I’m responding to Kathy’s challenge and posting what I consider to be 10 knitterly things you don’t know about me.
1. I’m afraid of cables. I’ve done some very basic cabling, like the Adrian’s Irish Hiking Scarf, and Amy Boogie’s Hat Trifecta but other than that? Nope, no cables in my knitting past. I’m skeered of the cables, I’ll tell ya plain.
2. I don’t know how to fix knitting mistakes. It’s true. I’ve tried to drop down and fix mistakes and it always results in disaster. So, if I find a mistake, it’s tinking for me.
3. And yet, despite number 2, I’ve never used a lifeline when knitting lace.
3. It’s certainly well known that I love to knit socks. But perhaps you don’t know that I always knit socks top down with a traditional heel flap and round toe. I have no interest in short row heels and short row toes or toe up socks. I’m happy with the way I’m doing things in the sock department.
5. I cast on weird. Or I used to cast on weird before I learned the cable cast on. No matter how many times I try to do the long tail cast on as described, I just keep getting it backwards. So, I don’t use the long tail cast on anymore.
6. I’m a thrower. You probably know this. But what you might not know is that I can knit continental. The problem is, I can’t purl continental. So, I just keep throwing.
7. I am left handed. My nana tried to teach me to knit when I was young and she assumed I would knit left handed so she had me sit across from her while I learned. It didn’t take. When I finally learned to knit as an adult, I realized that I knit right handed. Geez, no wonder my nana couldn’t teach me.
8. I keep my knitting “to do” list on my Palm. I’m actually a little obsessed about this task list and I’m constantly re-organizing and re-prioritizing the list of things I plan to knit. When I start a project I add a note to the task list telling me when I started. I go back and add a second line to the note when the project is finished. I’m not ashamed to admit that I get a little thrill when I cross off a finished project.
9. I sometimes worry that I don’t push myself enough. I knit lots of socks and lots of shawls because they’re easy for me. I think that maybe I should be knitting harder projects. Like things with cables.
10. I never leave the house without my knitting. Never, ever, ever.
So that’s my list. Are you surprised by any of it? Or did you really already know all of these things about me?
Actually I’m shocked, shocked!! Cables? Cables are easy peasy. My second knitting project was all cables. If you’ve done a basic cable you’ve done it all! I’ll teach you long tail at Rhinebeck.
You can absolutely do cables! I’m a top down/heel flap girl too.
Ouch….I’m right there with you on numbers 2 and 3. I can fix simple mistakes, but anything complicated, it’s tinking away for me too.
Cables really are easy, you can do it “-). Try a sock pattern with cables.
I have a to-do list for quilting, but not for knitting, glad to see I’m not the only listmaker around 🙂
I do the Palm thing as well. I have projects planned out well into next year! Of course, I regard it all as very fluid, but it helps me remember how much stash I have and what I can do with it and what I wanted to knit before I saw that new issue of IK ;>
I knew about the cables (and you can totally do them if you tried, they *are* easy peasy as all the previous commenters say). I’m in the exact same boat as you with #2 and 3 – I’m hopless at fixing things once they’re past (except for the stunt I pulled on the Moth, but that was sheer desperation) and I end up tinking forever too.
I am surprised by the cable thing, they are so simple. My second project was cables. I am with you on the sock. I keep trying toe up, but I prefer the heel flap.
My two most common mistakes: dropping purl stitches and doing something funky so I end up with what I think is kind of a half dropped stitch or a half knit stitch or something. I end up with a secure stitch that won’t run but it’s sideways and not fully connected. I’m slowly making progress on picking up those dang dropped purls, but that sideways stitch – yikes!
Carole! You’re fabulous! I got the Annie’s Mac & Cheese when I got home from work yesterday and I insisted that we have some for dinner. I LOVE it! C is still out with the jury, but even if he never wants to eat it again, I’ll be making it to take with me for lunches 🙂
And now that I see it’s all-organic, then I think it might be available at Wild Oats (a Whole Foods type store). I’ll check that out.
Thanks so much!!!
