Are you having an awesome blog week? I’m having a total blast looking at everyone else’s posts… and the topics just keep getting better! Today’s topic is to talk about how we’re expanding our skill set, and I’m excited to show you my plans!
(as always, click on a photo to see the project’s Ravelry page, with more details on yarn and pattern used)
Crochet
Recently Acquired Skills
I’ve been crocheting since I was a wee one… but there’s always something new to learn! I mostly make stuffed animals, but I’ve been forcing myself recently to branch out into more complicated stitch patterns. This month, I’ve conquered the Pineapple Stitch:
And the Crocodile Stitch:
So many stitches to learn in crochet!
Goals for new Skills
I’ve been practicing reading charts… and I’m planning to head to Kinokuniya (a Japanese book store, I have one nearby in NYC) and pick up a Japanese amigurumi book. I am going to crochet a stuffed animal using only the chart! Eventually, I might even be able to publish my own patterns in chart format.
Knitting
Recently Acquired Skills
I can double-knit, I can do intarsia and fair isle, knit short rows, knit entrelac, knit backwards and I can do socks on 1 circular, 2 circulars and dpns. What have I been up to lately? I think my most stunning accomplishment is that I’ve learned to love garter stitch:
For the longest time, I’ve resisted garter stitch because I thought of it as something for ‘what newbies who can’t purl’. Now I know better. I’ve come to love it’s squishy fabric that doesn’t curl and the meditative state that knitting in garter gets me into. Now I’m a fan! (I know you’re probably thinking… not much of a skill. But trust me, changing long-held biases is tough!)
Goals for new Skills
I’m going to learn to knit brioche. I have a book (Knitting Brioche-Stitch Socks) and I’m excited to get started!
I’m going to knit toe-up socks. I’ve knit my fair share of socks, but not toe-up, yet. In addition to knitting socks in different ways, I want to improve my understanding of sock techniques. I’ve had my eye on Sock Knitting Master Class for a while now: a fab book that shows you oodles of types of cuffs, heels, toes, etc. I think I’m going to spring for it… and become a crazy sock woman!
Spinning
Recently Acquired Skills
I’m mostly a spindle-spinner, but recently, I borrowed a friend’s wheel and gave it a go:
Not bad for a newbie, huh?
Goals for new Skills
Unfortunately, not many plans, here. I’ve decided that right now, it’s not worth the investment for me to get my own wheel. I have so many fiber activities that are going on… I’m going to just appreciate the lovely work that indie spinners do! Maybe I’ll come back to spinning at another time in life!
Other Fiber Arts
Oh, there are so many! I’m going to try wet-felting soon (making a pair of slippers… I’m a little nervous!) and I’m working on some exciting tutorials for this blog.
The week of May 7th, I’m going to have Kool Aid Dye Week, where I show you a new technique for using Kool Aid to dye your yarn each day. Here’s an example of one of my Kool Aid creations:
I’m also working on a ‘how to recycle sweaters for yarn’ tutorial… since it’s one of my fave past times!
What about you? What are your fiber goals? Can’t wait to read about them!
Like you, I’ve been crocheting from an early age and many years ago I also had a go at knitting, managing to knit a stripy jumper for my husband and a pair or warm ‘trousers’ for myself (yes, trousers). However, I never took it any further and I feel guilty that I didn’t persevere and perfected the art.
Funny enough, only this morning I thought I was buying a pair of ‘fish motif’ socks for my husband that you posted on an earlier blog, only to discover that I’d bought the pattern, NOT the socks! Shock, Horror! I really want to make them for his birthday, but I’ve never knitted socks before. Am I being too ambitious?
@Fatima- You should give the socks a try! Socks aren’t too tricky, as long as you follow the directions exactly and look up some details whenever questions arise :)
your crochet is beautiful, especially the pineapple stitch. I too love garter stitch, so versitile
Wow, that rainbow handspun is just gorgeous! And you’re just a newbie to spinning? That is amazing. I would love to learn how to spin – but then I’m scared that my stash would grow even more. I really don’t need to add fiber to my stash…
I have lots of ambitions for using fibers. Right now I’ve found some beautiful patterns for a couple of doilies using different thread colors. Haven’t done doilies in years, but these are beautiful. Then I want to learn how to do tunisian crochet and also some weaving. After hearing about all your knitting projects, maybe try my hand at knitting socks! Dying fibers sounds like fun, since I teach chemistry, this could be so relevant to share with my students. I am looking forward to your tutorial on using Kool-Aid… Whew! Now that I’ve written this all down… sounds like a lot! Thanks for being an inspiration Stacey. :)
I love your ideas for improving your skills!
I, too, have been tackling the spinning beast- and I’m loving how your wheel-spun yarns look! Definitely something I didn’t even think of!
I’ve posted my thoughts on how to improve my skills at my blog: bookwormmar.blogspot.com
Cant wait to see the kool aid dyeing! Beautiful projects today. :)
I only just heard of the Crocodile stitch in someone else’s blog today, and already I’m thinking of ways to use it! It’s such a neat stitch. Lovely work all around! I’m impressed! :)
I joined a Doily Swap last year and I challenged myself to make a pineapple doily. I hated every minute of it until I blocked it, and fell in love with it. I LOVE the pineapple plume look, and yours is gorgeous too! Your crocodile stitch is beautiful, it’s definitely on my list of things to try!
Your yarn is gorgeous!! as are all your projects.
I love your pineapple stitch and crocodile stitch projects. Gorgeous! Garter stitch is great fun.
Woot! I love reading crochet charts, can’t wait to see what treasures await in Kinokuniya!!
Do you always crochet in the back loops on everything? It works great for amigurumi but I’m wondering how it would work on hats, blankets, etc.
@Michelle-
I usually do unless it’s a lace-y pattern or a textured stitch where the back loop would mess up the final look. I’ve found that if you do back loop on lace things, the holes open up all funny :)
Kool Aid Dye week sounds fun. You will have a blast with symbols for amigurumi :).