new projects!

So, I've completed one fingerless glove. I don't like it. I like the color. I love the stitching, except it is a little too loose. I don't like how I put it together. I think I will have to re-do!

I've learned the diamond seed stitch and cheveron seed stitch. Tonight I am working on a hat with circular needles. I started a sock with fisherman's wool (it is very easy to work with!) on four double pointed needles. That is for practice. I am hoping to turn out at least one thing that I like that isn't the simple garter stitch scarf! I also started a sweater, a gansey rather! I am incorporating many designs in the stitching. Sometimes I get lost as to whether I started purling or stitching a row, but sometimes I forget a lot of things I'm doing in life so I feel that the sweater reflects my personality- something I think required in a gansey.

I love working with thick yarn. I love the look of wool. I love the feel of it in a hat but I don't like the feel of it in a scarf- too thick! I made a scarf out of alpaca- now that is nice! It sheds a bit though!

I had a lovely surprise the other night when I arrived at work- a package! What was in the small white box addressed from Austin? Sock yarn! Two skeins! I am so excited to make socks with this yarn- that's why I am practicing on fisherman's wool- to be sure I get it right and don't screw up the nice yarn! My friend sent it to me, one skein for a pair of socks for her and one for myself. Awesome.

Will have to blog later. Blogging at work is hard- I don't feel as inspired under the floresant lighting :(

purling away

I cannot do seed stitch. I just cannot. I can knit. I can purl. I can do "stocking" but I have spent hours today trying to do the seed. Is it seed stitching? Is it stiching seed? I don't even know the terminology usage! Either way, I have tried using different needles, different yarn. I have used the thickest yarn I can- which is what all knitters I know recommend for beginners! I need help.

He said, "Knit one, purl two, that's how the story goes, huh?" (a client at work)

Earlier when I was practicing stocking, I thought of my cousin. Whenever I do purl I think of her. Her birthday is in April, and the pearl is her birthstone.

I met with my friend tonight for coffee before work. She is a knitter and invited me to my first (and only, so far) knit nite. It's on Tuesday evenings. It was surreal the night I went there. I showed up with my few skews of yarn and crochet and knitting needles. I was working on a hat; and I was crochetting it, not knitting. There were about 15 women there, mostly middle aged, so younger some older, and they all seemed dear friends. They were all what I'd call Southern. I could not help but laugh at the typicality (is this a word, well it is now!) of the situation, especially when someone mentioned being SLUTS... Southern Ladies Under Tremendous Stress! I laughed out loud.

They were real knitters. One woman was making a doll! Several, shawls and blankets. My friend, was knitting socks. I wasn't even knitting, but crochetting. I showed them what I called my "ghetto" hat... the first knit hat I had made! They laughed, but out of joy, and said, "It's a start!" Now I have circular needles (I didn't say I was an expert at them yet) to bring to the group, and now that I am starting anew and getting out more, I will go again. Not this Tuesday, but next.

The book is wonderful. My plan is to practice each stitch as it is introduced in the book. I am stuck at seed. I want to learn to spin. I need wool! If anyone knows the direction in which to go... point!