. 170-B, published in 1959 by Coats and Clark. It has knitting, crocheting, tatting, and embroidery in it.

In the knitting section, I want to try the sock pattern and the hat. The cabled sweater is pretty, but it's for older boys and girls. There's a possibility of me trying the twin set but it's not especially appealing.

In the crocheting section, I want to try the placemat, the afghan, and I want to learn the knot stitch.

I'm not a tatter or an embroiderer at this point (is embroiderer a word?,) but I'll probably read through all the information since both crafts interest me.

My husband's aunt gave this lovely book to me. I've been telling her about my knitting and crocheting and she told me she had a book for me. When I went by to show her the progress on my sweater, she gave it to me.

The book is in great condition and looks almost new.

Thank you to a wonderful lady!

I've always liked the idea of making something from the older patterns.

Best of Rowan

I picked up the Best of Rowan. I haven't had a chance to look at it in any detail just yet. Amazon had it for $35.00 but it was out of stock. Books-A-Million had it for $31.50 and Barnes and Noble doesn't even have it available at all. I paid considerably less for it, so I'm excited. It was published in 1998, so I'm hoping to get get some of the patterns I've missed from older Rowan Magazines.

I looked at shawl patterns today. I'm drooling over the Faroese Flowers Shawl by Lucy Neatby. A good picture is HERE. Not sure I'm ready for this yet, as I'm told it's pretty challenging.

Going to try to get the yarn for the Pi Shawl this week.

I've knit almost nothing today. It's been a hectic day. Hopefully, I can at least get a few stitches done on the blanket.

Right now it hurts to breathe, so I may just go to bed.

Progress is a wonderful thing

I am ready for colourwork or at least the sweater is ready. I've been too chicken to read the full instructions to start the colourwork. I'm going to read the full pattern again today. Depending upon whether or not I can figure out how to do it properly, I'll start today. If I'm unable or if I'm just too nervous, I'll put it off until my next class.

I knit a few rows of the blanket last night. I'm knitting it on US 8 needles. After working with US 3 and US 4 for so long, it feels like knitting with planks. The Bernat Denimstyle is a lot tougher to knit than the Mandarin Petite. I don't know if it's because of the thickness of the yarn or just the fiber content.

I'll be tackling a few more rows of the blanket today in addition to being hopeful of continuing with the sweater.

The Blanket

A few months ago I started knitting a blanket. I only worked on it occasionally. Originally, it was intended to be a baby blanket but then I changed my mind. Due to the nature of the pattern, changing it from a baby blanket to a full-sized blanket is not a problem.

The blanket is from Knitting for Baby, by Melanie Falick. I've seen the pattern elsewhere, however, including HERE, HERE, (diagonal knitted baby blanket) and HERE.

After reading many reviews from members at KR, I decided to make the blanket in Bernat Denim, as it would be inexpensive and fully washable. I can't say I'm as happy with this yarn as others seem to be but I'd use it again for a throw blanket, a scarf, or a hat. The funny thing is, whenever I've taken the project with me, people love it. They always want to touch it and it gets so many compliments.

I took the blanket back out today to get an idea of just how much work was left to finish it. Something about it is very endearing, in an odd sort of way. Maybe because it's my first REAL project. Lately I've been thinking of my sweater as my first project but in reality, it's probably just the first project I'm going to finish...

It's way too large to put on the scanner but I'll try to get a picture of it. It's huge and not particularly attractive but for some reason, I just love it. It reminds me of warmth, labor (as in working hard for your family,) and love.

It represents my desire to knit becoming a reality to me. (Sorry, didn't mean to get philosophical and deep.)

The Sweater

I got a few more rows of the sweater done last night. I still felt awful, but knitting was more enjoyable than Wednesday night's knitting. The sweater is wonderfully soft. My son looked at it last night, as I was knitting, and asked again about it being his sweater. I held it up to him as if he were wearing it. He smiled from ear to ear. He loves to touch it and is so proud of it. Sometimes he'll sit in my lap and hold the needles with me. I don't know who is more excited about this garment, me or him!

