I am currently knitting a baby blanket. I'm doing it in squares that I will later piece together with some kind of stitch that I'll need to learn first (I've heard someone use the words "blanket stitch," and I will be Googling those words).
One of the great things about making this blanket--besides the fact that I care very deeply for the baby-to-be's parents--is that I am teaching myself some new stitches in the process. Up to now, I have only knitted and purled, increased and decreased, but not much else. With these squares, I'm doing various patterns, such as seed, moss, and eyelet, and I'm needing to learn new stitches.
So I am now doing an eyelet square, for which I've done my first yarn overs. Can I tell you how much I love the little eyelet holes that my yarn overs make? Granted I counted wrong on a few rows and I'm missing some holes, but I'm not going to worry about those mistakes because 1) I find it very hard to rip out knit-togethers and yarn overs successfully without losing my way, and 2) the baby won't care.
Even with my mistakes, I love my yarn overs holes.
7 comments:
There's a group that knits little caps for newborns. I need to make time to learn how to knit, I've been meaning to do it. I enjoy crafty stuff, and I can certainly make baby hats without screwing them up.
Note to self: DO IT.
Did you teach yourself to knit???
Crafty Unicorn
My mom once told me that the Amish always make an intentional mistake when they create anything -- whether it's a blanket or a gazebo. Why? Because they believe that only God can create perfection. Now, while I'm not a big believer, I do like that idea. No human can make anything that's entirely perfect. But we do strive to be "good enough," eh? ;) Keep your mantra in mind: Perfection is the enemy of the good.
And I, too, love those little yarn over holes. I LOVE knitting. I just don't have time to do it these days. Sigh. Someday!
If this post were earlier in the summer, I would take it as a sign to start learning to knit again. Alas, maybe next summer. Anyway, I was able to crochet several small baby blankets for several babies a while ago. Yay for you and knitting!
Oo, that sounds like so much fun! I have been wanting to learn to crochet but I have a cross-stitch piece I started seven years ago (yes, you read that right) and it NEEDS to get done as a Christmas present. If you were geographically closer, I'd invite you to my newly discovered sewing circle. It must be baby season, many people seem to be working on baby gifts -- multiple, at once!
Excellent! Then you are now ready for "feather and fan." So here is my trusty scarf for all gifty occasions (because it looks harder to knit than it is, because it knits up fast, because you only pattern every 4th row so you can take it to stitch 'n bitch sessions and not lose track...):
Ahem. Cast on 42 stitches.
Knit a row
Purl a row
Pattern row: K3, K2tog (3 times), K1 YO (6 times), K2 tog (6 times), K1 YO (6 times), K3
Purl a row
Repeat. Your K2 tog makes decreases, the K1 YO increases, and you get a lovely "feather and fan" out of it. Trust me.
PS: there's an award for you to collect on my blog if you wish it!
Dear Crafty, I did not teach myself originally. I learned from female family members. Both side of my family are very needle-happy (with thread, mind you). But I had to re-teach myself as an adult. There are so many online tutorials and knitting groups that I don't think you'd have much trouble. It is nice, at first, who can help you understand (and fix) mistakes. But you could start with a garter stitch scarf without much trouble. Stitches might be uneven at first (some tight, some loose), but that's normal. Things will even out with time.
Fie, I never have to make intentional mistakes since I make so many unintentional ones! I don't have too much time to knit but, surprisingly, I can knit in the car (well, in the minivan on straight road, that is), so on summer road trips, I usually get into it again. Lately, I knit just a bit during our end of the night episode (of whatever show we're streaming).
Steel, Maybe at Christmas? But at least you know how to crochet! I don't.
CT, I would LOVE to attend your sewing circle. I used to do a lot of cross stitch. The nice thing about knitting is that it can be fairly mindless. When I'm doing an easy scarf or blanket square, I don't have to think much or count, which is great. It's meditative.
LKL, Yay for the cool, impressive pattern! Thank you! I will do it. What kind of yarn do you like to use for it? I can't knit with wool b/c I'm allergic to lanolin. And thank you for the award, my dear! I will certainly try to collect it. Gotta try to find a few spare moments for the requesite linking--which I can't do very well from the i-Pad. But thank you for the sweet recognition.
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