Hello Everyone,
Welcome to my new blog! I'm very excited to launch this blog about all things Knit/Crochet. I reserve the right to add/blog about other crafty things I may pick up in the near future since I just learned how to embroider and a lovely friend of mine has offered to teach me how to quilt.
It's funny how life works. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have been caught dead doing something as domesticated as knitting and crocheting. As many of you know, I've always been a tomboy and doing anything "womanly" was always out of the question. And knitting? Crocheting? Ha! Those were grandma's past-times. So it's pretty ironic that here I am, almost ten years to the date I learned how to knit, blogging about these two crafts. Even then, in the summer of 2003 when my aunt Pattie taught me how to knit, I never thought I'd actually keep it up. "It's really relaxing." she said. Yeah, right. It turns out I was (and probably always will be) a tight knitter/crocheter. And after that first initial lesson my shoulders and neck were sore for days. Fortunately, I soon got the hang of it and knitting and crocheting have definitely become a way to relieve stress.
As I said, I didn't really think I'd keep knitting when I first learned. I was visiting my aunt in Montana during the summer and although she generously gave me a ball of yarn and a pair of size 9 knitting needles (which I still own and take pride in them being my original pair of needles), I thought I would go home and forget about the scarf I began. Only, I didn't. I kept knitting the scarf that I intended to give to my best friend, Chad, who had recently moved to Utah. I figured he would need a scarf for the cold winter. That and the fact that I don't like to leave things unfinished, propelled me to complete my first knitted scarf. And boy was that thing ugly! LOL I have since knitted Chad another scarf. This one is a beautiful cabled scarf made out of a nice cashmere yarn. Chad told me he still has the other scarf and that "It's not that bad." More proof of why he's such a treasured friend. =) Actually, I think I'm going to ask him to email me pictures of both scarves to show the evolution of my knitting skills.
After I finished that initial project, I began to take pride in the fact that I had actually made something with my own two hands. I continued making scarves. The same scarf, over and over again. Some were misshapen. I think my cousin, Desi, might still have a scarf that I made which resembles a snake that swallowed an egg! Still, I doggedly continued to teach myself to knit. I bought books, I watched videos online, I struggled with new patterns like hats. I still remember being on the phone with my aunt Pattie, being frustrated as she tried to walk me through making a hat. But somehow I kept at it. My usual tendency of being impatient never materialized. I was extremely patient and diligent. And it all paid off. A few years later, my aunt taught me to crochet and a new passion was born. As a matter of fact, I dropped knitting for my new love: Crochet. I found it easier than knitting. Especially reading patterns. So, for years I crocheted. Until 2009 when I moved to Normandy, France. In Rouen, I sought out the local yarn store. I became friends with Marie-Thérèse, the owner of the shop who reintroduced me to knitting. My new challenge? Reading knitting patterns in French! And the love between me and my old love, Knitting, was rekindled.
Since then, I have done both crafts, going back and forth between the two. I finally realized there was enough room in my heart and in my life for both. Actually, being able to do both crafts has improved my skills in each. Over the years I've lovingly knitted and crocheted many gifts. Blankets, scarves, hats, bags, and recently, a pair of socks! It's rare that I actually keep a project for myself. I enjoy making things for people. I'm a giver by nature and I find that it makes me happy knowing I have given someone a forever gift. If you've ever been a recipient of one of these gifts, please take a picture and email it to me. I'd love to be able to share it on here.
On this blog I will share my current projects (WIP - Work in Progress), I'll talk about patterns I'd love to try, I will post pictures of my finished projects (FO - Finished Object), etc., etc. Here's a list of what I'll be posting about:
Welcome to my new blog! I'm very excited to launch this blog about all things Knit/Crochet. I reserve the right to add/blog about other crafty things I may pick up in the near future since I just learned how to embroider and a lovely friend of mine has offered to teach me how to quilt.
It's funny how life works. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have been caught dead doing something as domesticated as knitting and crocheting. As many of you know, I've always been a tomboy and doing anything "womanly" was always out of the question. And knitting? Crocheting? Ha! Those were grandma's past-times. So it's pretty ironic that here I am, almost ten years to the date I learned how to knit, blogging about these two crafts. Even then, in the summer of 2003 when my aunt Pattie taught me how to knit, I never thought I'd actually keep it up. "It's really relaxing." she said. Yeah, right. It turns out I was (and probably always will be) a tight knitter/crocheter. And after that first initial lesson my shoulders and neck were sore for days. Fortunately, I soon got the hang of it and knitting and crocheting have definitely become a way to relieve stress.
