I worked on mittens last weekend. Remember that “blue project” that you could see by my chair on Friday’s blog? It turned into this mitten (Flocked Mittens by Adrian Bizilia) and I love it. Since it has floats inside, it is basically double thick. There are directions to knit a lining to cover up all of the floats, but I opted not to do the lining because it’s already so warm and thick. I did see the designer on Ravelry suggest that all mittens should be made larger than necessary and then lined with cashmere, and I thought that was a brilliant idea! At least for those who live in really really cold climates. I knit this with Spud and Chloe Sweater (colors Barn and Waterslide) just because when those two new colors came in a couple of weeks ago, I was instantly smitten.
Being new to colorwork, this isn’t the best looking knitting up close. I’m still working on getting my tension even with two-handed knitting, and feeling like I’m not all thumbs as I go along. The good thing is that I was motivated to jump right into the second mitten immediately, because I want it to be similar looking, before I get much better at colorwork. I have done one single mitt in colorwork before, but that’s it. I keep seeing great colorwork patterns and thinking I want to get better at it, so that I can make some of these up. On this pattern, I love the picot edge and the unique braid around the bottom. Now that I’ve tried it with worsted weight, I think I’m ready for fingering weight and have already pulled 7 colors from The Loopy Ewe Solid Series for my next colorwork project. I’ll keep you posted!
So that leads me to a question. I know that many of us knit for relaxation. Do you also feel a need to push yourself to learn new techniques and try out different kinds of patterns? Or does that take the “relaxation” out of it, and you’re happy with your knitting, just the way it is. I was a pretty single-minded sock knitter for a long time. I think any new techniques I tried were all within the confines of socks. But gradually I branched into mitts, cowls, sweaters, small shawls, and blankets. Now I am curious about colorwork. I still have the no-brainer knitting projects for when I am tired at night and don’t feel like paying too much attention to what I’m doing. But I also like trying something new and moving forward in what I know. (That’s always good for your brain!) So my question – are you happy with what you already know, or are there other techniques or pattern types that you want to try out? Is there something that you know you’d never want to try? For me, I want to get better at colorwork and I want to try incorporating beads into my knitting. What I don’t want to do is to knit with fine laceweight. The projects are beautiful, but I think it’s too fiddly for me. No desire to work with that. And I also don’t want to knit large shawls, simply because I don’t wear them. I love my Girasole, but it sits along the back of one of our couches, for use as a throw. How about you?
Sheri suchawordyposttoday.I’lldomorepictureslesswordsonFriday!
I’m with you– I like to have at least one complex project going and at least one mindless knit going so that I can pick what to work on depending on my mood. I like to challenge myself and really enjoy learning new things. I would love to learn more intricate colorwork some day, but for right now it is waaay too fiddly for me. So unless it involves carrying one color up the side of a project (ala the Noro Stripe Scarf), I don’t even look at multi color projects. One thing that I have no intention of learning, ever, is how to use dpns. Not really a knitting technique, I know.
I’m trying to learn colorwork too. I also have one mindless project at hand, but I just finished one of the born to knit hat patterns, and I didn’t do too badly. Your mitten project (plus that fact that I just lost one mitten) makes me want to try it as well. Good thing you have so many nice patterns and yarn to work with!
For the most part, I’m fairly happy with what I knit: socks, lace, hats and cables. I do want to learn how to knit mittens in the future, though. Solid color is fine with me. The things I don’t care to learn are entrelac and stranded knitting. I leave that to the experts.
Mindless…I definitely like to have one of those projects around to sink into for relaxation, reflection, during conversation, or while enjoying a movie or audio book. However, it is fun to embark on a small challenge to expand skills, or in my case, bring back memories of more prolific knitting years gone by. Currently, predictable geometric colorwork is on my plate. I also forced myself to try toe-up two cable socks this weekend with the result that I’m still a dyed in the wool double-pointer. At this point, anything that requires constantly monitoring a chart does not seem like it would be enjoyable.
I love my go-to projects, but I am always looking to expand my horizons. I have only knit one or two lace items, but have had a shawl pattern and lace yarn picked out for ages. So I started another shawl. I am still shaky when it comes to color work, but there are so many beautiful pieces that I find it hard to resist figuring out how to do Intarsia and Fair Isle! Recently I picked up copies of SnB Superstar Knitting: Go Beyond the Basics and Mastering Color Knitting: Simple Instructions for Stranded, Intarsia, and Double Knitting by Melissa Leapman. I want to make mittens like yours and sweaters! 🙂 But I have to have something mindless to crawl into bed with, otherwise I would never be able to relax!
