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GFTC
Permanent Resident
USA
6331 Posts |
 Posted - 03/04/2008 : 06:21:31 AM
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My secret is that if stitch markers became illegal I would stop knitting.
Stitch markers are my friends roadmarkers for any kind of pattern other than straight garter stitch, no wait, I needed them for the garter stitch Baby Surprise Jacket.
And your secret is.......
GFTC of NYC
www.flickr.com/photos/gftc_knits/
click here for free sock pattern |
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Atavistic
Permanent Resident
6604 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 06:30:38 AM
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I found knitting mostly uninteresting after moving here.
Hand and foot when harmonized forms martialism/but Military and literary when harmonized is art and this brings/philosophy. (Lee, Chang Hoo) |
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cozystitches
Gabber Extraordinaire
507 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 07:17:15 AM
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I love to work on "easy" things. Or at least easy to me. I have no problem designing (and making) a sock yarn sweater for me working from the top down. But doing a complicated lace or cable pattern, nope...lol
Hugs,
tammy
Tammy my Blog http://cozystitches.wordpress.com/
http://www.cozystitches.com |
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achrisvet
Permanent Resident
USA
5986 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 07:21:12 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Atavistic
I found knitting mostly uninteresting after moving here.
Hand and foot when harmonized forms martialism/but Military and literary when harmonized is art and this brings/philosophy. (Lee, Chang Hoo)
Really? Why is that? Are the LYS not inspiring? Too far away from your stash back home?
Anita
My completed projects
and here
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Atavistic
Permanent Resident
6604 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 07:26:14 AM
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quote:
[i]Originally posted by achrisvet[/i
Really? Why is that? Are the LYS not inspiring? Too far away from your stash back home?
Anita
My completed projects
and here
Yarn does not impress me here, but more than that I think the taekwondo, learning a new language, learning a new culture, getting fired (and man, did that take some work!), getting evicted, going to court, my mom and stepdad coming for a visit, multiple black belt tests, finally landing a good job, dealing with men and love, getting back into SLR photography, traveling abroad, making good friendships...
Hand and foot when harmonized forms martialism/but Military and literary when harmonized is art and this brings/philosophy. (Lee, Chang Hoo) |
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Sara Sue
Permanent Resident
USA
1083 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 07:41:19 AM
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Lifelines ---- LIFELINES--------L*I*F*E*L*I*N*E*S!!!!. One of the first things I taught my friend when I was teaching her to knit. It meant I did a lot less knitting repairing her work because she was "too stressed to learn how". Her husband has terminal cancer and I'm letting her coast on this one because knitting has been a tremendous help for her during this time and I'll continue making her repairs for now. Besides, it has been good for me too because I've learned a huge amount about how to fix it. Eventually, I'm going to make her learn to do it herself. When she calls, I answer my phone "Knitting Repair, Inc." She is not amused. LOL.
Don't worry about the world ending today - it's already tomorrow in Australia. (Unk.) |
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PBELKNAP
Permanent Resident
USA
1127 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 07:46:01 AM
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Let's see...my knitting secret is that I ABHOR knitting back and forth. I much prefer knitting things that have to be done in the round. For some reason, I love the continuous rhythm of just going and going...I hate the business of stopping and turning the work around -- sort of like the old days when you had to push the typewriter roller back at the end of a row (I'm dating myself here).
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PAM
WIP = Afghan (crochet), Knit Your Bit Scarf for the WWII Museum (knit - charity), Scrap Sweater (knit)
Done this year = Scrap Scarf (knit), Gloves (knit), Mittens (knit), Afghan (crochet)
If I could only do this for a living... |
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Lanea
Permanent Resident
USA
5158 Posts |
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Jane
SustaYning Member
USA
4293 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 08:09:27 AM
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I love casting on. I love the way the stitches look all in a row, and I love knowing that I am about to embark on a new adventure!
