Keeping You in Stitches - Volume 7

Frogging and Tinking…Basic Knitting Terms, You Don’t Want To Use

At a recent meeting of “Tuesday Morning Hooks, Yarns, and Thinkers,” an unusual hush fell upon our usually chatty group.  Some were contentedly working on their projects in silence, but most were quietly counting, the numbers flowing softly out into the air creating a buzzy undertone.  You might wonder why so many of us were counting that day.  Keeping count of your stitches is necessary as pattern stitches must be verified and the amount of stitches in a row has to be accurately maintained.  If you come up short or long, correction can be irritating.  No one wants to rip out their work and so we count.

If you are knitting along and much to your dismay see that six rows down you have a horrible ugly error then it is time to rip it out.  And then you just rip it, rip it, rip it ... gently pulling the thread from the stitches. This action is the basis for the knitting term of “frogging.”   We knitters envy the crocheters the ease with which they can rip their work, just a tug and the stitches come out easily.  Not so with knitting.

Knitters are free to frog their work too if they dare to strip all the stitches off the needles and then do what it takes to get them back on.  We have some dedicated “froggers” in our group. Virginia once completely frogged a single sock so many times that the yarn started getting fragile.  When we caught her at it, we exclaimed a collective “STOP!”   And proceeded to show her how to go back to her error, correct it and then go from that point on again. At last her sock is getting longer.  (Now if we can just convince Marie of the same thing.) 

Frogging is certainly not fun, but if your error is several rows down, if you just don’t like the pattern or think it is not going to fit, then frog you must. If, however, you discover an error in the row you are currently knitting, the recommended method for repair is called tinking. A knitter who has an error in an intricate pattern will cautiously remove stitches one a time, backing them off to the left hand needle.  Essentially this is un-knitting or knitting backwards, therefore we have the term “tinking” which is knit spelled backwards and indicates unknitting your stitches.

As much as we would like it to be different, errors are by no means uncommon.  We sometimes talk too much,  our project falls on the floor and off the needles; the cat decides our project is a toy, or that TV program is just way too interesting and we lose our place.  Certainly there are any number of ways in which you can lose count or lose your needles; believe it or not, some patterns actually contain errors that take a while to sort out.  Everyone makes mistakes and they are really not that difficult to correct.  As with the whole of knitting, or of life Patience is certainly a virtue.

                               

So, don’t “tink” you need to frog your whole project.  Bring it to the library on Tuesday morning and we will do our best to demonstrate the easiest way to get you back in the swim of things.  Hooks, Yarns, and Thinkers meets every Tuesday at the Little Dixie Regional Library at 9:30 a.m.  We tink you’ll like it so join us!

Fingerless Gloves

Been on a kick of knitting fingerless gloves lately.  Just finished the "Beer Gloves" for the hubs and another pair for myself.  I usually don't like doing cable work, but the beer gloves just might have given me a new feeling for cables.  I do like the way they turned out.  While not traditional cable work, the "Tree of Life" mitts that I made for myself are nonetheless cable and I enjoy wearing them.

I'm SO Done With It!

Finished the sweater that I started in April.  This is the first sweater that I have knitted and I am inordinately proud of it!  I purchased the pattern from the twistcollective.com.  It is called "Gytha."  For the project I used Wool of the Andes from knitpicks.com.  This is a 100% Peruvian Highland wool and I am very pleased with the yarn.  It was knit on a size 7 circular needle with some DPN action thrown in now and again.  Bands of stranded color work aka Fair Isle Knitting decorate the bottom of the sweater.  The  colors in the color work are repeated in stripes on the sleeves and hood. I love the belled sleeves and the bit of ribbing at the elbow too. I still need to find just the right toggle button to complete the neckline of the sweater, but it is certainly wearable as is.

It feels really good to complete this project.  I was a bit daunted by it in the beginning and so totally satisfied with the result that I am now eager to choose another sweater pattern.  In the meantime I am knitting a pair of socks and a have a couple of hats on the needles too.

This post would be incomplete without some pictures.  Hubs and I went outside on the one of the most lovely fall days that you can imagine and he snapped a bunch of shots.  That was fun!  This is an uplifting conclusion to a week that has been fraught with off the charts anxiety and one HUGE Panic Attack.  I am grateful to be on the upswing once again.

