Thursday, February 22, 2007

This was actually my first REAL project. The pattern is a fairly easy one. This was a pattern from Ann Norling (#37). Made with Plymouth Yarn Dreambaby 4 Ply. Fingering weight, 50% Acrylic Microfiber, 50% Nylon. Took three months to make both the sweater and the blanket and I was able to gift it at the baby shower!! Made with size 6 and 8 needles

Wednesday, February 21, 2007



My third project, baby sweater for a three month old baby. Made with lavendar yarn from Dale of Norway. (Baby Ull, Dale Garn) This is 100% wool, machine washable. The pattern calls for size 0 and size 2 needles which were so small! I started the project, knit about six inches or so, but I got tired of making so many mistakes, I ripped it apart and started over again. The second time yielded better results. Thankfully!

My second project, a full length sweater for my husband. Made with Bernat denim style yarn - 70% soft acrylic and 30% soft cotton. Took me a little over three months to make! Made with size 7 and 8 needles.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Introduction

Hi,

My name is Suparna. I'm from India and I currently live in USA. I have been here for a little over two years and recently I became interested in Knitting. Actually, my grandmother taught me to knit the basics, knit, purl, cast on and cast off when I was about 8 or 9 years old, but I never really concentrated on learning this skill.

Two years ago, I was re-introduced to knitting and I thought I'd try it out. I bought a pair of size 10 knitting needles, 2 balls of yarn and a set of tapestry needles thinking that I would knit a pair of scarves for a couple of friends of ours! But my stitches weren't too good and both the projects are not complete to this day!

Anyway, then I decided to try to knit a real project, so I downloaded a free pattern from the net for a vest, bought a pair of size 6 needles, 4 balls of cheapest yarn I could find in Jo-Ann and started to knit. I tried to learn to read the instructions and get going! I did manage to complete the back but ran into trouble when I began to knit the front. I got up to the part when I had to decrease the neckline and armhole shaping and totally got stuck!

Just before Christmas 2005, my husband and I were introduced to a delightful couple who live in the same apartment building as we do. During the course of conversation, I told Mary Elizabeth about my half-finished knitting project and found out that she knows all about knitting! Then one day we got together at their place and she taught me decipher the instructions and helped me to complete the project. Which took me a total of three months. This was just stockinette stitch and minimal shaping!

But completing that project gave me confidence to try to do another project. Around this time, I came to know that one of our acquaintances were expecting a baby in the summer of 2006. So I decided to be adventurous and try to knit a baby sweater. (The key word here is TRY. I still wasn't sure whether I would be able to do it. And without Mary's help I certainly would not have been able to!) Mary Elizabeth took me to a yarn shop and introduced me to the magical world of knitting. Stepping into the yarn shop, I found myself surrounded by bright colours, wonderful textures and the patterns, oh my, the patterns!! Everything was so beautiful!!!

Anyway to cut a long story short, I found a fairly simple pattern for a baby set and selected the yarn and started knitting! With Mary's guidance at every step along the way, I managed to complete the sweater and a baby blanket.

In the last year, Mary has become my knitting guru, friend and confidant. With her encouragement and guidance, I have been able to complete a few more projects which I'll give in detail. And this blog is an attempt to document my baby steps into the world of knitting!!