I’m joining with Ginny at Small Things again this week to share what I’ve been knitting and reading this week. I’m always amazed at how these Wednesdays sneaks up on me but it’s always fun to share what I’ve been up to and see what others have been working on over the week.
I am about half an inch away from finishing the raglan pullover for my almost two-year-old. I’m so pleased it will be ready for his birthday at the end of the month. I’m knitting it with Lion’s Brand Fisherman’s Wool and I love it. The wool fit my current yarn budget (which is small) and while it’s not super soft it has been lovely to work with. I don’t know how it would feel next the skin but for a pullover which will surely be worn as a second layer it will be great. I am thinking I may just keep going with this wool and knit a Pebble vest for baby #6.
I’ve also been working on one of these oh-so-cute chicks but the upcoming birthday. It would make a super sweet Easter gift as well but I am thinking of this especially for my little guy who loves birds, ducks and chicks – basically anything he presumes says “Quack”. The designer also has a couple of other free patterns, one of which I’ve seen kicking around on the yarn along – I will have to make a few of these little bunnies.
I’ve still been reading the Backyard Homestead and I’m still absolutely enjoying it. Because I can’t read a reference book too long for the pure pleasure of it (and because I couldn’t resist cracking it right open once it came in for me at the library), I’ve started reading The Dirty Life. Tonya gave a glowing recommendation of it a few weeks ago and it has not disappointed. I’m not very far into it yet but I am captivated by this true story. A New York girl meets a farming boy and together they set out to start fresh on a farm of their own. As I mentioned last week I am deep into dreams of homesteading so this book is especially appealing to me but I really think anyone who enjoys a sweet, simple story would enjoy it. It is written so well and it is such a pleasure to pick up and read.
Before I sneak to the kitchen for a taste of the caramel and fresh banana bread which are calling my name, I have a quick question for all you knitters. A friend asked me recently if I knew of any good books or videos to teach yourself to knit. I taught myself with a kit from the craft store but I thought I would see if any of you had a great title to suggest. Thanks for the help and happy Wednesday!
To see more yarn along posts visit Ginny at Small Things!
Congratulations on being so close to finished on your pullover, especially before the birthday!
As for a “learn to knit” site, I always recommend knittinghelp.com. I can’t say enough great things about that site and the videos there.
To learn to knit, I took an adult ed class at my local community college (I was hoping to meet people). Our stitch and bitch group gets newbies all the time that we love to help. I have used the knitting help website for videos on techniques as well as the Lion Brand website (they have good crocheting videos too). Hope this helps and great job on the sweater! I also have dreams of a homestead. I have both of those books on my shelf to read.
Hello friend! It’s been a while since I’ve paid you a visit…I’m missing your presence:) I thought I’d join in with Ginny for the first time this week. And I somehow missed the fact that you have a wee bit of a bump out front:) 🙂 🙂 Oh, how lovely! Six little rascals, wow! Happy belly loving time.
xo Jules
See you have gotten a lot of tips on how to learn to knit. And I too hink knittinghelp.com is a great site.
I’m sure the sweater will be nice and warm! I buy yarn at the local grocery store, and I think that yarn can be just as good as the expencive one.
I taught myself to knit last year watching Youtube videos. There are quite a few out there so you can pick which one works for you. I had to keep looking for one that taught left handed and that just clicked with my brain. You can hit replay as often as needed.
Love your books choices!
The pullover is coming along so nicely!! I love the fisherman’s wool and most of the yarn i get comes from the craft store, usually lion brand brand. I recently splurged though on my first “pricey” yarn, and well, it’s nice to be able to do that once in a while :). I learned to knit at that same craft store and have used youtube since then. I must say though, Klutz, though not videos, carries awesome knitting and crocheting books/projects, including yarn, for beginners!!
Rachel, I came over just now to see how the sweater is coming along! I’ve decided to make Ezri a button down instead, but to make this one for Ollie who is 7. . . I imagine he’ll look handsome in a dark blue one, with jeans or carhartts. 🙂 Anyway, it’s on my further away plans for this summer, so he can sport it this fall.
I like the lion brand fisherman’s wool. It does seem not super soft, but I made longies out of it twice before and they didn’t seem scratchy. Maybe they were and I didn’t realize it. . . oh no!
the sweater looks great! You can soften any scratchy wool by soaking it in hair conditioner or a lanolin bath. Just a bit of both will do it wonders! It is hair after all lol! I think I need the Dirty Life book. I like to read sweet stories! As for knitting videos, I recommend You Tube. I always go there when I need help with a new technique or knittinghelp.com. Also, Elizabeth Zimmerman is so my champion and her videos are at the library or are easy to get through a library-loan. And I’m making your caramel and I’m jealous of #6
Thanks for the great tip, Kristi! I’d never even thought of that. I’m sure I have some in my stash that could use some conditioning! 😉
Have fun with the caramel!
