Huffington Post---Am I A Artsy/Crafty Crazy Because of Ravlery

First off, I will offer this up, I am a member of the Ravelry.com community. With this said, yesterday while reading through Huffingtonpost.com, they had an article about the craziest/zaniest on line social networks. Yep, you got it, Ravelry was listed in this article. They labeled the members of Ravelry as "Artsy-Crafty" people who knit or crochet. Well, I defintely do not consider myself as "artsy-crafty" but rather someone who likes to take what I would call "a couple of skiens of yarn and knit it into something that comes out as a hat, scarf, shawl,sweater and/or sock. It is amazing sometimes how the yarn and/or color knits up into a finished project. And I have participated in test knits for designers which have challenged and enhanced my knitting skills.

Back to Ravelry, yes it is a social network, but it is not just about knitting, crocheting and/or designing. It is a place where people have come together because of a common interest which is knitting, crocheting and/or designing a pattern. On this site, there are groups (which it is your choice to join or not) who participate in Mug, Wine and/or Yarn Swaps, Crock Pot Recipes/topics, Politics, Techniques and also where designers look for individuals to test their patterns before they are published. Now I have only listed a small number of these groups, because there are many.

People have what is called a "Ravatar" which is their ID and they can be pretty unique. It is interesting to see the pictures and/or characters people will use along with their rav name.

What I like about Ravelry, is that you connect with people all over the world, yes we cross state and country borders. People are not judged by their appearance, economic standing, race, religion, sexual orientation, etc, etc. Some might consider this community kind of "high schoolish", but I do not as I remember in high school, if you weren't this or that you might not be allowed into this or that group. However, this does not mean there are not individuals you come across that may not like you or you may not like them, well you just don't connect and/or converse with them.

Considering Ravelry just passed their 1M mark (yes Million), there must be a whole lot of "artsy/crafty, crazy/zany poeple" out there and I am glad to be part of this community.

I'm Back and So are the Girls

Well we got back from our long trip over to Europe and the cruise in late October.

The first Thursday, I headed over to the knit shop and no one was there except Adrienne. So her and I had a chance to visit and talk about my trip.

With the weather getting a little cooler and all, more knitters are starting to show up. As I had Chloe with me this past week, we didn't stay over at the knitting shop that long. But we did pick out some "bright pink" yarn for her 1st knitted sweater from Grandma. It was great seeing everyone starting to come back and doing their knitting of their projects.

Last week, I took a purse class presented by Lorna Miser. Lorna used to own "Lorna's Laces". She just published a new book and after meeting her, learning some new techniques for lining purses and all bought a copy of her book. Yes, she signed it as well. Lorna is a pretty cool person and has lots of patience. Our group had a great time with her. So now I have a new project on my needles, a sweater for Chloe from Lorna's book. As Chloe's favorite color is "pink" having to do figure out where I want to place the pattern of reverse ss on the sweater. Can't wait to see how it comes out. I'm also knitting up a "test hat" for someone as well.

My Hot Red Lacy Tank Top

Everyone, well I finished the tank top. It is packed in the suitcase and on its way to Europe with us!!!!!

Wanted to share the finished project with all with you.

See you all in 2 months!!!!

Summer Is Almost Over

Well we have been getting together over the last couple of weeks. Some weeks our group has been small and some weeks we've had a large turn out. With everyone and their summer vacation plans we have been doing pretty good finishing our knitting projects.

A couple of us bought the Origami Kit so would expect that we will be knitting this up in a couple of months.

I'm going to be taking off for a long trip so I won't be posting to this blog for a little while.

Everyone, I'll miss seeing you on Thursday's but believe I'll be pretty busy with our travels and all. And yes, I'm taking my needle's with me. Maybe I'll get those socks knitted up while I'm gone!!!!

Knit Tests

Lately I have been particpating in test knit patterns from designers on Ravelry.com I have made a shawl, coffee cozy, stole and now recently did a cropped cardigan. The great thing about knitting these is you assist the designer with their pattern as to if it is correct and/or needs revision's. After you get done with the test you then get a "free final pattern version". I've pretty much made my selection on patterns that really interest me or the time allocated for doing the test allows me enough time to finish the project. Some designers give real short time frames and others provide a more reasonable timeframe. Understand the need for some of the shorter time frames, however, I find I don't want to get under a timeline that makes me crazy.

So I am going to share a couple of tests that I recently finished.
This is a short cardigan with rib eyelet:


Here is a shawl that I did and can't wait to do another one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/45487177@N08/4724959121/

I can't wait to do the cardigan again and may even make a couple of modifications (like making a little longer and less buttons).

