Will one skein be enough?

Taking a break from my book award reading, I spent a good deal of time tonight looking and working my way through an absolutely delightful knitting book that will be available in September, just in time for holiday gift knitting.  Put it at the top of your "to-buy" list. 

Lace One-Skein Wonders: 101 Projects Celebrating the Possibilities of Lace by Judith Durant (Storey Publishing, Sept. 2013) offers a fabulous number of enticing lacy knitting projects for all levels of knitters using just one skein of yarn. The simple projects will appeal to advanced knitters and the advanced projects will entice beginners to challenge themselves to hone their lace and overall knitting skills. You'll want to cover your head, hands, feet, shoulders, and home with these knitted treasurers.  The projects are trendy yet timeless.

The book presents each project with a jazzy little introduction.  The basic information for each pattern is contained in an easy-to-read colored box.  The patterns are well-written and the accompanying charts are complete.  Since many items involve carefully structured decreases, the charts and written instructions go together very well.  Helpful hints are interspersed along the way.  The stitch glossary at the end of the book covers well a number of different techniques used. 

The patterns range in size from very small not-your-run-of-the-mill headbands to beautiful shawls that provide style for either accessorizing or chasing off a chilly breeze.  It's amazing that some of these projects can be knit from one skein, but the yardages listed for the suggested yarns seem adequate. 

This is a knitting book that will keep its value for a long time to come.  It's the best of the "One Skein Wonders" series so far.  If you are planning on knitting holiday gifts, you'll want to also make time for making several for yourself. Grab your needles, a bunch of skeins (one skein will not be enough!), a good audiobook, and enjoy.

 



Times change....

In November 1986 I remember getting ready to check out at Busy Fingers, a craft store in Sanford. I had gone there to buy some yarn to make a baby blanket. At the register was a copy of "Leisure Arts" magazine featuring a fabulous picture of a Santa Claus in something called "cross stitch." I had seen this type of needlework before, but never really paid any attention to it. Well, this Santa so intrigued me that I just had to buy the magazine. I took it home and within the week was at the local dime store to buy fabric and the nearly 40 colors of floss needed to start this project. I followed the directions and within the next several months, I had completed and framed the project. Then it was on to the following year's Santa and a multitude of projects after that. I was totally hooked. Cross stitch had become a passion.

In 1988 a friend of mine introduced me to the local Embroiderers Guild group. From the moment I walked in I was warmly greeted and felt right at home. This only fed my passion and brought me many new very dear friends. As the years passed, I tried many more forms of embroidery. Not all of my efforts were successful but my enthusiasm never waned. I became very involved and then some in the Guild. I was chair of the local group, became president of the Maine chapter, was New England Region Director, and served on the national board. I took classes locally and at national seminars. I dreamed of owning a stitching shop or running needlework seminars on my own. I was always looking for more time or a place to put in one more stitch.

I could never get enough stitching in - either the actual act of it or reading about it. I went on a tear buying projects and books. My needlework library has well over 1,000 books and shelves of magazines. I have more projects both started and "in the box" than I would ever have time to finish - even if I stitched 24/7 for years and years.

Now, sadly enough, that passion has burned itself out. I really have no desire to stitch. I can't tell you when I last had a needle in my hand. My stitching bag gathers dust next to the couch. I agreed to be a pilot stitcher for a new EGA class earlier this year and had to bow out. I just couldn't make myself stitch. I did change careers a few years ago and am working just about full-time. That could have something to do with it, but I don't think so.

I still hope to get back to stitching at some point. Right now I fill my need to be creative with knitting. I have a gazillion knitting projects that I'm either working on or intend to do. I'm taking classes, sneaking in a few rows whenever I can, reading and buying knitting magazines and books on a regular basis. I'm definitely not as passionate about knitting as I was about embroidery, but I certainly am enjoying myself. I keep my memberships in EGA, the American Needpoint Guild, and Embroidery Canada as a life member of each group. I still keep up with what's going on with my state EGA chapter and EGA's online chapter. I think about my stitching friends and miss them. But for now, it's k1, yo, k2t, yo..............

Deeper and deeper or...

higher and higher. I'm getting into deeper and deeper trouble as my book piles get higher and higher. I've just joined another book group. This one has a twist, though. It's on Facebook. My cousin Dot has started it. Our first book is "Crossing to Safety" by Wallace Stegner, someone that I've always wanted to read. It was my cousin Kathy's suggestion. Did I mention that this is a mainly a family group? Go Mynahans! I'll never get to my personal stash as I work my way through two book groups from work and this one. Help!!! Oh, you know the drill - so many books, so little time.

Did I also mention that my pile of needlework projects is also growing by leaps and bounds? I'm becoming more of a "chick with sticks" than a stitcher. Sorry EGA friends. I took a class last Sunday in Scandinavian knitting. Not only am I learning how to knit Continental style with two colors, but I'll be dealing with steeks. Basically, that means I'll be cutting the knitting to put in the seams. Yikes. Of course, that means that I first have to finish the project - a teddy bear-sized sweater. Piece of cake right? Wrong. You have to be somewhat coordinated to do this and I'm struggling. So, what am I doing spending time writing this??? Onward and upwards.....

Getting there.....

It all started with looking for a knitting pattern, which I still can't find! Grrrrr! Anyway, I started going through all of my stash of patterns, projects, and magazines. I'm organizing!!! I'm catching up!!! There is stuff all over the floor in my "craft room/office,"but it's a bit more in order. What to do with all this stuff? Get rid of it?? Mmmm, maybe. Actually I'm quite proud of myself because I am casting a critical eye toward what I should keep and what I should get rid of. Last week - embroidery hoops, kits, and patterns that made me say, "What the hell were you thinking!!!" A whole shopping bag full! Today, some magazines and another kit or two that I know I'll never get to. Good girl! Just another ton or two to go through. But, going through everything is half the fun!