A Year of Knitting (and Living) Dangerously

Do not fear the Pattern Grasshopper!

2010-02-09T19:03:00.000-05:00

I started the Year of Knitting Dangerously to help me get over stupid hurddles I have creatively. Over, the past couple of months (OK, fine, YEARS) I've noticed this trend - I'll come up with an awesome idea for an art project and then I sit on it, never starting it beacsue I get into thinking 'No one else is ever going like this so why bother'. There's a lot to be said about creating art for the sake of art, but let's face it, we like it when peole like our work. And we like it even better if people like our work enough to give us nice crsip dollar bills.

I've had this idea for Awesome Socks bouncing around in my noggen for quite some time. I've been kind of hoping someone else would have this awesome idea and make an awesome pattern for these awesome socks, but the universe hasn't worked that way. Damn, the only way I would get Awesome Socks was to make them myself.

That's exactly what I did. I'm doing the final touches on the pattern instructions and then while holding my breath I'm sure I'll be posting it on ravelry as an official down load.

Julia123 - Dangerous Knitter Interview

2010-02-02T08:32:00.000-05:00

Julia123 (AKA Jamie Chamberlain)

When did you start knitting?
I started about a week after Thanksgiving 2008, so I've been knitting for a little over a year.

What other crafty things do you do?
Maybe this isn't considered a typically crafty area, but I love to garden. To me it's another way of using your hands, a tool (seeds, etc.), and color to create beauty. I feel the same way about cooking and even writing. I've tried my hand at sewing, embroidering, drawing, and painting. I don't have a lot of talent there, but I still like to play around with it, just for fun!

Why knitting?
Knitting has always seemed old-fashioned and romantic to me. I love the thought of creating beauty or at least functionality with my hands. I especially love the idea of gift knitting. For me to think about a certain person and their style and personality, and then be able to knit something that I think they'll like, really brings me a lot of joy.

Have you ever injured yourself while knitting?
After a marathon knitting session, I've had pain and stiffness in my right hand/thumb. It's because I tension my yarn with my pointer finger and thumb instead of the recommended ways. I plan on changing my method soon!

Tell me something unexpected you discovered while knitting.
Several things. I was surprised to discover that knitting made me more patient, even though at times I feel impatient to finish a certain project. When I've felt tense and stressed about something, just taking up yarn and needles and beginning that soothing, repetitive motion calms me down. Or, with a more challenging project, it can take my mind off my worries. Something that might sound a little silly...I've found that knitting has actually taught me some lessons about life. Sometimes I can feel overwhelmed at the prospect of a coming event or situation. When I was knitting one day, I realized, "Some projects I've taken on and felt like I could never master and complete them. But I always try to take it just one stitch at a time and that's manageable. When I come across a stitch I don't know, I research it and usually puzzle it out. I need to look at these "real world situations" the same way...one "stitch" at a time." It's really been helpful.

Have you gotten any strange comments about your knitting or while knitting in public?
I've gotten really positive comments the few times I've brought my knitting out in public. People seemed surprised that I'm actually knitting and always mention wanting to learn, but it seeming too hard to them. I always encourage people to just give it a try. Ravelry is an invaluable resource. If someone as impatient and clumsy as me can learn...anyone can!

What projects are you really proud of?
My "Woodsy Owl", my take on Kate Davies' "Owls" sweater. It was my first adult sweater (just completed!). When I first started knitting, I never imagined I'd be able to knit one. It's for my sister and I just know she'll like it!

Ysolda Teague's "Rose Red" hat. This was my first real 'lace' project and it was a bit difficult for me...lots of frogging. But I love the red color and the fit of it, and it was perfect for my stylish New York sister-in-law. I ended up making another one for myself!

My Octopus Ipod cover. This is one of the first times I've deviated from a set pattern and struck out on my own. I found the perfect yarn and just "had a vision" for it. It went to my good friend Heather for Christmas.

