Stephanie wrote:
Lately I've been putting in some long days. At the end of the day if I get a chance to knit, I want my knitting to be uncomplicated - the kind of knitting where you follow the pattern and everything falls into place.
But of course that's not how things work out when you're tired, your feet hurt and you seek solace in your knitting, even if only for a row or two. Instead, it seems that every project I touch has "issues".
I was cruising along on this fingerless mitt until I stopped to count my stitches after all the thumb increases had been made.
I had the right number of thumb stitches, but the total stitch count was off. I counted and re-counted a couple of times. I was tempted to start ripping it out, but decided to set it aside until I could take the time to work it out on paper.
After doing all the math I discovered that my stitch count was right. The pattern was wrong. I love it when that happens. Now finishing these will be a snap.
And then there was a slight problem with these socks.
Isn't it beautiful? These socks are a gift, and I thought I had the sizing right. Turns out they are a smidge too long. As you can see I haven't taken this one off the needles yet. It's nothing that can't be fixed, but it's not something I look forward to doing when I'm tired and crave effortless knitting.
This pattern is Holidazed by Anne Hanson. I'm in love with this design and am resisting the temptation to start a pair for myself. Maybe after I finish this pair.
Now that we're in the deep freeze of winter, I think we're due for another contest. Leave a comment and tell me where you find your knitting inspiration these days - blogs, Ravelry, knit night, local yarn shop, magazines or something else. I'm fascinated by what inspires people, and I'm always looking for new sources of creativity. The winner, chosen at random, will receive a $25 Dye Dreams gift certificate. Contest closes Sunday, January 17, 2010.
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27 comments:
I love to read all different blogs, and Ravelry everyday. You never know when you are going to find something interesting
These days mostly ravelry, but I'm finding the best luck browsing the things that people post into the groups that I'm a part of rather than just searching haphazardly.
I like looking at blogs and books. I remember seeing socks on the Yarnharlot's blog and loving them, but when I looked them up in the pattern book I was not impressed with the picture. I would have never looked twice at the pattern without a nudge from the harlot.
I find Ravelry to be almost too inspiring! I find plenty that I'd love to knit, but then I get stuck at the keyboard. My local knitting guild actually inspires me to actually knit!
i am inspired by my friends in my two regular knitting groups. i would not knit half as much if it weren't for the inspiration and fun of knitting with friends.
I get inspiration from reading blogs. I am really bad--an item isn't even on my radar, I read one of my favorite blogs and suddenly I am ordering yarn for another project.
I find inspiration from many sources. Lately it's from the weather. I look at the thermometer and just have to start another cozy pair of socks.
Ravelry, blogs, knit night, LYS...I find inspiration in all of the above, and more. Woman in pretty sweater at the grocery store? Inspiration. Worn out stranded mitten that somebody lost on our street? Inspiration. Projects listed on groups I'm in on Ravelry? Inspiration. The recently finished sweater someone at knit night brought to our lys in need of only buttons? Inspiration. A certain gorgeous afghan being constructed this weekend by people wearing and working on even more gorgeous projects? Inspiration. Awesome indie handpainted yarns in my stash just waiting for their turn? Inspiration. :-)
I am very inspired by the FO threads on many of the Ravelry groups - lately I've been stalking cardigan and sweater groups but as others have said, sometimes there is too much inspiration! Beautifully dyed yarn and luxurious fibers which beg to be worn also motivate me to knit them up!
And of course, near-zero New England temperatures make me yearn to be wrapped in wool from head to toe!
Ravelry always! forums, groups, you name it...links to blogs where there are more answers and inspiration.
Ravelry is the best Web 2.0 there is cause it builds on knitters real-life experiences and provides so many different ways to get to that experience! Laura
Ravelry always! forums, groups, you name it...links to blogs where there are more answers and inspiration. Ravelry is the best Web 2.0 there is cause it builds on knitters real-life experiences and provides so many different ways to get to that experience! Laura
The blog Patsknittingandquilting is a big inspiration. Ravelry too. Sometimes pattern books.
My inspiration comes from both in-person and online contact: meeting with other knitters in my guild, both local and Stitches classes, Ravelry, Knitty, and some of my favorite online stores & LYSes. I no longer subscribe to magazines, but will buy issues I find inspiring and/or instructive. Often I will check out books from the library too. I will play with my Sweater Wizard to help me design sweaters for my stash yarn.
My current passions are bead knitting & crocheting (merging my crafts!), inspired by a recent class with Betsy Hershberg; and creative/freeform lace knitting with fingering wt yarn, inspired by a class with Myra Wood, and her book, "Crazy Lace". Many of your sock yarns would be great for this, since they contain 15% or less nylon content!
I get most of my inspiration from all of the blogs I read...I constantly find things that go on my "must knit" list! (or must buy!)
I enjoy certain blogs - like WendyKnits, the Loopy Ewe and Knitspots. I don't look for patterns or ideas in books or magazines much anymore.
When you're a process knitter with chronic startitis, you don't really need much inspiration -- it's more of an excuse. But a long list of bookmarked blogs is helpful, particularly when the bloggers link to new patterns or designers. Ravelry is also a great source of inspiration. Following a pattern to a designer to projects to an individual to that person's projects etc. always yields lots of neat results. Sometimes just keeping one's eyes open for the surreptitious observation of socks and sweaters on innocent passers-by is sufficient.
I don't think there is anywhere I don't get inspiration from. There are just so many places, my knitting groups, Ravelry, blogs, my LYS....the list goes on.
I'm inspired by blogs and mostly ravelry.
I think I have about 500 patterns in my favorites and it grows daily. It's amazing the range of things you can find there on rav.
I let the yarn inspire me. I look at it and think about the best way to show off the colors, what the texture of the finished product will be and what project will work best with the fiber content. Then I go to Ravelry and see if something matches what I have dreamed up. If not, I'll find a way to do it myself :)
Most of my inspiration comes from Ravelry discussion forums, but I also regularly read a few blogs and browse magazines and books. I usually see something which leads me to something else and something else, weaving a path full of ideas and potential patterns.
My inspiration comes from two places: the yarn - what does this yarn want to be; and personal desire for warmth or fashion.
Ravelry, for sure. I love looking under "people" to see favs and what new things people have finished.
I read a lot of blogs and I love it when these link to other blogs I haven't seen before...
I'm inspired by so many sources, but Ravelry is probably the most inspirational. I love it when I become "reinspired" by a yarn/project that I have lost interest with. Seeing what others do has broadened my horizons.
I love looking at the Activity pages for groups on Ravelry. I can see what other people are checking out, and pinpoint what I like. One of my favorite non-computer, knitting-related activities is to go through my knitting books and patterns, I often find a smaller pattern that satisfies my need for something simple, but new, to knit.
These days most of my inspiration is found on Ravelry and sometimes from the LYS.
I get most of my knitting inspiration from looking at projects and pattern ideas on Ravelry and the various blogs that I read. I love to see what others do and then try to make it work with what I have in my stash.
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