A Resolution of Sorts?

It's New Year's Eve as I write this.  2013 will soon be done.

With the changing of the year comes a time for reflection, for assessing the past.  That is followed b y a time for planning, for making resolutions for the future.

But the past is gone.  Lessons, learned, I hope.  And the future will always be out of grasp.  The present is all we have.

Maybe that's why most resolutions are doomed to fail.  We promise ourselves something, we resolve to do something in the future which is never now.

Maybe that's why by the end of January we forget the resolution to lose weight, to go to the gym more often, to call on our friends.

It makes resolutions seem nothing more than empty promises we make to ourselves.

So why make them?

Never let the future disturb you.
You will meet it, if you have to,
with the same weapons of reason
which today arm you against the present.
~Marcus Aurelius

I decided long ago not to.  I do not like people who break promises, especially with me, so why would I do that to myself?

This year, I've decided to do something different.

Recently, I read Debbie Macomber's One Perfect Word.  Pick it up at your local library.  If they don't have it they can get it for you through interlibrary loan.  Or better yet, but it, read it and then donate it!

In brief, Ms. Macomber selects w word and spend time with it throughout the year.  she devotes a journal to the word and explores its meaning and uses.  She looks for it in her scripture and other readings, and watches to see how it plays out in her life.

It is a lovely idea that intrigues me.

She writes how her chosen word is one she it moved to take on.

I have noticed certain words or ideas that crop up in my own life.  They seem to demand my attention.  I usually just brush them off with a quick "oh, there's that word again" and don't go beyond that.

I am going to change that in the new year.  

For the past month a certain word has been asking for my attention.  I feel drawn to it.  And I think it's high time I listen and spent the time it's demanding of me.  There is no telling where it might lead.

This idea of spending time with a word seems to hold more possibilities than the empty promise of a resolution.

And, no, I am not going to tell you what the word is that is demanding my attention.  You need to find one of your own.

I hope that the new year is a safe and happy one for you.  May you find all the joy and love your heart can stand and then some more.

Happy 2014!!!!!!

Giving

The holiday season is upon us.  I know this because the holiday decorations are up in the stores, the bell ringers are standing near their kettles at the entrances, and a neighbor has his tree up on the front porch.

I have just finished knitting my twelfth Christmas stocking.

I made these three stockings for a friend.

The first three stockings were gifts to a friend who had posted she needed decorations.  Reading her request I knew I could knit something up.

That is why I knitted the stockings you see here.

But I wasn't done.  I thought there should be more than just stockings.

Then I found three Styrofoam bells that I had stuck away for one reason or another.  I got out my crochet hooks and this is the result:

Ding dong these bells don't ring!

I thought they were rather cute.

As I had my hooks out and my crochet thread, it was a short step to doing snowflakes!

My kind of snow!  It doesn't need shoveling.

A few are from patterns but most are just improvised.

I think they will look lovely on her tree.

I felt so happy that I was able to do this for her.

A few days later, I was in the local big chain store for a quick stop.  I noticed an older couple trying to use one of those price scanners.  They were waving their big tin of popcorn in front of the screen.

I went into an aisle, got my gallon of iced tea, and they were still there when I came out of the aisle.

No one, not even those in the blue vests seemed to notice.

So I walked over and waved my hand under the scanner so they could see the red light.

"Try putting it down here," I told them.

They did and the machine beeped.  They were glad that someone had shown them how to use it.  I'm not sure if they were happy with the price.

At first, I was a bit peeved at those who did not take the 30 seconds to show this couple how to use the price scanner.  It wasn't that hard for me to do.  But then, I noticed the feeling I had from helping them.  It echoed the feeling I had knowing that I had done something for my friend.

It was a good feeling.  One worth repeating.  And I wondered why I didn't seek it out more.

It is so easy to make that donation into a kettle or write a check and think we have done enough.  Monetary donations can touch those who are far away.

But the feeling you get from giving money does not compare to that you get when you give of yourself.  A bit of your time, your knowledge.

I am going to try to do this more often.  Give someone a smile, perhaps reach for the item on the top shelf, or push their cart back to the store.  Just a little something nice.

I am realizing that in order to feel the good you must share it rather than hoard it.

Have you?

P.S.  The other Christmas stockings are for another friend who saw the first three.  She will get seven so that leaves me with two.  Wonder what I will do with those?

Taking My Craft Public

I have previously written about my experiment in free-form crochet (see Free-form Crochet Project post).

That little experiment has evolved and three projects have been completed.  And this past weekend those three projects, and a knitted scarf (see previous post Library Weeded It...) were entered into a local fiber art show.

The whole idea of displaying my work in public (other than wearing it) is enough to make me hyperventilate.  Fortunately, my friend Karla was leading the way.  But I was still nervous, anxious, and excited by turns and all that together.  And I am a bit ashamed to admit at how proud I am of my work.

