Learning new things

It`s important that we keep learning.  No matter what you learn, you should always try to learn something new.  Last year I learned how to knit and purl and then I learned how to knit again after realizing (about four months into it) that I`d been throwing the yarn the wrong way across the needle.  Those knits and purls became stockinette and basketweave and seed stitches.  Throw in some yo, ssk, k2tog, kfb and cables and soon enough I was cranking out dishcloths, scarves, cowls, shawls and blankets.

In the past month I put my mind to two different knitting techniques that I`d been eyeing but looked so terribly daunting...entrelac and mitered squares.  Normally, when trying to learn something new, I have to try it.  I can`t just read the instructions and have the light go off in my head.  In knitting this has led to a large number of starting and less of finishing.  There have been evenings of frustration where I`ve thrown the needles up in disgust and frogged and messily wound yarn (still waiting for that yarn winder, hopefully this week) all while cursing under my breath.  I was fully expecting this as I cast on to try entrelac but lo and behold...it was not near as daunting as the wonderful pictures I`d seen looked. 



Entrance to Entrelac Cowl



I thought it would be so complicated and so time-consuming but it was surprisingly easy quick taking two weekends.  I wasn`t sure what I was making when I started out other than trying something new and hopefully somethign that would use up stash rather than getting frogged and thrown back in the pile.  End result -- one cowl and about 320 yards gone from my worsted pile.



Last night, settled in to repeats of Glee while SO was down in the man cave watching the Superbowl, I could have worked on my blocks for my afghan sampler but my brain wanted to try something new.  After a few attempts of trying things and starting again, and again and again I came across the mitered square.  I`d seen it before and it intrigued me but, like entrelac, appeared that it would be difficult.  Once again, I cast on and it clicked and much simpler than I thought from looking at photos.  

First mitered squares



Two blocks down...a gazillion to go to make a blanket which should use up the approx 3100 yds of Patons Decor I`ve got stuffed in the closet.


So I`ve got two `block`style blankets on the go and a cardigan on the go so will need to get on some of those but I know I`ll end up picking something else up as I`ll need some quicker projects to get the feelings of gratification.

On the agenda for knitting things to try this year - more entrelac, finish the mitered squares blanket, socks, hats and who knows what else will come up.