as a SAHM, my most mental stimulation comes from watching sesame street, reading goodnight moon till the mouse comes home, and figuring out ways to keep petunia from getting into things. i miss learning new things. i always liked school, but i can't afford to go to grad school (and anyways, what would i study?) but i love to knit, and this is where i can satiate my curiosity by learning new knitting skills.
i've learned gobs of things from my knitting teacher. she has helped me out of more pickles than a barrel, especially concerning dropped stitches. she is absolutely fearless and will rip knitting back to the mistake, fix it, then continue. i am a wuss when it comes to ripping back. i'm a tinker myself. i always say some time i should knit a swatch, make deliberate mistakes, then force myself to fix it by either ripping or picking up a dropped stitch. quite frankly, the thought of ripping lace freaks me out. thank goodness for life lines! i told you i'm a wuss.
i picked up tips and skills from watching the tv show knitty gritty. this show used to air on DIY network. occasionally the channel airs episodes from time to time. i miss that show. i learned about duplicate stitches and felting from that show. the show featured a large range of projects - some geared toward the new knitter, but some that were quite challenging. hopefully the PTB at scripps will learn that craft shows have their place on DIY, and that instead of airing "the toilet bowl" on superbowl sunday, a knitty gritty marathon would probably boost ratings through the roof. and anyways...how many times can you remodel a bathroom or kitchen? knitting pattern variety is endless!
the knitter's equivalent to "college" is knitter's day out, which is held once a year in the fall near harrisburg. KDO offers classes and an awesome yarn market for 2 days. the classes offered are often requested by participants from the previous year, plus the addition of classes for popular knitting projects. some classes (such as learning to knit or sock knitting) are all day classes, or you can take a morning and afternoon class. my first KDO was in 2007, and i learned how to knit mitre squares and... how do you like that? i can't remember what i learned! in 2008, i learned how to knit a moebius scarf and new tips and skills for knitting socks from the toe up. last year i only took one class, double knitting, and made a pot holder. i can't wait until june, when the KDO class booklet arrives! i have been lucky enough to get my first pick of classes as i usually send out my application the day after the book arrives! and let's not forget the yarn market...oh my goodness, save up your pin money, becos the place is like a candy store. local yarn shops and spinners peddle their wares - it's yummy yarn heaven.
i have a lot to learn with knitting. i wish i could learn steeking. i wish i could learn to knit continental. i would love to learn how to knit fair isle or intarsia. i've done a little bit of intarsia but i've never done a big project. and i wish i could learn to read a pattern chart. i've knitted off of small charts but never a large one either.
i wish i could crochet better. i can do a single crochet and slip stitch but that's about it, and i'm not very good at it either. i should find someone to teach me one on one. i can't learn in a big class setting. i would love to crochet granny squares. i know a lot of people are either knitting or crocheting snobs, but i think both have their place. and crocheting does and can help a lot in knitting. i crochet my square seams when i make sampler square blankets. maybe someday!
i've learned gobs of things from my knitting teacher. she has helped me out of more pickles than a barrel, especially concerning dropped stitches. she is absolutely fearless and will rip knitting back to the mistake, fix it, then continue. i am a wuss when it comes to ripping back. i'm a tinker myself. i always say some time i should knit a swatch, make deliberate mistakes, then force myself to fix it by either ripping or picking up a dropped stitch. quite frankly, the thought of ripping lace freaks me out. thank goodness for life lines! i told you i'm a wuss.
i picked up tips and skills from watching the tv show knitty gritty. this show used to air on DIY network. occasionally the channel airs episodes from time to time. i miss that show. i learned about duplicate stitches and felting from that show. the show featured a large range of projects - some geared toward the new knitter, but some that were quite challenging. hopefully the PTB at scripps will learn that craft shows have their place on DIY, and that instead of airing "the toilet bowl" on superbowl sunday, a knitty gritty marathon would probably boost ratings through the roof. and anyways...how many times can you remodel a bathroom or kitchen? knitting pattern variety is endless!
the knitter's equivalent to "college" is knitter's day out, which is held once a year in the fall near harrisburg. KDO offers classes and an awesome yarn market for 2 days. the classes offered are often requested by participants from the previous year, plus the addition of classes for popular knitting projects. some classes (such as learning to knit or sock knitting) are all day classes, or you can take a morning and afternoon class. my first KDO was in 2007, and i learned how to knit mitre squares and... how do you like that? i can't remember what i learned! in 2008, i learned how to knit a moebius scarf and new tips and skills for knitting socks from the toe up. last year i only took one class, double knitting, and made a pot holder. i can't wait until june, when the KDO class booklet arrives! i have been lucky enough to get my first pick of classes as i usually send out my application the day after the book arrives! and let's not forget the yarn market...oh my goodness, save up your pin money, becos the place is like a candy store. local yarn shops and spinners peddle their wares - it's yummy yarn heaven.
i have a lot to learn with knitting. i wish i could learn steeking. i wish i could learn to knit continental. i would love to learn how to knit fair isle or intarsia. i've done a little bit of intarsia but i've never done a big project. and i wish i could learn to read a pattern chart. i've knitted off of small charts but never a large one either.
i wish i could crochet better. i can do a single crochet and slip stitch but that's about it, and i'm not very good at it either. i should find someone to teach me one on one. i can't learn in a big class setting. i would love to crochet granny squares. i know a lot of people are either knitting or crocheting snobs, but i think both have their place. and crocheting does and can help a lot in knitting. i crochet my square seams when i make sampler square blankets. maybe someday!
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