Social Knitting – Knitting Is So Fun

YOP – Week of June 14 – 20

June 20, 2021 by knittingissofun, posted in Knitting, Knitting Hats, Social Knitting, Sock Knitting, Yarn

I did not get nearly as much knitting done this week as usual. It has been cherry and black raspberry picking time at our house. We got a good crop of cherries this year so I’ve been picking and pitting most everyday this past week. Monday hubby and I will make sour cherry preserves with our harvest. My son has also requested a cherry pie. My husband is an excellent pie baker. My husband makes homemade chambord with the black raspberries although I’d prefer preserves or pie.

Sunday is Father’s Day here in the US and it was our first family gathering since Christmas ’19. It was so nice to spend some time with my husband’s brother and his wife plus some nieces and their hubbies. Plus 2 of our sons.

Sock Knitting – 9″ Circulars

I’m so tickled with the yarn I’m using for my Size 0 – 9″ circular experiment. I just love the vibrant colors. I’m using a pink variegated mini to put a small stripe at the toe and then will use it at the heel and the cuff. I will also be trying an afterthought heel which will be a new technique for me. I did not make much progress on my Size 4 – 9″ circular Fixation socks since they are intended for the flight next week.

Attempt #2 at “German” Hat

I have started a second attempt to copy the hat given to my friend by her cousins in Germany. I think the yarn is not as bulky as her cousins used. It was some acrylic/wool blend that I had leftover from a sweater. I’ve finished the headband portion. Now I’m working on the cable band that gets sewn onto the headband before picking up stitches to make the crown. I’ve already realized that her cousins used slip stitches for the contrast color but oh well. I think this is as close as I’m going to come. I still can’t figure out what stitches they did along the edges of the cable. Again I think it’s some type of slip stitches. When I get this one done I’m going to have to declare close enough. There are too many other things I want to knit beside copying this hat pattern.

Getting Back to “Normal” – Social Knitting

I got to have 2 social knitting sessions this week!! My usual weekly group of knitters has been getting together on Saturdays since May. This week I also got together with a broader group on Friday. That will probably turn into a monthly. It is so nice to share tips and tricks from good podcasts to watch, to how to make an afterthought heel, to getting to use my friend’s really good ball winder to get some skeins ready for projects I’ll be starting in mid-July. I wish the monthly group that would meet at an area microbrewery would restart but I’m not sure they will. I may just have to get together with my friend that was one of the leaders on our own each month. I think I can be talked into that. 🙂

Futball

I really really like soccer!! So much so that my kids and hubby gave me season tickets to our local Major League Soccer team for 2020. We all know how that turned out. So I was able to roll them over into season tickets for this year. I finally got to go to my first game as now there are no restrictions on attendance. It was so fun even though the team lost (we are in last place). It’s a brand new stadium. I go by myself as my hubby’s health issues make it impossible for him to attend. But the people sitting by me were so friendly that it was enjoyable. I appreciate their kindness.

17 Year Cicada Update

I’m happy to report that we are definitely past the peak. It’s almost like a light stitch being turned off. One day they are everywhere and noisy, the next day it just tons of dead bugs and quiet. I so enjoyed getting to hear the birds singing again! The cidadas aren’t completely gone but they are no longer a nuisance. I don’t expect to be living here when they return in 17 years. Heck, I’ll be lucky if I’m still living on this side of the grass in 17 years.

This is a year of projects (YOP) update. YOP is a Ravelry Group – make a plan for the year ahead for all your fiber activities, then update your blog every week. Plans can be calendar year (like mine) or mid-year start (like many). Following the plan is optional and creates some of the fun of posts. YOP is in it’s 10th year although I’m in my first in the group.

Week 9: New Knitting “Toy” and Project Updates

March 7, 2021 by knittingissofun, posted in Knitting, Knitting Plan, Knitting tools, Project Bags, Social Knitting, Sock Knitting, Sweater Knitting

FO??? – Sample Knit Sock

I finished my sample knit sock. Knitting a sample knit wasn’t on my original plan but I was happy to accept the opportunity. I finished the sock in one week which is a first for me. I was monogamous as I wanted to return the sock as soon as possible even though I had till the end of March as my deadline. It was just a plain vanilla pattern so it was easy to knit. But it means I should be able to knit a pair of socks in two weeks instead of the usual month it takes me to get a pair done. Usually I’m also knitting a sweater at the same time I’m knitting the socks so that I can have some variety in my knitting. I’m hoping I’ll get another opportunity to knit more sample socks.