As I said, I didn't really think I'd keep knitting when I first learned. I was visiting my aunt in Montana during the summer and although she generously gave me a ball of yarn and a pair of size 9 knitting needles (which I still own and take pride in them being my original pair of needles), I thought I would go home and forget about the scarf I began. Only, I didn't. I kept knitting the scarf that I intended to give to my best friend, Chad, who had recently moved to Utah. I figured he would need a scarf for the cold winter. That and the fact that I don't like to leave things unfinished, propelled me to complete my first knitted scarf. And boy was that thing ugly! LOL I have since knitted Chad another scarf. This one is a beautiful cabled scarf made out of a nice cashmere yarn. Chad told me he still has the other scarf and that "It's not that bad." More proof of why he's such a treasured friend. =) Actually, I think I'm going to ask him to email me pictures of both scarves to show the evolution of my knitting skills.
After I finished that initial project, I began to take pride in the fact that I had actually made something with my own two hands. I continued making scarves. The same scarf, over and over again. Some were misshapen. I think my cousin, Desi, might still have a scarf that I made which resembles a snake that swallowed an egg! Still, I doggedly continued to teach myself to knit. I bought books, I watched videos online, I struggled with new patterns like hats. I still remember being on the phone with my aunt Pattie, being frustrated as she tried to walk me through making a hat. But somehow I kept at it. My usual tendency of being impatient never materialized. I was extremely patient and diligent. And it all paid off. A few years later, my aunt taught me to crochet and a new passion was born. As a matter of fact, I dropped knitting for my new love: Crochet. I found it easier than knitting. Especially reading patterns. So, for years I crocheted. Until 2009 when I moved to Normandy, France. In Rouen, I sought out the local yarn store. I became friends with Marie-Thérèse, the owner of the shop who reintroduced me to knitting. My new challenge? Reading knitting patterns in French! And the love between me and my old love, Knitting, was rekindled.
Since then, I have done both crafts, going back and forth between the two. I finally realized there was enough room in my heart and in my life for both. Actually, being able to do both crafts has improved my skills in each. Over the years I've lovingly knitted and crocheted many gifts. Blankets, scarves, hats, bags, and recently, a pair of socks! It's rare that I actually keep a project for myself. I enjoy making things for people. I'm a giver by nature and I find that it makes me happy knowing I have given someone a forever gift. If you've ever been a recipient of one of these gifts, please take a picture and email it to me. I'd love to be able to share it on here.
On this blog I will share my current projects (WIP - Work in Progress), I'll talk about patterns I'd love to try, I will post pictures of my finished projects (FO - Finished Object), etc., etc. Here's a list of what I'll be posting about:
- Yarn - I loooooooove yarn. I've been very good about not buying a lot of it these past few years since I've been traveling. Now that I'm somewhat settled down, it's getting harder and harder to resist.
- Projects - WIPs, UFOs (Unfinished Objects), Planned Projects, Finished Projects (FOs)
- Charities and Events - I've started to get involved in knitting/crocheting for different causes and recently participated in my first Yarn Bomb ever.
- Magazines and books I've bought.
- Patterns - I've recently written two patterns.
- Inspiration Photos
- Cool Knitting/Crocheting sites on the Internet
- Local Yarn Stores (LYSs)
- Interesting Articles
- Retreats, Cruises, and other Knitting/Crocheting leisure activities.
- Knitting Groups (I currently attend two different groups a week)
- Pictures of nifty new items, tools, and organization stuff, including my craft area/space.
- Reviews on yarn, magazines, books, patterns, tools, etc., etc.
- Knitting terms, glossaries and helpful hints I've discovered.
- French/Spanish Knitting/Crochet related tidbits. Let's face it, I'm first and foremost a language geek.
All in all, I hope my passion for these crafts will inspire all of you to either pick it up for the first time or continue to hone your own skills. Over the past 9 years, I've had the pleasure of teaching some of you to knit and or crochet. Please feel free to email me pictures of your own FOs and WIPs. I'd be happy to post them on here to share. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy reading this blog.
Happy Knitting and Crocheting!
XOXO
Rose
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