Yesterday I set about to clear some room in my sewing/craft room in the basement. That sentence alone gives a hint of things to come. The reason I needed to do this was a I have a big sewing project to do for my day job and wanted room by my machine. I did actually get there. I did not get the job done to my satisfaction but that is for another time.
I'm convinced that yarn balls, skeins, hanks, even fleece multiplies while left alone in a darkened room. Silly you say? Hear me out. I found yarn that I do remember buying, yarn I have never seen before, yarn I have seen but don't know where it came from nor what I used it for.
Yarn I do remember buying I accept. It was close out cottons for dish cloths and such. It might have been part of a leftover ball from a Christmas present or worse whole skeins. I try to keep fibers together and weights in those broad categories, kind of like yarn departments. I'm not lucky enough to have the nice bins. But then I also don't have to worry about my pets nesting in them or having yarn get dusty before it gets used.
Yarns I have never seen before or don't remember where it came from or where I used it but do know I have are more perplexing. I found the bit of sweater that needs frogging still that had been son #2's. He has his finished sweater so all is fine. I have found things that completely bewilder me. Why would I buy that???? Where did I buy it? What did I use it for? What was I planning for this yarn?
I also clustered together the UFOs found. I have all in their own bags, a shawl, a pair of worsted weight socks for a son, a baptism shawl that is no longer needed, 5 skeins of worsted alpaca for a Miss Lambert's scarf started on a guild retreat, 3 pairs of vanilla socks for me, cotton yarn and tulle kitted up for dish cloth and scrubby creation, pumpkin hats for a guild fundraiser started but not finished, mittens also for the guild but in mismatched sizes, a feather and fan prayer shawl, granny squares for an afghan, 3 unfinished quilts of varying sizes, a kit of yarn and pattern for pocket pals also for a guild fundraiser, lavender alpaca for a scarf for my soon to be daughter in law before discovering she hates lavender, an adult surprise jacket for me, 1/4 of a hippo (?????), and an unfinished dog sweater.
Some of these things are for classes. Most are clearly guild related and should be finished. Other things should just be finished so they are done and can be utilized. The quilts are going to take time and lots of it.
Once all the yarn is away. Once all the Christmas decorations are also in their appropriate spaces. Once I sort the summer clothes and get them where they need to go and the winter stuff has a place to go. Once all this is done, I might actually be able to work in that room as I intended and get Christmas done early.
Showing posts with label sock. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sock. Show all posts
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Thursday, September 20, 2012
My Class WIPs (Works In Progress)
For those of you new to knit and crochet, you might well wonder why anyone would have more than one work in progress and how anyone keeps them straight. I used to wonder that myself. Now I just try to keep the unfinished things to a "manageable" number. There is no set number, by the way. Manageable means to me what doesn't feel overwhelming.
When I was a kid and just starting with knit and crochet, my parents didn't invest in it because it could be a phase. Most parents didn't get their kids every last thing they wanted back then. I used the same skein or two of yarn I had to knit and re knit different things. I knit and crocheted that yarn until it was a mass of knots. Then I got new. With only one pair of needles and one hook, I couldn't start a whole lot. I also didn't care for the patterns in the one book I had. So scarves and I were "good friends".
So how did I get to this point of having more than one thing going? As I had kids and they got older, they wanted sweaters in something out of the ordinary, I would start something for son A. Son B would also want something for himself. Thus was born 2 or 3 projects on the go. I would also be working on Christmas gifts and afghans during this time as well. Also my interests in what was going on around me necessitated some quick start to finish items.
Then the kids got older and started doing after school activities and sports, there was a need born for portability in my projects. I took things with me to sports practices, drama practices, music practices. I knit and crocheted through concerts, plays, sporting events. My prerequisite was that it could not have too many pieces or be complicated. Basic stockinette, garter and granny squares went everywhere with me. When something was too big, complicated or had too many pieces, it stayed home to be finished when I had the time. Thus was born the multiple projects. Many got finished. Some languished in drawers or cabinets for a while, a long while in some cases but none at this moment are more than 10 years old.
I have finally gotten a handle on my works in progress, or WIPs, as they are commonly referred to. To date, I only have a Fleur lace scarf/necklace to knit for class, a sweater for Son B (started when he was a sophomore in high school. He's 23 now), a dishcloth, a cabled cardigan for myself, a red and tan cardigan for myself that needs frogging (rip it, rip it, rip it), two pairs of socks for myself, a pair of socks for Son B and a broomstick lace shell for me. If there are more, I don't want to know about them.
During the past year, my projects spiraled out of control. It was almost overwhelming. I was working hard to get class samples finished for my students to see, feel and learn from in class and during Open Houses or demonstrations. I also had quite a few swatches and projects that needed to get done for my class. On top of that, I had gifts I wanted to make. You can see how things take priority at times. My home projects got pushed aside to get small things for class done. Larger projects for class were scaled down to something manageable but still had the techniques that needed to be seen.
At this time, I keep one small project in my purse. I have tote bags with one project in each ready to go with me at a moment's notice or sit beside me as I watch TV or scroll through stuff on the computer. Large projects live life beside the sofa and never see the outside world until finished.
