New Year's Knit-o-lutions

Happy New Year!

I'm not really a resolution maker, being of the type who prefer to set goals instead. Cuz that's not the same thing AT ALL.

This year, I resolve to call it what it is and make some New Year's Knitting Resolutions or Knit-o-lutions, if you will.

• I resolve to knit a sweater that will last my teen son more than one winter--and finish it before he outgrows it.
• I resolve to start Christmas knitting well before October 1. Just as soon as I finish 2014's Christmas knitting...
• I resolve to obsess less over the designs of new patterns.
• I resolve to be more honest about my need to obsess over designs. After all, who am I kidding? I want them ALL to be perfect!
• I resolve to be more brave about sending my little darlings off to be considered for publication, accepting that a rejected pattern isn't a personal affront. (It's not, right? Please tell me it's not!)
• I resolve to conquer a knitting technique that I am not...fond of.  At least one--there are several.
• I resolve to follow my own advice and plan more knitting time into my schedule.

What about you? Resolutions or Goals? Do you make them for your knitting?

Merry Christmas to all and to all a free pattern!

I don't know about you, but I have had a fantastic year with you, my knitting friends! I've learned a lot and been privileged to be a part of helping others learn a thing or two as well. I've published some patterns, had some patterns published by others, written about a million words about knitting, and yes, even dropped a few stitches. (It happens!)

As Christmas and New Year's draw near, I am going to take a break from the blog and spend some time with my family (and maybe even finish their Christmas gifts on time. Maybe.). I hope that when the New Year arrives, it will find you prosperous and filled with visions of the great things to be knit in 2015. Next year is my 10 year Knit-iversary so I have big plans for a year-long celebration of all things knitting--you won't want to miss any of it!

So, I hope you will have a great couple of weeks--knit, relax, work, shop, travel, eat; celebrate the holidays in ways that are meaningful to you. Join me the second week in January as I kick off 2015 with my annual Knitting Resolutions. The January newsletter will go out by January 15, so if you haven't signed up yet, please do! And classes pick back up in January, too.

Oh, and one more thing.... Remember the Simple Knitting Tip about updating old scarves? Here is the pattern I promised--my gift to you. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas!

 

 

Long Stripey Garter Infinity Scarf

Banded Gratuity--A Long Stripey Garter Infinity Scarf:
Two methods
by Tamara Goff

Yarn:
Worsted weight. I used Lily Sugar n’Cream, 100% cotton worsted weight in 6 colors. You can use wool or acrylic or a blend. The important thing here is color!

Needles:
US Size 7 circular needles, 40” long.
Gauge:
13 sts = 4 inches in garter stitch.
length:
Approximately 70 inches long

Method 1: Knit in the round
CO 220 sts with Color A.
Join in the round, being careful not to twist stitches.

Knit one round, purl the next, creating a garter stitch fabric. Work 2 garter ridges with Color A
Switch to Color B and work 2 garter ridges.
Switch to Color C, work 1 garter ridge.
With Color D, work 2 garter ridges.
With Color E, work 3 garter ridges.
With Color F, work 1 garter ridge.
With Color C, work 2 garter ridges, then bind off LOOSELY! Weave in ends.

Method 2: Knit flat
CO 220 sts with Color A
Knit every row for 2 garter ridges, then switch to Color B and follow color striping pattern as above.
Bind off LOOSELY! Tie ends and add more yarn to make fringe, or weave in ends and sew short sides of scarf together to make it a continuous loop (infinity scarf).

Even Santa has last-minute knitting to do!

Simple Knitting Tip: Update a Scarf

If you're like me, you've knit a few scarves over the years. OK, a LOT of scarves over the years. Scarves are fun to knit and fun to wear and I never seem to have enough of them in all the right colors (meaning...to go with every outfit).

Styles change, or at least they shift. Yesterday's long scarf that you tied in endless braids around your neck has given way to today's chunky cowl. While I am not what anyone would call trendy, I have found that sometimes I prefer certain styles over others.  The cowl is a great example.

The cowl never needs to be re-tied. It doesn't come untied. It just is. Some cowls are long enough to wrap twice, giving you exactly two options: Wear it wrapped once or twice. For those of us who are occasionally faced with bouts of indecisiveness, this is a relief.

So what if your closet more closely resembles the scarf trends of 5 years ago than those of the last 5 months? It might be time for you to update!

I had several very long scarves that I turned into infinity scarves (the cousin of cowls). Here are two examples:

It was easy to sew up the short ends of my drop stitch ribbon scarf, creating a continuous circle of up-to-date awesomeness.

The free pattern for this (in dishcloth form) can be found in my Ravelry store HERE.

My sideways skinny scarf with extra fringe took a little longer. First I removed all the fringe. This galled me a bit, because it was actual WORK to put all that fringe on in the first place! Still, it was do-able, so I did it.

This one is so long it wraps 3 times. Pattern for this one: coming soon!

The result? Two scarves that I had stopped wearing because I didn't like the way they had to be tied, became two infinity scarves that I now enjoy wearing.

Take a look at your handknits--if you're not wearing them during seasonally appropriate times, they might benefit from an easy update. The point is to make the most of your knitting! Just because you've bound off a project doesn't mean you can't "tweak" it afterward. Consider it all part of your Knitting Superpowers.

Give the Gift of Knitting

You've already seen my suggestions for gift ideas.  Here's one all fleshed out for you, and maybe something you'll want to bookmark to use in a couple of weeks when you realize that you still need a present for a knitter. Hey, it happens.

The Gift of Knitting:

That's right, for only $35 you can help someone perfect their techniques, get questions answered, or learn something entirely new.

Call or email me and your gift will be on its way to you or your recipient within hours. Appointment times and locations are flexible and of course the lesson is completely tailored to the student.

(And purchasing a gift certificate for yourself is always allowed!)