As luck would have it, the office I am now based at is just up the road from the wonderful K1 Yarn Boutique! Obviously I had to stop and look.... which led to a spontanious purchase of this lovely yarn and some wooden needles......
....OK! So it wasn't spontanious! As soon as I realised I would be working over that side of town I was plotting to purchase!
I have been lurking (such a sinister term!) around the many wonderful kitting blogs looking wistfully at beautiful knitted garments, felted garments....I have developed total knitting envy!!! So I have decided to take the plunge and to try and knit myself a scarf. I used to knit very short, skinny scarves for my teddies when I was wee but have not touched needles since. How I wish my Granny was still around - she was an expert knitter and made hundreds of things for me, my sister and my Mum - and all her great-grandchildren too!
Of course before I could start I had to download basic How to Knit info off the web - so much info out there thanks to so many generous knitters. I then realised that the skeins would need to be rolled into balls - not an easy task for the beginner - many tangles, many expletives uttered etc and I was wearing all black and the wool is very fluffy.....you can imagine the scenario! Finally I ended up with this....
...lovely round ball of wool. I challenge any kitten out there not to want to chase it!
I cast on with very few setbacks but knitting the first row was a challenge... aaargh! Why wasn't it working??? I wrestled with it for some time before realising that I had skipped the bit about knitting the first row and was now trying to cast off! How stupid am I? This truely was 'rippin ma knittin'! (This is a popular phrase in Glasgow to describe something that is driving you mad/doing your head in etc I love it!)
First row almost knitted I was about to do the final few stitches when... you guessed it - the yarn snapped! Maybe a little too much tension! You can see the stubby bit of wool on the needles - not sure what to do now - instructions don't seem to cover this eventuality. All advice gratefully received.....
I also bought some pom pom makers -
why use a bit of card when an expensive gadget will do the trick! Have not attempted pompoms yet but the packet assures me that it is very easy to use....we'll see...
advice... hmm, maybe try to relax into it. don't fight with your needles, and don't worry too much about tension to begin with - otherwise you'll be forcing your needles into a gap that just won't fit. but the wool looks lovely and once you've done a few rows you'll be fine!
Posted by: Gina | November 18, 2007 at 06:10 AM
eek! I made a pompom last week!! it's catching... lot of hassle with card, you are right... but a device! Oh Joy! You are seriously smitten with the knitten...no turning back now. How about Christine's sister runs a knit/crochet class on a thurs night? Hope to see you soon, oh God forgot about this thurs...Cx
Posted by: caireen | November 18, 2007 at 09:32 AM