When I held it up to him, it was more than ample enough in width. Lengthwise, it covered almost 3/4 of his little back. Since right now, it's approximately 9 in/23 cm long, I'm hoping it wont hang on him like a dress. I'm not supposed to start the color pattern until I get to 25 cm. I had debated about making it a little longer, so he'd be able to wear it longer, but now I'm not so sure. I'm going to have to do a little more research on the yarn to see about shrinkage. I did not keep my swatch. I frogged it to be able to use the yarn. Therefore, I can't just wash the swatch and note differences. Might have to swatch again so I can wash it.

The yarn is Mandarin Petite. My son cannot wear wool, so I went with a mercerized cotton. You can find the yarn at Bea Ellis Knitwear but not many other places. I bought mine from my class instructor. My only complaint is it splits very easily.

Here's another progress scan. Again, it's hard to lay the garment parallel to the yardstick when the garment has more than one side and you can't see the side which is next to the scanner. I know; I know. I really need to just get my digital camera in working order.



If I'm brave enough, I'll start the colourwork this weekend. If not, I'll wait for class or start on the sleeves. I also have to reknit a square for the Healthful Throw so I can get that mailed.

Wish I felt better.

Fiber Art Bloggers / Comments

I registered with Fiber Art Bloggers. I've inserted the code into the template, no small feat for a newbie, so I'm figuring it will take a couple of days or so before it's activated. I tried clicking on the "next" under the button and it took me back to the ring that said I was still in the queue.

My Comments function does not seem to be working here at Kimberly's Korner. I have a friend who has been trying to leave a comment for several days. I e-mailed Blogger to see about having it fixed, as I have enabled the comments so that ANYONE can leave them, not just members.

So, for now, until Blogger fixes it, if you'd like to leave a comment, please e-mail me at kimberlyskorner@hotmail.com

I'll have a salad, please

I'm a little larger than I'd like to be. Some of the styles I like, including garments that are knit, are more flattering on a leaner frame. I don't want to be skinny, rail thin, or anything like that.

I came across an article today that really got me to thinking about eating more fruits and vegetables.

Voila

New Knitter's Mag

I ordered a subscription to Knitter's Magazine. My first issue, Summer 2004, arrived yesterday. I was too sick to look at it but thought it would be cool to be able to savor the anticipation of reading it today.

I'm loving the Lily of the Valley Shawl on page 36. This is a 'Must-Do.'

Peach Plaits, on page 70, appeals to me, but not for summer.

Call me crazy, but it seems like the sweater on page 72, Crosswalk, is more of a bathing suit cover up. It barely covers anything, actually. I'd have to wear something under it and that defeats the whole purpose of a summer sweater! Might be a good one for the fall if you've got a good shell to wear under it, or if you're the brazen type.

For some reason, I'm drawn to the blanket/afghan on page 90, called Drunken Squares. It just looks warm and homey. I'd change the colors, though. It would probably be a good blanket for a family room/play room. Scanning through the pattern instructions, I notice it involves a little crocheting. I need to look-up "chain stitch embroidery" to see what that is. The only thing that concerns me with this type of project is uniformity of square size. Although my stitches are pretty consistent, I'm not sure if they are consistent enough for this type of project yet. Guess that's where blocking comes in.

You can even nominate someone for Knitter of the Year. Have someone in mind?

This is not my favorite issue of Knitter's but I'm not sorry I subscribed.

Must acquire yarn for Lily of the Valley Shawl.

Almost to the colourwork

Last night I got a few more rows done. I'm getting closer and closer to the colourwork portion and I'm excited. I didn't get as much knitting done as I would have liked because I felt so incredibly awful. Sinus pain, pressure, I had it all. I finally figured I'd jump in the shower and see if washing possible pollen out of my hair would help. Of course, I didn't see any pollen in my hair but I figured there must be some there.

The shower didn't really help. My head hurt worse and I felt dizzy. I climbed into bed and forced myself to do a few more rows. It was not enjoyable knitting, so I decided maybe I should just put the sweater away. This is something I'm making for my child, so I wanted to make it lovingly.

After considering how I felt about keeping love in my stitches (corny, I know,) I felt better about knitting and made a few more stitches before putting the sweater down.

There's only about 3 more cm's left before I start the colourwork!

