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!