Kay's Korner - A Knitters Notes

It has been said that some knitters are knitters with a capital "K". As for myself, I am clearly a ?dyed in the wool? knitter - knitting reaches all the way down to my core. Without my knitting, there would be a void in my life and there is a good chance that I would develop a nervous tic. With every stitch, it calms me, inspires me, and connects me to others who also love this craft.

Are you a dyed in the wool knitter? Ponder these thoughts. If you can relate to even one of these scenarios, there is a very good chance that you, too, are a dyed in the wool knitter!

You know you are a dyed in the wool knitter when...
1)...you spend your anniversary at your local yarn shop's knit night
2)...knitting is more important than sleep
3)...you finish someone else's project for them
4)...you ask for yarn for your birthday and Christmas
5)...you pack more yarn than clothes for vacation
6)...your stash exceeds your life expectancy
7)...you only knit with Addi Turbos
8)...your pet's sweater is knit from his own hair
9)...you skip a car payment to take classes at Stitches
10)...?beg? doesn't mean freeloading and ?stock? isn't soup base
11)...you use your kitchen more for dyeing than cooking
12)...net bags aren't for washing lingerie
13)...every gift you give requires a yarn purchase
14)...you can tell it's acrylic by touch
15)...you know how to spit join and it doesn't seem gross, because it's just
plain magic
16)...you're on Ravelry more than Facebook
17)...you teach your boyfriend/husband to knit
18)...your closet has more yarn than shoes
19)...holding baby alpaca causes you to sigh
20)...you take your vacation during SAFF, so you can see the llamas both
judged and sheared
21)...the alarm is set so you can get up early to knit
22)...your socks are all hand knit
23)...your significant other's socks are all hand knit
24)...your cat's toys are hand knit
25)...?cozy? doesn't mean comfortable
26)...the only time your bed is made is when you need to block a project
27)...there are more knitting needles in your home than spoons
28)...?blocking? doesn't mean forgetting a traumatic event
29)...your blog gets over 2,000 hits
30)...you will rip more than half of what you have knit to fix an error
31)...you can fix an error WITHOUT ripping half of what you have knit
32)...you tweak all your patterns for a better fit, even if they don't really
need it
33)...you can see a pattern is wrong before casting on
34)...you often check your mail for the latest issue of your Vogue Knitting
subscription
35)...your pattern is published by someone other than you
36)...you have a knitting scrapbook, but no family photo album
37)...you bought a computer just so you can download patterns
38)...the folks at your local yarn shop know you by name

So, are you a dyed in the wool knitter? If so, congratulations!

Copyright 2010
Kay Mather

All it takes is a few snowflakes and I am enamored.  These icy, cold days are just the thing needed to get me motivated for knitting pieces of yarnie warmth.  Snuggly scarves, cuddly cowls, and warm, wooly socks have been the favorite projects at Rare Purls so far this month.  Whether you choose a pattern from the many books and leaflets available, peruse the designs on Ravelry.com (join now, to be ready for winter knit alongs!), or surf the many yarn company websites for their latest offerings, you are sure to find plenty of inspiration for your next cold weather project.  Who can resist the warm hug of a bulky wrap or cowl?  Or maybe a fashion forward, super bulky, hand knit hat is your ticket to hours of happy knitting.  This chilly weather is calling us and we all know how to answer that call - cast on some wooly warmth.  So grab your needles and pick a pattern, and start knitting up a winter storm!

One of my favorites this season is the super bulky capelet.  Most of the luxury yarn companies have come out with uber super bulky yarns and accompanying patterns for super fast results.  If you would like to design your own, t's easy!  Just grab a #11 - 15 US circular needle and cast on with a super chunky yarn to knit a tube.  With the measurement from around both shoulders (mine are 48 inches) and the gauge from a super quick swatch, do the math and pick your stitch pattern.  Ribbed patterns and cables work best with this design, as they have natural elasticity.  Remember, when working with large gauge yarns, elaborate stitch patterns with long repeats are more difficult to plug into your size, so keep it simple.  Also, although I am always into generously sized accessories, preferring wider scarves and longer wraps, a capelet knit too long can impede arm movement.  A capelet that fits from the top of the shoulder to the elbow is the largest you will need.  If more warmth or a longer look is desired, choose a full sized cape pattern that incorporates either arm slits or low armholes to accommodate partial movement of the upper limbs.  For some examples of beautiful full sized capes, go to the free pattern section of VogueKnitting.com.  

Happy Knitting!

On Kay's Needles
The quick and easy success offered by bulky yarns had my needles flying last week.  My Snowboard Hat took one hank and one night.  Earflap hats look great on guys and dolls, so make an extra for those last minute gifts.  

The combination of a bulky alpaca/silk blend and an easy one row repeat pattern had me obsessively knitting this great scarf until it reached over 80 inches long.  But, oh, is it snuggly!

The project with the best reviews is Circular Shrug, a free pattern on Ravelry.  This has to be the easiest sweater ever!