Side Tracked by Rowing Out

Hate rowing out. 

See the big V rows followed by nice tight smaller V rows? 

Dealt with this same problem on my beginning journey with Basics, Basics, Basics TKGA class and concluded my purls were just meant to be looser than my knits on my own projects I knit. I don't always take the time to use a smaller needle on my purl back rows to make my knit rows and purl rows align nicely and play patty-cake together. There HAS to be an easier way? SO I messed around with different needles. Stubborn to keep my pretty blush pink yarns. Such pretty yarns.

Such lovely yarns I had picked out for my swatches, oh did I mention I HATE ROWING OUT?!

Quince & Co Lark

It's been a lesson in persistence as the frustration set in. This is where I want to give up. I want to enjoy my knitting and tell myself all this "pomp & circumstance" is for the birds.

Looking up techniques, reading, reading, READING

But my anal side sets in, and I want to finish this Level 2 madness! So I hit the books, read blogs, watched a few videos online.

I sent my :POUTY: little self back to the drawing board and cast on with my trusty Cascade yarn.

ROWING OUT! REALLY? I says to myself. "This is a big bummer." Cascade usually sets me straight again. 

Still a few "loose" V's on these swatches

Solution, I reverse knit on my purl rows rather than PURL them back. You can see below it evened out a bit more. I am not a machine so it's not meant to be PERFECT, but as close as I can get it.

Little better...

Blocking them to give a nice even edge to seam

Now to get back to swatching! 

Swatches #1 & #2 almost ready to seam! 

Girlfriends who Knit & Chat

I knit...teach others to knit...

Yes, my super power is teaching others how to knit. Young, old, and all ages in-between! Doesn't matter. I love to see the hands that start awkward suddenly click into knit-mode. I love to see people "get it" and figure out how those loops work on 2 needles. 

 Knitting isn't just sweaters and mittens. Knitting encompasses so much more than what we wear. It can be seen in commercial housewares now, in gardens, on walls, or even a "knit" chair you are sitting on.

Knitting relaxes people and is a great way to focus on just one thing and yet be productive. It's healthy. It's GREEN. Knitting gives purpose. Knitting also is something I can do when I am worrying and need an outlet...a cheap stress buster! I work it out on the needles. I watch the yarn flow through my fingers and feel the yarn turn into fabric. 

Pretty strings together makes a warm fuzziness that can comfort a soul in need. (MINE)

February is coming up...and that means love and warm fuzzies. I am going to be working on my TKGA Level 2 report on Knitting History.
SO my posts here for February will focus on my Girlfriends Knit & Chat meetings around the Twin Cities, and on some history of hand knitting.

It's a warm cuppa coffee with warm hands, and warm hearts.
February, here it comes!
Are you ready?

You Might be a Knitter IF....

TinCanKnits free pattern here: http://tincanknits.com/pattern-SC-wheat.html

 The sight of a warm colorful scarf on someone's neck screams at you:
HOW DO THEY MAKE THOSE?!

The memory of grandma, mom or even an older sister sitting and twirling string around sticks that produced warm things for you to wear as a child makes you woozy inside.
And fuzzy.
And warm.

Remembering the hands, the colors of the pretty balls of yarns all around the house brings you comfort. You wish to bring comfort to your own children, grandchildren or :GASP: YOURSELF!

Plus, yarn insulates a cold house.

Just sayin'.

 All the pretty girls are doing it...

Girlfriends don't let other girlfriends sit idly by when they could be knitting. 

This girl for one has decided she will NOT get rich teaching others to knit. She will HOWEVER, gain more coffee dates than she could ever dream of...hang out with people that MAKE and share a time honored tradition with anyone interested in the process of becoming a KNITTER. 

Join me Minnesota friends. Contact me and I will tell you how. 

Become a part of the Girlfriends Knit & Chat tribe! 

All Good Beginnings...Start Somewhere

How many times does it take a self professed knitting nerd to attempt to complete Level 2 of The Knitting Guild Association Master Knitting Program...?

This will be attempt #4...discouragement, overwhelming perfection and the loss of the joy of knitting have all contributed to my giving up. Yah. I am not proud of that.

Just being honest.

But I pride myself in not giving up...not being a quitter and not looking at the impossible and saying "It can't be done. I can't do it."

Obviously.

Others have completed Level 2 and have lived to tell the tale. 

Sometimes the motivation factor wanes. Sometimes the motivation for me is in the finished process not the actual KNITTED PRODUCT. Each project I have ever knit, has taught me something. The Basics, Basics class I did with Arenda and TKGA taught me SO much. I remember finishing the course and thinking, I HAVE ARRIVED.

Ha!

Then I moved onto Level 1 and yes it took a lot to get the swatches done, the projects but I learned with each step and again that triumphant, I ARRIVED ONCE AGAIN.

Enter Level 2...oh Fair Isle bestill my color-filled heart...I rushed through this one and delighted in color and in a colorful wristlet:

Then, to the Intarsia sock. UM. YEAH.

Intarsia.

Not my cup of tea.

Forget the bobbins and the winding the strings to prevent holes.

BUT...timing is everything, right?

I unraveled a sock of my great grandmothers and low and behold, it used Intarsia techniques. Thus began my quest of mastering the strings and holes.

A well timed email from a friend re-lit the quest of this one...

Knitter's Guild Drop Out