I’m a leftie too! And I knit right handed. And I use rightie scissors too.
I wish I was close enough to teach you the continental purl – I too am a continental knitter. The best thing I ever learned from Annie Modesitt was that it doesn’t really matter how you knit as long as it comes out in a way that you like – ’nuff said. I think your list is great; cable aren’t really as hard as you think but you know if you are enjoying your knitting isn’t that the most important thing? Knitting is supposed to be relaxing….I think!
I am surprised! I am surprised that you’re scared of ANYTHING! If your goal is to see me spinning at Rhinebeck, then mine is to see you cabling — possibly even without a cable needle! It’s not scary at all! ; )
Always illuminating. It’s always interesting what foibles and idiosyncracies we carry around in our knitting lives.
You can spend your life never doing cables (love em) or toe up socks (never tried em), but you will make your knitting life SO much better by learning fixes. With someone next to you, preferably.
I am surprised about the cables as well. You’ve done ’em, though, so it’s not that you can’t do ’em. I think it’s like knitting a small lace scarf and being intimidated by a lace shawl. It’s just a matter of scale. But, as long as you’re having fun knitting, knit what you want. 🙂
I’m left-handed but I knit right-handed, too. And like Cheryl, use rightie scissors.
Cables are way easy – but if you have trouble with them that’s okay, it just takes practice. Practice enough and before you know it you’re cabling sans needle ;o) (the Bayerische socks I’m working on have yet to see a cable needle – yeah, I’m proud of that *g*)
I have the same issue with Continental purling – I can do it but it slows me down so much that I just keep throwing…
Scared? Of cables? How can anyone be scared of cables? And, you said yourself that you use the cable cast-on . . .
These are so fun! But I can’t believe you can knit amazing lace and little old cables scare you.
I used to not fix my mistakes. I’d have my mother do it. Now that I figured out how I don’t mind. It’s a worthwhile skill to learn.
i can’t believe you’re afraid of cables. cables are fun. are you afraid of putting stitches on another needle? maybe you don’t have the right cable needle.
how about this. i make the wing of the moth and you make something with lots of cable goodness.
I am surprised and a little scared.
I don’t think knitting has to challenge you as long as you’re enjoying yourself and what you make. There’s no quarterly test or forced Show&Tell, ya know.
Knit whatever you want, regardless of the challenge, but if you want to knit cables, knit cables! It’s just rearranging the order of sts.
Such an insightful list. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with knitting lots of shawls and socks, if that’s what you enjoy. I love socks and mittens. And hats. And socks. I think it’s cool you never leave the house without your knitting. Ever. 😉
Considering #2, I’m pretty shocked about #3! And I’ll knit lace over cables anyday, maybe it’s not a fear but a preference :).
If I didn’t use a lifeline in my shawls…I wouldn’t have any shawls. lol
I never, ever leave the house without my knitting either.
I don’t know how to fix mistakes either or at least not well and I don’t do the whole life line thing either. I like to live on the edge!
You know how I am about sweaters, so I totally sympathize with 1 and 9 — but Margene is right, cables are easy. The only sweater I ever finished, early in my knitting career, had cables in it, and intarsia ones to boot.
I’ll teach you mistake-fixing at Rhinebeck, unless 17 other people beat me to it. I am in awe of people who take 10 sts 40 rows down to fix a cable, but adding a yo, or changing a stitch mount? Piece o’ cake.
I’m not gonna try to change your sock habits, though. I’ll go toe up, you go cuff down, we’ll both end up with socks.
“I never leave the house without my knitting. Never, ever, ever.”
wow, really? I take some with me most of the time, but never? wow!
I am totally with you on #8. Mostly because if I didn’t do that, I would never be able to keep track of it for my blog! LOL! 🙂
You have to try cables! Do what scares you! Come on, you know you want to!
from one thrower to another, I salute you! No lifeline on those lace shawls?? whoa. you definately are NOT a coward.
cables are not as bad as they seem – but I don’t do them on socks. Too many needles to mess with.