I picked up the entry form and started on the "yes I will, oh, no I can't" hamster wheel of vacillation.

I took baby steps and committed myself to entering something because I had told Karla I would. Thus, I had something to do with my first free-form project.

This piece is titled "Freeform the First."  As my very first venture into free-form crochet I am happy and surprised by the way it turned out.  I have at times hated the pop of red or the softness of the pink.  I like how the dark purple shows up against the black background -- although it doesn't look as dark as it does to the naked eye.


Then I finished my second project and because it was so different, I decided it should be in the show, too.

This project was originally titles "Lack of Light" but was quickly renamed when my first attempts at mounting it to poster board were less than successful as "Loathing in Fiber."  The morning before submission was was moved to take it from its mounting and submit it as it lays.  Sometimes a piece speaks to me.  I resisted the urge to take scissors to it.  This picture shows it not completely blocked.


All the while I was thinking horror-filled thoughts of what I was doing.  Why, oh, why was I putting my work on display?  No one could possibly like it?  What if they did?!?!?!

As the show is also a scarf show I decided to display my purple cowl (see my previous post on Library Weeded It... for the whole story behind that one).  For some strange reason I did not get those sinking, awful feelings over this entry.  I know my scarf is beautiful.

I love my purple cowl.  It was my first design project using a great reference in Barbara Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns.  I did block it and it looks better than it does in this unblocked form in this photo.  I also put it up for sale. That scares me a bit.  But if someone does buy it I can buy more yarn!

My free-form crochet experiments continued and I made smaller motifs.  I joined six together and thought I was finished. (see photo to the right of it on black)  A friend, well, Karla suggested that it did not looked completed so I edged the entire thing in dark purple (center photo right).  that wasn't enough and some of the holes needed filling (see third photo).  And that was it.  It was done!

For some reason I did not dread this one either, once it was done.

Let me tell you about dropping them off:  it was nerve wracking. I wanted to grab them and run out the door with them.  I felt as if I was dropping my child off to school for the first time.  I felt strangely bereft and elated at the same time.

But I left my submissions there and went with Karla to console myself with a lovely piece of pumpkin pecan pie.

Now if I can bring myself to go to the opening reception and show my face.....                                                                                                

Library Weeded It and I bought It!

A couple of months ago, I discovered that my local library had discarded, or as they say in library parlance, weeded one of my favorite knitting references:  A Treasury of Knitting Patterns by Barbara Walker.  This is the 1968 hard cover edition.

I was in distress, angry and mad.  I loved this book and knew it to be one of, if not THE reference books for knitters.

As a knitter and a trained librarian (yes, I do hold a degree in library science from an institution of higher learning accredited by the American Library Association), I can say that this was not a good weed.

I realize that when compared to the other volumes on the library's knitting shelf, that this tome is old.  But for it's age it is in remarkable condition.  The newer volumes most likely refer back to this book.

There is one page missing (p. 275-276, in case you are wondering).  But when I looked at the newer stitch dictionary, which is completely in color, I found that the first 20 or so pages were missing.  This includes the critical how to read the charts in this book section. I borrowed that once and never went back to it.

In a last ditch effort, I went into the library's book sale room.

I was trying to make heads and tails out of the filing system there -- it wasn't Dewey or LC, and really didn't make much sense -- when I saw it.

There on the fourth shelving unit it lay face up on a shelf.  That precious tome of knitting knowledge that I love.

And for $2 it was mine!!!!

Oh, I happy dance through the rest of my day.

My first project using my precious book was this purple cowl.

This Diamonds and a Flower Cowl is knit from a cotton/silk blend sport weight yarn.  Yarn Manufacturer is known as ball band was lost before I got home with it.

I did ten repeats of the Diamond Mesh Pattern.

 Using US Size 5 needles I cast on 37 stitches using crochet cast on.  This simple technique using a crochet hook.  Start with a slip knot on your hook then wrap the working yarn around your knitting needle and pull up a loop with the hook.  Repeat this until you have one less than the desired number of stitches on you knitting needle.  Place the loop on your knitting needle.  

I chose not to block my piece.

After ten repeats of the Diamond Mesh Pattern, I did six rows of Easy Lace.  Then came the Tulip Bud Pattern V. 2 followed by another six rows of Easy Lace.

To do the three needle bind off, I picked up the stitches on the cast on edge (made easy by the crochet cast on), and joined the ends together.

I hope you find that one knitting, crochet or whatever craft you practice, reference that helps you on your crafting journey.  What's your favorite craft reference book?

Free-form Crochet Project

Recently, I was inspired by a project a friend posted online.  The project was a free-form crocheted doily.

It's been awhile since I used a crochet hook for more than casting on or retrieving drop stitches.  Even longer since I used steel hooks.  I had to look deep for them.

