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Thursday, November 5, 2009

One of Those Things You Can't Explain..Oh, and a New Contest

I am knitting up my favorite afghan pattern. It's pretty simple: it's all garter stitch and chunky weight yarn. The thing that makes it fun is you take all your chunky weight yarn and put it in a bag then pull out a skein and knit for about 25 rows, then switch yarn and knit for about 15 rows then repeat the steps until you get a strip that has 12 of the color changes. Then you make about 5 of those strips and sew them together and you have a cushy, lovely afghan

Pretty simple.

Then why am I having trouble making the strips the same size? I do the 12 changes and then pin the strips together. First two were fine. Third one was a little short. Fourth one was fine. Fifth one a little short.

Well, of course it's the yarn. Though all the yarn is chunky weight, some is boucle and some is cushier which means they don't all have the same gauge which means some pulls in and squishes more than others. No biggie. I could measure the strips - wait, you didn't take me seriously did you? Nope. I'd much rather to the pinning, see the strip is way short and then pick up stitches and knit some more.

Yeah, that's the ticket.

So, let's do a contest!

First, I still owe someone stitch markers from the last contest. I put your email in some folder and have to find it - I have not forgotten. You will get them.

OK - So, the prize for this contest is a copy of this book:


It's Knit Fix by Lisa Kartus and it's a book that gives solutions to some every day knitting problems.

The winner of the contest will also receives some of this:


Some yarn from my stash. You are not going to receive this much and it actually may not be any that's in this bag. But you will receive the book and enough skeins to fill a small mailing box.

You will also receive a set of knitting needles. So, you will have what you need to start knitting and fix the problems you encounter. You will also get a few extra goodies in the box cuz I'm sweet like that.

Here are the guidelines:

U.S. and Canadian participants only, please.
Contest will end November 28 - I like ending contests on my birthday
Winner will be chosen at random by Mr. Honey - cuz he likes doing things like that.

Make a comment with your best knitting tip - get one entry
Tweet about the contest - get another entry
Re-tweet my tweet about the contest- get yet another entry.
I'm adding this on - Talk about it on your blog and let me know and you get another entry!!

So, there you are, my lovelies. Get yourself or someone you love a little knit-kit of a book, yarn and needles (but the treats.) Boy, I'd enter this contest! And if you're interested in other knitting contests pay a visit to WitKnits. It's a fun site that's all about the contests!

Good luck everybody!



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37 comments:

Susie said...

My sister's birthday is the 28th of this month too, Bev! I don't know how much of a tip this is but her goes. Make sure you read through the whole pattern. Several times I haven't then I begin the project only to get partway through and realize I'm in over my head.
Pick me, Mr. Honey!

Susie said...

I just tweeted about it too! That's a great prize!

ennadoolf said...

My fave trick/tip is for dpns - I always knit 2 more stitches from the next needle so I don't end up with ladders.
And Mr. Honey will be too busy spoiling you on your birthday to have time for a draw! LOL But if he finds a second, pick me! :)

D said...

My first contest! That afghan sounds like a lovely idea. I'm going to keep all my chunky-weight leftovers for that.

Okay, here's my tip: I see a lot of comments about working on DPN's and getting ladders. When I first started knitting, I saw someone on Knitty Gritty and she said the key was to give a small tug after you knit the first stitch on the needle. It really works for me and I've never had a problem with ladders.

Sarah said...

let's see, a knitting tip.. i like to carry my project (current one is a cardigan) in a tote bag. this way, the yarn doesn't get dirty by rolling everywhere.

Sarah said...

i tweeted! http://twitter.com/sadiekate08/status/5469980677

Heather J said...

I like to use old straight needles as stitch holders when I am knitting something bigger. I just twist a rubber band on the end to keep the stitches on after transferring them.Saves me money and uses up those old single ones that everyone has. Nice contest.

Heather J said...

I like to use old straight needles as stitch holders when I am knitting something bigger. I just twist a rubber band on the end to keep the stitches on after transferring them.Saves me money and uses up those old single ones that everyone has. Nice contest.

cici said...

I love contest. Here's my tip. Instead of doing the original ssk, you can K2Tog through the back loop, it save time! I use it a lot♥ Can't wait to see your new afghan

susieb said...

I buy tomatoes in the red mesh bags and then use them as yarn bras. You two for one!

Anonymous said...

What a fun contest! My tip: If you ever have to rip out a number of rows of a mohair garment(because they all stick together), you can freeze the garment overnight. It pulls apart easily!

Carissa said...

I don't have any tips because I am so new to knitting... but I have enjoyed the tips others have given!! That is my tip- you can always learn something from anyone!

Kitten With a Whiplash said...

My tip is that kniting, especially learning to knit, does not have to be expensive. The internet is full of resources like tutorials (some with video), tips, free patterns, knit-alongs where you can get help from group members and more. There's not need to rush out abd buy several how-to books that you'll quickly outgrow.

Also, check your local thrift shops for yarn. It isn't going to be a steady supply, but you can find some great bargains.

Kristen said...

I put my patterns in the plastic sleeves that can go in 3 ring binders and then once I finish the project I add the little bit of leftover yarn to the sleeve so it's all together. (Just in case something needs mending).

Kim Reid said...

I like to move a sticky note down to show which row I am working on, especially with cable and lace patterns.
Thanks for a great giveaway!
kimberlybreid@hotmail.com

ikkinlala said...

