Risk Vs. Reward

I've only been knitting for three almost four years. I'm not a new knitter but I'm not an expert either. That being said, I will try to knit anything. Those things on the pattern that tell you how difficult it is, I ignore them. If I was confused about something on a pattern I looked it up on youtube or googled it. Knitting in the internet age is probably easier than it ever has been. When I first taught myself to knit I made all things dish clothes, I made lace ones, cable ones, straight stockinette, and knit on the bias ones. We had cotton dish clothes coming out of our ears. My husband actually said, "well, you've mastered dish clothes are you planning on making something else?"

I decided I would make an afghan. The pattern called for 15 x 15 seed stitch squares that would then be seamed into a larger blanket. I got real bored real fast but I have an afghan that my husband stole and loves even though the seaming looks like garbage. The point is I learned a lot.

Next up was the project that made me quake in my Chuck's.

The Twilight movie had just come out and there was a pair of mittens in the movie that everyone wanted. The Bella Mittens. A friend of mine wanted a pair. I thought I can do this even though I've never knit in the round and have no idea what Magic Loop knitting is. I'm a smart girl I can figure it out. I did figure it out and made like eight pairs of those mittens.

My point is, do not ever be afraid to take on a challenge. The internet has a ton of resources to help you figure it out. Other knitters on twitter will help, my favorite person to ask for advice is @atknitsend. She is so full of knowledge and her knitting is fantastic. Go check her blog. Now.

I guess what I'm saying is, be confident in your abilities, be bold, try something you never ever thought you'd be able to do. Forget the voice in your head telling you that it's too hard. That voice is an asshole.

What was the biggest challenge you took on as a new knitter? Were you successful?

Second post of the day... Since the first one was so happy.

Felted mittens. I am making felted mittens. I got a lovely skein of Stitch Nation Highland Wool (would love to put a link there but the site is down or something). I have cast these on probably five or six times. Not because the yarn is terrible or anything, it's because I just wasn't happy. I'm using a random pattern as a guideline but I've knit so many pairs of mittens I figured I didn't need a pattern. I do the same thing with plain socks. I just make them. The first time I cast on I decided my needle size was wrong, ripped it out. Second time I decided that I had too many stitches, ripped it out.Third time I had the wrong needle size and too many stitches cast on, ripped it again. By this time the yarn is starting to look pretty sad but who cares I'm felting them.

So last night before I headed downtown to hang out with the always hilarious Betsy at the Twins game (they lost), I cast on one last time. I am finally happy.

I got to The Depot at like 6:15 sat down at a table by myself and ordered a Premium. Let me tell you knitting in a bar full of people while in Downtown Minneapolis having a beer was GLORIOUS! (that needed all caps) I usually knit on the bus where people try to talk to me while I'm counting out loud so knitting in public isn't new to me. Knitting at the bar however is. Nobody bothered me but I did quite a few curious glances. Then Betsy showed up and said "I love that you're knitting right now." 

I loved that I was knitting as well.

I'm a feminist and I'm not even sorry about it.

That's right guys. I'm an unrepentant feminist.

I have been very quiet for the last few days trying to pick the right words for how I feel about all of the bullshit said about rape by Todd Akin this week, I should include this little nugget from Paul Ryan. What the hell? These men actually believe these things? *dies a little inside*

This whole thing is about abortion. I have my feelings about abortion, I'm for it, in any case. I'm so sick to death of the Right trying to control women. If you don't like abortion don't have one. It's really that simple. I personally could really care less if you've had one or not, I will instead judge you by how you treat puppies.

Some of you who have followed me on Twitter for awhile know that last January I came out about my abortion. I am not sorry I had one. It was the best decision I ever made. If I had to make the decision again at that time the result would be the same. My parents left that decision up to me, they didn't try to sway me, my boyfriend even left me alone to make that decision. Abortion is not easy. Women who have them agonize over it. It's not a fun thing to do. Dammit. I'm tired of people thinking it's the easy way out. It's not easy. It's hard. Abortion is a life choice. A choice that no one except a woman who may need one can make. Leave abortion alone.

Norma

Norma, Norma, Norma.

I love Norma.

I fell in love with this pattern the second I laid eyes on it. I rushed through finishing another project to get to this one. I ordered the yarn. I learned a new cast on. It feels like this pattern has tried to thwart me at every turn.

1. Halfway through the pattern I learned that the charts I was using would lead me to make a smaller blanket...

Great.

I went to the pattern's Rav page and got the chart I needed to make a larger blanket.

2. Not enough yarn. I had ordered yarn based on original instructions which called for 5 skeins of yarn. Two weeks into the project I learned I would need 7 skeins of yarn. The problem with this is it is incredibly hard to get yarn from the same dye lot 2 weeks later. I lucked out, Knit Picks somehow sent me two more skeins from the same dye lot. Dye lot fairy?

3. After 3 more weeks of knitting and 5 seasons of Weeds on Netflix instant streaming, I learned that I don't have enough yarn to bind off and have the really pretty border that the pattern has. This drives me crazy!

4. Ran out of yarn during the bind off. This sucks. Hard. I'm going to tink the bind off and use a bigger needle. Start hoping for me guys. I need some hope right now.

It's not the fault of the yarn, it could be the pattern, it could be me. Who knows.

Norma has fought me tooth and nail and I still love her. Like a child who argues too much and tells you "you are the meanest mommy EVER!" I still love her.