The Panic has Subsided

I am no longer in a panic about my sweater. I did a little research and found that Wendy, over at Wendy Knits, has a lot of experience cutting and doing steeks. She also had an interesting button that read, "Stop being Stupid" which made me think that maybe, just maybe, I was in a panic for no good reason. Maybe cutting is really not such a bad thing.

In my class, the word steeks has never been used. Very little terminology of any kind is actually exchanged. I think the class is just a little too informal for me. I hate to say that because I really like the instructor. She's kind, patient, pleasant, and knows so much. Maybe I just attempted this class too soon.

Anyway, I'm going to read through the entire pattern again. I'm going to write out my questions and see if I can get them answered. I only have four classes left. I really wanted to be able to finish or come close to finishing this project by the time the class ended and I still have to do the colourwork pattern and the sleeves, which also have a colourwork pattern.

I made quite a bit of progress last night and I'm almost at the point of which I start the colourwork pattern on the body of the sweater. I'm a little nervous about it but I think I'm just going to dive in and try it! I'll just teach myself, since the next class isn't for a few days and I need to keep moving.

Although I'm no longer in a panic, I'm still slightly nervous.

Since I mentioned Wendy earlier, I'd just like to say that she has knit some tremendous projects. Her site is quite inspiring.

Can you help me??????

The pattern I'm making for my class is from SandnesGarn. It's from this book, #9 Barn/Voksne.

It's in the Peer Gynt Pattern Book about mid-way down the page. There are two adults on the front cover wearing black and white sweaters with an older child in a green, red and yellow sweater in the bottom left hand corner.

There's even a pattern for a log cabin afghan, felted socks, mittens, hats, pillows...I'm pleased with the selection.

The sweater pattern I am making, #15, says it is written for the knitter to knit it "in the round to the neckline." "Armholes are later sewn and cut open. If you wish to avoid cutting, the armholes start when the garment measures approx..." Then it tells you to work within a certain chart for a certain number of centimeters/inches for each section. It says sleeves are knit on dpns.

I WANT TO AVOID CUTTING!!! IT NEVER SAYS WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT! IT ONLY SAYS THAT YOU CAN AVOID CUTTING AND TELLS YOU WHERE THE SLEEVES WOULD START, BASED ON THE SIZE YOU ARE MAKING.

When I mention making it without cutting during my class, they just kind of chuckle.

Should I write to SandnesGarn/Peter Gynt? Have any of you out there ever made any of these patterns? Should I just go boldly forth with cutting?

HELP ME PLEASE!!!

Blogger Blues

I decided to alter the template and give my little blogging home a new face. Much to my dismay, another blogger, who's blog I like to visit, had chosen the same template.

Since there are only so many templates, and many of us have not learned to make our own, I'm sure that there are an extensive number of people who have chosen the same template. Since I had planned to include a link to her blog, however, I did not want the same cookie-cutter look.

Alas, I must learn to create my own or at least to modify an existing template. I am on my way, as I have already changed the font and I've printed out some HTML basics to learn.

Wish me luck but don't expect drastic changes too soon.

Pictures, I hope

This is my first attempt at posting pictures, so it could be interesting.
**WARNING & DISCLAIMER
These pictures are from a scanner, with the object placed on the scanner quickly, not arranged in a particularly flattering way, as I learned too late but don't plan to scan again until I've made further progress.



The above picture is the beginning of my sweater for my class. It has lots of cables, which are being done with no cable needle. This is my first experience knitting in the round, doing cables with no cable needle, or making cables AT ALL. It is being worked on Inox needles, US size 3. Surprisingly, I don't mind the small size of the needle. (This means socks are definitely in my future.)

Do you see the error in the cables close to the right edge? I AM NOT frogging back to it. I refuse. I need to finish a project or I'll ago loony! Plus, this is my learning sweater and the class I'm taking is so unstructured that I'm afraid that if I don't move through this project fast enough, I won't be able to ask questions to learn anything new!

The aforementioned class is in making sweaters, with colourwork, in the round. You choose a project, and then ask questions. There's no designated "instruction period." Therefore, I need to continue in order to make sure I get to different phases of the project or else I fear I will not have the benefit of doing this project with much help, which is the very reason I took the class, to learn!


