Speed Knitting/Crocheting

This I am not. But there are some out there who are. People who knit or crochet at such a blinding speed that the normal eye cannot keep up with it. Now, I'm not criticizing this, I'm just acknowledging it. I would never criticize another style that's different from mine, just as I would expect someone else not to criticize my style. But that's another subject entirely.

Me, I like to knit and crochet at a more sedate pace. I will never be able to knit or crochet at Olympian-like speed, and I don't want to. Knitting and crocheting is very relaxing to me and I don't think it's very relaxing to be knitting or crocheting at a speed that would make a NASCAR driver envious. But, if you're one of these, and you find it relaxing, then that's great.

As an example. I once looked up entralec (probably didn't spell that right) knitting videos, and while one such video described what to do perfectly, her hands moved so fast that I couldn't see what she was doing. It exhausted me just to watch it.

I think I'll call these types of people the hares. You know, like in the tortoise and the hare story? Me, I'm a tortoise. I'll get to the finish line....eventually. But I don't expect I'll ever keep up with the hares. Frankly, I'd like to sit and watch one knit a sock at that blinding speed. Or crochet one, for that matter.

Wearable doilies

Yes, doilies are wearable. If you check older posts then you'll find I've made a wrap from a chair doily pattern.

Now I've found a free pineapple doily pattern from Freepatterns. The Starburst and Pineapple one is perfect to make a capelet from. Just chain a chain big enough to fit over your head and sit on your shoulders, join into a ring and make 180 dc in it and join that. Then you just start from rnd 9 on the pattern and follow it. You'll skip 4 dc between shells on rnd 9 and have 36 shells when you're finished. I've only just started the pineapple bases on mine, so no pics yet, but it's looking really good. It does look a bit untidy after putting the rnd of dc in, but it straightens out pretty quickly on subsequent rnds. I'm using sport/baby yarn and a size G hook.

In other news, I've mastered the Continental style of knitting and even like it now that I can do it effortlessly. I'm still working on the scarves and cowls, but I'm still a notoriously slow finisher, so it could be Christmas before I finish them. Just wanted to let anyone who's reading this know that I'm making progress. There are some pictures up on my Facebook page, but none here yet.

Working on a pattern

It's based on a familiar quilt block pattern called Log Cabin. I'm trying out various configurations and writing them down, along with a few variations on each one. When I'm finished I'll try to add it to my Ravelry account as a free download (never tried that before, so thought I would with this.).

I have three different variations on the pattern, making about a 5-1/2" square (though one could make it larger by adding in a third round of rectangles.). I'm going to keep making small squares until I get enough to make a throw.

And don't you crocheters feel left out, the patterns will transfer easily to crochet and I'll have that written up too.

Don't hold your breath though, I'm notoriously slow. I may have the pattern out faster than I normally work, but the afghan will take awhile.

Finished one fingerless glove

Well, I think I have the pattern for the two-needle glove nearly tweaked. The prototype looked wonky, even when sewn together and I figured out the problem there. I needed to decrease the number of cast-on stitches from 44 to 42. Then I needed to decrease the number of cast-on stitches for between the fingers from 2 to one. I also had to tweak how I did the thumb.

All in all, the glove still looks a bit wonky (especially with all the long ends hanging off it), until you get it sewn together, then it looks quite nice. And if you seam it carefully, the seams barely show.

Yes, there are about 18 long ends to weave in, but remember, there are 4 fingers and a thumb on each glove and you have to make half of each in the right spot for it to come out right. You would have about half that number of ends if you knitted in the round, and you would only have to hide them and not use them to sew any seams.

This pattern is not for those who like to knit in the round (unless they just want to try it to say they did it), it's for those who are intimidated by knitting in the round, but can knit up a storm on straight needles. You could  use a circular needle to knit these, just knit back and forth as if you were using straight needles. It is also not for beginner knitters. I put the difficulty rating at intermediate/hard. I'm not saying a beginner *couldn't* do them,  just that they may find it difficult at first.

As I said before, it will look a little wonky when you're finished, but it will look like a fingerless glove when you sew it together. I recommended that you leave long ends when binding off so that they may be used to sew the finger seams and side seams. The loose end from the cast-on can be used to sew up the long side seam of the glove and then hidden. If it isn't long enough, then sew as far as you can and work the end into the glove, then use the end from the pinky to sew down the other part of the side seam.

You could also make a pair of full gloves with this pattern, just leave your ends a lot longer to give yourself plenty of sewing yarn.