4/2/18

AtoZ Challenge...Books For Knitters

AtoZ Letter B

Once upon a time I thought I wanted to be a Lace Knitter, and said so to my Knitting Group.  At that time I was a novice knitter...that's like knowing less than Knit 1-Purl 2.

I should have guessed it was a presumptuous statement to make when my seasoned knitter friends' eyebrows shot up to their hairlines and their eyes rolled to the back of their heads.

I took to knitting like a duck takes to a sandbox.  Never the less, I proceeded to  collect all the stuff knitters need including books. 

The Knitted Lace book was a gift from one of my eye rolling friends.  At the time, I thought, "how nice of her to encourage me in the art of knitting lace."

After investing in lace knitting needles, skeins and skeins of lace yarn, a lace knitting class, super bifocal lenses and hours and hours of casting on thousands of stitches and failing at making even one pattern of lace...I knew why eyebrows met hairlines and eyeballs rolled in their sockets.

So, I started over with knitting and got back to basics with Vickie Howell's 'knit aid' book...a learn it, fix it, finish it guide. Seriously, doesn't she look the epitome of confidence and knowledge sitting there knitting in those stilettos and skinny jeans?

I definitely do not own a pair of stilettos, but I donned my skinniest jeans, got jumbo needles and fat yarn and became a Web/Blog Knitwit.  Sure to her word, Vickie had me chatting with my knitting peeps in Knitting Abbreviations Talk....so cool to finally know what they had been talking about.

So, I'll leave you with this slew of abbreviations as I need to get back to my 'KPeeps' and the Tinking of the that LACE WIP that has been OTK since the 6-25-2011 KAL started with KIP friends at the LYS who assured me this shawl was FCEK.  They LIED...it has been as hard as any VK pattern or IK project...and to think, I gave them my TIA for all of their HTH help!  Needless to say I no longer KIP or KAL anymore at the LYS on this project since I can't remember how to SSK and seem to be OT more often than not while my friends are hard at work on their OKC projects.  I'm OK with it all as I am HK on a shelf full of WIP's with hopes that one day they will be FO's....OMG!!
Aren't you glad this OKC is FO'd?
 
Retrospective of AtoZ Letter B
 

34 comments:

  1. Good grief! I am a very basic knitter - I had a winter knitting project last year where I knitted a throw rug (all in plain!) using dozens of different types of yarn. It was fun and quite restful - the thought of lace knitting makes my eye start to twitch!

    Leanne | www.crestingthehill.com.au
    B for Believe in Yourself

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    1. Knitting a throw rug makes my eye start to twitch!

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  2. Looks like a great selection of books about knitting. "Knit Aid" looks like a good book for me to start with. Glad I stopped by from the Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

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    1. Knit Aid is a great book for knitters at any level, but especially good for beginners.

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  3. I can knit a scarf that ends up very misshapen though I do have dreams of being able to knit fantastic creations in the future. I hope that one day you do have a piece of lace that you've created yourself.
    Pamela @ Days of Fun

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    1. No worries on miss-shaped anything...it's called 'Free Form'. People pay big buck for 'Free Form' patterns...really how can you do that on purpose to write a pattern.

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  4. Just going by the cover design, at first I thought the book was an oldie from the 40s or so until you pointed out the stilettos. If I had any doubts, the web/blog abbreviations let me know otherwise. I'm enjoying your theme!

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    1. Yep, web/blog knitting is a thing...Ravelry is a website for knitters.

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  5. Those books look fun! I enjoyed reading what the abbreviations/acronyms were for. Happy knitting and blogging!
    Once Upon a Time

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    1. The books by Pearl McPhee are hilarious. She's a master knitter with a sense of humor.

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  6. as much as I like books, I would not check them out of the library. Ha!

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    1. LOL...but, hey there are some great mystery books out there with knitting as a theme. Imagine, getting stabbed with a knitting needle. There ya go!

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  7. Hi Sue - I couldn't start this, let alone keep up .. but like you I'd collect information on a subject I wanted to pursue ... but you have an amazing number of Books for Knitters ... cheers Hilary

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    1. That's why I have a bunch of WIP's...works in progress...I can't keep up.

