Tag: inspiration

My Yarny Knitting Adventure part 3…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin21 Comments

 

  In which wine is not involved!

I have not knitted every day this week; I have done a wee bit though.  Most of my yarn time has been given over to a beautiful crochet baby blanket and to getting the pattern and tutorial ready to go out in a couple of days, which actually has been quite time consuming…

It’s a good job I love to do nothing better! 

But back to knitting…this is what I have completed. 

learning to knit

I have completed 35 rows of stocking stitch. 

Told you it wasn’t much…but this is what I have learned.  Purl stitch is spelt P.U.R.L… not as I had spelt it in my last post! 

 I think I can count the rows better if I look at the purl side.  I also have been keeping track of which row I am leaving my stitches at by emailing myself…you may laugh but it works for me! 

I have also had another little lesson with Mom, no wine involved this time;  in which we discussed and she demonstrated increasing and decreasing and I got a little frustrated…! 

Mom also gave me an old pattern just to look through and get familiar with the terms and just actually reading a knitting pattern…which got me thinking that making these squares is a bit dull. 

Before I knew where I was, it was way past midnight and I had picked out a few easy knit mitts and beanies over on ravelry…this is my favourite just here

Now do you think I should really start something just yet?

 

xxxxx

part 1 of my knitting adventure is just here

 part 2 of my knitting adventure is just here

  

 

 

 

My Yarny Knitting Adventure part 2…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin29 Comments

 

  In which I progress to pearl stitch…

I have knitted religiously every day this week; just a little bit here and there.  I read about the brain having ‘muscle memory’ and the importance of repetition when learning something new.  If only knitting practice or crochet for that matter toned the physical muscles…I would be a goddess by now!

learning to knitSo I have knitted more squares using the ‘knit’ stitch and I have sorted out the wibbly edge.  I am pleased with my tension and I am not getting a random extra stitch anymore.  I can cast on and off all by myself too.  I have learnt that this knit stitch is also called garter stitch and that when the fabric is separated you have an umbrella and a v underneath…but to count the stitches is tricky.  I am doing 40 rows not 20 like I thought! 

This is my weeks work… 

learning to knit

learning to knit On Friday evening  my Mom came round with some more wine…(there is a theme here isn’t there?) and taught me how to pearl. 

Now as far as I can tell this is just backward knit stitch, but I love it.  It gives a flatter fabric which makes my heart flutter a little bit.  I thought I would be able to make squares just from pearl stitches but Mom explained that I could not do this and would need to make squares to practice that were  made up of a row of knit stitch followed by a row of pearl stitch; repeated…also known as ‘stocking stitch’. 

I love that in knitting there is a term like stocking stitch or garter stitch which refers to a pattern repeat…I don’t think crochet does this so well. 

Anyway, this is my first attempt at stocking stitch…can you notice the BIG whoops?  Yes, I lost track of my rows and must have pearled or knitted two rows together and my flatter pearl rows jumped over to the bumpier knit side! learning to knitOh well!  It may have been the wine. 

I still can’t count the rows…it is so difficult to count the rows. 

Any advice gladly welcome?

xxxxx

part 1 of my knitting adventure is just here  

  

 

 

 

My Yarny Knitting Adventure part 1…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin40 Comments

 

I can not knit. 

I have tried before, but it has not ended well.  For a while now I have thought about knitting, but then I would recall my previous attempts and squash any thought I had. 

But, just the other week I spied the most gorgeous pair of fair isle mitts I ever did see and I thought I must learn to knit.  Then I thought of my previous attempts at knitting and instead of squashing that thought…I thought… I SHOULD really learn to knit.   Of course, me being me I have set my heart on fair isle.  I know it is most complicated and tricky, but it is also absolutely beautiful.  And so, here I am documenting  part 1 of my yarny knitting adventure.  

If you have read my previous post you will know that there is still much crochet going on here at the nest too and that will continue as always.

So, yesterday afternoon after Easter Sunday dinner at my parents house, my Mom fetched her hoard of knitting needles and sorted me a pair of 4mm needles…an odd pair, but a pair non the less.

  Mom, then showed me how to cast on and do a knit stitch.  20 stitches per row and set me the task of knitting 20 rows.

I found the knit stitch reassuringly satisfying as the needles made a gentle clicking sound and of course the familiar feel of the yarn in my hands was heart warming.  The 21st stitch that appeared from no where was baffling as was the loopy first stitch in every row.

