These are the two projects that I am working on from my knitting university class. The first one is a lace shawl that I have frogged at least 5 times. For some reason I could not get the yarn over (purl wise) to come out the way that it is supposed to look. The second image is of a hat that I have started. This is my first attempt at cable knitting. Of course, on this picture I have not reached the cabling stage, but as soon as I have some cables on the needles I will post another picture. Working on this project is also the first time that I have ever attempted the double loop method of knitting. It is actually easy although you have to get used to working around the loops. More details to come later.

Knitting University

In February, I signed up for Knitting University @ Unwind (one of my favorite LYS) and it has been one of the best things that I could have done. Not only have I learned stitches and techniques that I have never tried, but I have also learned how to correct little mistakes and a better way to tuck the tails. I was kind of bummed because I did not get my first project completed in one month but I had a great excuse. I am FINALLY completing the blanket that I started in 2008. It will be completely finished TODAY! YAAAYYY ME!! Pictures to follow later and they will also be posted on Ravelry.

Botched but Completed

I completed my mom's beret last night. Just BARELY!!! I got down to the last 19 stitches and somehow I dropped them off one of the circular needles. I was LIVID!!! I could NOT believe it. I was really too pissed to take out the rows and restart them so I simply took my yarn needle and basically stitched the hole closed. It turned out fairly well, I think. Here are pictures of the finished project. You would not know that there is a mistake if you did not know what to look for.

I am starting her ribbed scarf to match the ribbing in the hat ban.

Steven's Scarf

I have been working on a few other projects that I forgot to post about. This is a picture of a scarf that I made for someone named Steven. I do not know him... All I know is that my mom came home and asked me to make him a scarf because he is always freezing so I did. It was simple really, I put three strands of Red Heart yarn on size 19 needles. The colors were Black, Navy Blue, and Gray. I chose those because I figure that the scarf would pretty much match anything he wears and Mom told me that he has a black coat. The other picture is of my mother wearing the scarf before I blocked it. I thought that it looked nice with her blue sweater.

Learning from Scratch

I found out that my local library has a group that offers free knitting lessons. Since I have realized that I am ready to move beyond the basic hat & scarf projects, I decided to go and participate in the class. I am going to do what I should have done three years ago. Sit down with my Debbie Stoller Stitch n' Bitch book do everything she does in the book. This was actually a great idea because the first thing that I learned was that I have been binding off my projects incorrectly for a while now. I have simply been knitting two together and then placing the single stitch frome the right needle back on to the left needle and repeating until the end of the row. It works but, after doing it the SnB way, I see how that is a very bulking bind off and it leaves a curl on the end of the project and that is not always a good thing. This picture here is of the bind off that I just learned. Hopefully, I will be able to learn two new things from the book every day until. I have completed the projects. Of course this may not happen in a timely manner because I am still working on my regular projects which can be found on my Ravelry page.

New Toys

I am proud of myself. I bought my first swift and winder. The swift is unfinished and for medium sized balls, it will do for now, but I am sure that I will eventually find a bigger and better one. Right now I am working on completing projects before I start anything else. Well, I do intend to work on small projects while completing the others. I need something to relax my brain for while.