Knitting

I know, I know ... Love, Cook, Create, Knit. I really haven't had much to say about knitting. I'm currently on a reading / anti-television kick. (not very conducive to knitting) A woman once told me when I was brand new to the whole knitting thing that I would eventually be able to knit and read at the same time. It sounds like a dream come true to me (as I love to accomplish great things - two at once, even better!) however, I still can't imagine it. It seems like mistakes waiting to happen. Anyway, if you enjoy knitting you have GOT to check out this website if you haven't already ... RAVELRY . It's so clever, and so fabulous. In order to use this online knitting community website, you have to sign-up. Because of the demand, in a few days they send you an "invitation" in your email box. But, just to give you an example, you can look up a certain pattern in a certain book and see other knitters efforts at making this project. They show pictures, list the yarn they used and explain any changes they made to the pattern or trouble they ran into. What a brilliant idea. Really, if you like to knit. Check it out. Enjoy.

Time to KNIT a GIFT

It's that time of year. You're thinking "Maybe I'll knit a scarf for Aunt Ethel for Christmas." After putting my scarf on the back burner for over a year, it is finally finished. The pattern I used is a great if you are tired of the garter stitch, have experienced the accordian effect when using a rib stitch, or the curling effect when using a straight stitch. Ironically this stitch is called the "Mistake Rib Stitch" which is simply a combination of multiples of 4 stitches (K2, P2), plus 3 (K2, P1) -- both sides. So depending on how wide you want your scarf and how thick your yarn is, cast on any multiple of 4 stitches, plus 3. I cast on 39 stitches for this scarf (worsted yarn). 9 x 4 = 36 + 3 = 39. The scarf ended up being about 6 inches wide. Enjoy!

(Soon I'll write you about the crocheted beret, which is from an old pattern I dug up from the early 1900's.)