Never Surrender, Never Give Up

I'm not sure whomever put those two phrases together (since there is speculation as to whether Churchill really said it) would approve of them being applied to knitting socks, but for me it is incredibly accurate.

Two amigurumi, a snood, and a wedding planned in 2.75 months later, I am back at my lone sock. I am now turning my very first heel. Alone. With YouTube as my guide. And the very small text of my sock pattern.

This is newlywed bliss.

Heel, My Broken Needle

More time has elapsed than I am sure is logical in the mind of anyone who routinely knits socks, however, for myself, who never expected to finish a sock, finally arriving at my first heel turning is a momentous occasion. I am nearly there! The completion of a sock! G-d only knows how long the formation of a mate will take.

I did have a bit of a deterrent (as if I needed another one!) when I discovered one of my needles has snapped and has a ridge that does not allow the wool to pass over it. I am exceptionally careful about my needles and always put them back in their carrying case. It certainly isn't from overuse, since I'm barely through my first sock. I'll need to check the warranty and see if I can get a replacement needle. Until then, the smallest piece of scotch tape and an extra does of patience will have to suffice.

Everybody Needs a Cuddle Buddy

I finished it! Crocheting is much faster and less tedious than I expected. I now have a 4 inch tall pink elephant with a poseable trunk and white furry jacket. I feel re-inspired by fiber arts.

Tragedies in the Realm of Blogging

My camera broke. My sock is now an anklet, and I have no intention of quitting, but the Kingdom might come before I have a pair.

However!

My dear friend gave me the most adorable amigurumi for my birthday, and a new relationship inspired me to try the same. I have now launched myself into the world of crochet and after one false start (which proved that regardless of biological evidence, the egg precedes the chick), I am happily en route to finishing the head of my amigurumi. A pink elephant. Another sigh for the broken camera.

LOL

I think it has been clearly established that me finishing a sock in a week is a laughing matter. Maybe in some future existence, or parallel existence, but not here and now.

I have, however, discovered that I was not dropping stitches as I had feared. I am knitting holes. Holes that are a part of the pattern. While this might seem acceptable and even normal to a more advanced knitter, I don't think there is any thing a designer can do that is more frightening to a beginner. At least warn us! Because how could it possibly be right?!

Yes. Well. There you have it. The sock proceeds.

Back At It

After a hiatus to observe the 3 weeks of mourning with the Jewish community, I've picked up my sock again. It actually is beginning to look like the pattern, though I seem to consistently be dropping a stitch in  the same place on the second and fourth segment of the round. I don't know if it's part of the pattern or me dropping a stitch. Ah well. One dropped sock stitch is such a small thing. I may figure out why it's  happening yet.

I also learned to not watch television I enjoy while trying to work a lace pattern. Fortunately there was no unraveling, but the stress of realizing you have no clue where you are and just "happening" to figure it out is lesson enough! I'm thinking I may be able to finish sock one in a week if nothing exciting happens in the rest of my life, since I'm feeling much more comfortable with the stitches. We'll see. And then there's sock two!

Making...Progress

I may not seem to be making a sock, but I am making progress. Finally got past the ribbing and have moved on to the lace pattern. It actually looks somewhat like the pattern photo! Mostly. I dropped a stitch consistently on each side because I forgot what SSK was supposed to be like. But I wrapped something else an extra time so, my numbers are still right. Oh well. The next row was okay, and when I reach the problematic row in the next cycle, I'll get it right! I'm so excited. I will keep persisting, and someday it will only take me 2 days to knit a pair of socks instead of 2 months!

Other good news, a homeowner I house-sat for had some circular needles she isn't using anymore. She gave to me and has also offered to hav eme go through her yarn stash for anything I like! What a treat! Though I'm setting aside knitting for the three weeks of mourning, having the needles means I can make an attempt at a snood again. Hurrah!

I'll resume knitting after Tisha B'Av. Cheers!

Because I feel bad...

Now the headline of my blog is "my baby steps into knitting". I should emphasize the baby steps. When taking baby steps, it takes a bit longer to get anywhere.


My sock...is progressing. Just very slowly. But the ribbing looks nice! All 3cm! Okay, must get back at it. 

First Unravel

Yes. It came. My first unravel. I knew that sock looked wrong, even in its infancy. But really, unraveling 6 rows of sock is not that painful. Not that painful in the least. I also inadvertently discovered what twisted stitches meant. 


These socks are going to be good. They deserve a good start.

Sock Shrink

My very first sock is cast on, amidst much hyperventilating. I must admit that I haven't quite caught the sock knitting infatuation, but I am only 2 rows in.


More disturbing is the fact I am already dreaming about the socks. Last night I dreamed that the sock was starting to look a little funny, so I should try it on before I turned the heel. Hopefully the dream is not prophetic, because otherwise I have a hat to look forward to in about ten rows instead of a sock.

Dog Sweater! Sort of.

Though the knitting itself was done maybe a month ago (yikes!), I finally finished sewing the row of closures on the back, so now I can say my first dog sweater is finished.

I think that the pattern was partly to blame for the sizing oddities. It's too big in some areas, and almost too small in others. Oh well. It's a first try and knitted dog wear with a closure is not a readily available pattern anyway. My dog is happy. Just in time for summer, ha!

In other news: when you don't have enough ingredients to make s'mores for everyone, make s'more bars. Verdict: yummy.

Toe Up? Toe Down? Top Down? Yeep.

I'm scared to cast on my first pair of socks. I have my DPNs and some luscious bamboo/merino yarn, but I just can't seem to bring myself to start. First, there's so many ways to start a sock. And how do you know to hate a Kitchener stitch if you've never done one? Does it make the sock uncomfortable? And why are all pattern sized to a Women's 8? What if you have smallish feet? I can't seem to find anything about downsizing, except changing your needle size, and that's not an option for me.

In the Guardians of Ga'Hoole (film coming out this year), an owl goes yeep when it is seized by fear mid-flight, and forgets how to fly. I think I'm yarn yeeping.

Snood Snippets

Since I enjoy ren faires and swing dancing, I really want a snood; since I can, I decided to make one. I found this awesome pattern from Twisted Stitches, and also saw that another knitter on Ravelry had made it with yarn I have in my stash. Score!


But. I don't have circular needles.


I do have knifty knitter looms. That'll work. Right?


Sadly no. 


I was hopeful, mainly because it was so perfectly round. I started the lace pattern with the help of two straight needles at first, then one straight and a crochet hook, maneuvering just the two stitches I was working at a time. Oh boy. It kinda worked. For at least the first two steps of the pattern (up til row 12). But it was torturous, and I'm really not sure it'll come out usable because the work doesn't flip. I'm not even sure that's relevant, but my fingers hurt. 


End verdict: the snood will have to wait until I get some proper circulars.

First Project Pictures!

Here are some pictures of my first project completed on needles. Though I completed it in February, it's taken me a while to get some snapshots done! Thanks Kristy for being a patient photographer! I call it a draped vest.

Knitting Intro

I was traumatized by junior high sewing class (first project involved cuffs, collars, and button up front), and so stayed away from handcrafts. Then the knifty knitter looms came out and I made a scarf. Several scarf and hat sets later, it became pretty dull. I really didn't understand knitting, and so was frustrated anytime I tried to adapt my looms to something else. Now, after some very patient instruction and a lot of hand holding from a friend, I've completed my first project on needles. The experience was amazing. I'll post pictures and a pattern soon.
I think I'm addicted.