And here is the shawl that I knitted for a test knit as well:


The last one is one called "Heartstrings"

Summer-Knitting and Some Finished Projects

Well, Summer is here and many of us are taking mini vacations at the moment. With that our knitting circle has been small over the last couple of weeks. But that is ok as it gives us a little more time at being able to talk with everyone.

I myself have finished knitting a couple of projects. Finished a felted modular purse for my step-sons girlfriend and a stole for myself.

Wanted to share the projects so here are the pics:




And a little fun thing I did:

Resources

6-21-10 Another update on Stretchy Bind off and another way of doing P2togtbl (together thru back loog)

Stretchy Bind/Cast Off:

Knit 2, slip both sts back to the left needle and K2togtbl.

*K1, slip 2 back to left needle and K2togtbl

Repeat from * until you are finished with your bind/cast off

P2togtbl:

Here is another version of this stitch that was recommended to me from another knitter on ravlery.com, I love it as I always find doing this st a little hard:

Purl the first of the two stitches with yarn in front, slip the purled stitch back to left needle and slip the 2nd stitch over it. Then slip the stitch over to the right needle.

Updating, here is another link I found:

http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/knitting-tips

Well here are a couple of different blogs and/or resources for your reference. All you have to do is click on the links I have shown below:

Judy's Magic Cast On and How to do 2 socks on 1 needle: http://www.persistentillusion.com/

This site brings you to Judy's site. Click on techniques and then you will see a couple of different techniques listed. You will want to click on the link that says Judy's Magic Cast On (knotless version) and then you will want to click on Judy's Magic On instructions. Her site gives you some great information and a couple of free patterns.

Tech Knitting
Planet Purl
Knitty.com: Knitty
Knitting Videos
Free Knitting Patterns from Crystal Palace
Graph for Working in Charts: http://www.tata-tatao.to/knit/matrix/e-index.html
Homestead Heirlooms for orderding Belts: http://www.homesteadheirlooms.com/index.html
Free Knitting Patterns from Knitting Pattern Central: http://http//www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory.php

Berroco Web Site: http://berroco.com/
Knitting Help: http://www.knittinghelp.com/

I came upon this one today (9-11) and think you will enjoy this one.

Coco Knits, this site provides some excellent tutorials and other stuff: http://cocoknits.com/
I'll add more as some are either recommended or I stumble across them.

Mary Ann's Comes Back

Well we had a nice visit and Mary Ann last week. She and Mark were up for the weekend as Mark goes on a bike ride annually with some of his male buddies. So Mary Ann came over to the shop and knitted with us all. We then went out to lunch for some great Mexican food.

It was a great visit and we all enjoyed seeing her.

Right now, they are staying at an Extended Stay until they find a house down in So Ca. They may have found a house, they are just waiting on the appraisal and some other stuff to be done.

Summer is getting into full swing so many of the knitters are coming and going each week as they are doing travel trips.

One of our knitting pals is doing a cross country trip with her hubby. They are now up in the Maryland area. They plan on traveling all the way up to Nova Scotia.

Sure going to miss Mary Ann

Well life changes and sometimes it happens without you being able to control it. We recently have had one of our knitty buddies move away.

Her and her hubby decided to move down to Southern CA to be closer to their kids and grandkids. They have been trying to do this for about 2 years and now were able to finally get their home sold.

Mary Ann will be missed by all of us. Last year she helped one of the ladies in our group with her haircuts while she was going through her chemo treatments. I know that Carolyn greatly appreciated the trims and advice she got from Mary Ann. As a retired hairdresser she was always getting questions from a couple of us asking about this hair and/or dye product. She also helped with giving us some tips to use. I know I used a couple of her tips and was happy with the results.

She will be missed and we are trying to figure out how to plan a trip down to Southern CA so we can have a couple of days of knitting, visiting local yarn shops and wine tasting.

And we are happy to report she will be back up here in June and look forward to her visit.

We wish her well and glad that she will be closer to her kids and grandkids.

Our knitting musings

Well, we are finally starting to see some of the local travel scarves getting close to getting done. Once done we'll take a picture of everyone and I'll post it on here.

Pretty soon we are going to be losing one someone in our knitting group. Mary Ann #1 (you see we have 3 Mary Ann's in the group). The recently put their home up for sale and it sold in a week. They are moving down to Southern CA, which for us Northern CA folks that is like moving to another state. Northern and Southern CA are very different. Their kids and grandkids live down there and they wish to be closer to them. While we understand this, we are really going to miss her.

