Blog Week Entry #2: Skill+ Up

Welcome to Day 2 of blog week, where we have yet another topic to discuss:

Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill and knowledge of your craft to this time last year. Have you learned any new skills or forms of knitting/crochet (can you crochet cable stitches now where you didn’t even know such things existed last year? Have you recently put a foot in the tiled world of entrelac? Had you even picked up a pair of needles or crochet hook this time last year?

Owl Cardigan: Adventure in Steeking

Last year I steeked my first sweater, and somehow managed to never write a post about it. I'm not sure why - it was quite the learning experience! This seems like as good of a time as any to talk about the ins and outs of steeking a cardigan....for starters, I chose to experiment with steeking because I wanted to knit the cardigan faster in the round - I also figured I should branch out and try something new, and a coworker of mine had steeked her Owl cardigan and gave me some tips. All in all, considering that this was my first-ever steeked project, it went pretty well. There are lots of things i'd have done differently, of course- such as making the steek section a little bigger (it's been so long since I worked on this sweater, I can't find my pattern copy where I wrote down all my mods, so I apologize for any vagueness in this post). I think i would have also added one or two more owl cable repeats - I ended up deleting one by accident when adding in the steek, causing the sweater to be a bit on the snug side. That is definitely my oopsie and has nothing to do with the pattern as written.

Cutting the steek - eek!

While I'm on the subject of regrets, I do wish I'd cast on about four more stitches for each armhole - I remember at the time thinking as I knit, "wow, that really doesn't seem like enough stitches, I should add a few more!" Then, of course, I didn't, and the sleeves are just a hair too tight. This seems to be a common problem other Ravelers have experienced when knitting the pattern - but on the plus side, it's one that is easily remedied. Plus, after blocking and wearing, the sleeves have gotten a little looser and it's become a staple in my wardrobe!

Unexpected Color Combo: Design from Malabrigo Book 3

As far as my knitting resolutions for this year are concerned - to make friends with colorwork and learn how to do entrelac - I have yet to tackle either of them. I can't say I have broadened my skill-set hugely in the last year, other than noted above. While I have a decent base, there is always room for improvement. I've been trying to focus more on branching out in terms of color choices - I tend to gravitate towards the same colors (neutrals, green, blue) and make 'safe' color choices when working with two or more colors. In light of that, I've been trying to make a conscious effort to try unexpected combinations, which has been dovetailing nicely with my other challenge to myself: destashing!

Overdyeing A Finished Knit

Even after just a few years of knitting or crocheting, you're bound to have some finished projects lying around that never get worn or used. After 10+ years of crafting, I have more than just "some" or "a few"....and with my ongoing quest to declutter my house this year, I've become obsessed with going through these forlorn projects and making some Big Decisions. Sometimes, they are perfectly fine and just need a new and loving home. Other projects may have not turned out quite right: there might have been some mistakes in the knitting that I thought I could live with, or the yarn was gorgeous but not well-matched to the pattern, or my taste has drastically changed since I finished making the project...in any case, why on earth did I keep knitting?! Who knows, but I don't feel good about gifting anything that falls into this category to someone else. These projects have been relegated to the "frog pile" (or should I say, frog pond?), to b

Easy DIY: Beaded Vintage Snowflake Ornament Kits from Solid Oak Inc.

I was really excited to step outside of my comfort zone and try something new as part of my "Christmas in July" theme this month. The kind folks at Solid Oak Inc offered me a chance to review one of their Nostalgic Christmas beaded crystal ornament kits I couldn't resist. My tree is already full of ornaments I've inherited or been gifted from other family members and friends, so these pretty crystal beaded ornaments will fit right in I think! I was super impressed with this compact little kit , which includes everything needed to create three gorgeous vintage-style ornaments - just add a pair of round nose pliers (I found mine on Amazon for less than ten bucks). The instructions had some fabulous tips for newbies like me; for example, it recommended sorting the beads and laying them out in order on a towel or beading mat to prevent them from rolling away. That may seem obvious, but I was totally ready to start beading on my kitchen table without a

What If I Didn't Add Heels?

Last weekend, I finished the first sock with my Waterlilies yarn , and just for yuks, I tried it on even though it was basically just a tube sock. Much to my surprise, it fit really well, even without a heel. Who knew? So, that got me thinking: what if I just didn't add the heels? I never thought a tube sock would actually fit nicely, but I genuinely like the fit, so...why spend time to add the heels? As the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.... Let's say I decide not to add heels once the second sock is done - there will still be placeholder yarn for the afterthought heels, as you can see above, so should I leave it in and just weave in the ends? Or should I remove it, put the live stitches back on needles and at least graft them together using more of the Waterlilies yarn? I plan on mulling all of this over as I knit the second sock, and I'd love to hear your opinions of what you think would look best (or if you think this whole "n

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