Another Lesson Learned

Since this is my first sweater, I didn't trust myself to just follow the pattern. I had to overthink it!

One thing I questioned was the what, how, where and even the why of the waist shaping. I bugged other knitters. I took notes. I drew charts and made lists. And, despite all the help I was getting, it didn't click.



I should know better. I'm a retired learning specialist. I went to workshops--geez, I gave workshops--on learning styles!

Teacher--teach, thyself!

Am I a visual learner? Not really. I like displays and charts--but I need something more.
Auditory? Nope--not at all. Talk goes in one ear and out the other!
Kinesthetic? Hands on? Feel it? Touch it? BINGO! That's me!

So I knit another swatch where I worked the shaping. I put the words of the pattern into action.



OHHHH! Now I get it!

This pattern is fabulous--it's so intuitive. Perfect for a new to sweater-knitting knitter! After this week's detour, I'll be casting on again.

Why do I. . . ?

One evening at knit group, a friend saw the folded magazine subscription card in my yarn and went to pull it out.

I screamed and nearly tore her hand off.

"NO, NO! That belongs there!"

When asked why, I explained that Handmaiden Seasilk has the reputation for being very tangly. I used the swift and ball winder to wind it. When the yarn was carefully removed from the winder, I inserted that folded card into the center of the ball. This prevents the ball from collapsing in on itself and the yarn getting tangled. (I also work from the outside of the ball to prevent the tangles.)

Another "Why?" I've been asked is:
Why do you have the shawl all wrapped up in a black ribbon?

No, it's not in mourning.

This is a trick I learned from one of my knit group buddies. It's just that the shawl has gotten quite long. Folding it up and tying it makes the whole thing a lot easier to handle. Folding and tying it also prevents me from strangling myself on it.

One more "Why?"



Why does it look as if my knitting bag has grown antennae?

I don't like point proctectors. I find they often don't stay on. And things can happen within a knitting bag. I push my knitting way down into the center of the needle, but I still fear that the stitches will work their way to the tip and hop off.

So I pull the ends of the needles out and tie the top of the bag very tightly. The knitting stays nice and snug in the bag and can't work itself to the tips.

And that's why!