Learning to Knit

So when I was learning to knit I had a lovely boyfriend who knew the basic knit stitch - roughly. He had been taught it when he was younger and we both wanted to learn.

So we looked somethings up on YouTube and I borrowed a book from a friend and off we went. I wanted to learn so much more, while he was perfectly happy with the knit stitch and Dr. Who inspired wools (think garter stitch scarves galore).

Garter Stitch Fabric 

For me, the best part of knitting is creating a soft even fabric. The Garter Stitch just doesn't do it for me. What I love are the tiny little Vs of the stockinette stitch. This type of stitch does curl back around itself where the garter stitch lies flat, so it's not really nice if you're trying to knit a flat piece like a scarf out of just stockinette. 

Stockinette Stitch Fabric

I even prefer the back of the stockinette. Though it looks like Garter it's not springy and it is a nice even stitch. My one concern for using it in large pieces is that I would always catch stuff on the loops and end up pulling at the fabric. 

Reverse of the Stockinette (ignore my roughly tied in ends there)

Once you get used to the knits and purls you kinda wonder either into what I see as three fields. Cabling, Colourwork or Lace. I personally started with colourwork. I was obsessed with making designs.      Now that I am teaching knitting I like to let the person find a pattern that they really want to own the finished item - no matter how difficult it looks. I usually guide them to Ravelry, explain the basics and ask them to find a free pattern that is something they really want to own. Then we will make it happen. 

My current student and long time friend Veneise has chosen a cabled kindle cover, once we had mastered the knits and purls. Her sample when we first started was a wonderful wedge shape, adding on average of two stitches per row somehow.... 

We went to Romni downtown Toronto and chose a gorgeous Purple for her to use and she started practicing her cabling with some spare yarn. She's a natural!  So last night at knit group we had her start her actual project, learn to knit in the round, learn how to make a ball out of a skein of yarn, start her cables, read a pattern.... it was amazing! It's only been two weeks since we were teaching her to purl! 

I also lent Veneise the book I used when I was learning. If you are learning or want to up your game I highly recommend this book. It goes through Intarsia, lace, colourwork, cables, basic stitches, increases and decreases, tension, gauge, yarn types, notions and hints, and more!.... and Lesley Stanfield and Melody Griffiths put terms and the "how to" into language that really makes sense! I bought this book back in 2010, and now there are so many more used copies for cheaper than I paid for it! (Wow, I've been knitting for three years now! :) )

Yarn Fates

So, I was undecided. I didn't know what colour I wanted.

 Berry Pie Mix. Or Blueberry Mix.

Both pinky purple and blue but with one or the other dominating. I went with Berry Pie in my order.

Then I got a fateful email from WEBS. Berry Pie is out of stock. Up to 3 weeks for it to come back in then since I'm international they won't send anything until it is all in stock!

Errr.... So I just emailed them to change it to the Blueberry.     Oh yes!

And in non-knitterly news I have had a job offer. So, I can buy more yarn, yes? haha

The Midnight Yarn Fairy

A little while ago, online, I had bought some Berroco Vintage DK and thought a colour called Cast Iron was going to be dark grey. Why did I think this? Really, I have no clue.

So I strolled around downtown Toronto with my knitting bestie Caitlin. We went into two yarn stores and a plethora of home decor places.  (I can't wait to have my own living room, kitchen, everything really! ) So I was in the search of the perfect grey to make this. And over all the yarns I looked at, the Vintage DK in the grey was actually a perfect fit. Silly me. Had I ordered the right yarn from the start I wouldn't be in this mess (see exhibit A below)...

So of course, by not buying it in the shop I bought it online at 5am this morning, as you do... By doing this I also ended up buying...well... everything else saved in my online "dreaming" basket. Whoops?

The Ultra Alpaca in Berry Pie is backordered so it could be ages before I see it. The Cascade was all on sale (five bucks for 100g.... who can say no to a great deal in all it's glory like that?) A whole sweater for like $25? Awesome! 

I almost bought the grey in alpaca as well, but that would have cost a lot more, and well, I'm still unemployed so really I should not be buying ANY yarn....

The Verdict is in

It's true. I know now. I am in love with the new stripes on my Maxfield! I even managed to get a picture that shows the actual colours, without the gold looking like it's a shocking yellow.

