Sunday, July 31, 2016

Slowly she goes...

I'm not sure where my time has gone this week, but it's not been into crocheting.  Much.  I did try to catch some of the Democratic Convention, and that is prime crocheting time. :)  Much like last week while trying to take in what I could of the Republican Convention I crocheted happily on both of my Spice of Life Blankets this week.  They are about half way done and I'm hoping to finish one during the Ravellenics which are to begin next Friday.

And I'm knitting another dishcloth.  No pattern, just a border of garter stitching with stockinette in the middle.


I guess there's some improvement overall, but I'm finding I have problems when I rip back to a mistake and start a row over again.  I think there must be a trick to getting the stitches back on the needle in the right direction.  The problem is I can't tell from looking at the stitches what the right direction is.  At the moment this remains a mystery, but I'm going to hope I'm able to figure that out.

On another fun note...  last month I won a drawing in the Red Heart Lovers' Ravelry group for their June CAL.  That month we were to try a new technique or learn a new skill.  I learned how to do tunisian crochet (simple stitch) and I made this Shadow Stitch Pillow.  Each person who participates in the monthly CAL is entered into a drawing for that month, and I happened to be one of the winners.

And a week or so ago I received my prize:

While it was fun to get some new-to-me yarns in the mail, I'm most excited about the Unforgettable yarn in the foreground.   I love this yarn for making scarves and what they sent is a brand new colorway (called Tealberry) and I'm looking forward to seeing how it works up.   I think I'm going to use it to make a linen stitch scarf for the Ravellenics.  :)

To see what other Yoppers are up to visit our thread this week on Ravelry.






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30 comments:

  1. sharonJuly 31, 2016 at 2:49 AM

    I love that mint green of the washcloth, I wouldn't know the right way to pick up stitches either! Lucky you, and congrats on the prize, That Unforgettable yarn looks lovely.

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  2. UnaJuly 31, 2016 at 4:09 AM

    There is a really useful tutorial on frogging here
    http://knitty.com/ISSUEwinter03/FEATwin03TT.html

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    1. BeckiAugust 2, 2016 at 6:53 PM

      Thank you for the link, Una! I'm going to try that. It's the lifeline idea, but using knitting needles (a smaller one might be best. What a great idea - it looks like one can just pick up and start knitting right there where the frogging stopped.

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  3. Renee AnneJuly 31, 2016 at 4:21 AM

    You're already braver than I am. I will tink back, rather than take my needles out to fix a mistake. I'm less likely to screw something up. I am, however, learning how to drop down stitches to fix mistakes. It's not going well but I'm trying to learn how to do it. I knew a lovely woman back in Wisconsin who helped me fix a miscrossed cable on my first sweater...by dropping down the stitches and crossing it correctly. She was a wizard, I'm pretty sure.

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    1. BeckiAugust 2, 2016 at 6:56 PM

      Now that suprises me, Renee. You're such an experienced knitter I figure you'd rip back with abandon and confidence. But this also makes me feel better somehow. I hope to someday even understand what you just wrote about dropping down to fix a stitch. I mean I know what you're talking about (I think), but why or how this is even possible completely eludes me at the moment.

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  4. CyraJuly 31, 2016 at 4:44 AM

    Oh yes, I have that problem with frogging too, I just cannot work out which way to pick the stitch(es) up again. Love the green colour dishcloth. Such a peaceful colour.
    What a very lucky girl you are to win such a gorgeous prize. You will get quite a few projects from that stash addition.

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    1. BeckiAugust 2, 2016 at 6:57 PM

      Well, check out the links several have provided here. I'm feeling better about it all. :)

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  5. DorothyJuly 31, 2016 at 7:05 AM

    Congratulations on winning the Red Heart yarn. I agree with you, Unforgettable is gorgeous and does make beautiful scarves. I watched a video on YouTube the other day on how to put a lifeline into your knitting (in case you make a mistake). Sorry I can't give you a link but I'm sure you'd find it if you did a search on YouTube. Looks very easy and keeps the stitches right way around.

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  6. Dianna MJuly 31, 2016 at 8:14 AM

    Oh half way on the blanket, that is very exciting!!!! Yay for yarn!!!! Congratulations. That's awesome!!! You could put a lifeline in, then rip out and your stitches are on the line and you just put your needle back in. https://youtu.be/ae7pobnLKGQ I highly recommend VeryPink and KnitFreedom when you are needing help videos.

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    1. BeckiAugust 3, 2016 at 12:28 PM

      Thank you for the link here, Dianna. I know you posted this on your blog and I'm looking forward to trying this! I like most of what I've seen VeryPink do, but I hadn't come across this. She's a great help.