Do you go to the Creative Stitch in Cohasset? That’s where I learned to cable. Kristin is a really good teacher. And Maggies Cookies are right next door. 🙂
I think sometimes knitting can stay in the comfort zone. It’s what we need at that moment. It’s not bad to NOT challenge yourself all the time.
Just my 2 cents. No change allowed!
xo
No, no, it was most informative! I wouldn’t have guessed about the cables. Purling the regular continental way is miserable. Norwegian purling is much better, although I still need to work on my tension with it.
Thanks for the info, Carole.
Cables are easy peasy. You can do them! They only LOOK complicated! Try the Irish Hiking Scarf.
I’m left handed too. I knit (and purl)Continental. I think right handed people make it too hard when they’re trying to teach left handed people.
Enjoy the weekend!
I remember talking about that left-hand thing, as I am left-handed too, and knit right handed… whatever works! Same with casting on; there are lots of ways to do it, and you can pick the ones that work. Cables are pretty much featured this season, just sayin’, and you might even get brave enough to try a sweater with them, once Margene gives you some pointers! We knitters are such enablers.
I remember talking about that left-hand thing, as I am left-handed too, and knit right handed… whatever works! Same with casting on; there are lots of ways to do it, and you can pick the ones that work. Cables are pretty much featured this season, just sayin’, and you might even get brave enough to try a sweater with them, once Margene gives you some pointers! We knitters are such enablers.
I remember talking about that left-hand thing, as I am left-handed too, and knit right handed… whatever works! Same with casting on; there are lots of ways to do it, and you can pick the ones that work. Cables are pretty much featured this season, just sayin’, and you might even get brave enough to try a sweater with them, once Margene gives you some pointers! We knitters are such enablers.
If you can knit those gorgeous lacy shawls, you can most certainly knit cables. Honestly, I think cables look far more complicated than they actually are. I agree that a cabled sock pattern may be the remedy to cure the fear of cables. Besides, if you have any trouble, you already know that there are many, many knitters who read your blog that would be willing to help!
#8 is something I keep saying I’m gonna do (not on my palm though, since I only have the ones on the insides of my hands). I keep my list in my head and therefore, I keep forgetting things!
I like socks top down, heel flap style as well.
I am a bit surprised by the cable-fear. I used to be afraid of cables until I took a class to do a Fisherman’s sweater. OH MY GAWD – they are so easy (it’s the bobbles that suck!)
I’m surprised about the cables. You are a far superior knitter than me, but I love cables. Mostly because they are easy and fun, but they look so fancy and complicated! I agree with trying them on socks, there is a great pattern in a back issue of IK, but I wouldn’t try them for your first cables because everything is so small, and sometimes the other needles can get in the way a bit if you use DPNs.
I knew one or two of those things, but that’s a good list. I would have showed you how to purl continental if you’d told me. I’m a list girl too – there is such satisfaction in the whole crossing something off the list (it really does my anal little heart good).
They look so cool. (Okay. So I have a one-track mind right now.)
Okay Carole, I don’t read comments often, so I don’t know how much of this is repeat. Except Margene. I’m right with her. First, when you do a longtail cast on with your left hand holding the yarn and the needle in your right hand, the wrong side of the work will face you on your first row. There is a way to do it so that the first row is a right side row AND-this is the best part, the part I love about knitting-when you are casting on to rib you can alternate them so you have smooth under the knits and little bumps under the purls. So.Cool! Anyway-Rhinebeck-between Margene and me…….
I have two left-handed daughters and I have taught them both to knit continental.
I make a LOT of mistakes. That is how I learned to fix them. Takes practice and that is a good reason to swatch. They make great practice pads.
And cables? Girl! Afraid? My motto for knitting: It’s only knitting! Who on earth is going to die if you eff it up the first few times? Now, if you were performing brain surgery, then I’d worry. 🙂
Anywho-a lot of people have stepped up for you. Let me know if you need me.
Same here on 9 and 10. As for 8, you make me want a Palm of my very own, if only for my knitting lists.
ionolsen34 Your site is very cognitive. I think you will have good future.:)