Oct 3, 2007 Tonight is my first knitting class taught by this person! eek! Now, I have to do this before class. Ok, I'm off to make a ball. heh. I have clients who have been giving me hand-me-down [donations due to deaths and disabilities] of knitting and crocheting needles. Just as soon as I identify what some of these items are they give me more. At least I had the good sense to buy a tote for my growing supply of stuff.  Oh, and I still need to unpack and now it's prehouseclean clean before the housekeeper arrives tomorrow, finish taxes, massage four folks, and run off to my knitting class tonight. 

Hope I like it. I'm a little nervous actually. I think of all the times I'm sitting around and it's too rude to pull out a book and read [which often I'd love to do.] And I could knit! Well, if I like it - that is. If I do, I plan to take knitting 201 and Oh no classes at this store. Here I am with my very first little bit of knitting.

Oct 6, 2007 Kniting is cool! And I think I like it:) I knitted a 4"x4" kinda square. ha!!

Today, I had my first lampwork [torch] glass beadmaking class. It was great! Except for burning my fingers on hot glass. eek! Sometimes I'm just not that graceful. I'll live... with a couple blisters, no major damage. Burn creme rocks! I was a trooper and sat for a few minutes letting the creme work and then I went back at it:)

Making beads is hard!! I have a safety class on Monday and then I can rent/use their equipment for $16 for 4 whole hours! Can you believe that rate?! The glass rods are only $1-2 a piece. And everything else is supplied by them! I made two cobalt beads, one mint green, one black with white & blue dots/swirls, and one cobalt longish one with white swirls. They are very uh... unsymmetrical:) heh. They're being slowly cooled in the kiln.

Oct 11, 2007 So, in the rental I managed to make it to knitting class last night and I did practice last week. Despite my 3rd degree burn on my pointer finger of my right hand, stubborn maybe? Anyhew, I'm liking it even if it's awkward and brain-taxing at the moment as everything's new. I'm sure I'm working my gray matter:) After last night I can now pearl, bind off, and increase! wohoo! So, I know have two funky not-square finished little thingies. I can knit and cast on from last week. One loop at a time:) 

Oct 24, 2007I completed my first knitting project Sunday. I'm a bit behind in posting:) I used a glass bead I made last month. This is an eyeglass case. I have it beside my bed and have been using it rather than lose track of my glasses. It's a pattern for beginners:)

Nov 7, 2007 I finished my second project! I made a hat! I knitted my first hat! It's not perfect surely, but it's done! I have to do some more on my homework before my classes next week. Hopefully, there's enough other students to make the classes go:) 

I'm quite pleased! and H even got a few compliments today wearing it:)

Nov 13, 2007 Knitting class last night rocked! I adore William, the instructor. It all went well while William was watching me but went to hell later. So, I ripped out hours of work and redid it at midnight last night because I'm obsessive like that. I figured out I wasn't get the working end of the yarn back through the legs of the just finished last stitch and keeping it in that position when starting my next row in the round. Essentially occasionally doing a yarn over at the joining place of the knitted round. eeek! So, I ripped it out. Started my round again which is probably good practice maybe not at midnight but anyways. Did a few rows and got it right! Now, I don't understand the round, why it works, how all four or more sections are working together, or how to keep my tail [working end] in the right place. But I know what it's supposed to look like and can keep moving sections slightly until it looks right and the knit the next row. sigh. practice, practice, practice. Which is what I'll likely be doing on some of my free evenings:) My other knitted project is on hold for the moment. I'll pick it up as soon as the round isn't quite so challenging and mysterious:)

Nov 15, 2007

Nov 16, 2007 Ok, I just finished my 3rd project - a gift for N. I used a pattern from Knitgrrl. I love it! I need to make one for our household too! Hope she likes it!

Nov 18, 2007 Last knitting class 6-8 pm. And my knitting is going super fab! I gave N her knitted gift and I hope to hear lots of stories about how her kitties like their knitted kitty catnip eggroll:) The fixing your mistakes class on Saturday rocked!!!! I learned tons!!! 

Nov 25, 2007 A hat for me! Knitted in the round! Yah for circular needles! It's in superwash wool. I finished it in a week just in time to wear it for our zoo trip!

Dec 7, 2007  I finished my latest project [was to be wide scarf - ended up being more of a wrap] in elongated [dropped] stitch last night! woohoo! Here's a little knitting inspiration: check out http://knittywhipped.blogspot.com/ look down at "backyard leaves" entry Nov 30th

Dec 8, 2007 This article made me cry, but in a good way? Knitting for good causes... and another 

Dec 10, 2007 I started knitting my bumblebee hive hat! Sunday H & I went into Seattle. I met up with G  and knitted at a coffee shop! I had a blast! Getting my knitting geek-on! I worked on a fitted hat for H. I measured him and combined two patterns. That evening I finished it. He just put it on it looks great! I definitely enjoy socializing and knitting:)

Oh, and other knitting news, I wore my knitted wrap Fri., Sat., and Sun. and have been soaking up the feedback. People are very kind. It's also sooooo warm; I love it! My wrap/wide scarf in a silk wool blend in drop stitch. No pattern but wonderfully warm.

Dec 21, 2007 My super sweet boss & office manager who got me a gift card to Renaissance Yarns! My favorite store!  And I finished knitting my bumblee hat this week! I love it! I made the bumblees to look like the NW bumblees I see in my yard:) I made the bees at the local glass shop using glass rods and a rented torch. I've taken a couple classes and this is only my second solo attempt at glass beads.

Dec 26, 2007 I am currently working on my poncho/wrap.

Dec 30, 2007 I just finished my wrap/poncho! It's gorgeous!! I made it in highland black wool, black mohair, and black yarn with silver thread. It's from this book. My next big project will be the sweater from this same book. In the meantime, I have a few hats and a scarf to make:)