Hooks and needles

Argh!

Knitting....you know that saying, "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all..."

Yep.

I haven't managed to get anything done. All the videos and instructions show the first cast on, then fly right through to the next step. Sadly my 2nd stitch never works. I am seriously frustrated.

Argh.

Why'd I decide to try knitting again?

Something new!

oh boy, I love a challenge.

I get asked 'what are your hobbies?' all the time, my answer is "whatever looks FUN". which is why I have many different kinds of crafts or links in my arsenal.

I am playing with a new group - Caring 4 Canadians - and mentioned that I want to learn how to knit, but I posess that lovely "Lefthanded coordination" - AKA, NONE. I have zero coordination. My hands might pretend to work together but really, they don't.

One of those wonderful ladies suggested that I find German Knitting. Also known as Continental Knitting, or LeftHanded. YAY.

so of course, I have to look it up.

and I find a TON of videos. I really don't like watching how to videos. I'm a picture by picture kind of learner. all the talky talky just drives me nuts. But I held out and watched the videos. Well! that looks pretty darn easy!

Out of all the videos and links I found, this one is the best (at least for me it was the easiest to find what I wanted). http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knit-stitch

I'm going to try out a scarf or something really simple tomorrow, when there's more light. I've got my trusty needles from when I first started playing with yarn. I wanted to try both crochet and knitting to see which I liked better.

Now I'm on the hunt for printable pictures for how to do the stitches.

I love baby stuff

I finally found a group in CANADA that donates baby stuff (and other), but I'm most interested in the baby items.

Why, because when the tall one was a bitty baby she was in the Special Care nursery for her first few days. They gave her the cutest little bonnet to wear. Then, when I had Victoria - we were attending a program for lower income families, I was given the prettiest little lavender sweater, bonnet and bootie set. So, I've always wanted to give back. Especially after I decided to teach myself how to crochet and knit.

I've got a stockpile of cute little baby hats, and booties and blankies just waiting for the day when I finally find a place or group to work with.

Here is my most favorite baby item....

The Preemie Star. This one was made from the tail end of some yellow, white and purple/pink variegated.

Now that I found someone to work with, I'll be making more.

Sunday, not much just more rounds today

I worked on the tall one's blanket today. Got 8 rounds done, its getting big enough that the rounds are taking longer and longer.

but  its looking really nice with the colours we chose.

Tomorrow, I hope to find some Valentine's projects to work on.

so thats it in a nutshell.

Steamwave Throw for my Mom.

My mom wants a blanket.

She loves colours. especially blues and greens. I got a box of yarn from the yarn fairy (really!! it appeared on my front doorstep in a neat tidy box), its chock full of yarn. Golds, rust, burgundy, black and some other stuff. it will be perfect!

I had a vision in mind. Something that looks like stained glass, or cathedral type something. so off I went to trusty ravelry. and found...

The Steamwave Throw by Kim Guzman (Caron International). http://www.caron.com/projects/ss_paints/ssp25_streamwave_throw.html

its very pretty. I can see it made from the yarn in my 'fairy box'. Alternating colours, surrounded by a crisp hunter green (yes, the infamous hunter green).

Here it is...right before I ran out of green.

Since my fairy box was full of bits and pieces, some of my yarns don't really match. The rust changes a few times, as does the gold (and it will be making another change as I run out of the one I'm currently working with).

by the end though, it will be made out of Red Heart Super Saver in

Hunter Green

Claret

Carrot

Gold

I quite like it.

DC, DC.....DOUBLE! DC, DC....

around and around goes the Kew Gardens.

wow its looking pretty!

the pattern says to use stitch markers for the double stitches as you go around. oh, phsaw!

then I got to the higher numbers and kept losing count. ok, where are those safety pins?

Last night, stitching my heart out almost ready to change the yarn and what do Inotice....but a big space between two sets of pins. oh darnit, there it is, the space where I must have lost a pin. 4 rounds below.

ARGH!

So in its mocking way, there is a giant mess of teal yarn sitting by the couch. Waiting for me to come over and make some sense of it. Wind it nicely, then fetch another pin and continue my rounds...

oh well. Away I go to play with some yarn!

I found it!

I found my HUNTER green yarn!

oh thank heavens! Walmart was just out of stock. wandered through there today on the off chance that they'd have it. and .... tucked WAAAAY back on the bottom shelf, there it was!

YAY!

I got 2! just in case I run out again.

well...off to get 'hooked again!

I'm going on a yarn hunt...

I'm out of green.


not just any green either. HUNTER green, Red Heart HUNTER green to be exact.


can I find it?


NO.


arghh..


I've checked all the stores nearby, and there are quite a few.


did you know that Michaels carries all the greens from Red Heart except hunter green. Explain THAT!


oh well.


I guess I'll go a bit farther away from home tomorrow (or Monday) I haven't decided.


until then, Mom doesn't get her blanket until maybe Mother's Day.


*sigh*


goin on a yarn hunt....gonna hunt down some hunter green.