Row Counters, Stich Markers, and Pace Counters

I am really getting into this knitting. I am a little disappointed I put it off for literally decades thinking that crochet was way harder because of the sheer number of stitches to remember. I am thinking now that knitting may be harder because you can make the same patterns but you have to do it in a way that ONLY incorporates two stitches.

I have had my son since last night. He stayed home from school today due to upper GI problems. Beings I am new at knitting and don't think I can yet stop in the middle of a complicated row and be able to pick up where I left off, I spent today making stuff for knitting.

I wanted some stitch markers. I've seen my Mom's and Sister's and, well... they are girly. I wanted something MANLY! My solution was chain mail. (Making chain mail is another one of my hobbies. I used to tease my mom saying she could only knit fibers where I knit steel lol) I have some chrome links from one of my projects, so they are now stitch markers. how much more manly can you get than chromed steel?

I also wanted an easier way of keeping track of my rows. I am terrible with remembering numbers. I remembered the pace counters we used in the army and made me one of those. I added a hundreds grouping onto mine so I can now keep count up to 599 rows. There are instructions all over the web to make it. The first one that pops up on Google is: http://www.instructables.com/id/Army-Ranger-Beads/. I made mine from memory, but glancing at the above listed site, they know what it is, how it is used, and how to make one.

This is what I did today.

Wash's Sweater

One of the groups I belong to at http://www.ravelry.com/ is the Over 40 group. They are a GREAT bunch of people. As I stated in yesterday's blog they have convinced me to give up my beloved crochet (for a time being) and try knitting. Not just any knitting mind you but Aran knitting. That's the stuff with cables all over it. The pattern I have decided on is Wash's Sweater by Don Yarnman. (The pattern can be found here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/washs-sweater) Not only did they have me trade in my small hook for two long sticks but also a thing called a cable holder that looks suspiciously like something I saw once in a lock picking course I had in the army. Here I am trying to juggle all three of the #$% things and trying to remember which piece of yarn goes where. That is when I learned something and decided to keep a chronicle of things learned here.

• I just learned my first "Life Lesson Learned" from knitting. Count your cast on stitches twice, because the first time you count them you could be wrong and not realize it until four PAINFUL rows later, then your dog laughs at you as you cry.
  
  
  
  

Knit Ramble 1

Okay, okay, okay. I give up all ready! lol. My hat is off to all of you who knit. I always thought crochet was harder because there are so many different stitches to remember where you knitters (he says in his snob voice) just have two. Knit and purl. Really? Is that all you guys are bringing to the party? I grabbed some needles, and decided to make a five inch square. HOLY CRAP?!?! How in the !#$% do you people actually make stuff with these things?!?! I know the stitches. Mom watched me the day before yesterday and agreed that I know them. Got news for you Singingfran, I don’t know jack LOL! I’m not sure what I was doing, but after I was .0009% satisfied with my 10 rows of knit I tried to purl. No clue as to what I was doing wrong, but after three rows it looked the same as my knit. As far as I am concerned all of you stick people are geniuses lol. Okay. rant is done. Going to get me another cup of my forbidden coffee and tackle round two.

Yarn it to heck

I have given over my drawing based art for sculpture. Yarn sculpting that is. I have known how to knit and crochet since I was very little. Now that I have crocheted my watch-cap, scarf, and mittens, my online friends at http://www.ravelry.com/ have challenged me to knit something with my Mother (ravelry name: Singingfran) leading the charge with a battle-cry of SWEATER! I can crochet a LOT better than knit, but I like puzzles/challenges so I accepted their challenge.

Here are my finished crocheted items:

Life got away

Life has gotten away from me again. I swore I was going to update this daily. I have been busy working on my hat and scarf. I do have a contribution from my nephew. He made this high contrast self portrait with acrylics. Excellent job, E.C.. Proud of ya.

Done

I scrapped the original idea of blocking out a rectangle and instead heavily modified another pattern I found online for a watch-cap. My hat came out great and most importantly, it covers my ears. The whole reason I made this was because I couldn't find one that would do that.

My Son

The watch-cap is coming along. I scrapped my original idea and am now doing it in the round. Playing with yearn and using a simpilistic stich gives you a lot of time to think. My son is only seven, but here are some truths I would like to teach him before I die.

1. While on a road trip, get the wide mouth Gatorade. You can piss in this and keep on going.


2. On that same token, get a pistol and a cell phone. You will see some crazies on the the road

3. Do not, EVER attempt to rationalize with her. That’s a losing battle

Just apologize, you may never have any idea what she’s pissed about. Don’t worry, you’ll never get it

4. There is NO such thing as “just the tip”

5. It is extremely important you watch your mother while she is cooking. This will ensure you eat right while your friends are eating ramen.

6. Buy the book “100 ways to cook ramen”

7. Jean’s can last weeeeeeks without being washed. But when something says “dry clean only” they’re friggin serious

8. Your car is your best friend. Take care of it

9. Never pass out first. Its okay to get blitzed, we’ve all been there. We’ve all danced to ”I’m every woman” half nekkid on a table top,.

10. Read a friggin book. Women dig it

11. Learn how to decorate your home. A couch and a tv is not decorating. women DEFINITELY do NOT dig it.

12. Listen to her. I mean reeeeeally listen. It may sound mundane, and silly. But the answer to “WTF is her problem?” is in there somewhere. This will save you from it being, “your fault”

13. The perfect spiral is found in the fingertips, look around, move in the pocket. If you see a large man running towards you, move out of large mans path.

14. TP. This is something your you won’t realize till you’re older. This is one of those things that in compromise will bite you in the butt. Literally. Spend the extra cash, it’s worth it.

15. Women notice if you’ve never used your stove.

16. Fill your friggin fridge with real food.