Combined Knitting

I am a self taught knitter. On February 13, 2004 I simply decided to learn to knit. I bought one of those kits with the fun fur to make a scarf. Fun fur and size 13 needles along with absolutely no idea how to knit do not and I repeat, do not go together. Long story abbreviated I learned to knit using the throwing method which I'm sure has another name that I cannot recall at this time. I hold my yarn in my right hand and "throw" it over my needles. I worked for me.

While learning to knit I tried the continental way of knitting which would be holding my yarn in my left hand. It felt very awkward at first but eventually I was able to knit this way. Purling was another story. I tried and tried and tried but alas I did not succeed. For awhile I would knit continental and purl by throw. It wasn't the best way but for large amounts of stockinette it was fastest.

This past week I've been listening to a lot of podcasts (see earlier post) and I heard Annie Modesitt on KnitCast talking about how she knits different. I caught myself thinking, "Well, how does she knit?" Fast forward to last night and I'm knitting away on a sweater and listening to Knitting News Cast when she starts talking about having the exact same problem I had. Not being able to Purl Continental. When she too mentioned Annie Modesitt I knew it was a sign and I had to investigate. I checked out Annie's website and in minutes I was knitting and purling not continental but by "Combined Knitting."

Now don't get me wrong, it took several rows to get somewhat comfortable and I'm still working on it so that it's second nature. It's basically a row of knit that is knit through the back so that when you purl the stitch is seated on the needle in such a way that the purl stitch is very easy to accomplish. I know my explanation leaves a lot to be decided but if you check out the link to Annie's site it has great animations along with clear pictures. My advice is to give it a try, you might like it, in fact you might love it! Also, thanks so much to Annie Modesitt for sharing! Knitters are so awesome!

I'm back!

No, I didn't really go anywhere in the physical way but mentally I checked out a couple of months ago and now I have returned! Been busy and feeling very burned out. Still breaking through a haze of depression but I'm going to make it or die trying... that didn't come out right, did it?

Have you ever had so much information that you wanted to share that you just didn't know where to start? So, that's where I am. I will quote the famous Flylady and tell myself, "You are never behind, jump in where you are!"

I am, as I write this, listening to a podcast of Brenda Dayne's Cast On show. You see, I have wanted an iPod for quite some time and finally talked my DH into letting me get one! I could have gone for the most expensive and 30GB capacity with video but I showed amazing self-control and got the 1GB Nano instead. I'm loving it. I've got about 200 songs on it and room to put some podcasts on and it's awesome. But I digress...

Cast on is a knitting podcast. I am probably the last person on earth to discover these but I am hooked. Brenda is from the US originally and not in Wales. She puts together a really nice show with some very interesting music. I caught some of her older podcasts and she had a song by Deirdre Flint called The Bood Fairy. I laughed out loud while listening and then played it later for my DH who also found it funny. Anyway, you can click on Deidre's name and go to her website and listen to the song. I plan to add it to my regular music list on my ipod. What can I say, I sort of like folk music.

ANYWAY, I am really ADHD today... I know what you non-podcasters are thinking, listening to knitting? How does that work? My answer, just listen to one. Brenda is wonderful at painting word pictures and describing her "Sweater of the Week" and you can really visualize it. She deals with all kinds of subjects, all things knitting. You do not have to have an iPod to listen. There are all kinds of podcasts on knitting and every other subject you can imagine. I listen to Cast On, Knitcast, Sixty Second Survivor and my Church podcast for Ridge Point Community Church. These are just my favorites (so far) and I'm still searching. Check them out!

Okay, so I could go on and on but then I'd probably take a couple months off to recover from the burn out. Hopefully I still have some readers and you will have all forgiven me for abandoning you. Life has a way of getting away from me.

On an unrelated to knitting note... I have a personal question. Do you know anyone that is getting married? Maybe you are. Have you registered? I know of a wonderful registry and if you contact me I can give you all the details. Just click on the email me button or leave me a comment and I will contact you. It is a very generous registry where you can actually get up to $200 in free products. If I weren't already married I would totally do this!

So, have a wonderful day! Knit if you can and even if you can't!!!!