My New Years Resolution was to learn to knit socks and I’m half way through the second sock of my first pair. The encouragement from other knitters has been great and I can see myself spending the rest of the year knitting socks. I like the knitting process and I’m quite happy doing simple things when I’m tired, but every so often I’ll stretch myself to try new things.
I just knit my first colorwork mitten too. The colors are similar to yours except red is the main color in mine. I am not experienced in colorwork or with reading charts so it was a challenge and very slow going. I am using dpns so I didn’t even try two handed on this project. There were times I wished I had a simple garter stitch project to turn to because sometimes the level of concentration required was too high. I just ordered yarn for a scarf to knit in the round so I can do something mindless while working on the second mitten.
I also have no desire to knit anything in laceweight. I have done simple lace scarves in fingeerling that didn’t require charts. I guess I would like to try knitting a sweater. I have enough yarn for a couple of sweaters in stash but my weight keeps yo yoing so I am worrited about starting a project that won’t fit when it is done.
I used to be happy knitting plain socks in self striping yarns. Then one day, I tried a Cookie pattern. I discovered lace by joining a mystery stole knit a long. Then I tried colourwork. Then I steeked my colourwork.
Sometimes I crave simple knitting for the comfort of it, but I do enjoy challenging myself as well. It’s like turning the lights on and clearing the cobwebs. I still like plain knitting but the fancy stuff is fun, too.
I am always interested in trying out and learning new techniques. Many of them I try once and decide that I don’t like them enough to use them (double knitting, magic loop) but I feel like if I stop learning new things, I am just going to stagnate.
Of course, I almost always keep a boring plain jane sock going at the same time, so that when I have something to knit when I’m somewhere I can’t concentrate, but I love huge challenging projects.
I love the challenge of knitting so I’m often inclined to push myself. Last year it was colourwork with the Ivy League vest. Now I’m tempted to do one of those super fine wedding ring shawls. The only problem is that I don’t know what I’d use it for.
if Life itself is being complex and annoying, mindless knitting is the soother. If all is going well and serenely, a knitting challenge is welcome as a fun ‘learning experience.’ I think for many of us, a mix of the familiar, no-brainer projects and new must-try-now ideas keep us knitting away, lively and happy, and knowing others Speak Our Language (yes Sheri, a large shawl tends to become a sofa decoration, and a perch for cats who love lace!).
I am learning to knit cables which are easy…as I was told. Otherwise, I’m happy with what I know. My knitting time is so limited that I cannot see colorwork in my future. I’m just glad to knit whe nI have time.
The next technique I want to master is twisted-stitch patterns. I love them but the charts can be very intimidating! Will have to find a block of distraction-free time to sit down and wrestle with all the twisty manouvers.
I like to try new and challenging projects. I was 13 years old when I knit my first project – a pullover sweater in shocking pink, which I would have worn to school almost every day if my mom had allowed it. I have knit mittens, but I have a tendency to get bored before I’m done with the second mitten. Socks and scarves are fun. I like colorwork, but find I have to keep a single color project on needles so I can rest with “mindless” knitting.
I mostly knit for relaxation, which is basically every waking moment (yes, even during work hours). There are new techniques that I’d like to learn as well. I started to learn color work in June and maybe someday I’ll pick it up again, but it was anything but relaxing. Right now, I’m on a major sock kick and everything else seems to be pushed aside – at least for now
I like many of the rest of you have several projects on the go. Some mindless for TV watching, meetings etc and some others that represent some challenge. I have tried simple colourwork. In fact back when I didn’t know better my first knit project was an Icelantic style sweater. A friend who showed me how to knit showed me how to carry the colours as well. I subsequently made two more. I am making a scarf with lace weight and have yarn for a lace weight shawl in my stash but those fine yarn projects keep getting bumped by the easier and faster projects. Current thing to learn is cables. Working on my spring challenge hat. Enjoying the cable work and the result
I knit for relaxation. Colorwork is not relaxing to me yet the more complex a lace pattern the better I like it and the more relaxed i get. Go Figure! So I love learning new things in knitting as long as we stick with one yarn……
I usually focus more on the object I want or need to make. I definitely could get better at colorwork, though I find the multiple balls of yarn too fiddly and I want to do a whole project in entrelac. I cast on for a scarf in entrelac and just didn’t like the yarn.
