Knitting Goals

This is proof that I am able to meet some of my goals. This time last year all I could do was hats and scarves, then I learned how to cable, and then I got on Ravelry. This has made me a much less fearful knitter and I've been open to trying new techniques. Last February I would not believe that I could make a sweater, that to me was what "real knitters" did. While I've now made three sweaters I don't yet feel like a "real knitter" but I'm getting there (this is a teaser of the Vine Yoke Cardigan which I did indeed finish, I just need to block it and add buttons!)

I'm sitting on the couch with Rick, watching Bear Grylls do stupid things on Man vs. Wild, and looking through fiber classes in Boston and it got me thinking about goals. Now that I'm at the point in my knitting where I can fairly consistently make a project that at least vaguely resembles the pattern I'm looking to advance my skills more.

What things do I want to work? Well I'm so glad you asked?

Short term goals:

• Improve my finishing skills, make each piece that much more "mistake-free"
• Learn how to do entrela
  
• Getting more comfortable with cables, oh how I dread those twisty devils
• Finally writing up some legible designs, I have a languishing mitten pattern that has no thumbs

Longer term goals:

• Learn to dye, I feel like this would be like a kid in a candy store: turning natural fiber into all different beautiful shades (I remember when my Mom used to weave and dye fiber in the basement, people would call and ask for her and I'd respond "Oh, she's in the basement dyeing")
  
• Learn to spin!! (Rick should watch out because I have a feeling this is the gateway to me pushing for us to own and run a fiber farm...)
• Join the Knitting Guild Association and do a correspondence course (thinking the professional finishing skills)
  

Long longer term goals:

• Working on a Knitting Guild Association Master Knitting Level 1 (this is a big commitment but I'm thinking once I'm done with grad school and settled into a full time job I'll want something to give me a challenge both intellectually and creatively)

So whatya think? What are your goals?

Knitter's Boyfriend's Observations...

The following is a list of observations posted to Ravelry by user Padgee. I found this to be uproariously funny and had to share it will all you non-ravelers out there (but seriously, what are you waiting for? go join now!). Enjoy:

"I am not a knitter. I joined Ravelry to see where my girlfriend spends her time on the internet lol. In the 10 or so months that she’s been knitting I’ve been secretly/overtly observing and documenting this crazy thing called yarn and what it does to people. These things I know to be true.

1. Yarn is NOT string and should not be referred to as such.
2. Knitting needles are not sticks,stix, or styx.
3. Casting on is NOT a fishing metaphor.
4. Yarn comes in different weights, colors, styles. Kind of like drugs.
5. People dye their own yarn with varying degrees of success.
6. Knitting is taken everywhere. No exceptions are to be made.
7. Fun fur is frowned on by “real” knitters.
8. “Lemme just finish this round” is a lot like me saying “Lemme just finish this round of video games” fair enough
9. A collection of yarn is a “stash” much like drugs.
10. Yarn barf is actually a thing.
11. Ravelry has a weird economy of bartering. Yarn can be exchanged for other goods not related to yarn. ????? Weird.
12. There are knitting groups, where other like minded knitters knit together and (this part is an assumption) talk about how knitters should rule the world.
13. Do NOT sit on or around yarn left on the sofa. This will cause knitter in the other room to jump up and rescue said ball of yarn from your evil ass.
14. Thank goodness there are no shows about knitting on Primetime TV.
15. Stitch markers are NOT earrings.
16. Lots of knitters have kittehs. You know who also had them? Witches.
17. If I want something, “Did you want to go to the yarn store?” are the first words out of my mouth.
18. Yarn stores are populated by alpha knitters. Some stores are better than others. Michaels is not a suitable substitute for a yarn store.
19. The needles that are attached with wire to each other, do not make good nunchuks.
20. Kitteh won’t chase a ball of yarn no matter how many balls you throw at his head.

These things I know to be true."

Like I said, I was significantly and substantially amused so I had to share. Now I will have to find out if my own boyfriend agrees, although I know Rick has had to experience #13 several times.

Happy Snow Day!

Ravelympics

I have good news for my sister's monster... I will be participating in Never Not Knitting's Ravelympics team and Seamus von Swimmy is my project of choice!

As for what are the Ravelympics? Never Not Knitting herself explained that in her own blog so I'll let you look there.

As for me I better get this Vine Yoke Cardigan out of the way before the Ravelympics start, there's hope for the little monster yet!

Demanding Monster

The whimsical Tuppy Von Monster, as designed and created by Elli Stubenrauch

The sweater continues to progress well, I am about to reach the left sleeve and then the home stretch! It's been such a fun project to work on, and it's one that's made me so thankful for Ravelry. There are numerous forums about the Vine Yoke Cardigan on Ravelry and they really helped me figure out sizing information, and some aspects of the pattern. I do have to say though that Ravelry makes it look like a super intimidating project and it is not, do NOT be afraid of the sweater!!

On another note, the sweater has been practically flying off my needles because there have been repeated requests for a monster. My older sister (the one who didn't get anything knit for Christmas so I really do owe her) wants a monster. Not just any monster though, she saw the above image for Tuppy von Monster and decided she doesn't just want one, she needs one! I already sent her a scarf to try to buy some patience, but to no avail, the monster needs to be made, and it has to be now.

Seeing as how we're both island girls we've decided that this monster needs to have some special alterations. First, he will be a sea monster named Seamus von Swimmy. Second, the color scheme will be greatly altered for SvS, as will the colorwork charts for his tummy section. Now that you are perhaps as anxious with anticipation as my dear sister, you will just have to wait to see how he grows.