Ravelry.com

Week 6 = Knitting Groups
Day 3 = February 7, 2014

 

Picture from Ravelry.com homepage. So cute!

 

     If you are part of a knitting group, you've probably heard of Ravelry.com, the knitter's Facebook. If by chance you haven't heard of it, then you are in for a mind blowing blog post. I found out about the Ravelry website about 2 years ago and have been enamored with it ever since.

 

     Let's start from the beginning, Ravelry is a free membership knit and crochet internet community. There are many aspects that you will find helpful and interesting, including:

• Free patterns
• Local yarn shop listings
• Knitting groups for anything you can imagine
• Ability to 'friend' people
• Catalog your yarn, books, magazine, etc.
• Buy patterns

     When you sign in there are 7 main tabs on the home page. Each of the 7 tabs has subsections that I will list for you, too. I will go over each one and give you any cool tips that I have.

 

1. My Notebook

• Projects - a place for you to inventory your projects
• Handspun - a place for you to inventory your roving (unspun animal fibers) that you intend to spin or use otherwise
• Stash - a place for you to inventory your yarn stash
• Queue - I use this as a holding tank for patterns that I'm interested in and cost $
• Favorites - where the list of items goes that you have favorite, like designers, yarn, etc.
• Friends - list of people that you have friended
• Groups/Events - a list of the groups that you are in plus when you joined, along with an event calendar
• Needle/Hooks - a place for you to inventory your knitting needles and crochet hooks
• Library - where patterns, books and magazines go when you add them to your library
• Messages - Ravelry's own mail system
• Blog Posts - you can connect your blog to your profile
• Contributions - patterns that you have posted to Ravelry
• Purchases - list of past purchases where there was a cost for the patterns - free patterns or patterns gotten with a code do not show up here

2. Patterns

• Search patterns - the title speaks for itself
• Personalize - you can select knit, crochet or knit and crochet, and every time you go to look up a pattern, it will default to this
• Hot right now - popular patterns
• You've looked at - a list of items that you have recently looked at
• Recently added patterns - the title speaks for itself
• Featured advertisers - the title speaks for itself
• Browse categories - click on the link for items such as cowl, pet or skirt and, whoooooosh you are taken immediately to a list of these and many other categories
• Designers on Ravelry - there are 153,402 patterns available (at the time of this post) from Ravelry designers
• Your pattern highlights - Think back to favorites that I explained in section 1. This pulls new items together that match your favorites. For example, if you list a specific designer ,this section will highlight any new things that the designer posts. Cool huh!
• Something random - the title speaks for itself
• Popular attributes - click on the link for items such as cables, positive-ease or square and... blast off (a Little Einstein's reference for those of you that have little kids), you are taken immediately to a list of project, with these attributes
• Search project by tag - same as attributes, but you can type in a specific items

3. Yarns

• Popular new yarns - the title speaks for itself
• Local yarn shop directory - I love this one and have used it many times when I am traveling to another city. Part of the yarn shop directory is an unbelievably cool "Road Trip Planner" link. You type in where you are from and where you are going to, then select how many miles you are willing to drive off the beaten path to visit a yarn shop and... VOILA a yarn shop road trip!
• Oooh! Newly added yarns - the title speaks for itself and the pictures are beautiful to look at
• Search yarns - the title speaks for itself
• Browse by fiber - imagine being able to click on Alpaca, Qiviut or Yak and boom... there are your yarn options
• Features advertisers - the title speaks for itself
• Yarnies - are people who dye, spin or hand paint their own yarns to sell

4. People

• New kids - the title speaks for itself
• People search - the title speaks for itself
• Friends activity - these are recent posts from your friends
• A random assortment of favorites - a collection of people's favorite patterns, projects, etc.
• Show us your FOs! - a collection of finished objects
• Your neighbors - interestingly enough, this is not your neighbor by location, but by similar taste in patterns

5. Forums

•  This one is a list of the chat boards from your groups (see below for groups description) . You can even organize them easily into categories. MY categories are: groups, yarn shops, designers and miscellaneous.

