Monthly Archives: March 2016

Fighting Stereotypes

Posted in Knitting by

Today,  I was playing Old Maid with my students and I ended up with the “Old Maid” card. There are several issues with this picture.  Number one I hate that the knitting needles are facing the wrong way. Get it together cartoonist! The needle ends face downward…duh! Secondly, this image  continues to perpetuate the stereotype that all knitters are elderly and women. Why is it when most people think of knitting they picture their grandmother or some other elderly woman sitting in a rocking chair slowly generating items such as afghans and/or mittens? 

 So who should we picture when we think of knitters? My answer: Think of anyone. That is right any human. Knitting is a universal activity. As long as you can hold up two sticks and swing that yarn you are a knitter. 

    
   

As I write these words I know that I am preaching to the choir. We knitters know that the stereotypes are untrue. I mean look at me. I am a 30 year old African American woman who enjoys knitting while drinking cocktails. I have been known to take my knitting anywhere from the beach to the Inca Trail. Knitting is my love and I don’t care who knows (haha).IMG_3091[1]So how can we change stereotypes? Knit, knit, knit! Knit in public, knit with others, and share your talent. We are a unique community and we need to represent! #goknitting

Zip It

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Well I took this: 

 And made it into this: 

I am so happy with the result! The yarn is a wool blend that I bought in a yarn shop in Spain over 10 years ago. If I recollect correctly I think I bought a kilo of yarn. 😳  Since it was so long ago I don’t have the yarn details for you. However, the texture is very soft and cuddly. 

To make the pouch, I casted on 50 stitches and knitted in stockinette for about 10 inches. I used the crochet method to apply the beads. The beads are placed every 5 stitches on the front side only. This morning I purchased a zipper and sewed it on using some durable fabric thread. The edges were a little tricky, but strategically placed pins kept me on track. 

1 pouch done and 9 more to go!

Knits In Action: Day 4

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Knitting with beads is always fun. They are a great addition to accessories such as headbands or shawls. Today I wore my Headband/Wrap Bracelet, which is a free pattern of my creation.  I used the stringing method to add the beads, which calls for you to string all the beads on the yarn prior to knitting.

Coffee is a must in the morning!

 

Coloring my St. Patrick’s Day page

This week I have been making some small pouches for all my bridesmaids using beads. The pouches will be part of their welcome gifts. Inside I will be placing small beauty products such as lip balm and eye shadow. Here is what I have so far:

I am planning on sewing the seams and attaching a zipper to the top. I made the choice to use the crochet hook method when adding the beads. I think I like this method a little better. Less initial work.

I have 6 more pouches to go. Thank goodness I started early as I am very likely to get distracted by other lovely crafting projects. 107 days till the big day 👰🏾!

Knits in Action: Day 2

Posted in Getting Crafty, Knitting by
per·se·ver·ance ˌ/pərsəˈvirəns/
noun
steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success
Today I wore my Fair Isle Cardigan designed by Debbie Bliss. I made this cardigan ages ago when I was still a novice knitter. It was actually my first dabble with Fair Isle technique on a large scale. I remember seeing the pattern in Vogue Knitting and I was immediately attracted to it. I loved the deep V neckline, the variety of colors, and the great silhouette. I was excited and not afraid of the challenge ahead.
Little did I know how involved it would be. I was working in the times before I really knew about YouTube and Ravelry so I had to read, read, read.  I really didn’t know much about working with multiple colors nor did I know about how to adjust tension when doing colorwork. It was slow and arduous at times, but I wanted a finished sweater.  Well 4 months later I did it. I had finished all of the 5 pieces and was ready to seam them together. I reached my the point of victory. I made a Fair Isle sweater!

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My Cardigan at Knitting Group

 I’ll admit it this sweater has flaws, yet conversely it is one of my prized possessions. It is an example of how diligence and perseverance can lead to some seriously positive results. Working through this pattern made me realize that no knitting project is scary. One has to prepare and be ready to wade through the sticky situations. You never know, you might end up with something that really is quite stunning.