During the school year, it’s definitely relaxation knitting for me. But I try to learn a new technique in the summer when I am not so busy and I want to keep my brain “healthy”. My goal this summer is to knit with beads using “Entomology”…a shawl pattern from Knitty.com summer 2009. I tried to start last summer. I even got most of the beads strung on, but got distracted when school started in the fall. My plan is to start a little earlier this year! 🙂
The relaxing part of knitting for me is that it has a begining-middle-end. With my job and my children, the sense of accomplishment and closure usually involves a great deal of time. Housework and cooking simply have no end. Knitting a sock or a mitten is both tangible and rewarding. I love learning new things. I cannot wrap my mind around giant shawls. I don’t need immediate gratification but I don’t knit fast enough or have enough time to keep a shawl from feeling endless. Bead knitting is fun. Lady Bug Beads (in Webster Groves) has their huge selection of seed beads on 50% off through the end of January.
I definitely want to keep learning new things – I’ve only known how to knit for maybe 4 years, so there’s tons out there I still don’t know how to do. I’d love to learn colorwork and I still haven’t knit myself a sweater. I think I would always need some easy, auto-pilot knitting interspersed with more challenging projects, though. I’ve no desire to learn intarsia and beads don’t really excite me, but you never know……..
Knitting is still a more relaxing activity for me, so I stick with socks, small toys, dishcloths, etc. I don’t have any desire to knit a sweater but someday I’ll dive into a bit of lace. Mittens aren’t all that useful here in the desert, so I haven’t even tried them!
I have other needle-related hobbies that actually take more of my time than knitting (usually). I like projects I can easily pick up/put down as the whim strikes!
I’m on my third and fourth Entralac shawl (the Lady Elenore from “Scarf Style” by Pam Allen), I did a pair of ‘Owl Mittens’ (stranded colorwork) for a friend at Christmas, a couple of sweaters, multiple throws/blankets and purses, too many socks to count (and still doing those!). Love those DPNs for socks, mitts and mittens!
For me, lace is complex enough. I very seldom get thru one complete repeat with no mistakes, especially if someone is talking or the TV is on! Got to have a classical music station on the radio to do lace. My Girasole is still not finished!
I’ve thought A LOT about this over the past two years. I keep wondering why I’m enchanted by fancy projects (cabled scarf, lace shawl) but they just languish, getting started but never finished. Stockinette or garter projects fly off the needles. Why? Why am I a “less adventurous” knitter? I’ve decided that I’m not. Because the past two years, my creativity allowance (so to speak) has been eaten by writing my dissertation. I have a feeling that when I finish, I will be able to knit whatever cables or lace that I want. But until then, I’ve learned to stick to the relaxing stockinette. There’s enough to think about right now. I don’t need more creative outlets to stretch my brain…yet.
For now, I’m lucky to find time to knit no-brainer projects, with working full time. But when I am retired (or semi-retired) I plan to delve face-first into lace knitting. I have done some back when I wasn’t working, but I definitely want to explore that venue further. Alas, after staring at a computer screen all day, my poor eyes just can’t handle the strain of working with that fine yarn. Your new Heritage Silk is feeding my desire to rediscover lace!
I mainly knit for relaxation. I think that is why I have so many WIP’s!! lol But I do like to try new techniques when the mood strikes.
Great question, Sheri! I do knit for relaxation and “therapy,” and sometimes when I can’t figure out a new technique, I yearn for some easy stockinette in a comforting, soft yarn, but I really do love challenging myself with new techniques. As a matter of fact, the Fair Isle in your mittens is one of the next techniques I’d like to try. I’m currently in the midst of my first Intarsia project, an argyle vest for my son, and I have learned SO much. It is really very gratifying.
I have been knitting for many years and have tried just about everything. This past summer I finally tried fine lace. It is now my absolute favorite thing. I thought it looked too hard. I get bored if the project isn’t challenging. Lace is perfect for me.