6. Groups

• You are a member of (#) groups - this is a listing of the groups that you have joined
• Recently started - the title speaks for itself
• Search groups - the title speaks for itself
• Need help finding groups - you can get help by browsing by location, category, knit alongs, swaps or even create your own new group
• Looking for events - a calendar of knitting events in your area and where you can add your own event

7. Shop

• Ravelry Mini-Mart - contains items sold by Ravelry, like buttons, bags, clothing, etc., with their logo on it
• Marketplace - is where you can buy items, like spindles, yarn, knitting jewelry, etc. from other Ravelry members
• Pattern Stores - you can browse patterns from other Ravelry members

     So there you have it, Ravelry in a nutshell. One last thing that is really neat. Your friends can look up your items at any time and also purchase patterns in your queue for you as a present. Sweeeeet! My birthday is next week on February 13th, just in case any of you out there were wondering. ;-)

Question of the Day

What is your favorite Ravelry feature?

Ravelry Knitting,




Victoria

Flowertown Knitting Guild

Week 6 = Knitting Groups
Day 2 = February 6, 2014

 

     There's an article called "Don't stop knitting! It keeps you healthy," by Katherine Martinko, going around knitting sites on the internet. I first saw it on Facebook yesterday. Katherine lists 7 reasons that knitting keeps you healthy. Well, guess what number 3 on the list is?

 

     3. Knitting connects people. By joining a knitting group, a solitary activity turns into a social one. One study, called “The Benefits of Knitting for Personal and Social Wellbeing in Adulthood” and published in the British Journal of Occupational Therapy, found that “knitting in a group impacted significantly on perceived happiness, improved social contact, and communication with others.”

 

     What a coincidence, and great timing for my blog too.

 

     Flowertown Knitting Guild is my local guild here in Summerville, SC. The guild is a paid membership group that meets monthly. Each month we have a different instructional class after guild business is done. We have quite a variety of classes already planned for 2014.

• Knitted Flowers
• How To Magic Loop  
• Make a Reversible Cable Bookmark 
• Beaded Knitting with a Crochet Hook  
• Knitted Christmas Balls
• Dyeing Yarn
• Make a Beaded Bracelet using Pre-strung Beads 

     Throughout our inaugural year (2013), we hosted and participated in additional events aside from our monthly meetings, including:

• Westview Primary Spring Carnival
• Charity Knit Night
• World Wide Knit in Public Events
• Flowertown Knitting Guild Knit-In
• Knit night at the Joe (Charleston River Dogs game)
• Cold Mountain KAL
• De-stash party
• Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair Retreat

     Other endeavor that the guild has taken pride in is our charity knitting. We've reached out to local groups to see if there is any need that we could fill by knitting. Some projects were on a timeline and some are still ongoing. To encourage charity knitting I have hosted monthly Charity Knit Nights at my home. Giving back a is huge part of life and with a warm knit blanket in hand our guild has embraced is.

• Lowcountry Pregnancy Center - Baby blankets
• Summerville, SPCA - Pet Blankets to put in the crates of the animals to calm them and make them more adoptable.
• Flowertown Elementary - Hats for small children
• TriCounty Family Ministries - Adult or Child hats
• Red Scarf Project - Scarves for foster children (they get a care package on Valentine's Day, which includes a red scarf)

     Just to impress upon you the wonders of knitting groups, I've an example for you. My bestie, (best friend for those of you that don't watch The Big Bang Theory) Eileen, and I met only a year ago at the very first Flowertown Knitting Guild meeting. We went to the meetings and then, through several guild events and other knitting outings, were able to form a much deeper bond. My kids even have a special nickname for her, Nene.

    
     Here is a photo gallery of some of our guild events and meetings.

Guild Meeting - led by our fearless President Tamara Goff

Westview Primary Spring Carnival - with Eweniece on the table

Knitting in public, like we need a reason but we will take it.
 

During our Knit in we have The Village Knittery surrounded.
 

Did I mention surrounded on both sides?

Knit Night at the Joe, with a photo bomb by my friend Scarlett.

Pet blankets for the local SCPA.

    

A gift we made for member and The Village Knittery owner, Emily Spearman.



Charity project of hats for a local elementary school.

   
     Having fun with people who share your passion is a great thing. I would recommend that also you find a group. Whether you like coin collecting, painting, baking, knitting or any other interest, find those people that love what you love and do NOT be afraid to put yourself out there. Maybe your new bestie is out there waiting for you.