Another Keeping You in Stitches

    KEEPING YOU IN STITCHES

                                                          By Sandy and Elaine

In the past, friends, neighbors and relatives often came together to help each other.  Women gathered for quilting bees and men for barn raisings.  In this country today, however, social isolation is at an all time high.  Television, the internet and a fast paced lifestyle have all contributed to the creation of a society in which many sit at home alone in front of a flickering screen.

Tuesday Morning Hooks, Yarns and Thinkers is part of a movement back to a simpler time when folks met, worked and interacted with each other face to face.  We are much more than an arts, crafts or needlework club. We are a group of friends, neighbors and relatives with like minded interests and we are never lacking in ways to interact.  We share news, patterns, techniques and knowledge and we laugh a lot.

Gardening is a hot topic in the growing season.  Did your tomatoes do well this year?   Do you have a recipe for a great salsa? What variety of corn are you planting?  And, you may even find surplus veggies being passed out to any taker.

The wide variety of life experiences of our members shows in the stories they tell.  Inga grew up in Germany and was there during World War II.  Her stories are absolutely riveting.  Ginny has lived in many other countries and she is a fount of information on their cultures.  Mary came to Missouri from Minnesota and she can tell you just how cold it can get up North.  Lively communication like this is the highlight of our meetings.

There is a loss of community in this country, and we are seeing its reflection in a diminishing of physical health and emotional well-being.  We have a great remedy for loneliness: Find something you love to do and find a group of people who do it together on a regular basis.  It’s simple.  It’s easy and it’s free.  Come join Hooks, Yarns and Thinkers at the Moberly Library any Tuesday morning at 9:30.  Bring a yarn of your own and spin it!

TUESDAY MORNING HOOKS, YARNS & THINKERS

In March of last year I decided to check out a new knitting group that was meeting at the local library.  For the past decade I have piddled about with yarn and needles and manufactured a few rather odd looking dishcloths in the process.  I couldn't seem to hold the thread right and the rhythm of the needles was way beyond my grasp.

A year and half later I am nearing the end of my first sweater and have made all manner of knitted stuff.  I look forward to every Tuesday morning when our little group meets.  I get out of the house no matter what the weather and get to the library to hang out and knit. 

Recently one of my knitting friends suggested that we write a column about the group.  And we did.  Writing the column has been an incredible experience, reopening doors and revealing ideas and knowledge that I thought were long gone.  It has rejuvenated me!

Here's a pic of some of our most faithful members and me, of course! And, the first newspaper article about our group. KEEPING YOU IN STITCHES is published once a week in two of our local newspapers.



 
KEEPING YOU IN STITCHES

               

If you haven’t already heard the news, we are here to tell you that knitting and crocheting are “IN”!  One of the coolest things happening right now is a revival of needlework skills from long ago.  Housewives, college students, retirees, folks from all walks of life are picking up needles, hooks and yarns to create beautiful, wearable, durable art.  Many celebrities are into needlework.  Vanna White from “Wheel” and author Debbie McComber have their own yarn lines.  Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Tracey Ullman have all been spotted with needles in hand.  It’s not just for girls either.  Retired NFL football players, Roosevelt Greer and Randy Grossman and actor, Laurence Fishburne are all knitters!

The renewed interest in needlework made us think that there might be interest in a local needlework group.  And there was!  The Little Dixie Regional Library graciously opened their doors to us.  We have been meeting there every Tuesday morning for nearly two years.  We call ourselves, “Hooks, Yarns, and Thinkers”.  We are many different ages.  Perhaps when you think of needlework you have an image of a little old lady bent over her needles. Sure, some of us are seniors and have been senior for a while now.  But, we are also middle-aged stay-at- home moms and even quite youthful home schoolers. We come from many different backgrounds and even different countries.  

 Right now we are all female, but would enjoy seeing some male participation.  Some of our knitters were actually taught by their fathers.  More and more men are learning needlework. Published in 2007 there is a great book titled, “Men Who Knit and the Dogs Who Love Them.”  Did you know that tough guy Russell Crowe is a knitter?

Let’s be honest.  We are writing this column to encourage participation in our group, to show you who we are and hope that we spark your interest in joining us.  We are a great group and have lots of fun as well as learning new and improving old skills.  Meetings are loosely structured with no dues, agendas, or officers.  Some of our members have been doing needlework of many kinds for more than 50 years and they are always ready to give instructions and assistance to newcomers. 

