Getting Started

• Hi to my friend Candie! I've knitted the stockinette stitch and the garter stitch swatch! Wow, I never knew I had such uneven stitches. I got so confused about casting on that I went down to the local knit shop for reassurance. I pulled both swatches out several times before I finally quit and set them aside. I'm distracted right now because we are moving to a new house, so I'm knitting socks, but even then I notice how sloppy the stitiches are and how uneven the cast on stitches appear. Who knew? I am learning. I have a notebook and I bought five books to use a research, including the very impressive Vogue Knitting Book!! For great photos of how the swatches should appear, go to Forgetmeknotsgarden blog.


• I did finish the chemo cap, a purchase at Stitches West, with a pattern from Ali McGraw. She was at Stitches but I didn't get her autograph. My friend Janet called and she's a volunteer at the local hospital. She's asking for small afghans/shawls/laprobes to wrap around people who are going home and may have to go on the bus or who need something to wrap around them when they leave the hospital. I'm going to start on those while I'm watching TV. I can use big needles and washable yarn and pray for blessings on those who wear my wraps.


• I have a Knitting group now which meets every Third Thursday to knit and talk and support each other. I discovered I like small groups, five or six people, instead of a larger group because I want to hear what everyone is saying. I miss out if there are several conversations going on! Happy Day-WhidbeyKnitter

Knitting and Kindles

I got my instructions of the Master Knitter Level I course today. As part of the class, I have to do research on blocking, and understand the whys and how-tos of gauges. In one of my internet resources I found a website with a kindred spirit, a Level I Knitter, as well as a Kindle user. She recommends getting the Knitting for Dummies on Kindle. I will do that today! The Internet is turning out to be a great resource. More Later....

I Am Back and Happy To Be Here

Look what's happened north of Seattle! We got covered in snow. It's cold, snowy and good weather for knitting and reading.

Last weekend (Feb 17-20) I was at Stitches, a knitting expo, convention, gathering of many knitters in Santa Clara, Ca. My New Year resolution to start a knitting group happened the Thursday before I left, and I met up with old friends, Candie and Nancy, for a weekend of shopping, classes, and generally being blown away by the many exhibits of wool, yarns, patterns, needles...a whole convention center full of the things I love the most. I bought new needles, yarn for a sweater, and patterns for many projects, but the most important thing I came away with was an interest in the Master Knitter course given by The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA). I arrived home on Sunday and on Monday I ordered the first course, Level I. I am waiting for it to arrive, checking the mail every day.


While I'm waiting, I finished a pair of socks for Jim; I restarted a square for that Afghan for Missy; I started and ripped out a chemo cap three times!; I found a pair of wool socks I started eons ago; I recognize the need for bins or drawers for yarn when I get in my new house; I found the pattern book for a great gob of yarn I bought to knit a kimono cardigan; and I got the Knotty Knitter calendar in the mail from Knitters mag. and that included an entrelac pattern for a scarf that I plan to start with all the beautiful leftovers I have in baskets and bins. The year 2011 has started off pretty good.

Oh, and I joined the online group on Ravelry. Lots of support on there which should be a great help as I work my course. Lot of snow here, so perfect for knitting! WhidbeyKnitter

P.S. Just finished all Louise Penny books, my latest perfect detective story. Her development of side characters is terrific, and I am as interested in their development as in solving to the murder.