Hooked on Stitches

I'm a junior at a northeastern college in New York, and I've just started knitting recently. I'm hoping this blog can help me learn new ideas and allow me to share my projects with other knitters!

[bkennovin]

Going on vacay

My favorite season, summer, is rapidly approaching, which means I won't be lounging on my couch knitting again for another 6 months when it's freezing and there's nothing to do outside.  I only have two more weeks of this semester until I'm freeee and can go back home!  I want to get back to my other hobbies--playing the piano, because I obviously don't have one at school, laying on the beach, and reading a new book (any suggestions?)  The worst part about taking an extended knitting vacation is that I always forget how to make my projects when it's time to pick up the needles again.  But when the time comes I really want to make some more circle scarves and master the earflap hat.  Until then I'll be getting my tan on!  I'm also going to Italy at  the end of May, I'm soooooo excited!!!!

[bkennovin]

I just discovered this website, and it's absolutely amazing!  They sell anything a knitter could ever desire--a huge selection of yarn, patterns, kits, and tons of other fabulous stuff.  It's awesome!

[bkennovin]

This is my friend Amy with her cousin and two adorable projects that she crocheted, a baby hat and a doll.  How cute are they?? I need to learn how to do that!!!

[bkennovin]

Crochet s'il vous plait?

can someone pleaseee teach me how to crochet?!?! i always love the cute projects that I see but no matter how many videos I watch I just can't get it down.  I already own a crochet hook, I use it to help me weave in ends in my projects instead of a knitting needle, and it works just as well.

[bkennovin]

My new circle scarf!  Too bad I just finished it and only got to wear it once before the weather got too warm.  But for my first attempt, it came out fantastic and I can't wait to wear it every day next fall!  I just knit a regular scarf and seamed the ends together, and it only took one skein.  Super easy!  I made it on size 13 needles with Lions Brand Yarn.

[bkennovin]

This is also an awesome knitters blog.  The blogger claims she has no idea what she's doing, but all of her projects look really complicated and beautiful when they're done. Plus she posts a lot of hilarious random shit and loves ketchup.

[bkennovin]

I really like this knitter's blog, she makes tons of cool projects like shawls, scarves and socks, and she posts a ton of cool pics too!

[bkennovin]

DPNs

I have no idea how to use double pointed needles.  I have a set, but they seem really confusing and I am just avoiding learning how to use them.  But apparently they are a great tool because they can help make projects a lot easier, and they're also essential to making things like mittens and socks, which would be really fun to learn how to do.  I also really need to get over my fear of patterns so I don't have to waste yarn when projects don't come out right.

[bkennovin]

Circle Scarves

The next project I'm planning on trying is a circle scarf.  I like these because they are really in style right now and they are so versatile and can be worn so many ways.  I'm going to use this Lion's Brand yarn and size 13 needles, the same yarn and needles that I used for my last scarf.  I'm hoping one skein will be enough.

[bkennovin]

This is a beanie I made for myself, it's thick chunky wool yarn done in stockinette stitch on size 10.5 needles.  The stripes were pretty easy to do, I just started with the blue on the first row where I wanted it to begin, and continued with the green when it was thick enough for my liking.  I made it a tad bit too short, but it's still really cute.

[bkennovin]

This was the first scarf I made for myself.  I absolutely love it and wear it everyday, and scarves are so incredibly easy to make!  This is Lion Brand yarn, my favorite yarn to knit with because all of the colors are beautiful and it is super soft.  I knit this yarn on 13 size needles, which is a few sizes bigger than what they recommend, but I like it better because the scarf comes out looser, softer and comfier.

[bkennovin]

Whenever I'm home, I love making a trip to Michael's for new yarns and needles.  They always have a really great selection and all of the staff are pretty knowledgeable and helpful.  The website is great because they have tons of free project ideas and patterns.

[bkennovin]

This online knitting magazine features hundreds of projects, patterns, and blogs and is a great way to share your ideas and talk to other knitters.

[bkennovin]

This was the first earflap hat I made that I gave to my sister as a Christmas present.  I don't know how to use circular needles so it took a while to find instructions on how to attach the earflaps to a beanie, which I already knew how to do, but once I found a page it was pretty simple.  It is a chunky wool yarn that I did in garter stitch on 10.5 straight needles.  To do the earflaps, I just knit a new row into the bottom of the beanie once it was sewn up, and then just continued knitting.  The pom pom and braids were extremely easy, and it came out really great for my first attempt!

[bkennovin]

This is the most recent hat I've made.  It was supposed to be an earflap hat, where I would have added the earflaps onto the side of the hat after finishing it, but I made it about an inch too long.  Luckily it ended up working great as a hat with a rolled brim.  Since I've only started knitting recently, most of my projects are done through trial and error because patterns confuse and scare me.  Not the most reliable method, but it's been working good enough for now.  My boyfriend picked out this yarn while we were shopping one day because it looks kind of like a camo pattern.  It's worsted weight and I knit it in garter stitch on size 8 straight needles, and just sewed up the ends together when it was done.