Jane
Blog: Not Plain Jane
Photos: My Flickr Album
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fmarrs
Guardian angel
USA
9776 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 08:24:59 AM
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I guess I would say that my knitting secret is to stop taking shortcuts. Do all the work and you will be happier with your results. Take the time to get measurements and don't guess or take someone's word for it. Most people have no idea what their bust measurement it, just what they want it to be. If in doubt check their weight on their driver's licenses.
Do those gauge swatches.
Test knit complicated patterns.
The truth is that doing all the steps is the shortest way to a satisfactory job.
fran
http://martianmischief.blogspot.com/ |
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AngieSue
Permanent Resident
USA
1606 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 08:32:08 AM
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Don't laugh at me...knitting throught the back loop will align a stitch incorrectly mounted on the needle. Took me a long time to figure that one out.
I like knitting with single-ply. I love the feel of the yarn slipping through my fingers. I love anyting angora, even if it sheds and gets in my eyes.
Angie
My pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26414328@N00/
My blog: http://zippyzinnia.blogspot.com |
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blwinteler
Permanent Resident
USA
3145 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 09:55:56 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by fmarrs
I guess I would say that my knitting secret is to stop taking shortcuts. Do all the work and you will be happier with your results. Take the time to get measurements and don't guess or take someone's word for it. Most people have no idea what their bust measurement it, just what they want it to be. If in doubt check their weight on their driver's licenses.
Do those gauge swatches.
Test knit complicated patterns.
The truth is that doing all the steps is the shortest way to a satisfactory job.
fran
http://martianmischief.blogspot.com/
Hahaha. I work at Curves, so I am very aware of that. I actually know my bust measurement, and my waist, abdomen, hips, thighs, and arms. I am probably one of only a few overweight women who is honest on her driver's license, simply 'cause I am proud of the weight I have lost. Also, people refuse to believe I weigh as much as I do. It amuses and flatters me.
Anyway, my knitting secret? I think I may be a bit OCD. I have never counted before, but have recently (like, in the last couple months) started doing the math on how many pattern repeats I have for what I am making, then how many rows that makes, and then how many stitches. Even though thousands of stitches should sound daunting, it seems to help me get my projects done when I know just how much is left. My current project is Palindrome. I want the scarf to be 5 feet long. I figured out a repeat of the cable pattern is about an inch. I have 20 done, so 40 to go. That is 240 rows, or 9600 stitches, left on the scarf. I guess it also helps sharpen my mind to do math like that when I am doing something I enjoy. Normally I don't like math.
Take care!
Brandy
My finished projects
[img]http://members.cox.net/blwinteler/th_TeamVegas2.jpg[/img]
Not all Dumbs are Blonde.
[img]http://www.survivor-online.co.uk/images/pots/pot003.gif[/img] |
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tink_r_bell
Chatty Knitter
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 10:07:30 AM
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My little secret is that I HATE[:-P] to swatch. i usually just wing it, then frog if I have to. I knit pretty consistently to gauge so I let the swatching slide. Some day that is going to bite me somewhere! Oh well, I'll just continue to live in utopia, where yarn and patterns do not need time outs (2 at the moment!).
Steph ;-}
To err is human, just try not to over do it. |
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aprilshowers
Chatty Knitter
295 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 10:23:05 AM
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My secret is that I get so much joy out of removing the yarn from my stash spreadsheet at the end of a project and seeing that "total yardage" go down that sometimes I rush to finish up a project just so I can get to the computer and update my data. I know, I am a total dork.
My other secret is that I think most hand-dyed yarns are prettier in the skein than knit up (and downright ugly wound into a yarn cake).
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Photos: http://flickr.com/photos/7419094@N02/sets/72157600168327475/
Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/aprilshowers |
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purlthis
Permanent Resident
USA
2715 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 10:24:44 AM
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My OCD kicks in too, Brandy. I have to calculate how many stitches are in each project. I don't do it with sweaters as much, but anything that is easily calculated, blankets, socks, hats, scarves, etc. I calculate! I think it's why I work in accounting...
