{"id":833,"date":"2012-04-13T19:47:12","date_gmt":"2012-04-13T23:47:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/?p=833"},"modified":"2012-04-13T20:00:23","modified_gmt":"2012-04-14T00:00:23","slug":"the-problem-with-knitting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/the-problem-with-knitting\/","title":{"rendered":"The Problem with Knitting"},"content":{"rendered":"

The problem with knitting, for me anyway, is that it is a cold weather activity.\u00a0 I never think of starting a knitting project until after it begins to get cold (not cool, cold).\u00a0 And since, I start most knitting projects by spinning the wool, and I am not a particularly fast knitter, I never finish the project until after it begins to warm again in the spring.\u00a0 Then, rather than getting to proudly wear my new creation, it has to (hopefully) be carefully packed away until next winter.\u00a0 Such is the fate of this project. \ud83d\ude41<\/p>\n

I have a confession to make.\u00a0 I can’t wear scarves.\u00a0 I don’t know whether it comes from never having a need for them growing up in South Texas, or some fundamental fashion failing of mine.\u00a0 My sister-in-law (actually both of them, come to think of it) wear them gracefully, and look fabulous.\u00a0 I either look like I’ve tied a rope around my neck, or else it ends up hanging open and dragging on the ground every time I bend over.\u00a0 I have a beautiful, marvelously geeky scarf knit for me by a very dear friend (who is also a much better knitter than I am).\"\"<\/p>\n

Isn’t it wonderful? (I should perhaps note, since it may only be readily apparent to genetics geeks, that the pattern is a double helix.)\u00a0 It breaks my heart every time I put it on that I can’t do it justice. In addition the the failure of fashion, it is also very warm (soft and cozy merino!) so there are only a few days a year when I can wear it comfortably anyway.<\/p>\n

I have been looking for an alternative for some time.\u00a0 One of my first knitting in the round projects was a smoke ring\/cowl made from Noro.\u00a0 I didn’t understand until I was finished what a mistake that choice of yarn was.\u00a0 It was beautiful, but very scratchy.\u00a0 Not at all the sort of thing you want in close contact with your neck.\u00a0 This time I chose an alpaca\/silk blend that I picked up at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival several years ago.\u00a0 The price was quite dear, and I find that I frequently need to let expensive materials sit in my craft box for some time before I can work up the courage to make something from them.\u00a0 My primary purpose for this fiber is to make hair nets, but since I spun it so fine, I have quite a bit of it to work with.<\/p>\n

My last experience with with a smoke ring taught me that sizing is more critical than I thought at first, so I tested this pattern with another yarn I had in my stash.\u00a0 I didn’t have enough to complete it, but I got enough to be useable.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This yarn by the way is kid-mohair.\u00a0 It is part of the first fiber that I prepped with my wool combs.\u00a0 (I have pictures of that somewhere.\u00a0 I should dig them up.)\u00a0 I was experimenting with spinning a fuzzy yarn.\u00a0 I still haven’t mastered that, but this batch wasn’t bad.<\/p>\n

As it turned out, I still wound up with a cowl that was too big.\u00a0 The pattern for this can be found at Knitty.com<\/a>\u00a0 Mine ended up much larger. I have to admit, I was somewhat disappointed in the final product.\u00a0 It’s pretty, but not the stunning that I think that the model in the instructions.\u00a0 Also, the beading was a huge pain in the butt.\u00a0 I won’t be doing a beaded project again for quite a while.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

As you can tell from the photos, the weather is beautiful, and warming fast, so here they are, packed away.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The problem with knitting, for me anyway, is that it is a cold weather activity.\u00a0 I never think of starting a knitting project until after it begins to get cold (not cool, cold).\u00a0 And since, I start most knitting projects by spinning the wool, and I am not a particularly fast knitter, I never finish […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":834,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[6,8,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fibers","category-knitting","category-uncategorized"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/cowl1.jpg?fit=640%2C671&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/author\/admin\/"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/cowl1.jpg?fit=640%2C671&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2gp05-dr","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":843,"url":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/science-of-knitting\/","url_meta":{"origin":833,"position":0},"title":"Science of Knitting","author":"admin","date":"April 21, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"As those of you who know me, or who read me on any kind of regular basis know, my professional training is in science.\u00a0 So when faced with a problem, in this case, my less than enthusiastic feeling for my last knitting project, my immediate approach to figuring out what\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fibers"","block_context":{"text":"Fibers","link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/category\/fibers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/swatches.jpg?fit=640%2C490&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/swatches.jpg?fit=640%2C490&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/swatches.jpg?fit=640%2C490&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":206,"url":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/just-in-time\/","url_meta":{"origin":833,"position":1},"title":"Just In Time","author":"admin","date":"October 21, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"So the weather has turned cool again, and by the look of the forecast, it's going to stay that way. It's a good thing I just got my son's hood and mittens finished. He is totally cold blooded and thinks he's going to freeze to death when the temperature hits\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "knitting"","block_context":{"text":"knitting","link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/category\/fibers\/knitting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"20111021-080220.jpg","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/10\/20111021-080220.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1075,"url":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/novel-basket\/","url_meta":{"origin":833,"position":2},"title":"Novel Basket","author":"admin","date":"January 19, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"In my post last Spring, \"The Problem with Knitting\", I mentioned my very first attempt at a cowl or smoke ring.\u00a0 It was made with Noro yarn.\u00a0 Beautiful colors, but anyone who has worked with Noro knows that it's texture leaves something to be desired.\u00a0 Since both of my new\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Baskets"","block_context":{"text":"Baskets","link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/category\/baskets\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/norobasket4.jpg?fit=700%2C550&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/norobasket4.jpg?fit=700%2C550&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/norobasket4.jpg?fit=700%2C550&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/01\/norobasket4.jpg?fit=700%2C550&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":240,"url":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/deceptively-difficult\/","url_meta":{"origin":833,"position":3},"title":"Deceptively Difficult","author":"admin","date":"November 26, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"The family has left after Thanksgiving.\u00a0 It was a really wonderful visit.\u00a0 And since my dad's birthday is in early December, I was able to give him his present early.\u00a0 This should have been his present two years ago, but I got so frustrated with it that I put it\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Fibers"","block_context":{"text":"Fibers","link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/category\/fibers\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/keyscarf.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/keyscarf.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/11\/keyscarf.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":212,"url":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/stash-busting\/","url_meta":{"origin":833,"position":4},"title":"Stash Busting","author":"admin","date":"October 27, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"This week I'm concentrating on using up materials I already have and finishing projects already started. This ones for my nephew. I hope it fits. BTW, the pattern is available on Ravelry.com.\u00a0 It is the Maze and Chevron Hat by Deborah Bennett.","rel":"","context":"In "knitting"","block_context":{"text":"knitting","link":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/category\/fibers\/knitting\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2117,"url":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/what-to-do-with-art-yarns\/","url_meta":{"origin":833,"position":5},"title":"What to do with Art Yarns","author":"admin","date":"November 30, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I love a good art yarn. It is pure creative expression. The problem is that one of the reasons I love fiber arts is because I prefer my art to be useful. Creating beautiful things that also have a purpose is typically what motivates me most. These two priorities are\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/IMG_0472.jpeg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/IMG_0472.jpeg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/IMG_0472.jpeg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/IMG_0472.jpeg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/IMG_0472.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/IMG_0472.jpeg?resize=1400%2C800 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=833"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/833\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":842,"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/833\/revisions\/842"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/834"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exhaliastudios.com\/squirrel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}