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  7. CrochetbyErinJuly 31, 2016 at 11:38 AM

    Are all the crocheters become knitters ? :) this is awesome!!

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    1. BeckiAugust 3, 2016 at 12:30 PM

      I'm finding it hard to believe I'll ever consider myself a knitter (at this rate). But it does seem interesting that a bunch of us crocheters are simultaneously, but independently becoming interested in knitting.

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  8. Gracey is not my name....July 31, 2016 at 11:51 AM

    Congratulations on winning....that Tealberry is pretty....I just pick the stitches back up whichever way and then when I reknit, I can tell if they are wrong or not and I flip them...

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    1. BeckiAugust 3, 2016 at 12:32 PM

      This is true. I can tell that some stitches just aren't right, but I've been afraid at that point to take the stitch off the needle and turn it around. Aside from fear I'll drop the stitch, I'm not even sure it would be obvious to me which direction to turn it. I should probably give this a try, though. It does seem like it might be the quickest solution if it works for me.

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  9. elizabethJuly 31, 2016 at 9:11 PM

    how fun! those yarns are lovely! I think your wash cloth is really neat and a lovely colour! Takes time! have a good week!

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  10. Breathing LifeJuly 31, 2016 at 11:25 PM

    You knitting is really improving fast! Well done. and Congrats on your win! I am looking forward to the ravellenics too - going to work on my sock yarn blanket like I did during the 2014 games!

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    1. BeckiAugust 3, 2016 at 12:48 PM

      Fun! I look forward to seeing your progress during the Ravellenics. I think the Rav games will be so fun. This is my first time participating.

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  11. RuthAugust 1, 2016 at 4:53 AM

    Becki that cloth is great! Look how even that tension is! I can see where you frogged back but believe me that will all smooth out once it's wet and the same would happen if you had something and blocked it. When you take your needles out to frog back if you concentrate on getting the stitches back on the needle first, then as you knit the first row after it's been frogged you can fix the stitches as you come to them. This might make that first row a bit slower but I find over all you're not worrying about picking up all the stitches and then worrying at the same time are they facing the right way. When the stitches are on the needle they don't sit straight they sit at a slight angle with the front of the stitch next to you more to the right and the back of the stitch away from you more to the left, if that makes sense. When you come to each stitch if the leg next to you is more to the left just pop the stitch off the needle and turn the stitch and slip it back on your needle. This means you have only one stitch to worry about at a time. I'm not sure if that helps you any but it may help you understand when you look at your knitting and it may help make it more enjoyable for you. Congrats also on your win :)

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    1. BeckiAugust 3, 2016 at 10:13 PM

      Thank you, Ruth. In reading your comment combined with some others here, I do think I can see how this would work. I will try it next time. And if I struggle with this method, I can do the lifeline.

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  12. LeftycrafterAugust 1, 2016 at 10:19 PM

    Wow, congrats on half way mark for your blankets and also for your red heart win. I love the unforgettable yarn. It is so yummy soft and cushy. What Ruth said is how I pick up stitches too. I just worry about getting them all back on the needle and then worry about if they face the correct way when I get to them. It is pretty easy to tell when you go to put your needle into them if it goes easily or not too.

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    1. BeckiAugust 3, 2016 at 10:14 PM

      I have noticed this, Marsha. It didn't occur to me at the time to turn my stitches. I'm hopeful I can tell which way to turn them when I try this. :)

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  13. KarenAugust 2, 2016 at 11:47 AM

    Congrats on the yarn win!! When I have to rip back in knitting I do it one stitch at a time - much slower but easier on my nerves!!

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  14. Lucy BowenAugust 2, 2016 at 5:50 PM

    Yay, congratulations on winning! As for the frogging, the same thing happens with me, so I agree with Tammy and Ruth, take it one stitch at a time once you have them back on the needles.

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    1. BeckiAugust 3, 2016 at 10:17 PM

      It seems silly to actually say this, but I'm almost looking forward to my next knitting mistake so I can give this a go. ;)

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  15. elizabethAugust 3, 2016 at 2:44 PM

    just popping in to say a big *thank you* for your kind words about my blog!!! I never feel that I do 'enough' of anything, including hospitality, so I appreciate your words! I love creating beauty and we are so blessed that we know that God is the creator of beauty!!!

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  16. DonnaAugust 7, 2016 at 5:42 PM

    I love the color of your washcloth. What a pretty shade of green! How exciting to win that prize too. I want to pet your yarn. :)

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