I LOVE to learn new tricks and techniques! I’ve only been knitting for about 18months so I still have plenty to learn. I’ve tried a couple of lace patterns that were done in a worsted or DK weight yarn and the worked out pretty well. I’m still trying to decide whether I prefer dpns or magic loop for socks. With little boys who like to paw through my knitting bag and play with the colorful yarn, I think I’m sticking with magic loop for now. I cast on my first sweater ever on Monday in a beautiful merino yarn. ( Dream in Color classy in the Some Summer Sky colorway). I can’t wait until I have time to take an entrelac or color work class. I have a book on beaded knitting that I’m not letting myself read until I finish one of the 3 projects I have on the needles now. Like everyone else it seems. I have at least one fairly mindless project for watching TV , riding in the car, or wowing the girls at Bible study and another that I really have to pay attention to the pattern as I work. Strangely enough I tend to find that more relaxing & that’s usually what I do between when the kids go to sleep & when I nod off. 🙂
PS: Yes I have a lot of newbie/ youthful enthusiasm for my knitting!
I am challenging myself to try new things this year. I decided to start on a colorwork mitten, specifcally Bird in Hand by Kate Gilbert. It is not a commuting project and I need to focus on it. It is not a “relaxing” project. It is in a time out but I plan on working on it this weekend. Which brings me to another goal and that is to not let projects linger until I find them month’s later. I have picked up my Monkey Socks that I started two years ago. 🙂 They were a travel project that got cast aside when I got a killer headache and wanted to really enjoy the scenery.
I have too many projects. Even after finishing two long standing projects this month, I have 20 items on my WIP list in Ravelry (which doesn’t include the projects I haven’t bothered to put in there).
I have some double knitting, and I have used beads and fine laceweight in the past (not in the same project). I’m not sure there isn’t anything I am unwilling to try, just things that I don’t feel like I have the mental space to try yet.
I’m doing the KAL with Skacel and was already challenged by the “short row heel” in the first project. It’s not that I couldn’t do it..I was just stuck in my routine of doing “my” heel. So that’s a good way to try new things. Love doing socks but also the fingerless mitts, hats, shawls. One of these days I’d also like to commit a sweater to myself.
I do not knit for relaxation. To me, it is not relaxing. I do it because I find it to be interesting. I want to keep learning more and more. Otherwise, it would become boring and then not interesting.
I totally knit to get my mind off work, it’s my only sanity..although I keep my needles with me and sometimes I want to poke peoples eyes out with them at the office…and I’m with you on laceweight. Ugh. I tried it so many times and frogged it. I didn’t like it, and it didn’t like me. I just listed all my lace yarn on Ravelry in a destash to pay for my wedding. Out of my stash it goes for new yarn to come in!
Since I started knitting, I’ve needed to master new techniques. It’s a sickness. This fall, I tried to learn double knitting with a cowl that had a pretty intricate design. I watched DVDs, UTube, read books, etc. but I couldn’t seem to get the bottom edge clean so that the other color didn’t show. I started over probably a dozen times. The last time I decided to rip it out—I didn’t need to know this technique!!! But ultimately, I decided to table it for a while and plan to go back to it when I’m more patient and can find someone who can help me get it started. I refuse to let the yarn get the best of me!
I want to try it all! I get frustrated because there isn’t time (and money) to try all the new techniques that I would like to try. I am expecially interested in colorwork and have done a little butI’m such a tight knitter that it is hard to get gauge and fit with colorknitting. I also would like to get better at lace and am just dying to try intarsia.
I have been knitting long enough to also begin to see the difference in yarns and would like to learn more about wool etc.
I also like to have a challenging project and an easy-peasy one going at the same time. Last year, I decided I wanted to try a lace weight shawl and a colorwork hat. I found two kits from another on-line store (I promise Sheri, I’ll never do it again!). It took me 4 months to finish the shawl, but I love it! Too bad I never wear it. I like the back of the couch idea! 🙂
I just finished the Fair Isle hat a couple of weeks ago. I get tons of complements. Of course, I look ridiculous in the hat, but it’s beautiful and I can say I MADE IT! Right now, I’m crocheting the Pinata Bag from Interweave. It’s a good one to do while watching TV. When this one is done, I’m tackling Silly Socks on Ravelry. This will be a good use of TLE’s Solid Series! 🙂
I’m with you on the lace weight!! Love the patterns, but will just use larger yarn. Love your mitts.
