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Jan. 27th, 2014
facebook engancha (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Selfies. Memes. LOLcats. That old friend that has political views that make you grind your teeth. Embarrassing posts from your mom and dad. Games. Most of us use Facebook as a way to “waste time” or “goof off”. What if I were to tell you that Faceboo... http://www.amnottheonlyone.com/five-ways-facebook-can-make-life-better/
Selfies. Memes. LOLcats. That old friend that has political views that make you grind your teeth. Embarrassing posts from your mom and dad. Games. Most of us use Facebook as a way to “waste time” or “goof off”. What if I were to tell you that Faceboo... http://www.amnottheonlyone.com/five-ways-facebook-can-make-life-better/
facebook engancha (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Selfies. Memes. LOLcats. That old friend that has political views that make you grind your teeth. Embarrassing posts from your mom and dad. Games. Most of us use Facebook as a way to “waste time” or “goof off”. What if I were to tell you that Faceboo... http://www.amnottheonlyone.com/five-ways-facebook-can-make-life-better/
Selfies. Memes. LOLcats. That old friend that has political views that make you grind your teeth. Embarrassing posts from your mom and dad. Games. Most of us use Facebook as a way to “waste time” or “goof off”. What if I were to tell you that Faceboo... http://www.amnottheonlyone.com/five-ways-facebook-can-make-life-better/
2014: The Year of Gift Knitting
Jan. 27th, 2014 04:59 pm 
Time for Some Gift Knitting
I have a goal this year. I have an ample yarn stash, including both luxury yarns and inexpensive yarns, with enough needles in enough different sizes (though I could use a second set of circular needles for multiple project purposes) that I can probably get through the year, knitting a small project every week or two (or three, as life gets in the way) without spending much in the way of money.
So, here it is. Rather than spending the entire summer on a sweater, as I usually do, I will spend this entire year working on small projects for myself, my family, and my friends and therapy participants. The vast majority of my knitting (and crocheting) this year will be gift knitting. The rules of this game are as follows:
1. No pressure: If it takes a month or a week, it's no big deal. Just finish projects as they fit into my life.
2. No sweaters: I love knitting sweaters, but they are a huge time commitment. Maybe, if I get a good stack of gift knits, I will modify this to allow one sweater to be worked on at home.
3. Different projects for different situations: For traveling around, perhaps puffs for the Beekeeper Quilt or granny squares for a baby's quilt. For work, simple projects such as the fourth Doctor's scarf or a linen stitch stole (anything that allows me to use it as a therapy/teaching tool). For home, more complex projects that I can focus on and that might take more room to store.
4. Try something different every other project or so: Double knitting? Go for it. Complex lace? Give it a whirl. Funky yarns? Have fun.
5. Try to keep in mind the tastes of the people you're gifting: Mom loves lace, but sis loves colorwork. Brother is a big ol geek that would love a stranded mitten with Pac Man motifs. You get the drift.
6. Try my hand at pattern altering and pattern writing: I've learned that double knitting is a great way to explore making stranded knitting items that look great from both sides. What a great quilt idea, to design squares that reflect the taste of the giftee.
7. Carry on a tradition: I have ten nieces, two nephews, and two sons, plus two young cousins who are like a niece and nephew. My aunt Betsy is slowing down these days (as one does when one gets to be 84) but when we were all kids, she made Christmas stockings for all of us, personalized with our names and using durable worsted wool yarn. Perhaps I can continue the tradition for the next generation.
You all get the idea. Projects on the needles now:
Double knit houndstooth scarf for my youngest son, Overthinker, in blue and gray worsted weight acrylic yarn (Heartland, by Lion's Brand). I will post the pattern on Ravelry and here next week, along with a “how to fix a mistake in double knitting” tutorial.
Houndstooth fingerless gloves for myself, from this pattern, in Knitpicks Gloss yarn in Aegean and Tranquil (dark and light blue greens, respectively). Pattern notes: Knitting the ribbed parts on slightly smaller needles should prevent the flare issue I was having with the ones I knitted for my sister in law.
(Do you see a theme? Yes, I'm a little obsessed with houndstooth right now)
Portable project: Beekeeper's quilt pieces from various and sundry bits of leftover yarn by Tiny Owl. The project is pictured at the beginning of the post. She has a new book out, Woodland Knits, and it is full of fabulous and fanciful patterns I will probably explore with y'all. I like the beekeeper quilt pattern because I can think of dozens of ways to use the little hexes. Seat cushion or stool cover? Yep. Couch pillow cover? Yep. Lap blanket? Yep. Heirloom blanket for a young couple getting married? Yep.
Do you have a knitting or crochet goal this year? What is it? How will you get it done?
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