Question of the Day

What is your favorite knitting charity project that you have done?

Knitting while Learning,

Victoria

Knitting Groups

Week 6 = Knitting Groups
Day 1 = February 5, 2014

Hanks of yarn

 

     Knitting when you're at home is so much different than knitting with a knitting group. Now, I don't just mean going to a knitting group, but also a Guild, a KAL (Knit-Along, remember from yesterday), an internet group and so on. When you share your work with other knitters it's different than trying to explain a really cool technique to your husband or mother-in-law who looks at you as if you are speaking Japanese. <--(Real life experience here, not just a metaphor.)


     This week I am going to look at some of the different knitting groups out there nationally and locally here, including the following:

• Flowertown Knitting Guild - Local Guild
• Ravelry.com - Internet Forum
• Summerville Knitters - Local Social Group
• The Knitting Guild Association (TKGA) - National Guild
• KAL - Local and National

     All of these I know about personally, so I'll give you lots of tidbits.  I'll also research them as if I were a new knitter to give you a complete picture.


     I joined my first knitting group, Summerville Knitters, in March of 2012. I can thank my husband for it, too. At the time, I was 7 months pregnant and wanted to go to the local fair. He did not. So to punish him, I left him at his mother's with our then 2 year old to go do something for myself... Knit. I know, big punishment, I left him alone... So thank you honey, for saying no. I don't think I would know any of these fabulous women, have learned so many new techniques or picked up so many cool patterns if you hadn't pissed off your 7 months pregnant wife. Love you.

Question of the Day

What knitting groups do you belong to/participate in?

 

 

Group Knitting,

 

Victoria

Clipboard Patterns?

Week 5 = Cataloging Patterns
Day 6 = February 4, 2014


     I have a clipboard that I keep in my knitting bag. Yes, I said clipboard. What's on the clipboard you ask? Well, right now I have membership applications for Flowertown Knitting Guild and 7 patterns for current or wishful thinking projects. How else am I supposed to keep the pages from getting all crinkled and messed up.

Here are my current projects:

Ten Stitch Blanket by Frankie Brown
     I love this blanket. The pattern is super easy to remember and starts out very quickly because, as the name states, there are only 10 stitches. Once you have gone around a few of the corners you will be able to easily recognize where you are in turning the corner, without having to keep precise track. I found a super helpful Youtube video by VeryPink Knits called Ten Stitch Blanket Tutorial.

My Project

Pattern Photo

Hat with Heart by Lynn Ann Banks

     This is a pattern that Flowertown Knitting Guild has used for some of our charity projects. We were even able to modify it for children's sizes. It is very easy to follow and has knitting directions for working the project both flat and in the round. I have also used this pattern as a template for the sizing on many other hats that I have done.

My Project

Pattern Photo

Lacy Leaves Scarf by Bernat

     This was my first foray into the Land of Lace. A simple 12 row pattern that you repeat until you get to your desired length. The only issue I had was my OCD would not allow me to stop in the middle of the 12 row pattern. So I put it in a time-out (like I mentioned yesterday) and haven't picked it back up yet. Sometimes I think that I just need to let go.

My Project

Pattern Photo

Cold Mountain by Keiran Foley

     KAL in the knitting world means Knit-Along. This can be locally, nationally or even internationally. This shawl was also a first for me, my first KAL. Flowertown Knitting Guild started this back in July. My mother is about 10 rows from finished with hers and I'm about 10 rows from the start of mine. Funny huh.

My Project

Pattern Photo

Now onto my wishful projects.

Scarf Pattern by Deanna Van Assche

Beaded Wrist Warmers by Lynn Wilson

Beaded Shrug by Helen Bingham

    
     I have great plans for the blog next week, a new finished project to share and hopefully (all 10 fingers, toes, arms and legs crossed) some exciting new connections. See you tomorrow for the start of new blog week.

Question of the Day

How do you corral your patterns in your knitting bag/s?

