Why I love (and hate) Knitting

Image courtesy of Apolonia / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Knitting is one of my most favorite hobbies. In fact, I knit all the time. I just love to make things for myself, while watching shows. Since I don't have a job right now, it's nice to be able to make your own sweater for 16 dollars (versus paying 30 bucks or more for a new one). However, I also hate it. Why, you ask?

1. It's time consuming. I knit slowly, and that means it takes me longer to knit something that takes a person one day. And I knit most of the day, since I'm unemployed.
2. Due to my own failure.  I make way too many mistakes when knitting, and end up having to do rows over repeatedly. For example, I completed one of the sleeves for a sweater I'm working on, only to find out that near the beginning I skipped a row on the pattern. Since it's really bothering me, I'll probably go back and do it over. But that was days spent, now in the gutter.
3. I can't do it for long. I have to take breaks or I get bored or my hands start hurting. However this is only a minor problem, as I can go do something I'm supposed to be doing, like the online drawing class homework.
4. The right yarn for a project costs too much. Yes, acrylic yarn is the most affordable, and thus 95% of my stash is acrylic. The roughness of the yarn doesn't bother me that much, mostly because I don't use lotion so my hands are tougher than most. Cotton is much more expensive for less, but I have a bit to try and make a cotton jacket and socks. The other varieties are out of my price range, sadly. I also feel bad, because there's not much I can do with acrylic, since I have no use for scarves or hats (it never snows where I live, and the coldest it gets at night is 40 degrees F).

The most irritating of these reasons is #2. I want to learn how to knit faster without making so many mistakes (and maybe get in the habit of checking my work repeatedly to catch errors faster). If so, I would be less frustrated with knitting and like it more.

As a side note, I want to open an etsy shop, but I have no idea what would be good to sell. I'm thinking about selling small and affordable items, like hats, plushies, phone keychains (knitted), or bracelets. However, I am wondering if people would buy them, because I know it is hard to advertise and be noticed. Once I get more ideas, I will make another post. 

Finally, A New Post

Well...it's about time I made another post. Hopefully I can get some readers this year :)
Anyway, I haven't been doing that many projects, but I'll talk about them:

I. Owl Bookmark (Ravelry Project Link)

 Owls are one of my favorite birds, so I just had to make this. I made it too long, though, because I thought I'd want to use it for a large book as well. I made this in December 2012. Isn't it cute? :)

 

II. Berry Buttoned Mittens (Ravelry Project Link)

Only I would stop working on mittens from last year and stick them behind the computer. After finding these and noticing that I was almost done, I quickly finished them in a few days in May. I think they look decent. :)

Knitted Berry Buttoned Mittens.

II. Summer Slippers (Ravelry Project Link)

I thought I'd try to make myself some Summer Slippers in May, since I've been having trouble with my feet. Worst idea ever, purely because of the choice of yarn. There's a reason why it was discontinued: the yarn's core is hard. Combined with my sensitive feet, it was like walking on sharp rocks. I tried to add a polyester stuffed insole with cloth, but it wasn't enough. If I feel like it later, I'll undo it, put a jean bottom to the insole and re-stuff it with plenty of polyester. Oh well, at least they look nice.

III. Sunday Swing Socks (Ravelry Project Link)

Okay, I bought GALA yarn from Big Lots a long time ago, intending to make socks. This is because I originally wanted to make socks with the suede yarn used to make the above slippers, only to discover that you shouldn't make socks with acrylic yarn. Huge letdown. So I thought a mystery polyester %, nylon %, acrylic % yarn would be better. Neglecting to do a fabric test (Hey it's soft: should be fine), I embarked on the journey on making my second pair of socks ever. At least it wasn't wool (Long story short: My wool socks that I had painstakingly knit shrunk, and I only got to wear them once.)
It took me about a month to make them, and the whole time I felt that I was the slowest knitter in the world. But they look really nice, and I'm looking forward to them! I want to make more, since I've been having trouble with the elastic in my store-bought socks cutting off my circulation. Anywho, here's the socks!

And finally...

IV. What I'm doing now

I'm working on a cardigan called Girl Friday, with Red Heart grey heather yarn. Hopefully I have enough. My mom wants me to make her some crocheted top later, so hopefully I finish this soon.

Anything you've been working on? Comment here!

A River and a Stream Scarf

It's about time for a new post and a finished scarf! Let's get it a-rolling!

A RIVER AND A STREAM SCARF 

Materials needed:

4-6 or more skeins of your favorite worsted weight yarn (I used Moonlight Mohair - Glacier Bay; I know it says "bulky" but it's really just a lie...)
Size 4 or 5 needles (depending on your gauge).
Stitch markers (optional)

The Pattern

Note: This is a simple pattern, only 8 rows.
CO 34.

