Today I finished a secret project that I'll be giving to its recipient on Saturday. Actually, I'll be giving a handful of recent secret projects, so I'll finally be able to share some details. (And photos. I need to take photos before I wrap them.)
On the non-secret project front, I ran into a snag on Multnomah. I was nearing the end of the garter stitch portion, but when I took a count, the numbers didn't match up on either side of the "spine"-- and neither count was correct. (I'm not sure what I did wrong...)
I contemplated ripping back several rows, putting the stitches back on the needles, and counting... but that was so nerve-wracking and irritating (not to mention time-consuming) that I finally decided to just rip it all the way back and start from scratch. I'm glad I did. I'm over halfway through the garter stitch section again. If I get to the end and it's wrong again (and I can't easily fix or fudge it), I think I'll ditch this pattern and try something else. (Even though the garter stitch section is incredibly simple. Doesn't get much easier than that...)
While looking around at crochet photos online (more on that later), I came across a meme called "30 Days of Knitting". It's from 2010, so I'm late to the party, but I like memes, and I hardly ever see knitting- or crochet-themed memes, so I couldn't resist. I'll be answering one knitting question a day (or at least that's the plan). I may change some of the questions to be about crochet (since I haven't been knitting for long), or maybe I'll answer each for both knitting and crochet (when applicable). Any one else want to join in? ;o)
Day 1: What was your first finished project?
Knitting:
That would by my lovely "Knitted (Even if it KILLS Me) Dishrag". (g) It was really just a wobbly rectangle of garter stitch, and it's pretty ugly-- but it was knitted! By hand! By me! It's still in the drawer with my other dishcloths and crocheted scrubbers. I haven't used it much, but I'm sure I will, eventually. Even though there's obviously still a lot of room for improvement in my knitting skills, it's encouraging to compare that first project with the things I'm able to knit now. I've learned a fair bit and gained a lot of knitting confidence in the past several months.
Crochet:
If you don't count loose granny squares as finished objects (and I don't), then I think my first finished crochet project was a Luna Lovegood scarf. I've progressed a lot since that project (if I do say so myself). One side was/is slightly bigger than the other because my gauge changed somewhere along the way.
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On the non-secret project front, I ran into a snag on Multnomah. I was nearing the end of the garter stitch portion, but when I took a count, the numbers didn't match up on either side of the "spine"-- and neither count was correct. (I'm not sure what I did wrong...)
I contemplated ripping back several rows, putting the stitches back on the needles, and counting... but that was so nerve-wracking and irritating (not to mention time-consuming) that I finally decided to just rip it all the way back and start from scratch. I'm glad I did. I'm over halfway through the garter stitch section again. If I get to the end and it's wrong again (and I can't easily fix or fudge it), I think I'll ditch this pattern and try something else. (Even though the garter stitch section is incredibly simple. Doesn't get much easier than that...)
- - - - - - -
While looking around at crochet photos online (more on that later), I came across a meme called "30 Days of Knitting". It's from 2010, so I'm late to the party, but I like memes, and I hardly ever see knitting- or crochet-themed memes, so I couldn't resist. I'll be answering one knitting question a day (or at least that's the plan). I may change some of the questions to be about crochet (since I haven't been knitting for long), or maybe I'll answer each for both knitting and crochet (when applicable). Any one else want to join in? ;o)
Day 1: What was your first finished project?
Knitting:
That would by my lovely "Knitted (Even if it KILLS Me) Dishrag". (g) It was really just a wobbly rectangle of garter stitch, and it's pretty ugly-- but it was knitted! By hand! By me! It's still in the drawer with my other dishcloths and crocheted scrubbers. I haven't used it much, but I'm sure I will, eventually. Even though there's obviously still a lot of room for improvement in my knitting skills, it's encouraging to compare that first project with the things I'm able to knit now. I've learned a fair bit and gained a lot of knitting confidence in the past several months.
Crochet:
If you don't count loose granny squares as finished objects (and I don't), then I think my first finished crochet project was a Luna Lovegood scarf. I've progressed a lot since that project (if I do say so myself). One side was/is slightly bigger than the other because my gauge changed somewhere along the way.
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So, what was I looking for when I stumbled upon the knitting meme? That would be photos of afghans that use a lot of different novelty yarns in combination with plain worsted weight acrylic. I was sure I'd seen some before, but so far, I'm not having much luck...
I started trying to re-tame my crafting space (making room so my husband can use part of the room, too) and was reminded of how much novelty yarn I have-- all bought before I really learned how to crochet. I really don't enjoy crocheting with it at all. I can use it with a knitting loom fine, which leads me to suspect that knitting with it (so long as it's straightforward knitting) would be okay, too-- but I don't need any more fuzzy scarves, and neither does anyone in my family, as far as I know. (g) (In fact, I could stand to unravel a few of the ones I made on the knitting loom! Too many fuzzy scarves!)
Anyway... I guess I need to look at the washing instructions before I start scheming too hard. I think most of what I have would be okay in the washer/dryer if I use the cold&gentle/low heat settings, especially if they're crocheted together with a strand of regular worsted (which must add some strength and "structural integrity" to the afghan overall). I just want to get some use out of it-- something that will use it up faster than the occasional fluffy amigurumi.
...Come to think of it, I did have vague plans to use a "flower maker" loom to make some of it into flowers that I would then join into an airy scarf... Hm. I might have to give that a try-- but I'm still on the look-out for cute crocheted afghans that combine novelty yarn with smooth worsted weight. Any suggestions?