Will I ever stop?

Yesterday I started a scarf for my husband (Glenn).  Shhhhh, it's a secret.  It calls for 32 cast on stitches.  I thought it was too narrow.  So I played around with different sizes.  I think I went as high as 48 stitches but that was too much.  I ended up with 44 stitches.  I didn't like what was happening with it, so I undid everything.  I think I didn't count the rows right.  You'd think I'd remember since it was only yesterday.

Today I tore out what I did because my needles were too short.  I was using size 6 9" needles.  So I switched to my 10" needles (same size).  I believe I knitted 8 rows.  What I did notice is that with 44 stitches per row, if you begin with k4, you end with k4.  So when starting a new row you are twisting the thread when it naturally wants to do the opposite.  Don't know if that makes sense.  When I finish a row with the knit stitch, the yarn 'naturally' wants to do purl stitches on the new row.  But with the number of stitches per row, it has to begin with a knit.  Same can be said for the purl.  What you want is to end with purl and then start the next row with knit.  But I continued.

I noticed that with 44 stitches, the scarf looked a bit too wide.  I have stitched enough rows now so that I could see the pattern forming.  I blocked off 12 stitches to see what the scarf would look like with only 32 stitches (which is what the pattern originally called for).  It looked ok.  It doesn't need to be too thick as it's a man's scarf and they're not into the big huge scarfs.  So, guess what I did?  I ripped it out again.

Since I don't want my husband to know I'm making this scarf, I hide it before he comes home from work.  Hidden in one of my stitching baskets is a a knitting needle with 32 stitches cast on.  I'm back to square one for the 3rd time.  I have no pictures because I have nothing to show.  I'm hoping tomorrow I will NOT redo anything.

Another day, another dishcloth

Just finished my second dishcloth yesturday and I'm pleased to say, it has a much better shape. It was much easier knitting with metal needles with the cotton. As mentioned, with wood/bamboo needles, the cotton really 'sticks'. Anyway, here is the final result.....

It's not the best work as you can tell, but I'm still learning.  It will be just fine to wash dishes.

Today, I thought I'd try a different pattern. It's a basket weave motif and am thinking it will be great practice for the scarf I want to make (for my husband).  I am trying a simplified cast on this time; not the knit-cast on.

Will see how it goes. I'm also working with bamboo needles as I have been eager to try them out (just bought them at 40% off).  I hope I don't lose count.  I'm easily distracted and very forgetful. Hopefully the row counter I bought will help!!

Big Finish!

Well, it is the morning of October 2/13 and am just freezing in my house.  It makes me want to start knitting a quilt.  However, baby steps.  YESTERDAY I FINISHED MY FIRST KNITTING PROJECT.  As you know, it was a dishcloth.  As you also know, I had troubles with the tension of the stitches.  At one point I thought I would break one of my needles.  My knitting instructor suggested that when working with 100% cotton, it might go a bit easier with metal knitting needles.   I used wooden, thinking it would give me better control.  What it seemed to do was just hold on tight to the wood and have very little give.  So next dishcloth (which I think I'll start today), I will use metal needles.  Here is the 'square' dishcloth:

A light bulb turned on!

I am knitting away and liking it more and more with each stitch. However, my work is REALLY TIGHT!  I know I might be a tad stressed out but I don't think I need to grunt when trying to migrate the yarn from one needle to the other.

One thing I did notice - I seem to be knitting very close to the ends of the needles:

I may not be pulling the thread too tight, but I'm working on the smallest part of the needle. What was also happening is that since I was working so far down the needle, I had all this extra needle. So I ended up holding the needle in my arm pit. DUH!!!!  Always have something to learn.  What I did for the next row was work further down the needle. Bah bah bah bah (imagine a trumpet)!!!

I completed the row and the stitches were a lot more 'pliable'. Very workable. 

Funny - as I was basking in my glory, I noticed something wrong.  I think I may have dropped a stitch. I went back three stitches and fixed it. I'm on a high!!  Quite happy here.... to my 6 followers. 

Dishcloth Day One

Hello.

A very cloudy day here today so it's a bit hard to knit.  Yes, knit!

I have recently joined Ravelry, a great knitting/crocheting website.  You can do all sorts of things on it like create an inventory of all your stash (needles, yarn, etc.), get patterns, join discussion groups and document your projects.  So, there is a place to add 'notes' to a project but I'm not really sure if that is where you discuss your project(s).  That is why I'm writing my update here (as I think there might be a link between your personal blog an Ravelry).  Perhaps you'll be able to view it on Ravelry as well as here.  Still learning all this stuff!

So, it's the first day of my knitted dishcloth.  I'm so excited that you'd think I was knitting a garment for Pope Francis.  It's just a dishcloth for Pete's Sake (who is Pete? I have no idea)!!  But all is going well.  I have to really watch my tension.  I am very prone to making my stitches very tight.  Thank goodness also for You Tube.  Of course I forgot Corey's method (my teacher at Wolseley Wool) of casting on so I had to search for a video.  Found one very quickly.  And then of course, I couldn't remember how to 'yarn over' as I was only shown that once in class and didn't record it on my iPad.  So, another You Tube search.  It's so great.  I have my MacBook (which I totally LOVE) on my lap and watch the video and stitch at the same time.  It's great!  So away I go......

It has been a long time

You know, it's been a long time since I've visited my own blog.  I just thought I had nothing important to say.  I haven't been stitching - especially the 'Waterlily Pond'.  I'm even thinking of changing the blog a bit or just remove this one and create a brand new one.  Not too good with this blog stuff.  I am currently taking a knitting class.  So I'm all about knitting and purling right now.  Stay tuned.....

In a Dilemma

I have discovered that creating this blog for one specific embroidery project may not have been the best thing to do.  As expected, I seem to be stitching everything BUT my Waterlily Pond.  So, my question (to my 3 followers) is:  should I rename my blog?  I really think I should.  Now the question is, what do I name it?  I want it to be more of a 'general' embroidery blog.  I'm not horribly creative so I need to find an interesting name for it.  Hmmm....  Lisa's Sticherama.... What Lisa Does with Her Time....  All ideas are welcome.


Well, off to stitch (and no, not my Waterlily Pond).