Monday, July 14, 2008

Sunday Market Shawl and Windmill

I had to do a quick gratifying project as a reward for finishing the Seraphim Shawl. So I cast on for the Sunday Market Shawl in my favorite colors. Yes, it's acrylic, but it's pretty. I need to wash and try to block it. but it turned out lovely. This wrap is perfect for the cooler summer evenings. It's light and airy..I love this pattern.

011

Here's a close up of the drop stitches:

010

It looks like a clap,  maybe? The pattern is super simple, just do a k2, yo on the first row, stockinette the rest, and then drop the yo's on the last row. It took my about 5 days to complete, and I used a whole skein of yarn. It's long enough, and wide enough.

005 This is the windmill dishcloth. Another round cloth with very cool ends. A little lacy, but not too lacy. I really like the pattern, though it got to be a bit tedious. It turned out large on size 6 needles. Next time, I will use 5's or smaller.  The sew-funky website has lots of cool round cloth patterns, so if you go and check this one out, take a peek at her other designs.

I was thinking about why I knit. Why I find so much satisfaction in the creating of things by my own hands. Stuff I may or may not use, stuff to give away, stuff to be enjoyed. So why do I do it? Sometimes I find it relaxing. Sometimes it's a chore. Like when I have to finish something I really don't want to. Like when a pattern gets tedious row after row of the same thing. But I have stuck to it. I may have frogged those designs that I found incredibly boring, but I still knit. Even when it is a chore.

One thing I have learned is that this is a hobby that I have continued to do. I have tried other things before. I had a quick stint as a scrapbook-er. I think I have a box full of scissors, templates, card stock, etc. Maybe it would have been a good idea to have a camera with actual pictures to scrap book. Oh well. I've tried journaling. I've tried blogging. Nothing seems to stick. I get bored, the materials get shoved into storage, and I'm left with nothing to do.

When my 3rd kid was about 1.5, I was pregnant with #4. I looked into cloth diapering for economic reasons. And I came across knitted wool soakers. I wanted to make my own, but did not know how to knit. And learning at that time was not an option. Just the directions alone seemed daunting. Then, 2 years later, in the library at the video section, I see several DVD's about knitting.  So I checked them out, went out and bought a size 10 needle and some Red Heart, and learned. I joined some dishcloth groups and then I became hooked.

So what has made me stay with this, a year and a half later? I still don't know. Knitting was the reason I started this blog, and this also has stuck. I have tried to keep other blogs about family, life, etc. But they have all gone to the wayside. But this one is still here.

I love to knit and crochet. I love the satisfaction of a FO coming off the needles. I love giving away my FO's, and getting some  in return. I love looking at yarn, feeling it. I love looking at all the materials. All the different types of needles out there. It boggles the mind. I wish I would have started way back when I was looking at wool soakers.

I have also discovered the generosity of knitters. It's crazy. Mostly, they want to help and have an encouraging word. If you ask a question in any group, be prepared to get lots of answers!!

The knitting community rocks!!

Don't know where that came from, but it's been a feeling I've been wanting to express for some time now. It's funny looking back and seeing my progress, where I came from and how I got here.

On a lighter, non- crafting note:

013

This is what my sky looks like today. Isn't it gorgeous? I think I'll take the boys to the park and let them enjoy it as well.

Lastly, we have a family or five of squirrels living near or around our house. Here's one, acting like a statue.

012

He kept that pose for a few minutes. Guess he's not camera shy!  Have  a great day. I hope  your sky looks like mine!

2 comments:

Aunt Kathy said...

Anita

I agree 100%. Knitting is just life, even when it's a chore. I too love finishing something and knowing I did it, or I designed it. It's just very rewarding and humbling.

I have your package ready to mail, it will probably go out on Wednesday.

Daisymum said...

It sounds like you have a busy life how do you manage to find anytime to knit? Your shawl is very pretty. Happy knitting.