Climbing the learning curve

Today's Knitting and Crochet Blog Week topic is all about skills. What do I have left to learn?

Well, the answer to that is quite a lot, actually. I have only been seriously crocheting and knitting for less than two years, and while I've come a long way since I started, I still have a long way to go.

One thing that has really pushed me this past year in terms of learning new skills has been the Year of Projects. I designed my list of projects with the express aim of improving my knitting skills. Before starting the project, the only knit items I'd done were a few basic garter stitch scarves. While the first few items on the list were scarves, they were lacy scarves that introduced me to new stitches.

Thinking of You scarf

Victorian scarf

I also started learning how to use charted patterns, rather than written instructions only. A major leap forward in my ability to knit came with my first ever triangular shawl, 198yds of heaven:

I've learned to knit in the round on DPNs and circular needles, mastering hats and gloves. I am about to embark on my first ever knit garment, a shrug called Eleonora.

Looking forward to the next Year of Projects (which will kick off in July), I already have big plans to add more skills to my growing repertoire:

• Stranded colourwork
• More things that fit
• Judy's magic cast on
• Intarsia (in crochet, at least)
• Possibly even sock knitting!

One of the things I love about knitting and crochet is that once you've mastered the basics, everything else follows on really naturally. Nothing is scary for me any more, although some patterns I choose will be challenging, the end results are always worth the effort. I love being able to create useable items that I can be proud to wear and use. Having resources like Ravelry and all the wonderful blogs that I read makes the whole process a lot easier as well!

Search 3KCBWDAY6 to see what everyone else has done with today's topic. Also, please check back to see my post for yesterday's "Something Different" topic, if you haven't already seen it!

KnitCroBlo Week - Day 6

Today’s theme is all about aspirations. What pattern(s) or skill(s) do we aspire to? I am going to tie this in to last year’s inspirational pattern, as they are similar topics to discuss.

I spend a lot of time browsing the Ravelry pattern database. At the moment, I have over 130 patterns queued (both knit and crochet patterns), and have “favourited” 59 individual projects that I love (although there is inevitably crossover between my queue and my favourites).

In some cases, it is quite obvious that I have been inspired by a pattern/project on the database. My Fontana scarf is a good example of that.



Crocheted's Simple Textured scarf



My simple crocheted scarf!

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

Other projects in my favourites are purely there to inspire me, to remind me of the wonderful and amazing things you can do with yarn, if you put your mind to it.



Kotka's crochet umbrella



Janukke's Escher fish tesselation blanket



Gwendollyn's Gothic lace shawl



Enfys's clematis



Pudify's reasonably large but not
quite giant squid



Fruppi's crocheted fairy wings



Mintlatte's cathedral rose window afghan



Patterns which I aspire to making one day are mainly lace knits, as knitting anything more complicated than basic garter or stocking stitch is beyond my talents at the moment. In particular, I’d love to have a go at these:

Mirielgw's Beaded Hypernova scarf

KnottyEwe's Haruni shawl

Socialknitgirl's After Hours shawl

But as learning to knit beautiful lace shawls, scarves and wraps is going to require serious investment on my part (books, needles, posh yarn) I am going to have to put this off for a little while yet. Maybe once we get through the summer, and I want to start making things for keeping off the autumn chill, I will come back to this. Long winter evenings might be just the thing for getting my head around reading knitting charts, and complicated knitting stitches. I should have plenty of time for it, as if I pass my exams this June, I won’t have to do any more in December!

Head on over to Google, search for “2KCBWDAY6” to see what aspirations my fellow KnitCroBlo Week bloggers are talking about!