Needlework does not have to be costly.  You can often borrow needles, hooks and yarn scraps from your grandmother, aunt or a neighbor.  For a small investment you can buy a single skein of yarn and a crochet hook or pair of knitting needles and be ready to go.  We have plenty of patterns to share, and the library has some excellent books too.  Supplies are available from Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Ben Franklin, Jo-Anne Fabrics and the local “Mart” as well as online.  A good size for beginners is an H-8 crochet hook or size 7 knitting needles paired with a worsted weight yarn.

Haven’t you always admired those beautiful handmade garments, mittens and afghans made by someone else?  Haven’t you wished you could do it too?  You can.  Check out “Hooks, Yarns, and Thinkers” any Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. upstairs at the Little Dixie Regional Library and learn the art of creating with yarn.  See you there!

Sweater Blockage

I cast on this sweater in April, 2010.  It is my first sweater.  The pattern is called "Gytha" and I purchased it from Twist Collective.  The yarn is Wool of the Andes from KnitPicks.

Two days ago I completed tucking in all the loose ends of yarn and blocked the sweater.  We have had some pretty damp days and so it is still drying.

I love the colors and the color work in this sweater and can't wait to wear it.  After drying, I still need to put in the sleeves, add some trim, a button and a hood and she will be ready to wear in the crisp days of Autumn that lie ahead.

Leavin on a Jet Plane

Today getting ready to leave for a trip to Dallas, Tx.. must be at daughter's house by 7 a.m. in the morning and have nothing in the suitcase yet. 

Doing laundry so that I 'll have everything I might want to wear clean.

Last year we went to San Antonio which was beautiful and warm.  I am not expecting to find that in Dallas, but I will be visiting with my niece, Monica who lives in the area.

Monica teaches "Conscious Dance".. and also participate in kirtan so I am hoping to learn more about these two practices.

The snow remains on the ground here though only 36 miles to the south it is totally gone!  We've had sunshine and above freezing temps for the past few days, but no significant snow melt yet.  At least Dallas should not have snow on the ground!

I appreciate my daughter arranging this trip.  She has a meeting for work down there and since we seldom do anything, just the two of us, takes me with her for some time we can enjoy together.

Leaving the kittens with my hubs.  I'll miss then, but he has bonded so well with them that I know they are in good hands.  I appreciate that he will take care of things around here till I return.

I'll be taking my knitting with me, maybe start a new pair of socks since they are so portable.  Currently working on a hat for me with an intricate wide band, a hat for my grandson and finishing a pair of socks I started before Christmas.  Knitting plans include a sweater for me.. http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/60-winter-2008-patterns/141-gytha-by-jennifer-appleby
and a Fair Isle hat...http://www.twistcollective.com/collection/index.php/component/content/article/78-winter-2009-patterns/504-polar-chullo-by-mary-ann-stephens.  I absolutely love Fair Isle knitting!  Here's a hat I just finished:



And I guess I'd better start packing.. Love to ALL...

Yes Its Snowing Here too!

This winter has certainly reminded me that here in Missouri we can and do get snow and lots of it.. not sure how much is on the ground right now.  It keeps melting and snowing and then doing it all over again.  I haven't minded it so very much since I have lots of projects going on in the house right now.  We have been sledding, built snow men and slid around on the icy pond trying to wring all the fun we can out of the white stuff.

I am actually almost finished with the quilt that I started in 1975.  Will be ready to begin actually quilting it next week.  In the knitting department I am working on a Fair Isle hat, my first try at that sort of knitting.  I like doing this kind of work, a bit tedious, but worth the effort.  I have another pair of socks almost completed.  These are for me!  And a scarf is lying in my knitting bag, waiting to be frogged back a few rows before beginning it again.  I do love knitting and the beautiful practical things that I produce.

Grandson has moved back in with us.  He is trying to get an apartment with a friend so doesn't want me to set his bedroom back up so is sleeping in my computer room at the moment.  He is back at school.. high school again and seems to be hanging in there with the program so far.  He has been in touch with his mother a few times, but is getting little satisfaction in that area.  I have not spoken to her since August though she did accept Christmas gifts for her younger children from me and her sisters. 