I started with three colors of size 5 crochet thread and my number 6 steel hook.  Armed with that and my knowledge of crochet, I made a chain of 6 and closed the loop.

What happened next, I really do not remember.  I zoned out.  Lost track of time.  enjoyed just crocheting whatever I wanted.

There's something scary yet liberating about starting a project without a pattern.  If I felt like doing single crochet that is what I did.  I chained loops, made picots on a whim.  Not too many picots as I've always had a dislike for making them.

When I took a moment to stop this is what I had:

The vague owl shape in the upper left corner just happened. The dark thread is not black but rather a really deep purple labeled Orchid.

By this time I was feeling a need for more colors.  Three was jut too limiting.  So back to the store I went and purchased three more colors.

Once again, I started.  I added the new colors wherever seemed right at the time.  When I wanted to experiment with a stitch improvisation I did.

As I did before, I lost track of time.  I entered a zone, calming place.  this is why they same crochet and knitting can be calming for you.  I felt at peace.  I felt creative.  I felt strong.

There is no wrong no right when doing free-form.  the only judgement I used was "this feels right."

It amazing to take a step back and look at the work.  I see things I didn't see while crocheting.  

Can you see a hooded figure coming off the owl's right ear?

I will be posting more photographs of this.  I did get two more colors.

I wondered what will happen next.

Here is what happened next:

I looked at it and it told me it was finished.

I thought back "I'm glad you are.  But I don't know if I hate the pink more than the red or vice versa.  You sure got ugly."

I guess that's the danger of having too many colors on hand.  I really wanted an old gold color before I went for pink, but the stupid box store didn't have any old gold.  Guess I need to shop elsewhere.

I may just take the scissors to it and return it to the first picture.  If I can bring myself to do such harm even to an ugly object.

Knitting With Wire Experiments

I was doing a research project in library school when I became intrigued with wire crochet and knitting.  I didn't have the time to explore it.  And unfortunately, that pathfinder never came to be.  The subject was narrowed considerably.

Now that a few years have gone by, I have the time to do some crafting exploration and experimentation.

I bought a small spool of 28 gauge wire -- just enough to play with and not break my budget.

If you know how to knit and/or crochet with yarn, you can do the same with wire.  Just remember that wire may not stand up to fancy stitching.  I did do some stitch increases in my first pendant.

My wire experiments from left to right, top to bottom:

1. Purse shaped pendant, knitted.

2. Triangular or teardrop shaped pendant, knitted. (1st experiment)

3.  Crocheted link.

4.  Beaded pendant, Knitted.

5.  Beaded bracelet, Knitted.

Just for fun I crocheted one pendant (see #3 in the photo).  I prefer the look of knitted wire, but that's just me.

To step it up, I added some beads.  I still need to buy a clasp for the bracelet.

I did learn a few things about wire knitting:

If your needle drops out, do NOT panic.  There is no need to panic.  The great thing about knitting with wire is that it will not unravel on its own.

Wire is malleable.  You can shove a strand out of your way, add some shape after you are done.  So much easier than blocking a sweater.

You can cut thin wire with basic household shears.

What craft experiments have you done?

Learning to Correct

As mentioned in my previous post, I can find some knitting techniques to be confounding, that they stymie me.

the most recent technique, or rather the thing about knitting that has caused me angst, made me want to pull my hair out in handfuls, is fixing the dropped stitch, or other mistakes.

There's nothing like knitting along, seeing that everything is going according to the pattern when suddenly, the pattern is out of kilter.  There are not enough to stitches as there should be, or too many.
  
A quick examination of the knitting reveals a dropped stitched which has unraveled several rows down.  This is the most angst causing thing of all.  A simple knit instead of a purl is easily fixed.  But when a dropped stitch unravels six rows near a cable ..... (silent scream)

For my purple version of Melissa Morgan Oakes' Terpander sock (found in Ann Budd's book Sock Knitting Master Class), this meant frogging it -- rip it, rip it out!

After all, I was only 20 rounds into the pattern.  It made more sense and seemed easier than trying to correct it.  Which for the life of me, I could not figure out because of the cables.

I love my nine inch circulars for sock knitting!

That is why I purchased Size 1 nine inch circulars.  I had started out on bamboo DPNs but it drove me crazy when it happened a second time.

But alas, I sis manage to drop a stitch with the new needles.  The heel was turned and I was almost halfway up the leg.  Suddenly, frogging was not an option.

I examined my piece and found where the dropped stitch was.  I unknitted (or tink-ed) back to the area in question.  Working from the wrong side, I found that I had dropped TWO stitches!  Fortunately, they were side by side.

Picking up my trusty crochet hook, I managed to get those stitches knitted up to the live stitches on the needle.

Wow.

That was the first time I had done that.  And truth be told, it was not that hard.

