Ok, no pics right now (I’ll add them later I guess), but here’s what’s going on around these knitting parts.
I started my sweater workshop at HCW’s. There are 8 of us in the class and it seems like it will be pretty good. I realized in class that I am bad at knitting math because when the teacher was trying to explain to me about gauge and needles, etc I just did not get it. Later when I was mulling over my DPN purchase at the front I did finally get it, but now I’ve forgotten again. So does that make me old? Senile? Absent-minded librarian?
Anyway, the workshop is going to be good even though it’s straining my wallet a little right now. I think it will be worth it in the end. I have managed to do all my “homework” already. I knit the entire back of my sweater (not as impressive as it sounds since the needles are BIG and the yarn is super bulky) and did my swatch for buttonhole practice.
Let’s see I also got mad fever to knit a hat (probably because it was so freakin cold last week) and when I saw Malabrigo + hats on Ravlery, well that sealed the deal. So I totally cast on and completed a hat over the weekend only to discover that yes swatching is important. I almost always have to knit 1 needle size down for gauge so why I thought this would not be the case for a hat, I don’t know. I frogged and restarted last night, should be able to finish tonight I hope since it’s getting cold again.
We got new furniture (yippee!) and I have this Noro Kureyon that I have been trying to find a use for, so I made 2 coasters last night. It’s really true that energy efficient front loading washers are not made for felting, but oh well they still turned out pretty well. So my reasoning on this was that the Noro is nice and multi-colored so it’ll go with everything and wool is a wicking fiber. Plus I really hate those particle board coasters because when drinking cold drinks (ie, beer) they stick to your glass. So I think wool coasters are the way to go for the entire house.
I so have sock fever. I am not sure if I’m just attracted to the yarn (there is some gorgeous sock yarn out there) or what, but I really want to give these a try. I accidentally bought 2 skeins of Mountain Colors (made near where I used to live in Montana!) last week and had them balled (so of course I can’t return them now) so I need to make some socks with them I think. I cannot for the life of me find a pattern that freakin makes sense though. I see HCW’s has a sock class in March, I might take it if my wallet has recovered from the sweater workshop, but I don’t know if I can wait that long to learn about socks.
Hey, we have lots in common. I almost always have to go down 1 to 2 needle sizes as well and I am obsessed with socks right now. I started some men’s socks from the new Stitch n Bitch book, but they are way too large. I need to look at another pattern and merge the two designs or something.
I went to Gauge for the first time this weekend. They were so nice and helpful. I will go back for sure! I also went to The Knitting Nest. It was OK, but did not wow me as much as I had hoped, and it’s way the heck out there!
Ha, we should totally hang out and knit, I haven’t seen you in sooooo long! I need to pay attention to the austin glitterati group a little closer so I can join the next meet up. I have been thinking about going to one of the Austin weekly meetups they have.
I actually found a decent sock pattern through ravelry and after watching the video on knittinghelp.com I think I kind of understand it. If you want the pattern lemme know.