My exercise program now includes the Five Tibetan Rites.  I have worked up to 13 reps now.  I have been having a lot of challenges with my back and don't know if it is due to the Rites or not and don't know how to ascertain that.  I guess I could stop doing them and see if my back gets better, but I hesitate to do that knowing that I will probably never get back into the habit of performing them daily.

I do hope that everyone is enjoying snow if they've got it and if not enjoying whatever is going on in your "neck of the woods."

Namaste`

Purple Socks

I just completed this great pair of purple tweedish socks!  This is my first time at knitting with a pattern stitch and in the beginning I nearly gave it up as I had to "frog". (rip it) quite a few times before I got the hang of it.  Once I got the rhythm of the stitch it went easily and I am loving wearing these beauties.

They were knitted on size 1 needles using Stroll fingering weight sock yarn from Knit PIcks.www.knitpicks.com/knitting.cfm  I like this yarn.  It works up well, will know more after I wash them for the first time.  It is superwash merino wool with just a bit of poly something for stretch.

The pattern is called Hedgerow Socks and is offered as a free download at Ravelry..http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hedgerow-socks-2. 

I continue to knit mittens for charity, am sending them to a Native American reservation in the Dakotas and my next project will be a scarf.

Putting Away the Wire

And so today I finished packing away my wire and beads.  I can't seem to find time or inspiration to make jewelry right now so am concentrating on my knitting projects.

Completed the first pair of mittens which are for a charity project that I got hooked up with via an Etsy friend.  They will be sent to a reservation in S.D.  If I can just figure out how to eliminate the little hole where the thumb attaches on I'll be more than pleased with the outcome.  Have started pair #2.

I continue to make socks, socks, socks.. and am just about ready to begin a pair for me.

I love my new knitting needles.. not only are they a delight to look at with their brightly colored wood, they are so smooth the yarn just glides along.  You can see them here.
. 
http://www.knitpicks.com/needles/wood_knitting_needles__L300306.html

And, while I was organizing my jewelry making stuff I found a little tree of life pendant that was almost finished and completed it, adding some fluorite and rose quartz beads, a strand of leather and a ready made clasp and voila a new necklace!

Knitting Socks

I've got to say that I just love knitting socks! At first I was confused dismayed and frustrated as I worked to learn how to control four tiny knitting needles. It felt like knitting with toothpicks. Time passes.. doesn't it always? and with practice and patience I feel comfortable with the needles and, in fact, like using the little ones much better than the bigger ones. The needles are siz 1 1/2 and are wooden.. another thing I love, wooden needles.. and the yarn is cool too.. what fun to see how the stripes come together and wonder what color is coming up next. The yarn for my first pair is reasonably monochromatic, but just wait the next pair is going to be done in rainbow color.. can't wait. It is a fingering weight yard of wool, cotton, and nylon.

Creating the heel was a challenge, but I am pleased with the result and the next one will be much easier. Moving on to the toe now and soon the first sock will be complete! I have many future knitting projects in mind, but for right now it's socks!

And, sure I've got a picture..

I'm Knitting

Went to the library on Monday where an old friend is teaching knitting classes and I have been inspired to pick up my needles again. I finished a dishcloth in a gorgeous red yarn. I started it before Christmas, and today began another dishcloth in variegated blues. I find that these small pieces are a great way to introduce myself to new stitches.

I also ordered a kit for a delightful purse and some yarn for socks. Will be going to the city next week to pick up a bicycle for Anah's birthday and while I"m there am going to a local yarn shop to get some bamboo needles for the socks, and then I'm ready for the knitting adventure to begin in earnest.

I seem to have lost interest in jewelry making and certainly am not into selling it anymore, but need a new way to express myself creatively. I have two new books on collage making and am also tending to think about working in collage again sometime quite soon. It feels good to let go of the need to be a commercial success and to make art for its own sake alone

Today the sun is brightly shining and I plan to get out and work in the yard again. The days that have been available for working outside have been spotty so far this spring so I jump at any chance to get going out there. I am thinking to place my focus on the herb garden today as I have done little out there so far.

I am grateful for sunshine, energy and desire for gardening work, emerging creativity, reconnection with old friends and the love of my family.

Namaste`

xposted to LJ Rosegardenfae