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  8. LOL I love it. I have crocheted but never knitted. It seemed way too complicated for me and I can see now that I was right!

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    1. Obviously, lace knitting was waaaay to complicated for me...LOL!

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  9. Always wanted to knit, seemed so comforting and directive. Did do a fair amount of weaving in a primitive matter, while teaching art to public school children; when art in public schools. Lots of our youth are knitting. I did crochet.
    Great, information, like your layout!
    https//www.Bobbiestoryportfolio.com

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    1. Knitting is comforting...try it...just don't start with lace...LOL! It's great so many young people are interested in knitting and crochet. Thanks for stopping by...I enjoyed your blog, too.

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  10. OMG I started a hat for my husband on circular needles about 4 years ago... still not done... maybe I need a better book!

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    1. Sounds like some of my circulars! A better book or a ball winder.

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  11. I also took to knitting like a duck takes to a sandbox - so much so that I've tried 3 times to even learn the most basic stuff. Now, crocheting was different (that's where this duck found her water) and I have lots and lots of UFO's in my closet - plus yarn I buy for projects which I never even start. Maybe, one day when I retire, I'll even try to learn to knit again. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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    1. Keep focusing on those UFO's for retirement...a good incentive. When I retired, I did finish some things, but most got re-wound to make something new...I couldn't figure out where I was with the UFO. LOL!

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  12. Well I always wear my tallest heels and fancy tight jeans when I sew!! Ha Ha-that would be a sight. I think you have become quite the expert.
    Ann

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    1. What a sight that would be. I bet you are like me...barefooted or socks in PJ's or sweats. Now that's a sight!

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  13. I made one thing after I learned to knit, a long blue winter scarf that I wore for years and years. I wonder what happened to it. My grandmother used to tat.

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    1. Time to make another long blue winter scarf. There are sooooo many neat patterns and wonderful yarns. I USED to Tat...much like my lace knitting experience. I visited your blog. Enjoyed reading your ancestry posts. Was not able to leave a comment due to 'Comments Closed'.

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  14. I knitted a little when I was much younger but dropped it in my early 20's and never took it up again. But I have a lot of friends who knit, so had to share this post on my Facebook feed!

    Donna B. McNicol|Author and Traveler
    A to Z Flash Fiction Stories|A to Z of Goldendoodles

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    1. Since you are a writer and former knitter, I bet you would like Pearl McPhee's books on knitting. They are a fun read with no instructions for making socks, sweaters or anything else. Thanks for sharing on your Facebook feed! I'm enjoying your Flash Fiction.

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  15. I used to knit jumpers as a teenager but never finished the one I was knitting for my baby son. As for my grandchildren they don't seem to wear home knitted garments.

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  16. Wow! I remember deciding to learn to crochet and giving up about ten knots in! I admire your patience and perseverance! <3

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  17. Hello, Nice Blog! Good Luck on the A-Z challenge! Zulu Delta

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  18. Loved your confession on the lace knitting... I prob would have rolled my eyes at ya too! But I love your determination. I finally conquered my fear of knitting socks over the winter and am loving them now. My mother just laughed at me tonight when I was complaining on how I was frustrated with learning how to knit toe up... she was like didn't you knit a pair, why are you doing it again. In between writing, I knit and I have 5 granddaughters who keep me busy with it. I'm writing on my fav childhood book - Nancy Drews. Hope you'll take a peek at...https://everyonehasafamilystorytotell.wordpress.com/category/2018-a-to-z-all-about-nancy-drew/

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    1. LOL...fear of knitting socks. I suffer from SSS...second sock syndrome! Only socks I knit are mis-matched ones. Frustration sets in with casting on toe up or cuff down. Basically I don't do socks...right up there with lace!

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  19. Ah, just as many acronyms for quilters, one of my favorites SABLE - stash accumulation beyond lifetime expectancy.

    I have never been able to knit or crochet, perhaps because I am left-handed. IDK

    Gonna link back to you for my "O" post highlighting Obligatory Quilting Content. *grins*

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