Skillz

Skill + 1UP – 2KCBWDAY2 
Look back over your last year of projects and compare where you are in terms of skill
 and knowledge of your craft to this time last year.

Upon looking over my completed projects from last year, I began to notice that many of them have been knitted recently as opposed to crocheted. Before then, the only thing I knitted was a cowl for charity. It was my first completed knitted piece. I was proud! But I was also actually quite embarrassed that I gave it away because it is not something I'd wear. 

• Project: Knitted Girls Cowl
•Made for: Local teen shelter, Crochet with Heart Charity 2010

Around the same time, after I was done knitting a scarf for charity, I decided that crocheting was the only fiber craft I could do, and do it well. This was about March of last year. So after that, I kept sticking to crochet patterns. Definitely my comfort zone! 


It wasn't until about May of last year with a failed attempt at crocheting a pair of socks (infamous boyfriend's slipper/socks) that I realized I wanted to try my hand at knitting a pair instead. Everyone in my crafting group will tell ya that I have been talking about knitting a pair of socks for ages now. Even my dear crafty friend Ang got me the From the Toe Up sock knitting book for my birthday! So I picked out some gorgeous Berroco Sox metallic sock yarn, a basic top-down sock pattern from Teach Yourself Visually Sock Knitting by Laura Chau and a set of circular needles. 


With determination, I went to reading the book thoroughly, making sure to not miss any steps. Unfortunately, reading comes easy for me. Actually knitting those words? Um, yeah. Different story. Thankfully a good knitting friend of mine, Jules, was willing and more than happy to help me. After figuring out the K2P2 bit, I was knitting the leg of the sock like a pro! My first hurdle was the heel flap. Easy! Next was the heel turn.


What heel turn? 


Exactly! I will pat myself on the back for at least trying it once though. But no more since I placed said leg/heel flap of sock far away from my sight. I knew that I needed to get more of a grasp on knitting. One of the ways I did this was by joining a dishcloth swap group on ravelry.com. I figured that I could try different knitting stitches and learn many of the techniques besides knit + purl. What better way to practice by making essentially a bunch of squares? 


Obtaining knitting "mojo" didn't happen over night, and I'm not quite where I'd like to be with my knitting skills, but I am happy to say that I have been learning various techniques and that I am actually wanting to knit more!

• Project: I left my cowl in Ed's V
• Pattern: Cowl - My own design
•Yarn: Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock 100% SW Merino
• Color: Edward's Volvo

Have you learned any new techniques or have you branched out of your comfort zone? If you've blogged about, add your info! 


with peace, love, unity, and respect,
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