Learning to Knit!!

I've been crocheting (hooking) for a couple of years now, and I originally wanted to learn to knit. My lovely friend Merry, did help me knit one hat over a year ago and I just never picked it back up to practice. I decided I wanted to conquer my fear and learn to knit!

It's going slowly but it's going! I've done several knit hats and it got a lot easier once I figured out continental style. It was MUCH easier for me as a hooker to hold the yarn in the left hand! Phew!

I've made the boys hats, and am working on more now. My purl has a long way to go but I'm loving this simple rolled brim hat.

Long live yarn!
~~amy

Planning Projects?

Wait, people make plans before they start crocheting? They read patterns, check for correct yardage and yarn type? They purposely sit down and have a vision before they start chaining?

NO. WAY.

Okay, so I'm not a big planner of projects....I pin a ton of projects, save them on ravelry, and buy insane amounts of yarn...but generally when people ask at the checkout, "what are you going to make with that yarn?" My reply is, "You're supposed to have a plan? It's pretty..that's my plan."

I've gotten slightly better...saving color combo boards on Pinterest, experimenting with different patterns...(and I still don't gauge swatch. Sorry, I just don't.) I've been pinning color combo ideas for a year now. One of my favorite blankets is the Sunburst Granny Square I did along with InnerHooker for one of her Crochet A Longs. Well, it made it in the beginning of my hooker career (oh so long ago...in 2011....) and it was before I had learned how to secure ends, particularly the CENTERS of squares, properly. So my beloved blanket is coming undone in the centers and I feel like I want to do a new one..with better yarn.

 My beloved beginner blanket....now falling apart in some centers.

The good thing is Knit Picks has a yarn called Palette, that is, you guessed it, nearly every color you can imagine. I drool over it every time I get the catalog. I'm currently working on a Tunisian crochet blanket, but I want to think long term. (I'm also ignoring the two granny stripe blankets and one granny mandala blanket in progress in the blanket basket...all in good time, dear yarn...all in good time. I burned myself out on the Queen Size granny stripe blanket on my bed.) So I'm plotting...what colors...this is the funnest part I think..the color choosing.

So I've created a Pinterest board of course...just for this afghan color choosing. Yes I'm THAT serious. (and I'm also very happy this is my most pressing current decision. I am blessed.)

You can see the contenders here: http://pinterest.com/mamaslilmonkeys/sunburst-granny-afghan-color-ideas/ but here are a few...I'm sure I'll be adding more.

Please feel free to hop on the board and "like" your favorites, as I am curious on what color combo's others find appealing.

Again....I am blessed. Those of you with the yarn and fabric addiction like me know how this feels though and can appreciate the indecision. Plus aren't the colors just FUN!?

~~Create On~~
Amy

What's On the Hook?

Life has been busy here in the Monkey House. I've been busy getting orders out (thank you all!), dealing with family stuff, breaking up fights between the kids, and trying to set up the new home for Mama's Little Monkeys.

I've also been busy crocheting! Yarn, it's my new addiction! So here's what's on the hook this week:

Infinity scarf for my niece. (excuse the horrid photos...it was nighttime, so my natural sunlight was sleeping on the job..)

Scalloped leg warmers for a friend who's starting Roller Derby. She may be in season TWO before I finish them, but here's the start!! :)

So that's what I'm hooking this week, I'm sure I'll chain up something else too :)

Now time to hit the hay and zzzzzzzzzzzzz as my monkeys are wearing me out this week!~~
Amy