My tip is "don't drink and knit." It may seem obvious, but it's a mistake I made more than once.

Have a happy birthday!

Suburban prep said...

Take a snipit of the yarn using for a project and tape it with the sleeve of the yarn using to the pattern. Copy a pattern that is in a book so that you do not have to tote a heavy book around and you will not mid the way the pattern looks at the end of the project.

I would so love to win.

Erin said...

My best knitting tip... when in doubt, felt it. YouTube is really helpful for video techniques on the fly, too! Happy contest! (sicilianbuttercup on Ravelry)

|chee-uh| said...

My best knitting tip is to measure twice and knit once! Don't ever assume.
monkalicious on Ravelry

Turtle said...

hey there!! hmm, one of my best brain savers would be post it notes and/or highlighters when working lace charts! they can keep your place and save your brain!

cksknitter said...

My knitting tip may not be very popular. I always take copious notes in a knitting journal. I check off or write down the completion of each and every row or round of knitting. It takes extra time, but I always know exactly where I am in a pattern and my socks, mittens, etc. always are exact matches.
Chrissy at knittoday(at)hotmail(dot)com

MamaMay said...

Wow! Thanks for the contest.

Tip: buy all the yarn you need at 1 time! You will NEVER find that color way with that dye lot again!

Beverly said...

that's a great tip, susie and one i needed to learn. now i do at least skim a pattern before jumping right into it!

Beverly said...

cks - i love your tip. i don't know if i could ever do that because i don't have that kind of focus, but i can see how you won't have one bootie that's for a baby and the other for a baby amazon, like i had!

Knittingdancer on Ravelry said...

I like to use Ziploc bags to hold the cakes of yarn while I am knitting. I just poke a hole in the middle of one side of bag to feed the yarn through. I also make a copy of the pattern I am using to keep in my knitting bag & leave the original in the binder or book.

Angela said...

Thanks for the contest! - my knitting tip - always check the publisher's website of a knitting book before starting a new pattern - the pattern errata will be listed there. I once started a Debbie Bliss kid's sweater only to find it was massively screwed up in the middle - I went to the website and found the correction listed - wish I'd done that before I got into the pattern and had to rip out several inches!

Thanks for the chance at a great prize!

www.larksongknits.com

knitmomma said...

I think every new knitter needs to know that there are no knitting police. If you are making fabric, and you like it, then you are doing something right!

Knitting can be as hard or easy as you want it to be, too. Whoops...that's not one tip, is it?

Kitten With a Whiplash said...

Happy Birthday! Forgot to say that in my other comment.

I've posted to my blog at

http://kitten-with-a-whiplash.blogspot.com/

Lost City Denise said...

Happy B-Day!

Here's my tip - although it's not about knitting but wearing knitted shawls (does that count?).

This is especially true of triangle shawls - when wearing a shawl draped one-end-over-another across your shoulders make sure the bottom layer on your should is the one that goes from front to back. The friction creates a better grab that way and less slippage.

Lost City Denise said...

Happy B-Day!

Here's my tip - although it's not about knitting but wearing knitted shawls (does that count?).

This is especially true of triangle shawls - when wearing a shawl draped one-end-over-another across your shoulders make sure the bottom layer on your should is the one that goes from front to back. The friction creates a better grab that way and less slippage.

One Sheep said...

Happy Impending Brithday.

My tip is about my attitude toward knitting errors, rather than a specific problem. I love knitting, and want it to be fun. Nothing is more fun than sharing a good laugh with a friend. So I share my mistakes and failures as freely as my successes.

Like in high school when I made a shirt for a rock concert. As my friends were waiting to leave I was sewing the second sleeve on ... upside down, sleeve's underarm to shirt's shoulder. OK, it's a rock concert, I'll just do the overhead fist pump for three hours straight and nobody will know. Fortunately my friends were too worried about their own embarassment and allowed me the few minutes to repair it.

Not only have I been a steady source of humor, but in return received great advice and tips that I'd not have gotten if I shyly kept my mistakes hidden away.

When I was a software developer we used to say "That's a feature, not a bug." Now I say "That's not a mistake, it's part of my comedy act."

amy said...

my tip - buy great yarn and fix mistakes, if you don't when you complete the finished project you always 'see' the mistake, so fix it, and why not? you love to knit.

thanks for the change at the contest.

katerina said...

I'm a sag too! (24th) Happy Early Birthday!!

My tip is for lace knitters - use a lifeline! That way when you make a mistake you only have to rip back as far as your lifeline.

My other tip would be that a hair tie can work great for a stitch-marker in a pinch!

Happy Birthday Again!

danielle said...

My tip: always keep a copy of the pattern together with your pattern - you never know when it will end up as a UFO and you cant remember where the pattern is!! (Can you tell that this is from my own experience?)

AmIAKnitterYet said...

always make a copy of your pattern & leave the original at home. That way you can write on it or lose it and still be able to regroup with your pattern.

Happy Birthday!

squiggi said...

happy birthday.
My best knitting tip, save those little things that come on bread wrappers to keep them closed. They're great for keeping your tails manageable while you knit.
tami
squiggi@earthlink.net

Tammy♥ said...

Great giveaway! I guess my tip would be to always put each project in different bags. Hope to be the lucky winner!
knitwit292gmail.com

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