Finally, my version of Leyburn socks. I fell in love with making socks almost immediately, but I have had issues with sizing. After a few failed attempts, I felt a little bit better about more complicated patterns. The Leyburns are my latest pair and, I think, fourth pair total. Love the yarn, love the pattern. I had a lot of fun making them!

What projects were total failures?
Two projects for my husband turned out to be disappointments. First was a Star Wars R2D2 fair isle hat. I measured his head at 24 inches and cast on. However, it turned out to be...too big. I tried felting but it just didn't fit. Back to the drawing board! I had also wanted to make him a pair of "squirrel" fair isle socks for Christmas. I took some shortcuts on the foot and ruined the first sock. I ended up making it a Christmas stocking, but it was still a disappointment. Oh, and I had to put away my attempts at "Nightsongs (Gail)" shawl. I wasn't getting it. Starting over with an easier lace project first!

What do you consider challenging?
I'm such a perfectionist...knitting is teaching me to accept "unperfect" work and look at it as a necessary step toward getting better. There's always the temptation to toss my project across the floor and say, "This is not good enough!" Instead, I'm learning to just...keep...trying. Oh, and getting gauge (sigh...).

Best piece of knitting advice you've ever heard is...
Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't knit without getting gauge. And I love the advice I got about laddering with 4 DPNs, about rotating the stitches around on the needles (i.e. knitting the first two or three stitches on the next needle). That saved my sanity!

Knitting goals for 2010?
Lace. More charts. Knitting socks from the toe up. More sweaters!

Thanks Jamie! Knit on!!!

Putting the AWE in AWEsome

2010-01-28T10:31:00.001-05:00

Dangerous Knitter Interview - Meet Iggystar!

2010-01-27T09:54:00.000-05:00

Iggystar (AKA Vicky Lynn Bagley) is self-proclaimed homebody who is not afraid of the label - geek, nerd or dork.

What other crafty things do you do?
None at the moment, although I am considering dusting off some very ancient crocheting skills soon.

Why knitting?
I was lured into my LYS by the beautiful colored yarns in the window while wandering through an office building one day, where I met a lovely teacher who worked there. It was her encouragement, as well as that of a very good cyber-friend who's a knitter, that got me to sign up for classes. My friend even made me get on the Ravelry waitlist before I'd taken my first class!

Also, I really enjoy the comforts of my home after a busy work week and spend many weekends reading, watching television and gaming. So knitting is a good fit for how I spend my quiet, leisure time.

Have you ever injured yourself while knitting?
Nothing major outside of an occasional sore wrist due to not taking a break. However, I have wanted to harm few balls of yarn for not cooperating.

Tell us something unexpected you discovered while knitting.
First and foremost, I discovered that I CAN knit. I'm the least crafty person I know and I really thought I wouldn't be able to pick it up. Also, I didn't expect that knitting could be so addictive, engrossing, cool and fun (and at times expensive)!

Have you gotten any strange comments about your knitting or while knitting in public?
Absolutely! I'm surprised that so many people come up to me tell me how lovely my crocheting is (I guess they miss the extra needle). One constant (and a bit irritating) comment are those who say they don't have the time, or don't have the patience to knit. They make it sound like such a putdown. Sometimes I'll tell them that knitting teaches you patience.

What projects are you really proud of?
I'm really proud of all of my firsts. My first scarf, hat, non-classroom pattern, cable project, pair of socks, etc. The latest source of much pride is a my first charted lace project, The Liesel scarf.

What projects were total failures?
I don't really have any projects that I consider complete failures. There might be aspects of a project where I've made mistakes, like on my second pair of socks. I didn't calculate the guage correctly and they turned out huge. Big enough to fit both feet in one.

What do you consider challenging?
Gauge, reading my knitting and identifying mistakes. I despise gauge with a passion, plain and simple. I get so bored working those swatches...I want to get started already! The latter two are a part of knitting that I'm constantly working on. Losing the stitch count, trying to find the position of my last decrease, finding my error so I can fix it and continue, etc.