But enough about me! What do you think? 

What are you knitting at the moment? :) 

The Maxfield Saga Continues

So, my Maxfield has taken me ages, and if you have been reading my blog you've seen pictures of it.

I do love this sweater. I think Amy Christoffers is amazing and her brand Savory Knitting has so many patterns I want to make. This sweater hasn't taken me ages as it's difficult or because there is just a lot of knitting. It's more because I cannot decide how I want it to look.

I was stash busting and ended up buying as much yarn as I'm using up, so that wasn't as successful as I had hoped. So this was my first colour play, trying to decide how to work this sweater without the variegated yarn. Navy, Yellow, Gold and Blue.

I found that the yellow and the gold was a bit much. 

So I decided on this stripe, dropping the yellow out entirely and then began the body to reflect that. 

Once the body was done I thought this front panel was too busy and wasn't entirely happy with this. It sat for a few days as I reflected on what to do. The body I liked, but the fronts needed some changing. 

So I swatched again last night. 

Which do you think I chose? 

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So this is the one I chose! I love that it reflects the stripes without being busy or as chunky as the body stripes. Now just wish me luck in not changing my mind AGAIN! 

Lifely update.

Today I am going to share some knitterly things, and some life things. My life, not life in general. Sorry, I'm not in a philosophical mood. 

I am working on many projects at the moment. My Maxfield Cardigan I'm sure you're getting sick of hearing about. 

Here are two of the that you haven't seen before: 

This is my sample Headband. I plan on writing up a pattern for it. It is made on Aran wool, so if you have some of that lying around and are eager to use it up this could be just the pattern! It uses under 50g  so it's ideal for single skein use up, or quick presents that look impressive but are super simple! 

Then yet another Stokholm scarf. I have made a few of these, they are simple, gorgeous and fun to make.  If you want to make one don't be daunted by it. There is one tricky stitch, but there is so much guidance on Ravelry that helped me get my head around it, so if you're stuck just ask me! I'm more than happy to help! 

 This one is for me. I love teal, its' my go to colour at the moment. My first one I used 200g of DK yarn, and this time I'm going to use 300g to make it plush and thick and warm. I'm using a needle size down from the one reccommended in the pattern to create a slightly firmer fabric. I did that with my first one as well. 

This is where I live. Not here exactly, but on the border of Mississauga and Toronto. One day, I want to live right downtown again. I love it down there. 

And this is my wee kitty Molly. She's tiny but she's the oldest cat in the house at a mature 7 years. She took to sniffing in my project bag for quite a while, but isn't much a playful cat so she wasn't too bothered with the contents. 

Work all day.... oh wait....

So. I am now a resident of Canada.  I am also unemployed and sitting in a pub on a weekday. Why must people work, this is much more fun right? Oh ya, that whole "money" thing. Must make money to buy more yarn. Oh yes, perhaps I should get a job. 

I have been very behind in my updating you of my life. I can tell myself this is okay as I don’t assume anyone actually reads this. Some people just mosey on over from Ravelry for some free patterns and such. Ah well!  My internet at home is pretty crappy at the moment and between fighting with that to apply for jobs and navigating my way around our four cats I just haven't found the time! 

I have been quite lax on the knitting side of things. I ordered some yarn online and got black instead of dark grey so I need to wait until I get a job to fix that mistake. I’ll make something out of the black sometime soon though. Maybe for one of the gents in my life. I am making an effort at finishing my Maxfield cardigan, which I still cannot decide on how to do the front panels so I'm just plugging away at the body at the moment. 

I have been spending time on my resume, sending it off places in hopes of getting something, somewhere. Let’s hope that works out for me.  I had a meeting with an agency today and the woman was really nice. I talked myself out of the job I’d actually applied for but she seemed really positive about everything else. Plus, I talked myself out of that job by being honest and saying I wasn't crazy about working in finance again so I guess it’s better this way.

I sent in one application for volunteer work. I’m hoping that comes through fairly soon. It sounds like something I’d really enjoy.  Teaching knitting! But I have to wait for an opening in the schedule they have and then apply specifically for that time. Wish me luck on that and on a “real job”. Also if your work is in Toronto and hiring someone relatively sales/customer supporty.... haha