Stripes and Garter Stitch

My mom and cousin visited us the other weekend (it was Family Day weekend too...how fitting!).  My cousin brought a toque that I made for him for Christmas.  I think I did a pretty good job at guessing the size.

I also surprised my mom with a simple cowl that I knit up with some scrap yarn. I tried to take some photos...she was a little camera shy, though...

So some of my friends have communicated to me that they have only mastered one kind of stitch for knitting: the knit stitch.  Well, guess what....for now, that is all you need!

FYI:  The pattern created by simply repeating rows of the knit stitch is called "garter stitch."  The very first scarf that I made was in garter stitch.  And even once you pass the "beginner" stage in knitting, there is nothing wrong with going back to the good old garter stitch!

One particularly inspiring garter stitch project is Blue Striped Scarf by Tanis from Tanis Fiber Arts.  I have obtained her permission to share her beautiful scarf with you.

Despite the simplicity of the garter stitch technique that this scarf was knit with, this scarf looks absolutely fantastic!  (Equally fantastic is her blog and hand-dyed yarn store!!)

I know that a couple of my readers are beginner knitters, so I wanted to show you that you can have confidence in your ability to create something that looks amazing (and super pro!) with the one stitch that you have mastered and a splash of colour!!  =)


happy knitting!
janet b.

{preview}

Just a little something in seed stitch and cozy chunky love that I am whipping up for a friend's birthday!

Knitting isn't the only thing I love...

mmm, roses....happy valentine's day!

Cabled Slouch

It's finished!

I was a slacker and didn't write down my pattern.  But that is okay, because there are some modifications that I want to make before I share what I did.   Here are some photos that we took yesterday...

Also, I would like to mention that I wrote this post from my brand new MacBook Pro that was a Valentine's Day gift from Glen...no big deal...just sayin'...!

Why my hobby is the best: Reason #1

It is a great way to pass the time while waiting in a hospital.

We were away at an indoor soccer tournament this past weekend. During last night's evening game, one of the girls on our team had a random allergic reaction so the ambulance took her to the hospital to treat the anaphylaxis. Glen and I followed her to the hospital and waited around to see if she was stabilized. While we were in the waiting room, I overheard a conversation where someone said, "I wonder that people did in hospitals before cellphones came around."

I just so happened to have a project with me, so I pulled it out of my bag and began to knit. I also pretended to be oblivious to the chatter across the room about how brilliant it was to knit at the hospital!

And that is why my hobby rocks.

Selfish Knitting

Just over one month ago, I was busy busy busy with knitting Christmas gifts for my family.  While knitting for others is a lot of good fun, I have no shame in admitting that I very much enjoy knitting for myself.  As part of my Christmas present, Glen bought be a new white jacket.  So, of course, I had to knit a new scarf to complete the outfit!

This was a pretty quick knit.  I used almost two skeins of Bernat Roving in the colour Low Tide.  I purchased it at Michael's on Boxing Day, so cheap yarn + 40% off sale = one happy knitter.  I knit it in the round using seed stitch, so that was a nice brainless project.  Next time I am in the city, I hope that I will remember to buy more of this yarn.  The soft and pale green is really growing on me.


My green cowl reminds me of the Marian Cowl.  I knit it for a friend last year.  But the resemblance is mostly because they are both in seed stitch.  The Marian Cowl actually has an internal twist in it.  Sort of like a Mobius strip, but not quite. For the Marian Cowl, I used the same yarn as the designer:  Twinkle Handknits Soft Chunky in French Grey.

Coming Soon:  I have been working on a rose-coloured cabled slouchy toque.  And I even used real yarn this time....Debbie Bliss.  I purchased it in Vancouver at Urban Yarns last spring and it is about time that I used it!