I have also found it easy to correct a mistake on a previous row -- sometimes, even two rows down.

There is a 1x1 cable in the middle of the Terpander sock and on some rows it is the only cabling done.  If I am not being mindful, I just kept knitting and forget to cable these two stitches.

Once again, the trusty crochet hook comes to the rescue.

It's just a matter of unraveling the two stitches in question and then reknitting them in the proper way.

If I use knitting as a metaphor for life, I realize that neither is perfect.  Our do-overs, our re-knits, can be complete restarts or judiciously placed reknitting of a stitch or two.

The thing that matters is that we try and don't give up.

Patience and perseverance will see you through.  The sock can be finished and your life can be changed for the better, too.

Learning How to Purl

Knitting comes easy to some.  To others, they need a high dose of tenacity or the needles get thrown into the corner for all eternity.

I do not remember learning to knit, crochet, or sew.  I know for certain that it was my Gram who taught me all of these things when I was young.

Gram was a lady of many crafts.  She kept her sewing machine under the window at the end of her galley kitchen.  She would throw a few pieces of leftover fabric together and let me brother and me stitch it like crazy.  More often than not, in our youthful zeal to create yet another potholder, one of us would break the needle.  Okay, usually it was me.  And I still have this problem with my own machine today.

While I cannot recall my first knitting lesson I do have a firm picture in my mind of Gram fixing a pair of plastic needles.  To make them shorter and easier for my small arms, she popped the metal cap off and broke a few inches off.  She heated the broken end in the flame of her kitchen stove and jammed it back into the cap.

I was fascinated by what she did.  I was thrilled and amazed that she did that for me.  What a show of love.

I really didn't stick with the knitting.  There was just so much to do as a kid.  I as I got older I tried my hand at other crafts.  I crocheted.  I did cross stitch.  I quilted.  I even tried tatting with a shuttle.

In my late teens I decided to knit something and wanted to do more than just garter stitch.  I suddenly realized that I had forgotten how to purl!

Fortunately, it was Mom's bowling night.  Her team would pick her up.  Gram was on the team.  So when the car filled with bowling ladies pulled out, I ran out of the house, needles and yarn in hand and said:

"Gram, I forgot how to purl!"

I would like to say that roadside lesson stuck with me and I never forgot how to purl again.

But alas, I put down my needles and forgot.  Again.

When I decided to take up knitting again Gram was gone.

I had, and still have, several reference books on crafts.  I used them to learn how to purl all over again.  And this time, I kept knitting.

I purchased my first wooden needles.  A lovely pair of size 10 in rosewood fueled my new addiction.  I discovered novelty yarns and knitted a ton of scarves and boas.

I branched out and knitted hats and purses.

My first toe up socks.
Pattern:  Terpander designed by Melissa Morgan-Oakes
Published in Ann Budd's Sock Knitting Master Class

That made me want to try knitting in the round, something like socks.  So I bought a set of bamboo DPNs and knitted my first socks.


I have since graduated to 9" circular needles and save the DPNs for the toes.

I miss Gram and wonder if she realized how much of what she taught me (even the stuff I forget) has brought me so much joy.  I'm sure if she were still here she would proudly wear the socks I make.

Thank you, Gram.

After the Knitting is Done

The part of the knitting process that I do not like is that moment when I finish a project and realize that I have no idea of what to do next.  There is no UFO (unfinished object) lying around waiting for me to do something, no plans of what to knit next.  At that moment, I feel lost.

This is where I found myself recently.

I felt lost when I finished knitting a cardigan.  I was proud that it had appropriate length arms (see my post Make a Gauge Swatch!)

The pattern I used was the Woman's Cardigan under the Family Cables section in Deborah Newton's Cable Collection.  

I used some ribbing to replace the strips.

While the pattern called for two colors, I decided on one color.

The only place this made a different was in the cuff.  The cuff in the pattern is striped and in stockinette stitch.  In one color, it would make a very boring cuff I thought.  So I added a rib to give it a little excitement.

Actually, it was more of knit one row, purl one row, knit three rows, purl one row.

This is the front of the cardigan.  No buttons yet!

For me, I find the cardigan to be on the short side.   Maybe it's my age, but I prefer some length, something the hits me closer to my hips than my waist.  Which is where this one hits me.

This might be suitable for my teenage niece.  Then again, it might not be cool enough for the modern teenager.

Anyway, I was lost and wondering what to do next.  

I toyed briefly with the idea of creating my own stitch dictionary.  Then I realized that I have access to many fine ones in my own collection and at the public library.

So I returned to a cast on technique that has gotten the better of me.  This time, though, was different.  Success!  I may have mastered Judy's Magic Cast On.

Yes, I say may.  I am hoping that I have conquered it enough to attempt my first pair of toe up socks.

Wish me luck!