Simple Knitting Tips: The Paperclip

In thinking about organizing stitch markers and using non-traditional knitting tools, I remembered a time, years ago, when I was eagerly beginning my second attempt at Fair Isle stranded knitting. Somehow, my usual Girl-Scout-Always-Prepared ability was not functioning one day, and I made it out of the house without my bag of knitting gadgets. When I realized I REALLY needed a stitch marker to figure out where in the pattern I was without having to count and re-count every time I looked up from the chart to know where the chart repeats were, I began the hunt. There was no way I was going to miss out on car knitting time for the lack of a stitch marker!

--Gadget bag? Nope.
--Emergency yarn cutter I usually carry in my purse so I can cut a piece of yarn to use as a stitch marker? Nope. Changed purses on the way out the door; neglected to transfer the yarn cutter.
--Stray pair of scissors anywhere in the vehicle? Nope.
--Set of keys not currently in use to employ in cutting of yarn? Nope. (House keys are great for this--if you have them on you. It seemed a bit much to ask my hubby to pull over and turn off the car just so I could use his house key to cut a piece of yarn, although that possibility loomed large...)
--Pocket knife being carried by any male member of the family (since they always have pocket knives with them)? Nope.
--Stray piece of yarn that doesn't need cutting before being put to use as stitch marker? Nope.

And then I found it: a paperclip in one of the 4563 assorted storage areas in the KnitMobile. Bingo!!

Saving the day...

Since that time, I have used paperclips many times when stitch markers were in short supply. Also, safety pins, hair pins (which make good cable needles when you get desperate, which I have), and a pencil. Somehow I always want to think I am more organized than this, but apparently not. On the plus side, if I'm knitting somewhere and need a paperclip, I've totally got it covered!

 

Finish for Fall: The Finish

"The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men/Gang aft agley..."***                                             To The Mouse by Robert Burns

We studied this poem in school and I'll never forget our teacher reading it off as written in the Scottish-y dialect that only Robert Burns ever seemed to get away with. In fact, I hear this line in my head, in her voice, to this day (many many years later) when plans don't go as I had expected.

I hear it in my head now.  My plan for Finish for Fall included a Total Organization of ALL Yarn and Yarn-Related Items.  It was a good plan, and while I did make progress, I didn't make all the progress I had wanted to make. I have to decide that, for now, this is OK. I managed to complete some projects, frog some others, and recover many needles and stitch markers.  I donated a bag of yarn and accessories and I ended up with a bag full of now empty knitting bags. I also have the resolve to not fill all those bags back up with half-finished work, then shove them in the closet. To date, of the 14 projects I found, only 4 remain. They are on the back burner, but having seen them recently, I can't soon forget them. And it's OK.

The journey is sometimes as important as the destination, and in this case, the fact that I was able to travel on this journey with YOU made it special and I am extremely glad to have undertaken it.

***Less Scottish: "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry."

Some of the yarn I rediscovered <3

Simple Knitting Tips: Organize your stitch markers

Every now and then a knitting trick comes my way that it is so clever I wish I had either

1.   thought of it myself  -or-

2.   heard about it sooner.

I can't figure out why it doesn't say "Stitch Marker Organizer" right on the package!

I've had a couple of these rings in my office supplies for years (no clue where they came from) and I am delighted to be able to tell you that you can actually BUY THESE AMAZING THINGS at your office supply store of choice (Mine is Staples, because EASY button, of course!).

2/20/14: Edited to add: The bag was courtesy of my friend and tech knitting editor, Jessica Higdon, who was clever enough to buy it and show me the genius ring :)

Organized and adorable!

(originally published 2/19/14 on knitoasis.blogspot.com)

(you know, back in the old days...)

KnitOasis: The Ravelry Group

I think most of us who use it will agree: Ravelry is an amazing resource.  I call it The Font of All Knowledge.  If I have a question about knitting, blogging, iPhones, Dr. Who, local happenings, even world events, I can find someone in the Rav forums discussing it, or post a question to be answered by the amazing bunch we call Ravelers.

Recently, I asked my daughter if she thought it would be useful to start a KnitOasis Ravelry group.  Her response?  "What? You don't already have one???"

And so I started one.

Why join another group on Ravelry? And more specifically, why join the KnitOasis group on Ravelry?

Well, technically, you don't have to join ANY groups on Ravelry to get a lot out of it.  As a database for patterns and projects and yarns and designers, it's probably the top website out there.  There are others, but I have yet to find one that offers everything Ravelry has and is as easy to use as Ravelry. You can live your whole life without joining a group and you will most likely be happy enough.

But, if you take the step of joining some groups (your local yarn shop's group or a group that discusses your favorite TV program or even one for knitters with cats) and participate in discussions in those groups, you will find a new level of involvement in your knitting (and crocheting, etc) life.  Back in the old days, before Ravelry, when we wanted to find other knitters, we had to either bump into them in real life (True story: I was stopped by a woman one day as I walked into a grocery store because the bag I was using as my purse was something I had handknit and she could TELL that it was handknit and she and I had a lovely chat about knitting and patterns and yarn.) or find them via the webrings we joined our blogs to. (Remember webrings? Do they still have those??) When Ravelry came along, however, it was like, "There are knitters EVERYWHERE! My people! I have found my people!"

The point is: Community. I can't tell you how many times I have been reassured of my sanity because it wasn't just me having a problem with a pattern/garden bug/movie plot/electronic gadget; there were others and sometimes there were helpful solutions and sometimes there was just company in our misery.

I'm not afraid to embrace the Shameless Plug right now and ask you to join our little group. It's free, it's painless and it will (hopefully) add dimension to your life as we discuss...well...whatever! Patterns, yarns, entertainment, history, pets...you name it! To join, all you have to do is 1) Be a member of Ravelry and 2) Click "join this group" on the group page. That's all! Then join in the conversations that have already begun or start a new one. Ask questions, post comments, tell us a joke! (I love jokes!) (They don't even have to be good jokes.)

Why can't a bicycle stand up on its own? Because it is too tired! Get it? Too/Two tired?? (See what I mean?)

On that note, I'll stop before my kids throw things at me (they hear my jokes a lot). I'll see you on Ravelry!