The past two nights have been “Family Movie Night” at my house.  My husband brought home a bunch of movies home and I felt obligated to sit with him and watch.  Since I was working on my new knitting project, I couldn’t have been happier.

I have heard of stories of people knitting without looking.  I always thought that one day I would get there.  I pictured myselft watching TV and not even paying attention, looking down and seeing a completed sweater.  I could knit while riding in the car, so I could knit anywhere.  Plus, if they could do it, I could too.

My husband has a bit of OCD (just kidding, but he does get obsessed with things).  One of his pet peeves is having the lights on when you don’t need them.  When the movies started it was still daylight out; thanks to day light savings time.  But half way through the sun set and I found myself sitting in the dark – knitting.

Now, I could have very easily gotten up and turned on the lamp.  Or better yet, called one of my slaves (oops, I mean kids) to turn the light on.  But heck!  they could do it, so could I.

Warning – don’t do this without practice.

Tonight, the lights are on.  I looked at my work and God only knows what I was thinking.  It looks like I turned halfway through a row in several spots.  Not that I remember doing this.  So, I have spent the last 2 hours tearing back three rows of stitches.  Remember, I cast on 272 stitches.

All is better now.  I have learned my lesson.  Although I get lots of messages of how well I knit and how amazing it is that I am tackling a sweater already or how incredible it is that I have made socks as my second project; I think I am letting this go to my head.  For now, I will practice the “not-looking” thing and check my work often.

This week I picked up the most wonderful yarn from a new yarn shop close to my work.

They don’t sell online yet, but check out their site  www.fourpurls.com.  It was heaven walking in there.  IT IS A REAL YARN SHOP.  OK – I will go more into it on the podcast, but this weekend I had a terrible experience as the “so-called” yarn shop near my house.  It was such a joke.  Then I went to Four Purls.  The owner is Laura and she was WONDERFUL.  She helped me pick out the perfect yarn for my Yoga Wrap project, looked up the notes in Ravelry, figured out how much yarn I would need, held the hanks (is that what they are called) that I couldn’t afford to purchase right away, made needle size suggestions, and taught me how to adjust the pattern to fit the yarn I wanted to use.  Everyone should have a “Laura” in their life.

I am heading back there tomorrow because I found out that I have every size needle imaginable except the one size I need for this project.  But I don’t mind, being in her shop was such a joy.

Sorry there was not a podcast this week.  The sound went out on my computer and by the time I figured out what went wrong, it was too late to record.  I will be back next week, but probably on Saturday.  I have to Chaperone a Girl Scout event on Sunday.

Don’t forget to call me and leave a voicemail.  This will enter you into a drawing for a “Purple Thang”!

On my to-do list:

• Adding a page on how to start a podcast
• Post on the pot holders I made and sort of designed
• Adding a page with all the podcasts

I promise I will get to these things.  But I know I will be knitting the next few days.  Too excited to start a new project.

I have recieved several emails about my knitting so here is an update.

I have finished about 15 inches of the scarf.  It is not going smoothly, I repeat NOT going smoothly.  But I am not discouraged, I will prevail.

I found a great app on my iPod call Stitchminder by Quilts2go.  It is great at helping with counting rows and pattern rows, among other things.  I have not lost my place once since I started using it.

I am still dropping stitches, but I have been told to invest in Bamboo needles to help with that problem.  I think I will do that for my next project.

I am still gaining stitches.  I now understand how I am doing this and I am trying to be more careful, but to no avail.

The worst thing that happened is that my ball of yarn “pooped” out this mess.  It took me two lunch hours to untangle the mess.  Am I supposed to be preparing my yarn in some way to prevent this?

I had a very busy, crafty week.  I didn’t have time to organize a planned topic, so, instead of skipping a week I thought I would share everything that went on.

Thank you to Nicole for sharing her pictures.  Nicole took one of her husband’s old shirts and made this dress for her daughter.  LOVE IT!!!  She got the idea from Crafster.org.  Leave a comment and let Nicole know what you think.  I love the idea and I may be running to the thrift store to pick up an old shirt to try it!

Tiffany shared with us how she trys to break the stereotype of only older people craft.  She always brings her crafts with her – knits in public as much as she can.  Join her – help spread the word and change this stereo type.

Picture from the baseball game – here is my WONDERFUL husband; he’s a cutie, isn’t he?

Picture of the card catalog I swiped from the junk mail pile at work.  Great place to get fabric postcard ideas.

This is my sewing table ready and waiting for my new machine.  One more day!!!  This picture does not give this table justice.  I love this table so much.  It is the perfect size not to be too overwhelming in a room.  The “L” shape is perfect and very comfortable to work at.  It doesn’t have much storage, but everything can’t be perfect.  the fact that It doesn’t have storage allows me to sit where my cutting mat is, if needed.

Everything I bought at JoAnn’s. 

My first knitting attempt.  I knitted a little, I purled a little, then I stockinette stiched a little.  See Friday’s post for a picture of the supplies I picked up at Hobby Lobby.

Today, I started to teach myself how to knit.  I took a trip to Hobby Lobby and JoAnn’s.  I picked up the “Taught Myself to Knit” kit – the same kind I got when I taught myself to Crochet.  I also picked up a few free sock patterns and 4 skeins of yarn.  The yarn is super soft.

Right now I am working on learning how to cast on….wish me luck!