Best piece of knitting advice you've ever heard is...
On expressing my fear of more challenging projects a fellow Raveler replied, "You shouldn't be afraid of knitting. It's needles and yarn, nothing is going to blow up." It was frank, but it kind of put those more difficult knitting projects into perspective.

Go read Iggy's Blog!

Claire's wedding shawl

2010-01-26T00:39:00.001-05:00

Claire's wedding shawl
Originally uploaded by amynowacoski

For all you who fear the lace and the charts.... the chart for this sucker was 4 pages, every row is basically different. Knit in silk that just wanted to slide off the needles. Embrace the fear and DO IT!

Awesome Socks - the beginning

2010-01-25T10:39:00.002-05:00

Awesome Socks - the beginning
Originally uploaded by amynowacoski

One of my many creative fears is designing my own work. It's total nonsense. I'm scared that people will think my ideas are stupid so I never even start on awesome projects floating around in my head.

Hello Crazy Person in my head, its time for you to stop running my life!

That's what A Year of Knitting Dangerously is all about - Shutting up the crazy person in our heads and doing awesome things!

This is the beginning of my Awesome Socks. The sole is all stripey, because stripes on the bottom of your feets are AWESOME! I won't show the rest of the sock just yet. Gonna let the anticipation build!!

Juliana's Car Sack

2010-01-16T10:04:00.001-05:00

Juliana Car Sack - close up
Originally uploaded by amynowacoski

Here's why you should read the ENTIRE pattern first before deciding something is the cutest thing ever and you must cast on right this very second. I saw this pattern in the Dale of Norway book for Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Its a sweater for a baby that goes all the way down to the toes forming a sack with flaps that open so that you can feed the buckles of the carseat through it. A sack with sleeves essentially. Cute and awesome for my new niece! Problem is, I didn't read the pattern and there are... gasp... STEEKS! I'm going to have to cut this baby three times in order to finish it. Now that is knitting dangerously! I'm going to need some hand holding thru ths one. And perhaps a drink.

Possibility Socks

2010-01-15T08:39:00.001-05:00

Possibility Socks - closeup
Originally uploaded by amynowacoski

After casting on the Harry Clarke shawl and getting 95 freaking beads on the FIRST row, I needed to immediately cast on some easy-on-the-brain knitting. These are Cookie A's Monkey socks. Yeah I know, Knitting Wisdom would normal advise I go with a nice simple toe-up stockenette sock, but I just finished knitting 20 inches in stockenette and frankly I needed a little more for my brain to work on. The bonus with Cookie A's pattern is that its both charted and written so I'll be able to use this pattern for my "How to KNIT from a chart" tutorial that's coming this week. But here's the problem with these socks. The pattern is fairly simple and engaging which makes them hard NOT to knit. I got Harry to worry about! I can't forsake him just to knit socks! So I've decided these socks will be "train knitting" only. Socks are a good project just to throw in your bag and whip out when you find yourself with a few empty minutes. And why are they called "Possibility Socks"? I'm taking this workshop on leadership (hence all the train knitting time I'll have commuting into NYC for the class) and part of the class talks about community and how in community, nothing is impossible. So I thought I'd carry the idea of Possibility around with me, quite literally, in sock form!

Harry Clarke - cast on

2010-01-15T00:39:00.001-05:00

Harry Clarke - cast on
Originally uploaded by amynowacoski

This is my first project for A Year of Knitting Dangerously. I've never done bead work before and I must say, its a very fussy process. I'm not sure I'm going to like it. We'll see when we get into the actually knitting of the shawl. And man, this sucker is going to be heavy. All those beads! I'll have to take myself to the opera or something so that I can fully appreciate the dramatic effect of tossing this baby over my shoulder.

How to read a knitting chart

2010-01-12T09:20:00.000-05:00

When I started the Year of Knitting Dangerously on Ravelry, one of the fears/challenges that immediately cropped up was knitting from a chart. This was a bit of a mystery to me. You just read the chart, knit the stitch and go. What’s so tough about that? Duh, this is just Knitting101, how could you not be able to knit from a chart? Then I cast on 2 projects with charts and realized that if charts were Knitting101, it’s the secret class that no one ever tells you about. Like the Mason’s secret handshake, charts are one aspect of knitting that is never explicitly taught or explained. Chart writers assume you know how to knit from a chart and assume you have a certain level of sill, proficiency and spatial understanding. Knitting fro a chart is exceptionally straight forward, if and only if you take the time to apply the information the chart is providing and is NOT providing.