The above picture is the square, unblocked, for the the Healthful Throw for Georgia. It is, unfortunately, too large. It was knit in a seed/moss stitch with another pattern thrown in for variety. (The picture does not do it justice.) I don't think I can shrink it to the proper size of 8x8, even if I really try hard. I shall be making another.

Instant Gratification

I am yearning for Instant Gratification of the Knitting kind. Because of this, I'm debating about starting a small project that can be finished quickly.

I think I'm going to do one of the hats or booties from Knitting for Babies by Melanie Falick. I've been wanting to make both for a while.

I've been talking to a wonderful knitter named Thuy (pronounced Twee)who has adapted the hat pattern a little. I think I'm going to try her way of doing it. You can find Thuy here: http://thuy.spookybot.com/knitting
She's a great lady with a wonderful sense of humor. "Met" her through KR. Started visiting her blog. Found we like some of the same things. Now I look forward to reading her blog and talking to her when I can. Check out her blog. It's pretty cool. She's got lots of pictures, knitting and non-knitting!

Speaking of Thuy, I've been having a great time chatting with her. We've been talking about knitting, blogging, and life in general. We're thinking about doing the a Knit-Along for EZ's Pi Shawl, which is found in the Knitter's Almanac. Of course, I need to finish either the afghan/blanket or the sweater for my class before I start such a large project...plus I have no idea how I would really get this started.

On the knitting front, I've only gotten a little knitting done today. I'm going to try to scan the sweater in the scanner, (insert embarrassed smiley face here,)until I can figure out this digital camera I have.

Hopefully, there will be pictures posted before the week ends!

What I'm knitting

Currently on the needles, I have two projects. One is an eyelet edge afghan from the Knitting for Babies book. I am, however, making a larger blanket. The second project is a sweater by Sandnes that I'm making for my son.

I've got shawl and sock fever, so I really want to start both. I am also desperate to have at least one project finished. I need some instant gratification, so I'm probably going to go ahead and start a hat. I need some small projects to do in between these large ones.

I'm a lover of Rowan and Jaeger patterns and yarns. I'm also a Debbie Bliss fan. What I've read of EZ, Elizabeth Zimmerman, I like, but I have not read enough just yet to really call myself a fan.

I'll try to post pictures of both projects soon, as soon as I figure this whole blog/html thing out.

I remeasured a square I made for a healthful throw for Georgia at KR and it's too big. I have to knit that again. HOWEVER, I got so many compliments on the one that I've made that I'm not going to frog it. I can't decide what to do with it yet but I refuse to get rid of it.

I plan to make a few things from various Rowan books. I was hoping to join the Audrey Knit-along but I'm not sure I'm up to the task just yet. (More on my Rowan fever later)

I'm making pretty good progress on my sweater. My son gets really excited about it and has been "trying it on" since I first started it. I can't wait until it's done. It's being knit in a Norwegian yarn, the name of which I will post later. It's a mercerized cotton as he cannot wear wool.

The pattern is laden with cables but I'm having fun with it. He loves it, just because it's green.

Enough talking for tonight. Gotta get back to knitting that sweater so I can continue to progress and so that I'm ready to ask more questions at my class.

My first day in the blogging world

I am Kimberly.

I knit, I write, and I like to take pictures.
Hopefully, I can figure out how to get pictures posted along with helpful and interesting links.

The entries to this blog will pertain to knitting, writing, or taking pictures, with the occasional life observation thrown in.

A little about me:
I'm married and I have one wonderful child.

I'm a new knitter. I've been knitting about five months now. I love it. I dabble in crocheting but I'm more fond of knitting. I'm taking a sweater knitting class right now. It's not quite what I expected but I'm enjoying being with other knitters.

I love taking pictures but I'm not a professional by any stretch of the imagination. I think I just like the idea of capturing a moment that I know will never come again.

I like to think of myself as a writer. I used to write poetry, almost constantly, but I haven't written a poem in quite some time. My hubby urges me to begin writing again and to submit my work for publication. I have a few articles I have started but they are not yet ready for submission.

I love different languages. I started learning both Spanish and French but I am fluent in neither.

Hopefully, this will be a journal of sorts to chronicle my progress as a knitter with a little of my other interests and adventures thrown in.