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nothing's impossible child
I've decided to try to take up knitting again.
I started back in college and somewhere along the way lost the habit. I think it took me five years to finish my last project, what I thought at the time was a chunky scarf (but I'll come back to that).
For Christmas 2017, I asked for some beginner knitting tutorial packages (and also some Star Wars crochet projects, which I know, totally different, but that's another crafty thing I want to get into, too). Unfortunately 2018 was too busy for me to sit down and attempt to relearn the basics, but last night, I finally dusted off my presents and dived into it.
It's been sorta frustrating.
It's hard knowing this is a thing I used to be able to do, but I'm also struggling because (a) this tutorial package involves an actually(?) chunky yarn and uses 15 mm needles, and while I understand that are much larger needles out there, they feel absolutely enormous to me (and supposedly larger needles are supposed to be easier for beginners? ha!); and (b) I never did learn how to do this whole gauge swatch thing. Apparently I knit way too tightly. HA, this is not really surprising at all, but it does make for some difficulties in adjusting my gauge when I'm also out of my element using what might as well be the same size as the complementary miniature baseball bats we got at the Louisville slugger factory. I just can't seem to loosen up! Except, of course, when it comes to my edges, which end up with these gaping loops. I don't remember struggling this much in college! Anyways.
Also this is my first attempt ever at making a hat -- all I ever did before were scarves, which are wonderfully, delightfully easy. And also I love wearing scarves.
I've given up I'm taking a break for tonight, but I want to try again fresh tomorrow.
I started back in college and somewhere along the way lost the habit. I think it took me five years to finish my last project, what I thought at the time was a chunky scarf (but I'll come back to that).
For Christmas 2017, I asked for some beginner knitting tutorial packages (and also some Star Wars crochet projects, which I know, totally different, but that's another crafty thing I want to get into, too). Unfortunately 2018 was too busy for me to sit down and attempt to relearn the basics, but last night, I finally dusted off my presents and dived into it.
It's been sorta frustrating.
It's hard knowing this is a thing I used to be able to do, but I'm also struggling because (a) this tutorial package involves an actually(?) chunky yarn and uses 15 mm needles, and while I understand that are much larger needles out there, they feel absolutely enormous to me (and supposedly larger needles are supposed to be easier for beginners? ha!); and (b) I never did learn how to do this whole gauge swatch thing. Apparently I knit way too tightly. HA, this is not really surprising at all, but it does make for some difficulties in adjusting my gauge when I'm also out of my element using what might as well be the same size as the complementary miniature baseball bats we got at the Louisville slugger factory. I just can't seem to loosen up! Except, of course, when it comes to my edges, which end up with these gaping loops. I don't remember struggling this much in college! Anyways.
Also this is my first attempt ever at making a hat -- all I ever did before were scarves, which are wonderfully, delightfully easy. And also I love wearing scarves.
no subject
Every time I don't know what a pattern is talking about, I usually go YouTube it. That works way better than trying to figure out what they're talking about from books. And agreed on the large gauge needles. I started knitting on 8's (not sure the mm) and now do a lot of socks on 1s and lace on 4s, 5s, and 6s, so anything bigger than about 10s feels like I'm knitting with curtain rods.
no subject
I've watched a ton of videos (this tutorial package has a website of videos to reference, not that I found those helpful -- I did end up finding a different lady on YouTube that I liked).
So the pattern calls for a garter stitch at 6 stitches and 11 rows in a 4" x 4" square. I've attempted to knit this swatch probably about 10 times. I finally manage a width between 3.5" - 4" (god forbid I remain consistent) and a height that's about 4.5" - 5" (cuz I'm not really quite confident in how to measure the height, and the garter stitch is kinda bunchy, and anyways, I don't want to put my mind through blocking right now bc that seems just like a whole other beast).
ANYWAYS. I think it's time to stop with the swatch and just knit the damn hat. It's my first hat. It's probably gonna suck. My first scarf did! And I've made plenty of scarves I liked. I gotta internalize and commit that shitty pots story that I saw on tumblr.
Thanks for commenting re the knitting! It made me feel better where I was frustrated :)