Rachel
------------------------------------------------------
As I get older, I prefer to knit. Tracey Ullman
http://purledthis.blogspot.com/ UPDATED! WITH PICS! |
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abt1950
Permanent Resident
3019 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 11:40:53 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by aprilshowers
My secret is that I get so much joy out of removing the yarn from my stash spreadsheet at the end of a project and seeing that "total yardage" go down that sometimes I rush to finish up a project just so I can get to the computer and update my data. I know, I am a total dork.
My other secret is that I think most hand-dyed yarns are prettier in the skein than knit up (and downright ugly wound into a yarn cake).
________________________________________________
Photos: http://flickr.com/photos/7419094@N02/sets/72157600168327475/
Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/aprilshowers
My secrets too, except that I get more pleasure out of updating my WIPS and FOs lists than my stash spreadsheet. There is something intoxicating about moving a WIP to a FO list and filing all the appropriate materials in a folder in my projects book.
Another secret---I loathe seed, moss, and any other stitch based on k1 p1. I make an exception for short lengths of ribbing.
Anne in NJ
Knit long and prosper |
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2totangle
Permanent Resident
1212 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 12:01:26 PM
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My secret is that even though I swatch every time, I often find that my gauge on the actual project is different from the swatch. Somehow, I usually manage to maintain consistent gauge within a project (and frog ruthlessly if my gauge is off), and my FOs fit. But for some reason, swatching only gets me in the ballpark as to needle size. Go figger. [**]
Suzanne
A few pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/2totangle/ |
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PBELKNAP
Permanent Resident
USA
1127 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 12:02:27 PM
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You people have STASH SPREADSHEETS??? I have three plastic bins under the beds at home, where I rummage around when I need yarn. I sort of have an idea of what's in each bin, but I don't have an exact list <LOL>.
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PAM
WIP = Afghan (crochet), Knit Your Bit Scarf for the WWII Museum (knit - charity), Scrap Sweater (knit)
Done this year = Scrap Scarf (knit), Gloves (knit), Mittens (knit), Afghan (crochet)
If I could only do this for a living... |
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MindyO
Permanent Resident
USA
2493 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 1:26:41 PM
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I only swatch about 2" wide and just long enough to measure guage width wise. I never measure length because I just stop when it's done right? Then I frog the swatch, and use that to start my project.
I also won't seam unless I absolutely have to! I'll kitchener before I sew a seam. I will try to adapt any pieced pattern to be one continuous piece, if I can't, I probably won't knit it. |
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ceecee
Permanent Resident
1896 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 1:29:36 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by PBELKNAP
You people have STASH SPREADSHEETS??? I have three plastic bins under the beds at home, where I rummage around when I need yarn. I sort of have an idea of what's in each bin, but I don't have an exact list <LOL>.
Ah, Pam, I think that when your stash can still fit under the beds, you probably don't need a spreadsheet. I don't do spread spreadsheets or consistently document my knitting. That could count as one of my knitting secrets (see, like yarn, you can't have enough for just one project). I'm proud to say I use markers liberally on my lace projects (it drives me bonkers when other knitters tell lace newbies that they don't use them because they are a nuisance). I use the time I save from not updating sprreadsheets to swatching and blocking for lace shawls and scarves where the prevailing belief is that "gauge isn't important". |
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Bethany
Permanent Resident
USA
1546 Posts |
Posted - 03/04/2008 : 2:14:20 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by 2totangle
My secret is that even though I swatch every time, I often find that my gauge on the actual project is different from the swatch. Somehow, I usually manage to maintain consistent gauge within a project (and frog ruthlessly if my gauge is off), and my FOs fit. But for some reason, swatching only gets me in the ballpark as to needle size. Go figger.
The same thing is true for me, except for the part about it being my secret. I complain about it volubly to my knitting group every time it happens -- it's probably the least secret thing about my knitting. :-)
My secret, such as it is: I spend a lot more time reading about knitting, looking at pictures of FOs, thinking about stuff I'd like to knit, feeling like I ought to knit but don't really feel like it, or thinking that I WILL knit just as soon as I finish chore X (then procrastinating chore X by surfing the Internet)... then I spend actually knitting.
The rate at which I produce FOs is a testimony to this. :-) |
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Those Little Knitting Secrets
