A secondary goal I’ve set for NaKniSweMo, besides completing a sweater, is to actually knit every single day in November, even if it’s only a round or two. I think I can do it! 4 years ago

I’ve joined a knitting group in the next town over. They meet once a week. I think I’m really going to enjoy meeting with them! 4 years ago

I got in about an hour on Thursday evening, and then spent all of my potential knitting time on Friday reading an Elizabeth Zimmermann book. I think that’s okay. 4 years ago

I made time to knit on both Friday and Saturday evenings this weekend, and I’m determined to keep it up. Even if it’s only an hour a night, I still think I’d really benefit from making a specific effort to take that time for myself. 4 years ago

I make it through another lace repeat on my socks tonight. I thought I’d do more, but I have a headache that’s making it really hard to focus. 4 years ago

It is amazing how much time I spend waiting. Waiting for my son, waiting for my parents, etc. I have been bringing my current knitting project along in my pocketbook, and if I knit while I am waiting, I don’t get so impatient about the wait, and all this found knitting time adds up. 5 years ago

November of 2005 i took up this hobby to give myself a challenge and keep me busy when i use to run this business…the business often had slow days, so i’d knit in between customers to help the day pass along…i bought books on knitting and was self taught and i really loved it! but as the year passed, talks of selling the business were in effect and afterwards, i took on a new job which then in turn took most of time, along with a 2nd job and i found i was knitting less and less :(

well, one day a couple of weeks ago, i wanted to buy my kitties a canister of cat nip and those cat toys you can refill with cap nip but each toy was well over 5-10 bucks! eep! i thought to myself…hell! i can knit some kitty toys for cheaper since i have a whole buncha yarn i bought and never used…so i was set on making some toys to fill with cap nip and they can destroy…i made my first one about a week ago…it’s a magenta mouse :DDD 5 years ago

yay so i got this beautiful yarn…red, soft…and i started knitting with it a few days ago. last night I knit for a bit before i went to bed. it was calming. I should do that more often. Maybe i’ll sleep better. just a little bit every night, or every few nights…or maybe just friday night. its enough to keep me sane, and knitting… 6 years ago

I was knitting a lot on my recent 14-hour trip to AZ. I thought I’d be better at it, but I’m just not. I think knitting is not for me. I’m okay with that. 7 years ago

and i’ve been knitting a lot lately. so i’ve done it. iv’e made 4 scarves and am currently working on another. i also completed a hat for a friend that didn’t fit right.
now that i’ve been knitting a lot more often i wish i could knit something for myself to wear. i make stuff all the time and never keep them. it feels good to give them away but sometimes i wish i could relish my accomplisments. good shit. 7 years ago

1. Multi-task: This is how I get almost all my knitting done. I never used to be a big multitasker (outside of the computer), but now whenever I’m listening to the radio, watching a movie, or reading the newspaper I pull out my knitting and do a few rows. There are obvious appropriate and inappropriate times to multitask. If you’re arguing with your husband or boyfriend it’s probably best not to turn the heel on that sock.
2. Make Small Goals: I’ve gotten this one from “Getting Things Done”, I ask myself what is my next action for my knitting. It might be to work 10 rows straight stocking-stitch, or just one really tricky row with lots of yarn overs. As long as it’s a small goal you’re more likely to accomplish it. Soon these little actions will add up and you’ll find you’ve finished the last sleeve on the sweater. If you find a bit particularly hard or boring reward yourself with a treat to keep you motivated.
3. Don’t Stretch Yourself Too Thin: I mean, don’t give into “casting-on syndrome”. Everyone loves getting new yarn, touching it, feeling it, finding a pattern to fit it, and of course casting on. It often times can spark new life into your knitting hobby, but you forget that this project you’re casting on is just like all of those 5-20 other projects you have lying around when they first started. I don’t mean to say only have one project at a time, having a few can often break up a bit of the monotony, but try and remember that the feeling of finishing a project is often times more gratifying than starting.
4. Seaming as a Meditation: I know a lot of knitters who hate seaming. Me, I love it. I take my time when seaming, concentrating to get it all just right, taking a minute to look at the seam and marvel that I’m making a few carpets of yarn into something I can wear/use. Mattress stitch is your friend. Don’t rush the seaming! Make yourself a tea, sit in a very comfy chair with good lighting, and take it one stitch at a time.
5. Knit with Other People: Knitting with a buddy or with a group can often times be enough motivation. Not only do you get a few uninterrupted hours of knitting but you get a certain pride when showing people your progress, people who really know what kind of work went into it. If you’re stuck on a particularly difficult bit someone in your group is likely to be able to help. You’ll get plenty of “ooh”ing and “ahh”ing when you finish your project.
6. Remember Why you Knit: Most of us these days don’t knit purely to clothe ourselves and our young’ens. Most of us knit because we enjoy, we think it’s fun. Try and keep this fun in your knitting life, don’t drag yourself down with negative ideas: “I HAVE to finish this for Christmas”, “I could never knit this”, “This is so boring!”. If you’re thinking this, take a little break, look at the pattern that you were drooling over a few months ago, just sit and feel the yarn again, don’t make knitting a chore. If you can keep it fun for yourself you’ll make more time to do it. 7 years ago

Finished the front/back of Audrey at the Stitch ‘n’ Bitch meeting. I’ve memorised the majority of the pattern now so the other half should go very quickly. 8 years ago

So there was a bit of a disaster with Audrey. When nearly done with the back I realised that I was going to overshoot the length before I finished my increases. I decided to check my gauge again on my bamboo addis and it turned out to be a couple of stitches off on my row gauge and a stitch off on my width. Horrificly I’ve had to rip out and start again. Swatching a few times on plastic 5mm and then on 4.5 I’m beginning again with a grain of salt. I’d prefer if this jumper was slightly too small than too big with the ribbing. The thing keeping me interested in this jumper is that it’s gorgeous, I love the yarn the colour and the speed. Let’s hope mark III goes better. 8 years ago

I think I have found a new love and something that may break me out of this yarn diet, organic cotton yarn. Ecoknits makes such lovely looking yarn in deliciously natural colours I can’t help but want to buy a bushel for the warm season. I found an international ebayer willing to ship to the UK. The warm cinnamon colour would look every-so-good in Knittys’ I Do. 8 years ago

I’ve had some lovely chocolate coloured Rowan calmer sitting in my stash bin for a few months and will finally get it on the needles for Audrey from Rowan 35. I attempted it once before but had some gauge problems and disliked the feel of the yarn against plastic needles. Now I’m prepared with perfect gauge and addi turbos so I’ll be casting on for the smallest size tonight. 8 years ago

• Audrey (Row 35)
• Peppermint Twist (S’n’B)
• Summery tank top
• Clapotis (Knitty)

Today I’ll cast on for Audrey, since I half-knit her before the progress should be quick. 8 years ago