  I must also stress the responsibility of holding 20 (sometimes 21) stitches on the needle all at the same time instead of the 1 stitch in crochet required much concentration…which after 3 large glasses of wine was a challenge I must confess.    After a good nights sleep I continued  with my task until I noticed something didn’t look quite right, see…

Now, I still am not quite sure what had happened here, but I also couldn’t just leave it.  So I ripped the rows back

recaptured the 20 little stitches and continued until I could count 19 rows and 20 stitches on the needle.  Now I thought do I knit another row to make 20 rows or do the stitches on the needle count as row 20 already???  Cue Mom and another cup of tea and a cast off lesson to!

learning to knit

I am so pleased, but I still have to get this knit stitch nailed. 

I still need to be able to cast on and knit on my own, visually  recognise the stitch so that I can recognise when the stitch is not right.  I need to fix the wibbly edge and cast off on my own too.  So I plan on knitting some more knit stitch squares before progressing to pearling. 

So, I can no longer say I can’t knit, instead I can now say I am learning to knit.

xxxxx

yarn a long March

Yarn a long Sunday #4

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin6 Comments

yarn a long March

Well this is the last yarn a long Sunday in this March series.  It feels like ‘blink and you will have missed it!’ 

Easter has hurtled at us and March is almost through!

Thank you so much for last weeks natter…I loved chatting with you about life’s little motto’s.   I found it quite inspirational and have carried them with me through this week…not always successfully, but I have tried.

If you are not quite sure what I’m on about you can check out last weeks comment thread just here.

You can find week 1’s ‘Why do you craft, crochet, knit?’ yarn a long,  just here

and week 2’s ‘How to fix a crochet blanket’  just here …

just in case you wanted to catch up and of course you can still join in with any of them. 

If you are returning then welcome back…and thank you.

Now, as this is our last yarn a long for now, this week’s topic is

‘Ask me a question…yes you can ask me anything!’

ayarnyrobin

Go on don’t be shy!

xxxxx

 

 

yarn a long March

Yarn a long Sunday #3

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin12 Comments

yarn a long March

Welcome to the third yarn a long Sunday…March is certainly flying by!

Thank you so much for last weeks natter…I really enjoyed your suggestions and helpful thoughts about how to fix my unravelled grannies…I think the general consensus was leave longer tails and weave them in  more thoroughly!!!

If this is your first time here, firstly welcome. 

You can find week 1 yarn a long just here

and last weeks just here

just in case you want to catch up and of course you can still join in with any of them. 

If you are returning then welcome back…and thank you.

Now, this weeks yarn a long is based upon one of my life mottos

 Ray Bradbury Quote

I have loved this quote for a long time; I know some people say to me why would you want to jump out of a window?  Mr. R included…he is not a fan! 

But to me the sentiment behind these words is extremely powerful.  I guess no one would jump out of a window given the choice…well most people wouldn’t. I’m guessing the window is high up…if you have to grow wings on the way down, then there is a bit of a free fall one would assume. 

Jumping out of a window is a last resort, it’s desperate, it’s uncomfortable and frightening and your on your own.  I have found it is in these places in life, in the struggle, in the heartache, in the mess, that you find a strength you did not know you had…your wings if you will. 

For me my faith soars and the thing with wings is… you can fly.  And if you can fly then you can flutter higher than any window you have to jump out of, you can rise and swoop in freedom.  

So, I cling at times to this Ray Bradbury quote and at other times I am motivated by it and occasionally I soar, and often I just seem to flap about like mad!

Do you have any life motto’s  I’d love for you to share in the comments thread below.

xxxxx

 

 

yarn a long March

Yarn a long Sunday #2

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin20 Comments

yarn a long March

Welcome to the second yarn a long Sunday…I hope you have grabbed yourself a coffee or something else to drink.  Last week’s yarn a long was all about why you crochet, knit, craft… and I shared my story of post natal depression. 

Thank you for sharing your stories. I think the two common elements were overwhelmingly how crochet links us with our memories of our older relatives such as grandparents and the importance of passing skills down through the generations.  Secondly, how crochet and creativity links with easing stress and impacts upon our wellbeing.  I also enjoyed exploring new to me blogs too!

If you want to read last weeks thread you can access it just here. 

 

Todays yarn a long is about your help: Just take a look at this

This is my 100patch granny and some of the granny’s have come unravelled…

 x2 questions really…

Why is this happening?

and

How can I fix it? 

It’s making me reluctant to start another modular blanket and I so want to, but I wan’t it to stand the test of time too!

Pearls of wisdom welcome in the comments thread below.

 

xxxxx

#yarnlovechallenge

#yarnlovechallenge February round up

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin4 Comments

February #yarnlovechallenge photos all in one place. 

