Branching Out

I missed knitting this week (too busy with kid's school projects and homework). I felt like I was in a rot because I kept seeing my WIPs and had no sense of accomplishment in sight. Earlier today I picked up Branching Out which was at 16 repeats. I sat down and planned to do a couple of pattern repeats. There's something about lace that kept pushing me to continue knitting (just one more pattern). I got so engrossed in it that I ended up finishing it (all 27 repeats).

It still needs to be blocked but here it is ...

Branching Out
Pattern: Knitty Spring 2005
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino in Red
Needles: Addi Circular in US 9
(October 17 - 29, 2005)

The truth comes out ...

I guess there are several reasons why I taught myself how to knit.

1) There's this obnoxious officemate who said "knitting is so easy, if you can manipulate 1 and 0s in your programs then I don't understand why you don't know how to knit".
2) It keeps my hands out of the potato chips.
3) I was so frustrated last winter when I could not find any mittens for my Little Man. His poor wrists were freezing in the snow everytime those oversized mittens slipped off.

Of course, reason #1 really set me off. So off I was to Michael's to get myself a Learn to Knit kit. The kit was for a scarf and hat. I finished the (garter/stockinette/ribbed) scarf but never did the hat. Reason #2 really works as it gets me out of the kitchen and I don't want crumbs on my projects. Just keep those fingers busy and the chips stay in the pantry.

I think now I'm coming close to full circle by finally attempting to knit mittens. I joined Peaceful Palms KAL yesterday and just joined the Warm Hands KAL.







Of course, full circle means these mittens become FOs.

Lace knitting

I was so excited to begin Branching Out that all other knitting projects were neglected. After 2 pattern repeats this is what I have to show. I have 25 more pattern repeats to go.


This is so addicting because you see the pattern revealing itself. Cables are probably the same way. I may need to start designating a night for each project so that they all get worked on.

Branching Out

I'm branching out into lace. I just joined the Branching Out KAL. I've been looking at this pattern since I discovered Knitty a few months ago. The cryptic pattern just terrified me and the chart did me no good. It doesn't help that I rarely wear scarves (even in the dead of winter). This will be a gift to my MIL. I had my hubby pick out the yarn for this project (it's his Mom after all). It will be the red Patons Merino pictured in the previous post.

I'm looking forward to learning something new with this project. I will cast on tonight. Send good knitting vibes!

Score!

My local craft store had a sale yesterday. I got the books and the yarn at 50% off. These are my only knitting books so far.


1. Ann Budd's "Knitters Handy Book of Sweater Patterns"
2. Nicky Epstein's "Knitting on the Edge"
3. Nancie Wiseman's "Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques"
4. Paton's Classic Wool Merino in red and white

The red yarn is for a MIL scarf for Christmas, the white is for Kool-Aid dyeing (something I've been wanting to try). I also picked up FC Holiday 2005 magazine.