I’m back to knitting on my daughter’s Bisquit top. I weighed how many grams of yarn it takes to make one row (1.5g) to make sure I know how many rows I can make with the yarn I have left. I would prefer to reduce the number of stockinette rows if I need to instead of the bottom lace. I did cast on another pair of Fixation yarn socks. These are not on my 2021 plan but are just to have a small project that I can easily carry with me.

New Project Tote – Clear

I’ve written before how I like to use clear bags for my “projects in waiting” and accessory bags. So I was thinking that I might enjoy having a clear tote to carry around my WIP project(s) and accessory bags when I get together for “knit sessions”. My WIPs are kept in cute fabric project bags. I often carry a sock project and a sweater project when I get together with other knitters so that I can switch projects if I develop a problem or need a simpler project while talking. I have been using quilted totes which I like very much but does lead to “digging around” to find my accessory bag, sock ruler, etc. I’m hoping the clear tote makes it easier to find the item I’m looking for. The clear tote was not expensive so if I don’t end up liking it I didn’t waste much money. Plus I could use it for attending professional sports matches. I have a season ticket to our MLS (soccer) team and clear totes are requested for security reasons.

It was cloudy and cool here in SW Florida today so I got to wear my new “non” shellseeker sweater this evening. I know I’ll have plenty of opportunities to wear it once we get back to Cincinnati in a few weeks. I’m anxious to get back to Cincinnati so I can sign up for the Covid vaccine. I am so looking forward to getting together again with my knitting friends at our local coffee shop once we all have our vaccines.

That’s it for this week. Probably going to be a broken record each week as I focus on getting my daughter’s top finished.

#72 In Person Knitting!!

October 12, 2020October 12, 2020 by knittingissofun, posted in Knitting, Knitting Plan, LYS, Social Knitting, Sock Knitting, Sweater Knitting, Yarn

Well my knitting group finally bit the bullet and met in person after not seeing each other physically for the past 6 months! A LYS offered reserving their very large table area that normally seats 16+ knitters to be reserved for no more than 6 people. So the 5 of us were able to reserve it for our group. While we didn’t hug or even squish each others projects, it was nice to be able to see how beautiful everyone’s project is. The colors and details just don’t come through accurately on the computer.

We showed our appreciation by buying yarn and I bought the Cocoknits Sweater Workshop book and worksheets. I’m a visual learner so creating stitch charts is best for me. The LYS offered 20% off on books so is it my fault I couldn’t resist?? I’m looking forward to reading about the method and then applying it to the various sweater projects in my queue. Of course this week I’ve added 2 more sweaters to my queue for 2021. One will use yarn from my stash but after not finding summer weight yarn I wanted at the LYS, I ordered closeout yarn from WEBS when I came home. I mean really, no one is expected to resist a sweater quantity of yarn for $60 right!?

We capped off the afternoon with a two block walk down the town’s main street to visit a coffee shop for a latte treat. While not sunny, it was warm enough to sit outside so we could maintain safe socializing. Here in Cincinnati it is just about peak autumn leaves color. So a beautiful day both visually and emotionally.

PROJECT UPDATE

Finally!!! I finished the third pair of socks and mailed them off to Boston Friday. I included a note encouraging the recipients to let me know how then fit if they hope to receive a second pair. 🙂

I got a little knitting done on my daughter’s Christmas socks and I finished the sleeves on my Amrum sleeves. I even modified the sleeve a little by adding some of the front pattern to the end of the sleeve. I’m much happier with the sleeves since I tried it on repeatedly to confirm the fit. The sleeves on my sweater I made last winter are WAY too baggy as well as too long. I really should rip them out and reknit them. Being SHORT, I need to accept that patterns are going to have sleeves that are too long and I must plan on fewer rows and quicker decreases than the pattern calls for. I’m confident I can get both the Christmas socks and the sweater done by Thanksgiving. I only need a few more inches on the body of the sweater!! I’m already looking forward to casting on the next sweater!

#55 Zoom Knitting During Quarantine

April 3, 2020April 23, 2020 by knittingissofun, posted in Knitting, Social Knitting

I am so lucky to be living in this digital age during a pandemic. We have basically been semi-quarantined since 3/18. Now the full quarantine starts. Ohio went to full quarantine on 3/22. Florida started today, 4/3. We are lucky to have been in Florida. Even without the full quarantine of Ohio, all activities have been cancelled at the condo clubhouse since March 18. The knitting group still got together on the 19th by the tennis courts but that was the last time for the Huntington Lakes knitting group. The North Naples knitting group I was trying to start had to stop till next year when we come back.

