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My love of knitting

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I love wool - all kinds of wool. Anything I can use for knitting has a purpose

Come along with me as I take you into my knitting world. Every available space in my home is filled with wool. The craft section of department stores is always my first stop when I go shopping. My husband will tell me that I already have enough wool at home but I reply that I don't have this color or this type of wool.

Whenever a friend of mine has a problem with knitting, she shows up with the pattern, the wool and the needles. I, too, have a mentor - an older lady who is also an avid knitter.

The photo depicts my favorite chair and the balls of wool I have around me.

Sweaters for Christmas

Nikko's sweaterThis time of the year I start knitting sweaters to give as Christmas gifts. My children have come to expect to receive sweaters, hats and mittens in their Christmas packages. They choose specific items that they want knit, especially for the grandchildren. My daughter-in-law finds photos of handknit items online and emails the photos to me with a comment such as "Mia would look so beautiful wearing a sweater like this.

Aran knits are my specialty. I love the challenge of figuring out new pattern stitches and making cables and twists.

This is a photo of the sweater I have completed for my 2-year old grandson.
And there has to be a hat to match, of course. This hat is called a Salt and Pepper hat and is usually done with gray and white speckled wool. Some online patterns call it the Fisherman's Hat. I adapted the pattern to make it smaller.

Links to the free patterns for the projects featured above

Free pattern for Aran knit sweater
Sweater sizes from 2 to 8
Salt and Pepper Hat pattern from Briggs and Little
The pattern is for an adult hat, but by knitting fewer rows you can easily make it smaller.

The ugliest sweater I have ever knit

Dinosaur sweaterMy four-year old grandson loves dinosaurs. He found the photo of this sweater in one of my knitting books and immediately asked me to make it for him in the same colors. The front and back sections of the sweater didn't look too bad at all in forest green with a burgundy trim. The sleeves with their stripes and row of scales were another matter though.

Free patterns I have used from Ravelry.com

Ravelry is one of my favorite knitting sites. The majority of the patterns are free and when you join (which is also free) you have your own library where you can store the patterns that you download.
Coral Reef baby hat
Easy to knit hat for baby
Fair Isle knitting
This Fair Isle hat is very simple
Hat with earflaps
My granddaughter loved this hat
Simple baby sweater
You can knit this in various colors

Knitting for all sizes

Since I now have grandchildren, most of my knitting projects are for children. Over the years, though, I have knit for all sizes and used a wide variety of patterns. My current project is a baby blanket. A friend of mine is soon to become a first time grandmother and this will be the baby shower gift.

They do not know whether the baby will be a boy or girl so I am making blocks of all different colors.

Tips for beginning knitters

Destashing

When knitters say they are destashing, it means that they are going through their supply of wool to use up what they can before they buy more. This is what I am doing and I discovered that I have three large balls of lemon wool. So I am knitting sweaters to sell from my Facebook page. Here is a photo of the first one. It is size 4 and has a patterned yoke.

I do ship all over North America and the shipping costs are extra. This sweater sells for $30.

Traditional Salt and Pepper Hat

This style of hat is known by several different names, but in Newfoundland it is called the Salt and Pepper Hat. This is because it was traditionally knit with pure wool. I have duplicated the traditional look in this hat and even put a penny in the top to serve as the button. I use Briggs and Little pure wool and sell the hats for $20 each. Postage is extra for shipping.

Gracious Squid Angels have blessed this lens

Shawl collar aran knit

I purchased the pattern for this sweater on Ravelry. I am gearing up for the tourist season hoping to sell some of these sweaters. I can also send them by mail, but postage is costly.

I FINALLY MASTERED THE ART OF SOCKS

After many years of drooling over sock patterns and failures, I have finally completed my first pair of handknit socks. And I am quite pleased with the result. I have received requests already to make these to sell, but I have no idea what the proper price should be. What do you think?

Ravelry purchase link

If you would like to buy this pattern, you can do so with this link
Pattern
Aran Shawl Collar Sweater

Crafting

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Knitting books I have purchased from Amazon

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What do you think of my knitting projects?

  • mamabush Jun 2, 2012 @ 11:10 am | delete
    I wish I had more time to knit...it is so relaxing! Your projects are so beautiful! :)
  • Ladymermaid Jun 1, 2012 @ 7:31 pm | delete
    I love your little knitted alligator sweater. I think that it is an adorable handcraft gift for a very special little person. Gorgeous.
  • AngryBaker Jun 1, 2012 @ 5:20 pm | delete
    nice... i'm one of the world's worst knitters ( I can do scarves)...but my mom knits beautifully, and I treasure everything she's knitted for the kids.
  • gottaloveit May 22, 2012 @ 2:01 pm | delete
    Your knitting is gorgeous - even that dinosaur sweater is adorable.
  • Annamadagan May 6, 2012 @ 6:19 pm | delete
    I love your knitting creations! Nice lens. Blessed!
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by

franstan

I am many things - a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher. Most of all I am a woman who loves to knit. I am surrounded by wool, I have a large collectio... more »

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