Knitting with Clipboards,

Victoria

Eye Catching Patterns

Week 5 = Cataloging Patterns
Day 6 = February 3, 2014

 

     When you get a new knitting book, whether it features stitches or full patterns, garments or accessories, there is always that ONE that catches your eye and you feel drawn to. So, I figured that today I would go through some of my knitting books and show you the ones that caught my eyes.

 

     I purposely chose 7 publications that I haven't previously told you about. This way I can keep things fresh and keep you guessing.

 

Greetings from Knit Café by Suzan Mischer

Pompom Awning on pages 100-103

     The picture used in the book is much more flattering than this one. In the book they have it draped over a small table so that the shawl is hanging down each side and you can see the lace pattern very well. There is one modification that I would do. No pompoms.

        

Knitting on the Edge by Nicky Epstein

Butterfly on page 139

     Yesterday I showed you the yarn I bought for my Entrelac shawl. Well, I am probably going to do a border of some sort and this popped out at me. The name of the Entrelac pattern is Knitted Scarf Butterlfies. Why not do a border called Butterfly?

         

Cotton Knits for All Seasons by Debbie Bliss

Beaded Bag pages 90-93

     The colors of the yarn and of the beads are just gorgeous. I also like the simple plaid looking pattern. Looking at the handles, can you tell what knitting stitch they are? I-cord, yes one of my favorites.

    

Picture Knits by Betty Barden

Large Butterfly on the cover and page 90

     The pattern that I picked is pictured on the cover just below the K in the word Knits. This books is very versatile. They give you a color chart and a picture of a finished swatch. The book also gives you ideas on how to incorporate these picture designs into 10 different projects.

    

The Knitchick's Guide to Sweaters by Marcelle Karp & Pauline Wall

Aviva Redux: The Dress on pages 124-125

     This dress looks like the perfect beach cover-up for a little girl. The pattern is very well explained, broken down into collar, yoke, body sleeves and finishing. This would look great with a long striping yarn.

    

Fabulous Fair Isle Knitting by Patty Knox

Design it yourself bag pages 118-119

     Imagine you are back in grade school. You have a piece of graph paper and have colored a bunch of striped designs. Well, that is exactly what this books does. You have a picture of the graph paper colored with a design next to the knitted design. Brilliant!

    

The Unofficial Harry Potter Knits by Interweave

Ginny's Cardigan on the cover and pages 86, 92-95

     I got this magazine solely because of the sweater on the cover. Many of the items in this magazine are super. The owls going down the back of this sweater is a feature that I love. I have plans and the yarn to make this for someone special in my life.

     

     

     There are many patterns in the knitting universe that will catch your eye. Just remember to take them one at a time and don't be afraid to put your project in a time-out if you are getting bored or frustrated. You can always go pick out another eye catching project to knit.

Question of the Day

Pick any knitting book in your house.

Which pattern catches your eye?

Knitting Favorites,

Victoria

 

 

Happy Birthday to The Village Knittery!

Week 5 = Cataloging Patterns
Day 5 = February 2, 2014



     I mentioned yesterday that I went with my best friend to my local yarn shop, The Village Knittery. I love the shop and the staff. The owner, Emily, is a friend and a Flowertown Knitting Guild member. The staff, most of them friends, also are helpful, courteous and knowledgeable about all things knitting and crochet related. This is how the Knittery, as some of us locals call it, describes itself on their website.

"The Village Knittery is a place to discover fine yarns and
fibers from around the world. Located in Historic Downtown
Summerville, SC, The Village Knittery is more than a yarn
shop. It's a place to relax, to share and to celebrate the joys
of creating. We cherish the history of knitting, while
embracing the future of the fiber arts."

 

     Now doesn't that just make you want to grab your softest yarn, put your feet up and knit with them. It's hard to believe how far I have come in my relationship with the store and staff in just the past 2 years. I was extremely pregnant and wanted to get some yarn and knitting needles for the Truffle Hat Pattern that I showed you in Friday's blog. Well Emily, in her ever polite and southern hospitality demeanor, was there ready to help me immediately. Since then I've had my 2nd daughter, joined the Guild, started this blog and am designing patterns. The Village Knittery has celebrated 2 more years and a move last October to a glorious new and much needed larger shop.

    
     This weekend was their annual birthday celebration and, wow, was the place packed! I wanted to do a little show and tell for you of my purchases and I also have a new finished project and WiP to share.
 

