Expensive Yarn

I'm currently saving to buy the yarn for a sweater. The main negative part of knitting is that yarn can be so expensive. Especially the yarns that I tend to like, because they are natural fibers. When you are on a budget, you either buy cheap yarn, look for bargains, or save to buy what you want. And of course the more expensive the yarn, the smaller the skein, so you have to buy more.

I suppose that you spend about the same amount for the yarn that you would spend to buy a pure wool sweater. At least when you knit it yourself, you know how well made it is. And you also can knit a gauge to test how well it washes by hand or machine.

Needles

I don't think I ever posted about the Denise Needle set I received for Christmas of 2004. The Denise Needles are an interchangeable circular needle set. It has really been a help since now I don't have to buy new needles for each project I do.

I also received my late great-aunt's old needles. Most of the ones she had were aluminum, but she also had several plastic ones. I use the plastic circulars when I travel by plane. I'm glad knitting needles are allowed on planes, since knitting while I fly really relaxes me. I made a shawl and an afghan during two separate round trips.

I'm not sure if I will bother to bring knitting with me for the plane trip to my sister's wedding. There will be so much stuff going on, I probably won't bother.

Socks

I haven't updated in a long time.

I finished my first pair of socks a few weeks ago. I'm working on a green shawl for my Grandma. I was supposed to do it months ago, but I kept forgetting to get the yarn. I made her a similar one for Christmas last year, but it was red.

The yarn for my knitted bag is still at home waiting to be used. I decided to wait until winter since that yarn is pure wool.

The socks are Lion Brand yarn Magic Stripes in Jelly Bean. It was easier than I thought it would be. Initially I stopped knitting them for a few weeks after I finished the cuff on the first sock. Picking up stitched along the heel gusset made me nervous at first. Since the socks are mostly wool, I won't be wearing them for a few months.

Knitting Update

I haven't written in a long time. I've had a lot of work with school and everything. I finished all the Christmas projects on time, which was great. I don't think I will ever knit for that many people at Christmas time again though. It took me longer than I thought it would. I knew it would take several weeks, but it was just a lot to do. I'm currently working o a scarf for myself with some yarn I received for Christmas. It is lovely and soft alpaca yarn. Though since it is now March I won't be wearing it unitil the latter part of this year.

I still haven't gotten to the socks. That might have to wait until summer along with the felted bag I'm going to make. I'm going out of town for spring break this Friday so I will be taking an easy knitting project for the plane trip. I really hate flying and especially flying alone so I think that knitting will calm me down a lot.

Socks are waiting

I was going to start socks, but I realized I need to start whatever Christmas presents that are going to be knit now. I"m making my mother a shawl with a cable border. I got the pattern from knitty.com. It is a great site with wonderful free patterns. Then I'm making my one sister a scarf and my father a scarf. My brother in law will probably end up with a scarf too. I might make my best friend a shawl too if I have the time. I'm not sure what to make my other sister and her fiance.

So socks will probably have to wait until after Christmas. Which sucks because I already have the yarn. But I definitely have more than enough projects to keep me perfectly occupied between classes and studying.