3 posts tagged “knitting”
My first scarf (made with the ghetto yarn) was boring so I decided to make a fancier one: a Vine Lace patterned long warm shawl/scarf. I used Rowan Big Wool (in Tricky) and it turned out so lovely!
My next projects include a purse that I mentioned earlier. It was inspired by a pattern in Pretty Knits, but I deleted the rows with the ribbon because it made me cringe a little. One of the fabrice pictured behind it will be the lining for the tote; the other will likely become part of a pillow or something.
I found a few yarns I was condidering for the 1 Skein Wonder shrug and finally settled on a Manos wool (it's so pretty!). I'm about 1/2 done! I am so excited to wear this with cute white tight tanks.
About a month ago I decided to teach myself to knit. I have a few friends that are knitting guru’s (baby sweaters in a night, socks in a weekend, etc) and I looked at the whole thing as (1) a chance to hone in on my artistic side and (2) an opportunity to expand my network of female friends. Once I had my mind all made up, I went to a local craft store, bought yarn and needles and taught myself to knit. Yes, that’s right: no book. I engineered a scarf that night.
After finishing my first scarf with what I call my “ghetto yarn” (some no-name cashmere thing from a chain store) I felt I needed nicer yarns (operative word: needed). Prettier. Fancier. I also wanted patterns. I needed knitting stuff.
My friend Wendy answered my call for help with a post-it list of websites, stores and blogs to check out (which I also fwd to another friend). She is *understatement* an avid knitter. She pointed me in the direction of my now favorite place ever: Babetta’s.
Wendy – you and your Nepal/Sari Yarn! Darn You!!! =)
I went to Babetta’s and was mesmerized by the beautiful shelves of yarn. They had yarn that Karl Lagerfield would use in constructing those snappy Chanel blazers. They had silk yarns that could be a Gucci handbag – in any color you could imagine. They also had a staff that knew what they were talking about (another gross understatement) I had only ever knit a scarf, and somehow when I saw these gorgeous Partagonia cotton yarns and Rowan Big Wool and I wanted to make other things. A sweater? A shawl? Sure, why not?! I am an engineer, which means I know how to learn. I can figure this out. Consider it done.
My purchases thus far:
- 5 skeins of Rowan Big Wool in Tricky and a French Girl Shawl Pattern (Nathalie). This took 1.5 days.
- 3 skeins of Patagonia Cotton in the lighter greens; I made the Raspberry Stitch Purse from the book Pretty Knits. I edited the pattern to get rid of the (what I felt was ugly, but others could like) portion with the ribbon running through it. I'll post this later (I wrote it down). Babetta's also had swanky handles. And a really cool closure button. I lined it with this golden fabric, too. It’s super fancy.
- 5 skeins of Rowan Linen Print that I have yet to use. I think it’s going to be a sarong/swim cover-up. Not sure.
- 3 skeins of Louisa Harding Kashmir DK in tan and 1 skein of a orange/pink/white yarn that I am going to weave into the top of the tube top I am making with this. No pattern. I made the pattern. Checked my OWN swatch. Yes, it was good.
- Kaalnud silk yarn in paw-paw to knit the 1 Skein Wonder from Glampyre Knits (btw: I love her – read her blog. This woman rocks. I don’t know her personally, but I read her stuff and love her patterns and I think she’s an awesome person. See her website! Buy stuff! )
I’ll post photos of this stuff later – Louis has my camera at work. He “borrowed it” (that’s what married people do, isn’t it? Haha)
So, despite the fact that I didn’t really see myself as a knitter, I’ll say this: I really enjoy it. I love the ladies at Babetta’s, the women in my knitting class, and the people I know who pointed me in the right direction with knitting. It is the creative outlet I needed and have not been addressing much for the past year or so. Thank you to those who brought me here: I’m beyond grateful. Come over my house and we can knit sometime! Knitting Party?!
I went to the Yarn Store yesterday and now I am sitting with two projects that I am equally excited about wearing.
First, I am making a shawl out of Rowan Big Wool in Bohemian. It's from a French Girl pattern (Nathalie). I'm over half done with it and it is looking pretty damn good (IMHO). My second project is TBD. I'll post pictures later.
Hooray for pretty things! *twirls needles in air*
