What a perfect way...

[lady_karelia]

to exit this year.

So, we went to my favourite local yarn store today cuz I was out of yarn and getting all twitchy. I mean, two WIPs just aren't enough, yanno, especially if both aren't for me. Well, three, really, but the next pair of sox is only to be knit "on-the-go", and there's no self-defence lessons this week, so it's very slow. ;-) And ever since I saw this pattern, I knew I had to have a go at it. It's beautiful, it's me, and it has cables, which is a real challenge, considering I only started to knit about seven weeks ago. I got yarn, the moste gorgeous yarn, 95% wool and 5% silk, Colour 11. Totally me I think.

Anyway, I just completed the swatch. The gauge was supposed to be 20 stitches over 24 rows make 4"/10cm. And I did it! Absolutely fucking exactly four inches. I'm absolutely tickled because it means I can start knitting it right away rather than doing the swatch again on different size needles. What a wonderful way to go out of 2007 and into 2008.

Happy New Year, everyone! *gets champagne ready*

Comments

[gardengirl6.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! Having your gauge come out right on the first needle size is always very satisfying. I hope that your project goes quickly and smoothly. The yarn you chose is gorgeous.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

*nods* absolutely. It's freaking awesome. Can you tell I'm totally hooked? Or would that be needled? ROFL

[robisonrocket.livejournal.com]

Um, do you have any tips for me? I can't get past casting on. I am good at that but I don't know how to do knitting on. I watched videos from knittinghelp.com but I can't tell exactly what she's doing and with which piece of yarn. I am encouraged by the fact that you only began seven weeks ago. Maybe in a few months I can learn to do more than cast on!

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

Talking from my own experience, if you have a local yarn store, simply walk in and say you've just started to learn and need help. Absolutely ALL the yarn stores I've been to have extremely helpful staff and are usually tickled pink when they find a new knitter!

If not, sign up for an invite to Ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com). It takes a few days (I think mine took about 10 days), but is well worth it was there are groups (like communities on LJ) that are for particular areas/regions, and you might be able to hook up with a knitting group that's local to you.

Then novice_knitters is a good, helpful community for new knitters and also has further links to instructional sites on its profile page.

You can do it, honestly. It's that first step, figuring out the how-to, that is the biggest! Once you've done that, you'll be cruising. Heck, come here for a few days, and I'll teach you! :-)

[robisonrocket.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I applied to Ravelry. I looked at a link to find a local yarn store but there wasn't a close listing. Would they be in the phone book under 'yarn stores'? There are a few fabric stores, but there's not a whole lot of emphasis on yarn.

[lady-karelia.livejournal.com]

I'd imagine they'd be under either "Fiber" or, more likely, craft stores. You could ask at the fabric store in the knitting section if they know of a local knitting group.