The color and texture of that wool is really nice. I bet he’ll look really cute in his raglan pullover. 🙂
Looks like your busy and content! I’ve been eyeing the pebble vest quite a bit on Ravelry – it would be nice as an adult vest too – wonder if I could enlarge it.
Your raglan looks lovely, and I love the color. I also love the chick pattern…maybe I’ll have time to knit one up before Easter.
To answer your question about learning how to knit, I taught myself by checking out a couple of children’s knitting books from the library. I can’t remember specific titles but children’s knitting books have great pictures and illustrations and are so simply written. Once I’d learned how to cast on and bind off and the knit and purl stitch, I graduated to Debbie Stoller’s Stitch n’ Bitch and Vogue Knitting: the Ultimate Knitting Book.
The sweater is lovely! I will have to check out those links for the chicks and bunnies… And, I second knittinghelp.com for vids and help with knitting. We actually used it the other night for something neither my 14 yo or I knew how to do and it was perfect!
Hooray for the home stretch on that sweater! It’s going to be so cozy.
The sweater looks fantastic! If you soak it in wool wash it might soften it up to wear next to the skin, worth a try!
Congratulations on being almost done with your son’s sweater! I taught myself to knit watching the short videos on knittinghelp.com. They were super helpful because I could watch them as many times as I needed, and they were free.
woow! finishing sweater! I’m so jealous! – the biggest project I have ever finished was a pair of mittens ( and I seriously considered making it a single mitten 😀 )
🙂 thanks for stopping by..and commenting on my yarn-along post 😀
well, enterlac isn’t that hard to knit – I learned from youtube – lots of helpful step-by-step videos 🙂
(and if I was able to learn it from ENGLISH video -and English isn’t even my language + with that crazy way of knitting – like Morticia does in Addams family 😀 ) then I’m sure it will be ridiculously easy for you 🙂
and yes! I’m jealous of your sweater! I think it’s awesome 🙂
Ok–I am definitely going to have to read The Dirty Life—it seems like a good counter for The Good Life. I have never read Backyard Homestead all the way through–I just use it as a reference but it is a great idea to do that. The Fisherman’s Wool looks SO wonderful–I know, my yarn budget is very small (nonexistent nearly) these days and its fits into it perfectly. xoxo
Thanks for the cute pattern links!
I agree- Wednesdays do sneak up quick!!
You have some great projects, books I don’t know of (until now) and sweet blog!
You tube has some good learn to knit videos. I’ve found it to be very helpful at times. The Dirty Life is a fun read. I’m about half way through. It makes me want to farm 🙂
Hooray for an almost finished sweater! I loved The Dirty Life – I thought it gave a really realistic picture of the amount of work and yuck that goes with all the good and beautiful. 🙂
The pullover is looking fantastic! Hope to see it modeled on your wee one ;-). Yes! To all the great suggestions for teaching yourself to knit. The Internet is my favorite teacher :-).
The raglan pullover is coming along so nicely. I’ll have to give that yarn a try. You are so, so, so, so blessed to have baby #six on the way. I have five, and I wish that I could have had more. I’m going to reserve The Dirty Life at the library.
looking good mama! I love that color, so natural. I must admit I’ve become very curious about this book everyone is talking about, guess I’ll have to see for myself.
how fun to find your blog, we are both reading the same two books. Wish I could knit as well as you:)
That sweater looks great, love the color too!
The sweater looks wonderful!
The Dirty Life was a really good book,but depending on how easily you are offended, she does get a little more vocal with some swearing towards the end. But I really enjoyed it and did learn lots.
Warm wishes, Tonya
The Dirty Life is amazing! I loved her/their story and seeing how everything came together at the end.
I taught myself to knit using the Better Homes and Garden website’s tutorial. Classy, eh? If I remember correctly, Elizabeth Zimmermann, knitting goddess, made knitting videos which are still available but I can’t remember if any of them feature beginning stuff. Has your friend looked on You Tube? I think there were some Knitting at Noon videos or maybe something via the Knitters Review that might work. I’m feeling terribly unhelpful-sorry 😉
I’ve seen the Backyard Homestead in the bookstore and have been thoroughly intrigued. I have a tiny garden now, and my husband and I would like to get chicks someday. We’ve got the room – just need the time!
When it comes to knitting, or anything crafty for that matter, I’m hopeless!
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Tonya
Your knitting inspires me! Someday I will be able to knit things like that!
And I want to read both of those books now.
xoxo