Encyclopedia of Me ~ K is for...

Knitting

Surely you guessed I'd pick Knitting for K, right? I have certainly been enjoying whipping up cute little dishcloths these days! That is, after I had a private knitting lesson recently at On the Lamb to help me once and for all get straight on some basic knitting doctrine...so to speak.

Knowing I needed help, the kids gave me a knitting class for Mother's Day this year. The class was finally scheduled, and I went with my trusty knitting needles and expectations that I would leave there a real knitter after spending 2 1/2 hours with Joe, the owner.

I never knew about the "knitted" cast-on, and I loved how easy it was when he showed me how to get started. I took notes so I wouldn't forget, came home and tried to show the girls while the instructions were fresh in my mind, and I couldn't for the life of me remember how to get it right. Aack!

I think I need to schedule lots of practice time each day to become more familiar with how my fingers should work with the needles. So last week I knitted a simple dishcloth. I need simple, and Chinese Waves fit the bill.

I managed to knit about four inches and was thrilled. Then...hmm... something about those waves looked choppy. I held it up and realized that somehow I must have duplicated one of the four basic rows. Only four simple rows...how could I mess that up? Oh, my!

Okay, let's use some creativity here. Sarah suggested that I keep going and near the end try to duplicate my mistake so the last eight rows would look like my first eight rows...almost like I meant to do it that way. Good idea.

Here's my finished dishcloth...which is a gift for a friend. I'm tying the cloth around a lemony yellow bottle of Joy detergent with a yellow ribbon. Do you think she'll mind my "choppy" version of Chinese Waves? I don't think she will ever realize unless I tell her. And I probably will. Who can keep a good story to themselves?

~Deb

Comments

[Leslie]

Absolutely the best dish towel!!!
I am the blessed recepient of this "original" by Deb! I never noticed the "choppiness." I only saw the love of a friend! When she masters this fine art of knitting, Anna and I will be one of her first students! I plan on making a dish towel just like this one! Love you Deb!

[Cindi]

I would say you didn't mess up, you just invented a new pattern. It looks lovely to me!

[Tammy]

Looks great to me!Better then anything I could ever make.

That is neat that you had private knitting lessons-probably learned more in that 2 1/2 hours then if you had a 6 hour 6 week class with many class members.

[Jenny H]

I think it looks really nice. I can crochet, but I haven't quite gotten the hang of knitting yet.
Knitting classes were a wonderful, creative mother's day present!

[Susan]

I agree with Cindi - you just invented a new pattern! I think it looks great.

I'm back! We got school started last week, so things are starting to settle into a groove and I can take a little time here and there to visit my favorite bloggy friends!

[Courtney, Jer.33:3]

Good job!! Knitting is something I haven't really worked on or rather, done. :s

[Jodi]

Deb ~ I love this pattern. (fyi ~ I linked to your post.) :o) I've started knitting this pattern in a self-striping cotton. My Brittany has plans on using your pattern, and now my mom wants it. Thank you for sharing. And, by the way, I think your finished project looks *wonderful* and your *are* a real knitter! :o)

[Janet]

I just found your blog and love it. I live in Newport News for 1 more week then I am moving to Eastern Kentucky just over the border of VA and TN. I'll be living in a small community called Krypton with my grandmother who is 93 years old. Have you ever heard of MaryJanesFarm.org -- you may like that web site too and of course Makeminepink.com