When I started knitting I was fortunate enough to have a needle craft walking encyclopedia at my side. This woman wrote her thesis on the socio-economic implications of the Bayeux Tapestry for god sakes! And to this day, I’m not above whining “Mommy fix it!” as I toss my botched knitting into her skilled hands. Since not everyone has a Fix-it-Mommy for the knitting woes, herein lines my tutorial on how to read a knitting chart, soon to be followed by how to knit from a knitting chart.

Step 1 – Read the whole pattern.
Pour yourself a tasty beverage and read the entire pattern. The ENTIRE pattern. Don’t even tough your needles net. Some patterns will say something like "Cast on 100 Stitches. Follow chart. Cast off and weave in ends.” Other patterns will have you establish your knitting then use the chart for specified sections only. So you need to know what those specified sections are.

Things to look out for – Does the chart repeat? Does the whole chart repeat? How any times? Do small sections of the chart repeat? Is there knitting to be done (like ribbing, garter stitch boarders) before or after the chart section? Are there any special instructions? Go a head and highlight or underline important instructions in your patter. I don’t mind and I won’t tell if you write in your knitting book.

Step 2 – Familiarize your self with the Key.
All knitting charts will have a legend or key telling you what the marks and squiggles mean. And every chart writer and every pattern company uses a different system (there is some movement in the community to standardize this, but for now, you have to learn a new key with each pattern).

Things to look out for - How is a “knit stitch” represented? A “purl” stitch? Any funky stitches you need to know about like “K2tog” or “ktbl”? Is there an “M1” on the chart? Now check the pattern instruction, how exactly does the writer want you to “make 1 stitch”?

Tricky Tip: Pay particular attention to the symbol for the knit stitch. Since the knit stitch is the most common stitch, it may not have a designated symbol. It may just be represented by a blank square. If it has a symbol, take a quick look at the chart itself. Are there any blank square? If so, don’t panic. You will skip this square, performing no action as if it wasn’t there and go right on to the next stitch as if nothing happened because, well, nothing happened. If there is a decrease in a row without a corresponding increase in that same row, the chart will be short a stitch and the empty box serves as a place holder until the increase is executed.

Step 3 – Get to know the chart.
So now you know what every square is supposed to mean. Now you just have to put it all together. Is every row represented on the chart? Sometimes with lace knitting, only right side rows are represented in the chart. The instructions will tell you “WS, purl all stitches” So now you know all RS rows are on the chart and all WS rows are purled and are NOT on the chart. Is there a section of the chart that repeats? Lace stoles might have a boarder on both sides and a center pattern that is repeated. So now you know what’s a head of you and what stitches you will need to execute, where and how many times. You are almost ready to cast on!

Every story has a beginning

2009-11-03T08:51:00.000-05:00

Last Sunday, our knit group met at Panera's as usual. It was a smaller-than-usual sedate group, but by no means was it less entertaining or inspiring. The smaller the group, the more you can really get your teeth into the meat of the conversation. When the group is big, we get rowdy. Yeah, that's right, knitter's get rowdy. We ended up tossing out ideas for future knitting projects, testing the idea waters as it were, to see if our fledgling projects would float or not. We sparked on, gasp, designing a project from scratch and, double gasp, actually publishing the project. And that's a dangerous idea. I mean, you're like naked, well virtually at least, putting your little baby out to the world for other people to critique and love or hate. Yikes, gives me grey hairs just thinking about it.

And then it hit.

2010 would be our year of knitting dangerously.

A group on Ravelry was created, and the rest, is how they say? History? Only it's not history, it's now, it's here, it's live and in full color.

It's gonna be a wild ride!