This was so much fun and a challenge too.

#yarnlovechallenge

days 1 – 4

#yarnlovechallenge

days 5 – 8

#yarnlovechallenge

days 9 – 12

#yarnlovechallenge feb 2018

days 13 -16

#yarnlovechallenge

days 17 – 20

#yarnlovechallenge

days 21 – 24

#yarnlovechallenge

days 25 – 28

I’m going to miss my little daily challenge!

xxxxx

 

 

yarn a long March

Yarn a long Sunday #1

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin26 Comments

yarn a long March

Yay…Welcome to the first yarn a long Sunday…If you have just stumbled here by accident, I do hope you will stay for a while and join in too.  I am  a teensy bit anxious about this to be honest as I have not done anything like this before and I’m worried no one will join in, although I have had some very positive feedback…thank you if that was you…you will know who you are.

The purpose of my yarn a long is to get to know you a little better and you I; and so I am hoping that you will join in with me by commenting in the thread below.  My hope is you will also get to know each other a little better too and discover new blogs and other such yarny lovliness. 

So, shall we begin… Todays yarn a long is: 

‘Why do you craft…crochet…knit? 

Shall I start?

I have wanted to write about this for a while because crochet has become my default…it is almost like my reset button.  I was introduced to crochet a long time ago now; about 8 months after my youngest Robin entered the world and I was suffering with post natal depression.  My Health Visitor was great and along with other structured support suggested I attend a local group of Momma’s that ate cake and drank coffee and crafted…well she had me at cake! 

An elderly lady named Eileen, came along soon after I joined and she taught me how to hold a crochet hook and chain stitches.  There was something very soothing about the rhythm of making those chains and before long Eileen, had me making treble crochet stitches (double crochet stitches if you use American terminology).  Those first stitches were far too tight and I got frustrated easily, but the company was healing and Eileen, was patient and kind and the cake tasted good!  I must have swatched 20 or more uneven little squares before it clicked…I’m a slow learner…but, when it did, click that was, I made a giant granny square blanket for my boys.  We still have that blanket today and do you know I have never taken a photo of it, because it isn’t well hooked or perfect or in great colours… but it is in the colours they chose!  My boys still use it though and who knew that it would lead me on the most wonderful hooky adventure. 

I have taken a photo of that 1st blanket and here is the exclusive just for you… but  don’t look too closely!  

 crochet blanket

That was nearly a decade ago and since then I have immersed myself in learning new stitches… thank you to video tutorials, blogs, books, magazines and good old trial and error.  I have also immersed myself in yarn and lots of it!!

Crochet saved my mental health back then along with some good medical support and the love of an amazing family and crochet continues to soothe me still in the beautiful chaos of life… 

Thanks to a tuned in Health Visitor and Eileen.

‘Why do you craft…crochet…knit?

I’d love it if you would share…

xxxxx

yarnlovechallenge 2018

#yarnlovechallenge days 25-28

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin1 Comment

#yarnlovechallenge... if you’re not following this on Instagram…here are my final four days of prompts.

#yarnlovechallenge

 

Day 25: International…This is my ‘Around the World in 64 Squares’ friendship blanket.  A blanket made from crochet and knit squares sent to me from all around the world.  In return I sent the same amount of squares all around the world as part of a fabulous group on ravelry call The Global Square Exchange.  It was super fun to be a part of and I have a truly unique and international blanket.

Day 26: Embellish…This is my ‘yarny Little Leaf ‘ and one of my favourite embellishments to use.  They are quick and simple to hook and look stunning in Autumn colours too.  Just click on the link for the free pattern and tutorial.

Day 27: Fit …This gorgeous boy got a surprise new winter hat when it became evident that it was not going to fit on my gorgeous husbands gorgeous head! A ‘fit’ fail!

Day 28: Confession…What more an I say

And that is it February #yarnlovechallenge complete…it has been fun…hope you have enjoyed it too.

xxxx

 

yarn a long March

yarn-a-long Sunday…

Published on by Nicola Florence @ ayarnyrobin12 Comments

yarn a long March

I am so enjoying blogging…and more recently getting to know some of you a little better.  It is a side to blogging that I wasn’t expecting at all and it has led me to all kinds of lovely blogs, all of which are unique in their own way even though the shared theme is often the common thread. 

And it is to this end that I  am launching a series in March called

‘yarn-a-long Sunday’. 

A short  interactive post each Sunday through March kicking off on Sunday 04th; asking a question, or seeking  your opinions and advice.    I do hope you will make a cuppa and join in  and have some fun; and then maybe I can get to know you a little bit better too!

xxxxx