When do I find the time to do all I do? This is something a lot of family and friends ask me. My purse projects are for just such occasions now. Am I sitting waiting for a train to go through the middle of town, waiting in line at the grocery store/post office/bank? Did husband and I go out to eat and wait for the waitress to take our order/bring our food after ordering/bring the check after eating? Am I waiting for an appointment, either in the waiting room or in an office? All these are prime knitting or crocheting opportunities. Just a couple of minutes here and there add up to hours of time during the week. Is there less time now that the kids don't have sporting events and plays and such? No. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. I just live mine a little differently than I used to.
So the next time you are in a restaurant or home improvement center or any other kind of store, and you see a woman knitting or crocheting, stop by and say Hi! It's probably me.
When I was a kid and just starting with knit and crochet, my parents didn't invest in it because it could be a phase. Most parents didn't get their kids every last thing they wanted back then. I used the same skein or two of yarn I had to knit and re knit different things. I knit and crocheted that yarn until it was a mass of knots. Then I got new. With only one pair of needles and one hook, I couldn't start a whole lot. I also didn't care for the patterns in the one book I had. So scarves and I were "good friends".
So how did I get to this point of having more than one thing going? As I had kids and they got older, they wanted sweaters in something out of the ordinary, I would start something for son A. Son B would also want something for himself. Thus was born 2 or 3 projects on the go. I would also be working on Christmas gifts and afghans during this time as well. Also my interests in what was going on around me necessitated some quick start to finish items.
Then the kids got older and started doing after school activities and sports, there was a need born for portability in my projects. I took things with me to sports practices, drama practices, music practices. I knit and crocheted through concerts, plays, sporting events. My prerequisite was that it could not have too many pieces or be complicated. Basic stockinette, garter and granny squares went everywhere with me. When something was too big, complicated or had too many pieces, it stayed home to be finished when I had the time. Thus was born the multiple projects. Many got finished. Some languished in drawers or cabinets for a while, a long while in some cases but none at this moment are more than 10 years old.
I have finally gotten a handle on my works in progress, or WIPs, as they are commonly referred to. To date, I only have a Fleur lace scarf/necklace to knit for class, a sweater for Son B (started when he was a sophomore in high school. He's 23 now), a dishcloth, a cabled cardigan for myself, a red and tan cardigan for myself that needs frogging (rip it, rip it, rip it), two pairs of socks for myself, a pair of socks for Son B and a broomstick lace shell for me. If there are more, I don't want to know about them.
During the past year, my projects spiraled out of control. It was almost overwhelming. I was working hard to get class samples finished for my students to see, feel and learn from in class and during Open Houses or demonstrations. I also had quite a few swatches and projects that needed to get done for my class. On top of that, I had gifts I wanted to make. You can see how things take priority at times. My home projects got pushed aside to get small things for class done. Larger projects for class were scaled down to something manageable but still had the techniques that needed to be seen.
At this time, I keep one small project in my purse. I have tote bags with one project in each ready to go with me at a moment's notice or sit beside me as I watch TV or scroll through stuff on the computer. Large projects live life beside the sofa and never see the outside world until finished.
When do I find the time to do all I do? This is something a lot of family and friends ask me. My purse projects are for just such occasions now. Am I sitting waiting for a train to go through the middle of town, waiting in line at the grocery store/post office/bank? Did husband and I go out to eat and wait for the waitress to take our order/bring our food after ordering/bring the check after eating? Am I waiting for an appointment, either in the waiting room or in an office? All these are prime knitting or crocheting opportunities. Just a couple of minutes here and there add up to hours of time during the week. Is there less time now that the kids don't have sporting events and plays and such? No. We all have the same 24 hours in a day. I just live mine a little differently than I used to.
So the next time you are in a restaurant or home improvement center or any other kind of store, and you see a woman knitting or crocheting, stop by and say Hi! It's probably me.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Getting ready for Open House
Open House September 9
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Come meet the instructors!
As the knitting and crochet instructor, I know I will be there all 4 hours to talk to anyone and everyone who wants to discuss classes. I know someone will be available to discuss the Wilton Cake Decorating, Grumbacher Art Painting classes, Bead Corner Design Academy classes, Paper Ed classes, Spotted Canary School, Martha Stewart classes, kid classes, birthday parties, and more. Come check out what we have available.
My display will include projects from all available classes. I start with the basics of knit and crochet and offer classes in some of the advanced techniques, such as loom knitting, sock knitting, double knitting, broomstick lace, intarsia, mosiac crochet, filet crochet, beaded crochet and knitting, and how to work with some of the newer novelty yarns. If there is something you want to learn and don't see an offering for that class, let me know and I can tailor a class for you and any interested friends.
My classes include individual attention and learning the basics of the stitches and pattern reading. There is also a yarn department tour where a quick discussion about the variety of yarns and tools available take place. We will also cover gauge and gauge swatches and their uses during classes.
Crochet Classes start with the basics of chaining and how to do the foundation stitches that all crochet is built on up to and including the common shells, clusters and granny square. More advanced Crochet classes are available after the basics are learned and textural stitches, working in the round, natural folds, construction, reading charts and lace are tackled.
