CrochetWithDee.com

At the local "Coffee, Crochet & Chat" session held at our local Borders bookstore, HHCC member Kathy decided it's time I learn to throw caution to the wind and learn traditional knitting.

At first it was awkward.  It felt like I had cucumbers for hands.  They refused to cooperate; they wanted a crochet hook.  They wanted to thread the yarn as I do for crochet.  Kathy said, in the long run, I will be happier learning to "throw" my yarn as it will allow me to later on learn how to do two handed knitting.

Wait a minute!  Two handed knitting?  Isn't that what I was doing?  After all, I had a knitting needle in each hand ...

No, she meant two handed as in multi-stranded, multi-colored knitting.

Oh!

So I gave it a go.  Insert hook, er needle from the front, in the loop making a sharp right banking maneuver (banking as in a term used in flying), and then delving into the under world by throwing the yarn UNDER the needle, wrapping the yarn, bobbing my head during this motion, and then pulling the needle back through the stitch.  Repeat.

By the time our gathering was done my hands no longer felt like cucumbers.  Carrots maybe, but not cucumbers.  I'd say thats an improvement.  Now, to squeeze in time to practice ...

Wow; it's been about a month since I've picked up my knitting needles.  I'm not going to get proficient at knitting if I don't practice.  More.  and More Often.

I was reading some archive entries in my crochet blog about my kniting attempts.  Failed attempts, really. 

Seriously.  I need to practice more.  and More Often.

But time has been a huge factor.  How does one go about cloning themselves?

It's been about 45 days since I've put my knitting needles down.  Not because I wasn't enjoying the process, but moreso because life got in the way.  I needed speed, and since I am well versed in the crochet technique, I was able to get the speed I needed for various projects that were on a tight deadline.

I hope to return to my knitting adventure in the very near future; I have a near completed mobius calling my name ....

And for those still in shock, not believing I have been playing with sticks, check out Nancy's blog post from December: http://nlsstitches.squarespace.com/journal/2008/12/31/christmas-rush-is-over.html; she has the proof posted!  LOL

I have finished another scarf and am now working on a Mobius for myself ... a k1, p1 type of patterning I'm making up as I go along.  I'm pretty sure I'll be crocheting a pretty border for it.

What is causing this urge to knit?  My grandmother was a big time knitter.  She tried to teach me how when I was 19/20 years old.  She passed away a number of years ago, and there's not a day that goes by that I don't think of her.  I wonder if this knitting urge has something to do with the piece of jewelry I've been wearing that was hers?  Could it be she's connecting to me spiritually, helping me overcome years of "knitting block?"

What do you think?

by Dee Stanziano, copyright 2008

Materials:
Caron TLC Essentials
Size 10 / 6mm knitting needles
Tapestry Needle

Gauge:
pending.  Cap should fit 3-5 pound baby.

Instructions:
Cast on 40. 
Row 1: k4, p4, repeat across. (not sure if I should say turn work, but yes, work is turned)
Row 2: p4, k4, repeat across.
Row 3: repeat row 1
Row 4: repeat row 2.
Row 5: k across
Rows 6: p accoss
Repeat rows 5 and 6 six times.
Row 13:  p2tog every 8th st. (36 sts)
Row 14:  k across
Row 15:  p2tog every 7th st. (32 sts)
Row 16:  k across
Row 17:  p2tog every 6th st (28 sts)
Row 18:  k across
Row 19:  p2tog every 5th st (24 sts)
Row 20:  k across.
Row 21:  p2tog every 4th st (20sts)
Row 22:  k2tog every 3rd st (16 sts)
Row 23:  p2tog every 2nd st (12 sts)
Row 24:  k4tog three times. (3 sts)
Row 25: p3tog. End off leaving long tail.

With long tail, seam side; bury ends.

(In image above I opted to add another row of k4, p4 and used Red Heart's Designer Sport.  It came out much smaller, perhaps fitting a baby 2-4 pounds.)

While at the Peabody Museum in New Haven this past weekend I was nearly able to complete a scarf.  The scarf was created so I could get much needed practice with my knitting, all while being earmarked for a local charity. 

Oh the excitement in doing a scarf.  Knit one row, purl the next.  Oh joy.  (yawn)

I wanted to do something more exciting.  How about a project that involved a little bit of shaping?  I decided I would knit up a preemie cap for the Knit One, Save One campaign.

One problem.  I don't know how to knit in the round -- or read a knitting pattern -- yet.  And, to top it off, I didn't want to knit up a square, seam up the side and then the top.  Where is the excitement in that?

I decided I would make up my own little pattern and here is what I made ... a shaped cap that is seamed up the side.  I used my crochet knowledge for decreasing and getting the shaping I wanted.  I'm not sure if I decreased correctly, and I know my tension needs more work.  I certainly have some more learning to do.

I am a die-hard fan of crocheting.  And I love to blog about it.  This week, however, I began my journey into the knit world and decided I need a place to express my thoughts about it.  And so, this is my little place to experiment with my knit. 

I am in no means an expert in knitting, and I do expect to make errors: in terminology, technique, and thought process.  Remember, my brain is wired for crochet, so grant me some leeway and together we'll see if I really can become bi-textural. 

If knitting is not your bag, that's ok.  For the longest time it wasn't mine either.  I do invite you to join me for some crochet adventure at my CrochetingWithDee blog.