So thank goodness for Zoom, a video conferencing website. My Cincinnati group, JOHNs, started video calls in place of actual meetings on 3/21. Before the Ohio quarantine but some folks no longer felt comfortable meeting in person. My Naples crochet group also decided to try it. In person meetings had been cancelled since 3/17. So had our first video meeting on 3/27.

The Zoom sessions have gone very well. Not as good as actually being together but a pretty good second choice. We can still “show off” our work and catch up with each other. There is no doubt this quarantine is going to be long and boring. It has just been extended into May. I won’t be surprised if it’s extended till June. Being stuck at home with only each other gets boring. So I look forward to my Saturday morning JOHN’s session and my Friday afternoon “crochet” session (I’m the only knitter). I’m thankful that Grocery Girls do a live webcast on Thursday at 1pm. So that’s some knitting time for three of the seven days. I really need something to make one day different from the other and a chance to talk to someone besides Tom!! With the quarantine, time seems to stand still. A week feels like a month. It’s going to be a long month but thank goodness for Zoom!!

#48 Naples Florida Social Knitting

February 5, 2020March 1, 2020 by knittingissofun, posted in Knitting, Naples Knitting, Social Knitting, Vacation knitting

One of the things I really was concerned about snowbirding in Florida was missing my knitting friends back in Cincinnati. I love getting together with them every week. We share pattern ideas, favorite podcasts, fun tools, yarn info, etc.

While I do miss them (thankful for our Facebook group page so I can continue to interact with them), I’m happy to say I have found two groups that I’m participating in here in Naples, Fl. One group meets every other Tuesday literally across the street. This group is crocheters so it doesn’t provide pattern or tool sharing that I like but they are certainly friendly and welcoming so it’s an enjoyable evening. I found them through a Ravelry suggestion to find them on Meetup. There are about 8 ladies every week. They are all locals so I’m a bit of the odd man out as a snowbird but they have been accepting.

I am also attending a weekly open knitting session at the yarn shop in Naples, Castle Creek Fiber Studio. They have two sessions a weekly, one every Wednesday morning and one every Thursday evening. The Wednesday morning session is too big for me. There must have been 40 women there!!! Even last Thursday evening’s group was about 15 so getting a bit large. These groups are much more filled with snowbirds and are all knitters. Again they have been welcoming and I enjoy learning from others about various knitting topics such as knitting “conventions”, tools, and techniques.

The net for me is that I’m willing, and even looking forward to, snowbirding again next winter. I had thought I might fly home the end of January if I was miserable in Naples. January came and went with me staying in Florida. I will be glad to reunite with my Cincinnati friends come mid-March but at least I’m not literally counting down the days like I did last year in Miami.

#35. Weekly Knitting Friends

July 9, 2019March 8, 2020 by knittingissofun, posted in Knitting, LYS, Social Knitting

Maybe it’s a summer thing as roughly this time last year I wrote about being thankful for my LYS supporting a “knitting community”. In addition I’m extremely thankful for the group of friends I’ve made that meet weekly. We meet at the LYS on “odd” Fridays when the LYS hosts an open knitting session. Then we meet at a local coffee shop that has graciously allowed us to be in their “spare” room on “even” Fridays.

Thus we get together weekly to knit and share. It’s through this group that we decided to create a knitting plan for the year to help guide our projects rather than bounce from the latest idea to the next. This helps my need for control. And helps guide yarn purchases. We encourage each other as we try new patterns and techniques. We even have plans to have mini-KALs if 2 or more want to knit the same thing.

We plan the occasional trip such as our girls weekend last December and our trip to the Knitters Pride warehouse sale. We are already planning a trip to the Young’s Dairy Farm Wool Gathering in September. I never took “girls” trips before meeting this group.

This group is a big reason that I struggle with living in Florida for months. I will miss the friendship of our weekly sessions. I appreciate that groups like this can be “time sensitive”. Retirement might bring changes. Employment is definitely bringing change for one. Hopefully she will be able to join us during school breaks (we may have to throw in a Monday session for some holidays).

Last week we had the sad occasion to attend the viewing of a knitters husband who had died in an accident. I know she was surprised but pleased to have her knitting friends recognize her grief.

Living means change so I know to appreciate this group for all the richness it has now. I don’t know what the future will bring but I certainly can be thankful for what this group means time now.