Knit classes start with the basics of casting on and how to knit and purl and move through patterning and cables in the beginner classes. The more advanced classes include learning more about shaping, working in the round, touching on fair isle, charted knitting and mitered knitting.
I even offer ideas to get you started on how to take the most basic pattern and change it so you have something completely different looking but still stay within your skill level. Discussions can take place about trying new techniques you want to learn and how to incorporate them into something smaller to test.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Christmas in July
I'm planning to do a link a day to something I think might be fun to knit or crochet for a Christmas present or two. The links will mostly be items that are already out there but might have been overlooked.
I will also be figuring out what I'm doing for Christmas gifts this year and posting pictures of finished presents. Things that will need to be done before all this knitting and crocheting? Do I have the correct needles, hooks, knook, cro-hook for anticipated project? Do I have enough yarn in the desired fiber and color? If not, can I get more? Will I need a complementary color?
Can I think of ways to keep presents from becoming covered in dog/cat fur? What are the best ways to de-fur presents? Will I have the stamina to complete big things in the dog days of August?
Let me know your thoughts on what you are planning? Do you have ways to keep your projects free from "contaminants"? For those allergic to animal dander, this could be of real interest.
I will also be figuring out what I'm doing for Christmas gifts this year and posting pictures of finished presents. Things that will need to be done before all this knitting and crocheting? Do I have the correct needles, hooks, knook, cro-hook for anticipated project? Do I have enough yarn in the desired fiber and color? If not, can I get more? Will I need a complementary color?
Can I think of ways to keep presents from becoming covered in dog/cat fur? What are the best ways to de-fur presents? Will I have the stamina to complete big things in the dog days of August?
Let me know your thoughts on what you are planning? Do you have ways to keep your projects free from "contaminants"? For those allergic to animal dander, this could be of real interest.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
New Classes Scheduled
Well, Lent and Easter are over. I hope everyone had a nice holiday vacation. I know I did. Even though I cooked for the family like I do every year, I got to spend a lot of time with my husband and son that I don't normally have due to work conflicts.
Festival season will be starting soon. I co-chair my church's festival each year. During that time for set up, festival week, and clean up, I will not be running classes. You will notice a gap in the class line up from the middle of June until the end of July. This is why there is a gap. I look forward to doing more blogging in the future.
Here is a schedule of my beginner knit classes. Below you can find the advanced knit classes and both beginner and advanced crochet classes. I look forward to each one of these classes.
Discover Knit Stitch Class
May 24 6 – 8:30 pm
July 26 6 – 8:30 pm
August 23 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Purl Stitch Class
May 31 6 – 8:30 pm
August 2 6 – 8:30 pm
August 30 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Pattern Stitches Class
May 10 6 – 8:30 pm
June 7 6 – 8:30 pm
August 9 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Cables Class
June 14 6 – 8:30 pm
August 16 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Single Crochet
May 21 6 – 8:30 pm
July 23 6 – 8:30 pm
August 20 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover the Tall Stitches of Crochet
May 29 6 – 8:30 pm
July 30 6 – 8:30 pm
August 27 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Textured Stitches
June 4 6 – 8:30 pm
August 6 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Granny Squares
June 11 6 – 8:30 pm
August 27 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Baby Knits Class
May 25 6 – 8:30 pm
July 31 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Mitered Knitting Class
June 1 6 – 8:30 pm
July 27 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Fair Isle Class
June 8 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Advanced Knitting Classes
May 11 6-8:30 pm Intarsia
June 15 6-8:30 pm Beaded Knitting
August 3 6 – 8:30 pm Socks Pt. 1 – Example sock
August 10 6 – 8:30 pm Socks Pt. 2 – Cuff, Leg and Heel
August 17 6 – 8:30 pm Socks Pt. 3 – Foot, Toe and Graft of Toe
Discover Baby Crochet Class
May 23 6 – 8:30 pm
July 25 6 – 8:30 pm
August 22 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Throws and Wraps in Crochet Class
May 30 6 – 8:30 pm
August 29 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Crochet Gifts Class
June 6 6 – 8:30 pm
Discover Advanced Crochet Classes
June 13 6-8:30 pm Beaded Crochet
Thursday, February 2, 2012
February Class Schedule
February 2012 | ||||||
Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
1 | 2 Discover Knit | 3 Discover Baby Knit | 4 | |||
5 | 6 Discover Tall Stitches | 7 | 8 Discover Throws & Wraps Crochet | 9 Discover Purl | 10 Discover Throws & Wraps Knit | 11 Demo 11 - 1 |
12 | 13 Discover Texture Stitches | 14 Happy Valentine’s Day | 15 Discover Gifts Crochet | 16 Discover Pattern Stitches | 17 Discover Gifts Knit | 18 |
19 | 20 Discover Granny Squares | 21 | 22 Discover Time to Crochet Filet Crochet | 23 Discover Cables | 24 Discover Time to Knit Socks Pt. 2 Toes | 25 |
26 | 27 Discover Single Crochet | 28 | 29 | |||
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