Like many others, I prefer to have a combination of things going. Something simple for those mindless moments (or when you want to knit and hold a conversation at the same time), and then something challenging as well. I have a very intricate colorwork mitten pattern in line, and I can’t wait to get to it . . . I have to finish a baby blanket first, though. 🙂
I like knowing something really well so when i do a project that is new and taxing to my brain I’ve got fall back projects. I think I’d get bored just doing the same thing all the time.
I love that color combination. My mom has a blanket those colors and I am alway envious.
Well I was totally wrong in what I thought you were knitting. I have yet to do much color work, the only thing so far is a mobiius bowl that will eventually be felted but it has been languishing for years now. I believe I will venture into a serious color work item but when that will be not sure. Knitting with lace yarn might occur before color work but no projects for either at the moment. Right now my focus is to just stay ahead of the rat race which seems to be attacking more than usual.
My first KAL sock with the Trekking yarn is almost finished which is monumental for me as I can work on a pair of socks for years. I love the final product but seem not to finish them in a timely fashion. Maybe this year will be the year I finally do a couple pairs in one year.
There is a time and place for every knitting mood. Movie watching usually requires something easy, a simple top-down sweater in soft merino. However, I find the the mindless projects get boring and sit unfinished for too long. For a very stressful week at work I find that a complicated lace or cable pattern is just the thing to take my mind off problems. The more my mind and hands have to concentrate on my knitting the easier it is to erase the day.
I hope that the day never comes when I don’t want to learn a new technique. Although I’ve been knitting for almost 40 years there are still things I want to learn. Reading and learning help keep the mind young.
I need a challenge and save boring knitting for car trips. I have knitted many beaded projects and for the first time in years I have three projects going without beads. Socks are never going to be beaded for me. I don’t want beads against legs that are already a problem. I’m doing a stranded sock pattern , Anne’s ruana , in reds and browns, and have a Stardust scarf going. I’ve let beaded Christmas scarves get me really behind on socks. I really want smooshy with cashmere but havn’t seen a color that yells mine, I’m
guessing to see and feel them all would yell mine!
I really want to learn new skills but feel as if I will lose the relaxation of my knitting. I also worry I won’t be able to do it. Sheri, I love how as your skills and interests grow, the offerings at The Loopy Ewe grow as well.
I like a little both, some challenging and some mindless depending on where I am and what else is going on. Interestingly, the more I knit lace, the more I find that it can be relatively mindless knitting if the pattern isn’t too complicated. And I had thought I didn’t much like working with laceweight, yet I’ve made two laceweight shawls in the last couple of months and both were fun. And bead, I love beads, but haven’t used any recently. Maybe it is time to do more beading, or learn to cable without a needle. Knitting has become both my relaxation and my challenge, which is great.
Seven colors, huh? Does that mean you’re making the Bandelier socks? I’m doing a pair in Loopy Solids and loving them so far, though I don’t have a full repeat finished yet, to decide whether I picked my colors well or not.
I always want something new. It can be little, like learning how to ssk with the left needle because I’m unhappy with how the normal ssk looks on the particular pattern I’m doing. It’s too easy to get bored if I’m not learning anything (even just how a particular lace pattern plays out, or how a new yarn looks in a textured stitch).
I like to learn new things – the one thing I want to try out next is twined knitting. A skill that will require a move to a colder climate to be truly appreciated. Another knitting goal is to just finish things – get over the dread of sewing up. I knit 10 fair isle hats for a fund raising auction a couple of year ago – nothing like doing something like that to improve the two handed stranding technique. Even though I like challenges – there is alway room for plaing old knit, knit, knit projects.
I have an entrelac scarf, a Wendy’s Pi shawl, a top down wrap sweater, 2 hats and a baby blanket (she’s now about 3) on needles. All were started in order to try one or more new techniques and I will finish all of them – eventually. Some I have liked better than others. I knit for relaxation and try to knit for a while every evening after dinner. I think all of the projects I’m currently working on are stalled because I’ve come to a place that has me stumped.
LOVE those mittens. Personally I knit for relaxation but I love to learn new techniques…always makes it more interesting. I’ll admit I am an A.D.D. knitter…I have several projects going at once. One complex project – Hubby knows not to talk to me when I have it out, one purpose or gift knit – someone’s always having a baby or birthday and one travel project – to have in my purse all the time…like socks!