New Year, New Beginnings, New Knitting!

Happy New Year! I have to say I've had the worst cold in my life and motivating to the computer has been pretty rough however I made it! 14 days into the New Year.....
The past few years I stopped making resolutions on New Years and instead would make them on my birthday in September, the beginning of my new year.  However, this past year I saw something on tv that stuck with me.  Most people of course end up not sticking with their resolutions, but it is still a great way to start fresh and make promises to better oneself.  So I decided to make some resolutions.  Now is the hard part, being realistic.

Why blog about resolutions?  Well one of them is to try and finish what I start.  Not wanting to fail I sometimes don't finish things.  Knitting projects.  I've been knitting off and on for 10 years.  I learned when I started designing sweaters at Columbia Sportswear.  It was a great reason to take knitting classes so I can learn gauge.  This past December I signed up for a Herringbone Cowl class at Purl.  I didn't realize it was an advanced knitting course.  It's been difficult, to say the least. I have always had problems with understanding the knit stitches.  I've worked on it slowly.  In between I have knitted 2 hats for gifts.  The herringbone cowl I find to be a tough project, the yarn which I love is slippery and the stitch is backwards. All in all, it hasn't been pleasurable. But I decided I should keep up with it.  Also Sophia, the teacher and a friend, has been encouraging.  So resolution one,  finish my projects.

This is what I hope to accomplish.

It's so buttery beautiful! Picture taken from the Purl Bee

Do you do resolutions? What are some of yours?
Should I give myself a goal of trying to create 5 resolutions?

Regular Guy Beanie....my guy ain't regular!

I have mentioned in the past,a few weeks ago, that I was knitting a scarf and hat for my husband using Madeline Tosh Merino. Awesome soft yarn that I bought from Purl Soho where I work part time. Being a designer and sewer and working at Purl I get to see (and drool) at all the new fabulous fabrics that arrive daily.  I also get to learn way more about yarns, knitting and crocheting. I'm such an amateur hobbyist when it comes knitting and crocheting. To be safe I stick to knit purl knit purl and that's it. Last year, 2010, I tried a hat for Christmas. Ooh so bad. This year I knitted a hat that was to be a skull cap, beanie, is there a difference?  I found this  free pattern on Ravelry.  The hat was finished by Christmas Day but was much too big and long, especially since my husband has no hair to fill the hat. It was like meant for someone with very long dreadlocks.

Today I finally finished the second try. Not perfect but I am so happy it's done.
The scarf I also messed up but I was so far along that when I brought it to work at Purl
and Faye recommended I take it apart.  I really did not want to do that. What I did was knit the whole thing...I should just follow a pattern next time.
The second suggestion was blocking it. So I blocked it and it is still curling a little but hubby is happy with it. (or he is a good liar).


Any comments? Feel free to post, would love to hear.

New to crafts?

Has all this knitting and crocheting on the subway made you a tad jealous? Hearing about craft parties and friends taking sewing class make you inspired? Why not take up a craft? The one thing I tell my 101 students is not to get frustrated, it's suppose to be fun. March is National Craft Month and you can start a craft without spending the bank.

Go to fabric.com http://www.fabric.com/knitting-crochet.aspx/?cm_re=SL1-_-quilting-_-Craft%20Knitting  15% off knitting and crocheting supplies.  

Classes in NYC? 3rdward has a great crochet workshop 3rdward in Brooklyn or check out Lion Brands intro classses, right in Chelsea.

Scrapbooking? this is a fun and memory keep craft. Check out joann.com for supplies on sale and to get started or http://www.michaels.com/

Ok so you are not a crafter but love crafts? Check out etsy to buy one of a kind and beautiful gifts, crocheted items for sale on etsy.

Look at this cute baby sweater, perfect gift for that spring baby.  http://www.etsy.com/listing/49079124/cotton-cardigan-0-24-month-sizes

OR look how cute this doll is -

http://www.etsy.com/listing/69193540/samie-mars-sock-monkey-with-knit-heart?ref=sr_gallery_19&ga_search_query=knit&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_facet=handmade

So don't be intimated by Craft Month. Check out your local meet up groups, http://www.meetup.com/ or ask at your local yarn or fabric store about classes. Enjoy!

Crocheting

It's a New Year and well....resolutions.....no....hopes, yes and goals yes. I started taking crochet classes in December. I already am a knitter.  Lion Brand Studio/ Retail Store right in Chelsea has great classes to offer at great prices! To check out their website click here,  Lion Brand Studio is at 34 W 15th St. Not only do they have crocheting but knitting as well. So I realised that knitting I can watch a movie and do, crocheting I have to intently concentrate.  Hopefully this will change.

Tuesday night at Lion Brand is the Crochet Doctor, Andrea, she is great! Very knowledgable and patient. This past Tuesday I went with my friend Diane who is finishing a baby afghan for her new niece or nephew.  Since she doesn't know yet she is making the afghan in gender neutral colors. This is being done in a double crochet stitch.  This is what she brought to class:

 

She is finished with it and decided she wanted to do a boarder on it. She started it during the session:

 

I think the finished edge is looking nice. What do you think?

Do you have any afghans you have crocheted? 

Send a photo.

I can't sign off with posting a photo of Lion Brand's Windows. They are always so adorable and inspirational!

Happy Yarning!