     My new WiP is a head scarf/wrap of my own design, that uses short rows. I had previously bought several hanks of Universal Yarn Inc.'s Soleil in colors Henna and Aurora Red, on sale. I realized that I didn't have enough yarn so I went back and got 2 more hanks yesterday.

    
     I finished my lattice cowl last night. It was the project that I taught for my first official knitting class. I used the yarn my bestie, Eileen handspun for me at Christmas. So pretty!!

    
     My guild had a class last fall about a knitting technique call Entrelac. I have been fascinated with it ever since. Well last week I found a pattern on Ravelry and it combines Butterflies (another obsession of mine) and Entrelac. The pattern is called Knitted Scarf Butterflies by Svetlana Gordon, pictured below left. The yarn that I got for it is Classic Elite Yarns, Liberty Wool Light, color 6662 pictured below right.

 

 

     In Friday's blog I showed you the Cozy Cosette Footsies by Julie O'Neil, pictured below left. I picked Wildfoote Luxury Sock Yarn from Brown Sheep Company, Inc. in the color Geranium, pictured below right. Again as you have heard before, red is my favorite color.

  

    

      The pièce de résistance is Aslan Trends, Litoral in color 1318. This is labeled as a "Fantasy Luxury Yarn" and does it ever fit the bill. I'm thinking that this will be a cowl or a shawl, not quite sure yet. I saw the red in this yarn out of the corner of my eye and was inspired just looking at it.

    
      So that's my take home from The Village Knittery yesterday and the patterns that I intend to use. I hope something caught your eye.

Question of the Day

What yarn has inspired you recently?

Knitting New,



Victoria

Printed Patterns

Week 5 = Cataloging Patterns

Day  4 = February 1, 2014

     I want to start today by congratulating you on keeping up with me for the past month. I set out to do a post every day and succeeded. Thank you all for your encouragement and interest in what I am doing. I look forward to what February has in store for me and, by association, you.

     Today I randomly pulled out 6 patterns from my notebook and will share them with you. We have everything from a pillow to a sweater with a surprise.

Knit Argyle Pillow by Loops & Threads - flyer with free pattern from Michaels

     This pillow looks like it should be in an uptown doctor's office. I love it! It might have to do with the colors which I am partial to, but that is just me.

Nesting Baskets - flyer with free pattern from Joann

     I love the idea of a nice, knitted basket holding my nice skeins of yarn....................................... Oh, sorry I got swept up in a knitting daydream. This happens a lot to knitters when thinking about a new project, catalog, yarn, accessories, designer, magazine, book... well basically it happens all the time... we're dreamers.

Psychedelic Hobo Bag - flyer with free pattern from Bernat

     The knitting portion of this pattern is so simple. There is a 4 row repeat which is the gist of the pattern. The interesting part comes when you need to turn it from 1 long rectangle into a bag. The handles and happy colors almost make it a "must knit" project. 

Natura Sweater by Swedish Yarns Imports Ltd

     I have been fascinated with patterns that are off center or off axis (however you refer to it). This sweater really grabbed my attention with it's off center diagonal pattern. I love it.

Breathless Shawl by Andrea Gregory - not available online

     This is a pattern I saw my mother doing and I had to have it. The simplicity and color difference make for a very flattering statement. You can go subtle with 2 slightly different shades of the same color or go for bold with 2 completely different colors. Possibilities abound.

Cuff to Cuff Sweater by Julie Farmer

     This is yet another pattern that I my mother is knitting (we have very similar tastes). I got this pattern about 10 months ago and haven't looked at it since. Well lo' and behold, when I was looking at it today, I noticed that I know and am acquainted with the designer, Julie Farmer. SURPRISE!! You will find that the knitting world is smaller than you think.

     Today I had a breakthrough/milestone. I took my non-knitting, best friend to the local yarn shop where she got her first set of knitting needles and skein of yarn. After knowing each other for over 7 years, she finally asked me to teach her how to knit about 2 weeks ago. Yeah, I welcome you into he knitting world Courtney.

Question of the Day

What pattern have you been inspired to knit
after seeing someone else doing it?

Knitting Friendships,

Victoria