1. (Wrong side) k2, p6, k2 *p4, k1*3x,k1,p6,k2
2. (RS) p2 *klb,p1*3x,p1,*p1,k4*3x,p2*klb,p1*3x,p2
3. R1
4. p2,*k1b,p1*3x,p1,*2x2 right cable* 3x, p2, *klb,p1*3x,p2
5. R1
6. R2
7. R1
8. Same as R4 but left cable instead
9. -infinity. Keep going as long as you like (or as many skeins you have to give).

For your last row, use any bind off method you'd like.

Hope your scarf came out as nice as mine!

Evergreeen Pot Hat

I finished the crochet hat! It doesn't look good on me, but that's because I have poofy hair! This is my first completed crochet project, so I can say I can crochet now!
This was a simple spiral in the round (starting with a magic circle, sc 6 then keep going around, doing an increase at an increasing interval every time, without chaining 1 each round), then single crocheted straight for 4-5 inches. I based it off of the pattern for a retro hat from the 40s at crochet.about.com. It's still pretty short, so if you wanted to make it longer feel free. If you find this useless as a hat, as I did, it can double as a bowl or container, making your bathroom, bedroom, or livingroom instantly spiffy.
Yes, the good thing about crochet is that the stitches are very sturdy, so you can make nifty containers, and such. Next thing on the menu is to try to make an amagurimi plushie of some sort or another. Maybe it'll turn out good, but it'll probably turn out bad. I only have to wait and see...
Changing the topic, the rest of my books that my dad ordered have not come yet, even though the UPS has said they attempted delivery at odd times of the day (7:30 PM and 8:00 PM on September 2nd & 3rd). The last attempt said to be today, and no one has rung the doorbell yet, nor have I spotted a rogue mail truck. I wonder, are they avoiding the neighborhood, or are delivering to the wrong house? Either way, I'd hate to see a waste of money.
On another note, I am looking forward to (and also wary of) starting my first year of college on the 21st of September. I hope my roommates are tolerable at worst, and at best really nice people. Also, I hope I can get at least a 3.2 to stay in the honor's program.
Ending another blog post, I am signing out,
-Jenny

Deep Sea Hat

The Deep Sea Hat 

The Deep Sea Hat is completed, and it has such a nice fit! It took me over two weeks to complete, specifically because I only did a bit at a time. This hat can be worn as a hat (straight on) and a cap (slanted back), so it's quite nifty! If you look closely, you can see the pattern. This is the first pattern I've made myself, so it's bound to have some errors.

Pattern notes:

If you want, you can do the purls (after the ribbing) in a different color, to make the pattern more accented. Repeat between **s until the end.

If you wish to do the pattern flat, for all odd rows do the pattern backwards, then purling where it says knitting & vice versa.

Supplies:

• 1 skein worsted weight yarn. I used TMA yarn Fashion knit in New Navy (or a deep blue color)
• (optional)1 skein of white, green, or blue yarn
• Circular needles or double pointed needles size 6 or what size you need to get that gauge
• (optional) straight needles
• yarn needle

Stitches:

• Broken chevron (while doing the pattern below, intermittently knit where you should purl to break the chevron and create waves)
• 2x2 ribbing

Pattern (in round):

(read notes before starting)
CO 90 (80, 100, depending on the size you want. 90 is for a large.)
Row 1: k2 p2 ribbing
Do this for about 12-14 rows, depending on how long you want it to be.
Then do the chevron pattern, as follows:
Row 1: *p1, k3*
Row 2: *kl, p1, k5, p1*
Row 3: *k2, p1, k3, p1, k1*
Row 4: *k3, p1, k1, p1, k2*
Repeat these rows until there are about 5 to 5 1/2 inches, depending on how loose you want the hat to be.
Then we will start decreasing:
Row 1: *p1, k3, p1, k3, p1, k2tog*
Row 2:*k1, p1, k5, p1, k2tog*
Row 3: *k2, p1, k3, p1, k2tog*
Row 4: *k3, p1, k1, p1, k2tog*
Row 5: *p1, k3, p1, k2tog*
Row 6: *k1, p1, k2, k2tog*
Row 7: *k2, p1, k2tog*
Row 8: *k2, p2tog*
Row 9: *k1, p2tog*
Row 10: *k2tog*
(optional) Row 11: *k2tog*
To finish, cut the yarn, leaving a long tail, and do a finishing stitch of your choice with the remaining stitches (I had four). Now the hat is complete. If you decide to make this pattern, please comment & tell me what you think!