I knitted a cowl on New Year's Eve. That's how ready to party I am, people. Seriously though... sickness ran its course through our household in December. Thus, I elected to stay home on The Most Overrated Holiday Ever, and spent my free evening hours knitting to my heart's content while coughing the night away.
Here
I am, triumphant in my knitting victory, at approximately 3 a.m. on New
Year's Day. Even as delighted with my Swiss dotted cowl as I am, I've
only managed to wear it in the comfort of my own living room.
As far as the knitting goes, this project was a breeze. If you know how to knit, knit 2 together and yarn over, then you've pretty much nailed it. The entire thing took me about 2 days... which is a record breaker for me as I tend to fall asleep while knitting, with my mouth hanging open and my circulars still clutched in my little paws.
Can you spot the boo-boo? I somehow managed to get a little hole on the edge there. It's small enough to fill in with crocheted loops, but I literally had just enough yarn to finish this project and not a bit more! :(
Cozy, cozy! My first cowl, what fun.
The dotted Swiss cowl project takes 2 balls of super bulky yarn - they suggested Encore Mega from Plymouth Yarn, and size 17 circular needles. Wait, actually I think it called for size 15s but I was told I should buy 17s because I'm a tight knitter. As you can see, this worked out well for me.
I took up knitting many years ago. My progress has come along in fits and starts, but I do keep getting better at it. Even though my mom is a champion knitter and seamstress, I never felt compelled to pick up the hobby until I quit my "young people vices." So basically, when I gave up going to the bar on weekends is when knitting started to look like something I might want to do!
These days, I knit for fun and relaxation at night while watching Netflix comedy specials. Comedy is perfect to knit to because you don't have to keep your eye on the action the whole time. Also, it's funny.
The above photo is of a cabling project I'm working on. I got the pattern from a book called 99 Knit Stitches and it's become my knitter's bedside bible.
I still haven't knitted a sweater, but maybe now that I know how to cable that can be something to strive for in the future! It's hat and scarf season, and we have plenty of kids in our family to knit for. So maybe I'll just put this endless cabling mission down for a while so I can knit fun stuff for fam.
One thing I love about knitting is the kind of people I meet when I take my projects out and about. Nice ladies (and cool old men) often stop to ask about what I'm making, admire my handiwork, and share their mutual love of knitting or appreciation of handmade knitted goods.
To learn knitting on my own, I began viewing videos I came across online. The best ones I've found are from a pro knitter by the name of Amy Findlay, who runs the awesome site, KnittingHelp.com. Check out these beginner knitting videos of hers on Youtube.
Casting on is the first knitting trick you should learn. It basically means "loading" your knitting needle to begin a new project. The above video share the continental method of casting on.
If you've ever wanted to become a knitter, these days you can do it without having to take formal lessons or have your female relatives hovering over your shoulder. Plenty of avid knitters are posting helpful tips on Youtube and other knitting sites!
I still haven't knitted a sweater, but maybe now that I know how to cable that can be something to strive for in the future! It's hat and scarf season, and we have plenty of kids in our family to knit for. So maybe I'll just put this endless cabling mission down for a while so I can knit fun stuff for fam.