I [heart] Continental!

I learned to knit English style, although I didn't know it at the time. When I was little, it's just the way I learned. When I first read about Continental knitting, I thought it was so weird! Holding the yarn with your left hand!! But when I tried making this double knit hat for my brother, I made myself learn to do both so I could hold both yarns at the same time! It definitely took some getting used to, and I ended up with a slightly different gauge (due to my tension) for one side of the hat than the other side, meaning the inside hat was bigger than the outside hat (but I just worked it out as part of the fold-up brim).

I also learned to purl "wrong" when I was little. This was my mom's doing, because she didn't know it created twisted stitches. I'm still not sure she gets it, after I've showed her a few times recently. But doing only the purl stitches clockwise and knit stitches counter-clockwise (all through front loops), I would create the alternating rows pattern of twisted/not twisted in my stockinette work. I myself didn't even notice this pattern until I was trying to teach a friend of mine to purl. I was showing her while at the same time reading the directions from a knitting book. I noticed the difference in what I was doing versus what was depicted on the page, was momentarily confused, and thought, "Oh well, both ways make a purl stitch!" Later I must have read more about it on the internet or examined my work, or both, and realized what was going on here!

I discovered a cool knitting blog by Grumperina when I was searching for patterns online. She is one awesome knitter, and I believe she is local to me (Cambridge, I think). She's also a grad student, I think studying something neuroscience related, so that is pretty cool as well! Anyway, through her expertise, I discovered combined knitting. Ah-ha! Here's a use for my backwards purling!! But it's only really convenient for continental knitters, and only in straight needle (back and forth) knitting, not knitting in the round (obviously, since stockinette in the round is only knit stitch, no purl).

I was resistant to continental knitting for a while, found it awkward and my hand muscles weren't used to it. However, in more recent times, I have put forth the effort to knit this way because it is fabulous for ribbing! And for seed stitch. Anything that requires switching from knit to purl frequently. And I have come to l-o-v-e it! It's almost like I can't imagine how I didn't knit this way for so long. Sure, sometimes I may have projects that I still use English knitting for, but right now I am enjoying my new skill. Although, I do admit I have not mastered the combined knitting. Since I am ribbing, I am too afraid I'll get confused with the twisting and mess it up. But maybe for a future project, who knows!

Ava hat

I just have to show this off, because it's a project I actually completed (baby things are easier to get done since they are so little!) and Vivi looks so cute in it! This stocking cap pattern was from my Stitch 'N Bitch 2007 page-a-day calendar, and since my friend Gina's daughter is named Vivienne Ava, I thought it was appropriate. I used Rowan Classic Cashsoft Baby DK in pixie and borage.

Here is the completed hat, blocked, but pre-tassel:

Here is cutie pie Vivi (5 months old) modelling:

(good view of the leaf lace pattern, my fave part!!)

She looks a little surprised here:

knitting corner

OK, so I could be knitting right now (a much belated birthday gift for Rudy), but instead, I started a blog about knitting.

Of course Marissa inspired me, in part, to start this blog, but really I want to use this to start to keep track of my projects and maybe... actually... for real... finish a project! Like the scarf or hat I started for Brent over a year ago (that he likes to remind me of resentfully from time to time), or fingerless gloves for my mom (I think she's forgotten I ever started them), or Asher's baby blanket (hey, he's too young to know anyway)!!

But seriously folks... I have a knitting corner. It's in the corner where the arms of the couch and arm chair come together; piles and piles of plastic bags from various yarn & craft stores, filled with WIPs and stash yarn. Or yarn bought for projects never even started or abandoned. (Like 20 or so balls of Sugar 'n Cream.) Brent is not a fan of the knitting supplies, but he deals with the fact that the knitting corner is out of sight. I mean, unless you are sitting in the chair or end of the couch and happen to look over and down. But I digress...

I'm not working, I only have one class, and now that Asher has his exersaucer, I have my hands free to knit. AND CROCHET, let's not forget the beauty of the one-needle craft! I tend to forget how nice it is to crochet when I haven't done it for a while. So anyway, that's what I want to do this year. Knit, crochet, and blog about it. Show off all those future FOs!!

Note to the laymen:
WIP = work in progress
FO = finished object