Webigail

It’s been quite some time since I knitted socks. I thought, after spending several months knitting,
or better yet, bitching, over the long-suffering afghan, I’d knit something quick-n-easy.

So, I started the first sock, got to the gusset and realized that I was rapidly running out of yarn.

r-i-p

No problem, this time, I’m going to knit both socks together. After fussing with the cast-on,
ensuring that I had the right needles to start and joined the second sock properly, I realized that the socks
did not match.

Why, oh WHY did I decide that I was going to tackle two firsts at the same time?!

Laboring over the cast-on, was not my only problem. After completing 10 rounds of ribbing on both socks,
I soon realized that my stripes were not matching. This was the first time that I was using self striping.
I thought that I started each sock in the same place, but it turned out that I started on blue, for both socks, but the patterns were in reverse. Oh joy.

r-i-p

I guess the third time really is a charm, because this time I got the cast-on taken care of relatively quickly AND I managed to get the stripe patterns to line up, all while not getting my balls tangled up. No pun intended.

It should be easy sailing until I get to the heel flap.

Tune in later, to see if I run into problems.

I don’t know why, but I have been putting off lacing.
I’ve done socks, sweaters, hats, even an afghan, but no lace…

That is until recently. I needed an excuse to try lace, so used
Christmas as the perfect reason. I whipped up two lace scarves
for my rascal’s preschool teachers.

I don’t think I’ll be able to go back to stockinette.

*Sigh*
Where do I begin?

The store is officially open tomorrow, Friday, November 16th. However, I had the good fortune of being invited to a private screening. This is not going to be good. Not good at all.

From the moment you walk in, there’s a sense of “let me take a load off.” I do not take kindly to the yarn snobs, who rather than share the art of knitting, want to make it an exclusive, elite little club. Knitting is something that can be enjoyed alone and definitely is best alone, if working on a complicated pattern, but the bonding that takes place when knitters sit around, helping each other, admiring each other’s work…well, that is not limited to a select few. Any and everyone, who enjoys knitting, should feel welcomed, particularly when they enter a YARN SHOP! But, I’ve digressed.

So, back to the store…well, after you get over the inviting ambiance, you are engulfed in color. Hues seem to leap out at you from the four walls. Reds, greens and greens (soy, organic, etc.), blues, variegated, lace weights, worsted weights, sock weights, you name it.

The store is incredibly organized, down to the books - Which I could not resist. Since I stocked up on my “practice” stash from a local craft store, I decided to use up most of what I have, but I purchased three books: Knit One, Felt Too, One-Skein Wonders, and Felted Knits. I also purchased some delicious lace-weight Malabrigo, which is my current favorite yarn indulgence. I selected a hank in a red, spicy color - Vermillion, to make knitted flowers to decorate my first lace project.

Natural Stitches had every color of Cascade 220 you can ask for…and I mean that literally. They have, what is being called the “Rainbow Wall” lined with every, single, luscious color that Cascade makes. WARNING - Bring a non knitter with you when you visit that section, as it’s easy to succumb to the intrinsic magic that permeates from that area. In fact, had my rascal not been with me, screaming in the background, I fear that I may have been sucked up by that Rainbow Wall, never to be seen again.

Oh, did I mention that the prices are GREAT?!!! If I didn’t…the prices are GREAT!!!

Natural Stitches is a knitter’s heaven. You have needles, including the beloved Denise Interchangeables available for purchase, along with many other needles, such as Addi Turbo and I also saw some needles that I doubt I would ever be able to handle in size #32!! And, men are welcomed. There will be a knitting group for the fellas.

Natural Stitches is destined to become a hub for knitters in Pittsburgh.
If you stop in, tell them Webigail sent ya!

The Village of East Side
6401 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Phone: (412) 441-4410

Ok, it’s not my birthday, birthday, but rather my knitting birthday.

I took my first knitting class with Carla K, on Sunday, November 19th, 2006.
It was the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Ironically, I initially registered for a crochet class, but taught myself in the week prior to the class.
So, on the day of the class, I asked if would be possible to learn to knit instead. As luck would have it,
I was the only student scheduled and Carla had no problem teaching me to knit.

It’s been love, ever since. I haven’t stopped knitting since then.

Within the first week of taking the class I had already knitted two hats (in the round).
By the beginning of the second week, I purchased my first set of interchangeables (Denise).
I am now a die-hard Knit Picks Options fan, cannot use resin, but I have fond memories
of my first needle set.

I soon found myself registered for several additional classes with Carla:

• Sweater
• Socks
• Pinwheel

I had tackled the most challenging projects (for me) within the first 3 months of learning to knit and I find that each new project builds my confidence and shows improvement.

I’ve even tackled lace *sigh*

I don’t know why, but for some reason, I was seriously daunted by lace.

And my library, my how it’s grown!

I own the first two editions of Barbara Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns, Knitting on the Edge, Knitting Flowers, and more.

I have knitted with, lace weight, sock weight, fingering weight, worsted weight, chunky weight and novelty yarns. I’ve even knitted with two colors simultaneously.

Do I love knitting as much as I did from day one? Absolutely!
What haven’t I tried yet? I haven’t knitted mittens or gloves yet, but they’re coming soon.
What do I like most about knitting? I have always enjoyed working with my hands, and revel in giving hand-made gifts. This is the first Christmas that I can give gifts to friends and family that have a very personal touch. I pick patterns for each person that I think reflect their personality. For instance, one of my son’s teachers has a bubbly personality. For her scarf, I picked a bobble pattern. For another person, I picked a lacey, leaf pattern, because they remind me of all things beautiful and natural.

Learning to knit…what a great gift to me!

What exciting holiday news. Natural Stitches will be opening very soon, perhaps in the next week or so.
I’ll be going to the private “yarn party.”
I’m going to try NOT to buy anything else, as I am overloaded on yarns already, but I doubt I’ll be able to resist LOL.