Purls Of Wisdom?

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Life Get's in My Way Posted On 2009-06-07 , 2:41 PM Well! After a very long and unexpected hiatus, I'm finally back! I didn't go anywhere, it's just that I've had some serious computer issues lately. Two in fact, in very close succession, that have left me without any means to stay up to date with the online world. I admit to being quite frustrated with this over the last several weeks but there was no point getting worked up about it when I couldn't do anything except wait. An excercise in frustration became a lesson on Patience. Don't you just love the learning opportunities life throws your way? Yeah, right! We're a lot more the same than we are different, you and I, so I'm pretty sure you're not sitting there nodding your head vigourously in agreement to that question! On the brighter side, I had more free time for other things, like visiting with friends and knitting, which I like to do in front of the TV. In an earlier post I mentioned I had started working on my first pair of socks and now I can proudly say that they're finished, along with another pair that just need to have the toe sewn with the Kitchener Stitch to close them up. I've had so much time in fact, that I've even knit a bag and all that's left to do with that is to felt it and attach the zipper and handle. All these items were made as gifts so I apologize that I can't add any photos at this time but I'll make sure they're added in a later post. I'm glad to have had this time to relax a bit because now that we're heading into summer, things get much busier at work. The workload really picks up as more people are travelling and taking flights, gliding, taking flying lessons, skydiving and what have you, and with our own people wanting to take summer holidays as well, it creates a need to work a lot of extra shifts to cover for them in their absence. The nature of the business is such that your work won't wait on your desk until you come back so someone has to be scheduled to cover your shift. As a result, the summers are very busy for me and although I'll do my best to keep up with the blogging, I doubt there'll be much knitting or anything else getting done. Post a Comment comment
Inquiring Minds Want to Know Posted On 2009-04-17 , 6:32 PM I’ve been reading a lot on the internet lately. Mostly blogs, forums and such, related to knitting, and it amazes me that people can do things in so many different ways to achieve the same result. For example, one woman was saying that she didn’t know all the ways of Casting On, she only knew about thirty of them. Now, I have a lot of knitting experience and am definitely not a Newbie in any way, shape or form but I never even knew there were thirty ways. Thirty ways … it boggles my mind! I laughed when I read that and I’m still chuckling now even as I write this. I tell ya, ever since the internet came into being, there’s no shortage of information. Another thing I keep seeing reference to is “Blocking” your knitting. Do most people do this? Because that’s not something I can say I’ve ever done, unless you count laying a damp tea towel over your knitted item and passing a hot iron over it to create a little steam. The idea of buying a blocking board and pinning your garment down seems a bit unusual to me but then again, that’s probably just me. I’ve read that blocking is especially important for lacy shawls and similar items, to open up the lacework and show off all the detail. I can see the sense in that case, but what about things like socks? Do they need to be blocked too? Or gauge swatches? I just shake my head when people say do it for their gauge swatches … I must be missing something here (and I don’t think its my marbles). If you’re someone who makes the effort to block all your projects, would you please let me know what benefit you find in it? I’m sure there must be some, or else people wouldn’t bother and I’m curious, since I’m not one of those people. Comments comment
Introductory Post Posted On 2009-03-31 , 6:23 PM Hello, I'd like to offer a warm welcome to all of you who are reading this opening post on Purls of Wisdom? This is definitely introductory in many ways. Not only is it the first post of this new blog but it’s also my first post as well, which I’m a little bit excited about. The knitting blogs that I've read have all been established for a few years already and there's a long list of articles and posts that I have to say, are sometimes very funny and cover a wide range of topic ideas. What will I have to talk about? Well I'm not sure of the answer just yet ... but I know if I take it a bit at a time it will eventually evolve into a collection of posts that (I hope) you'll enjoy reading. Anyway, it seems like a good time to introduce myself. My name is Sandra and I’ve been knitting since my mother taught me at around the age of five or six (which is many more years ago than I care to admit!). Growing up in Canada and facing the long cold winters was good reason enough to keep the knitting needles busy but I also enjoy knitting. I like the satisfaction of wearing something that I made myself and the feelings I have when I'm making something that will be given as a gift. Then there's all the gorgeous yarns and patterns out there....and I'm hooked. Just like the fish that was, only a moment ago, eyeing up that fat juicy worm, you can't let go of it no matter how hard you try. But I don't try. I enjoy it too much, and so I'll be knitting into my golden years, or at least as long as I'm able. Recently I’ve felt inspired to knit socks (which I’ve never done before) and placed an order online, that hasn’t arrived yet, but in a trip to my LYS last week, I came across an inexpensive ball of yarn that I thought would be perfect for my first pair. Since the store is moving, what better time to buy yarn than when they’ve got a great sale on? So there I was, buying yarn for socks even though there’s already some on it’s way to me, but I’m sure I can’t be the only one this happens to. I’ve read many posts from fellow knitters who admit to having a large stash of yarn on hand. They're compelled to keep buying more yarn and I suppose it’s for those times when they have a sudden impulse to knit something in the middle of the night when the stores are closed, or just in case an emergency should call for some knitting (well hey, it could happen!). And now, with a red face, I have to tell you that I also bought four balls of wool for a felted bag that I’ve been wanting to do but I’ll talk about that in another post. Once again, welcome to Purls of Wisdom? I plan to post regularly and hope you’ll check back for product reviews, patterns, information, tips and more inspiration on knitting. Till then, Sandra Technorati Profile Post a Comment comment
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