We haven't had too many finished projects done lately so no new pictures.

Some in the group are learning how to knit socks by our sock guru Bev. When we last got together a couple of them were busily knitting on their socks with their little dpn's!!!! Looking foward to seeing them when they are finished.

Travel Scarves Update

Well, the travel scarves are in full swing. Everyone gets excited when they get a new one and others ask how come they haven't seen a scarf a little while.

All of the scarves are starting to take shape. Right now I have 2 in my possession. I personally have using the 365 Calendar of knitting stitches along with the 4001 stitch guidebook for references.

Last month we met over at AN and worked on the YO scarf pattern with Geri. This coming Monday, Lisa will be going over the Feather and Fan scarf. At first, I wasn't really going to do this each month but now I am really getting into it. I have finished 2 scarves and it is kind of nice to have some different and newer scarves to wear. This also gives me some ideas for gifts and I know other knitters in our group who have made a scarf for someone else.

It HasBegun--Travel Scarf and Scarf Classes

Well our local knitting group has gotten the Travel Scarf on the road. It is fun to see how everyone is getting excited and asking "Where is my scarf so I can get going?" We are all different so I am sure hoping everyone likes how their scarf comes out.

Some of us have also been going over to Auburn Needlework's for the "free monthly scarf" class. Each month "AN" is handing out a free scarf pattern. The first month we learned how to knit the "Fusili Scarf" and this past Monday, we got together and are now working on "Yarn Over Scarf". The YO Scarf is a pretty simple pattern involing Yarn overs and Knits.

The turn-out yesterday was pretty good. Met some new people who had not been to a class. It was fun to see how everyone's scarf was turning out based on the type of yarn they were using. I'm using a yarn that starting coming out a little bulky so Gerri suggested that I try doing a "double yarn over". Tried it and do like how it is coming out, except I'm having to remember to yarn over twice and then dropping 2 yo sts as well.

Next month, the class will be March 8th, and the scarf pattern will be "Feather and Fan". So everyone mark the date and come on over. The classes are in the afternoon and they are beginning at 2:00 p.m.

Travel Scarf

I suggested to the group that we do a travel scarf. I'm in a group on Ravelry.com where 5 of us are going to knit a travel scarf. This is how it works, each of us start a scarf and then pass it over to another person who knits a couple of inches (either a pattern of your choice or free form) and then they pass it on, etc, etc., until it gets returned to you. This will be interesting as the group on Ravelry are complete strangers to me. We will be mailing our scarves to the next person who may live as far away as DC (which someone actually does). I am really looking forward to this, to see how it turns out. I'm always game for an adventure.

Our local knitting group liked this idea and we are going to try it as well. However, we have 16 who have said they would like to do this. With such a large number, I split us up into 2 groups of 8.

Love these ladies whether they are virtual or in person friends. You certainly find out we all have the same likes and dislikes. Amazing the conversations that get started with individuals you only know from internet group.

So the 2 groups have started and now I have to get off my duff and start knitting......

Our First Get Together in 2010

Well we certainly had a good turn out last Thursday. We all got pretty much caught up on the happenings from our holidays. It was so good to everyone who was there.

I shared a new hat that I was working on. I'm going to copy/past the link for anyone who wants to knit it also. However, I did some modifications. So, I'll get those listed and put on here as well or just make a copy for everyone.

http://http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter09/PATTshroom.php

We talked about getting together for lunch, so I'll send out an email and just list a date and we'll meet and eat. To hard asking for dates and all.......

A couple of us are working on the helmet liners and so we should be done by the end of January to give over to Linda G so she can send off.

So glad to see everyone and looking forward to seeing everyone next week.

It's A New Year

Well, we are now into 2010, OMG (oh my goodness). Where did the decade go and how fast 2009 went by us.

So we are now in the New Year and will be meeting and knitting projects.

I finished 3 hats for Christmas and working on finishing another one. Then on to the Helmet Liner our group agreed to knit and have finished by the end of January.

Back from spending the Christmas Holiday with my step-son Jim and his girlfriend Michelle. What a great time hubby and I had. However, it is great to be home and staying a little warmer compared to Portland. Right now it is 48 degrees and that is certainly a lot warmer than 28 or 31!!!!

Miss the knit gal pals and looking forward to seeing everyone this coming Thursday.

Happy New Year and looking forward to what everyone is working on, finished and all that other stuff.