Art of Knitting Issues 2 and 3 arrived...

I am pretty impressed with my latest delivery!  It contained issues 2 and 3 with two balls of yarn, a free folder and dividers, a free needle case and a free scarf kit!  The kit contains a large ball of cream wool, a pair of knitting needles and a pattern for a scarf.  I probably won't knit that pattern though, as I have others already that I prefer.

In addition, Issue 2 was at the special price of £1.99, and Issue 3 was free, so I only have to pay £1.99 for the whole lot!  However, my next delivery should contain 4 issues at the full price of £2.99 each... Although, if I remember correctly, I will be receiving a free hat kit and knitting tidy.

  

I am fairly impressed so far, despite having to wait so long, as the magazines themselves have lots of useful info, and some really nice patterns.  My one criticism would be that they recommend some very expensive wool - a cardi that I fancy making would cost me £42 if I use the wool they suggest!

The Art of Knitting Magazine finally arrived!

I could hardly believe it when the postie knocked on my door on Friday, and handed it to me!  Considering I subscribed on 8th February, I had hoped they would send more than just the first issue, but no.  And since they aren't taking my direct debit payment for it until the 8th April, who knows when the next issue will arrive...

 I haven't bothered watching the DVD, as I already know how to do everything on it, but the magazine itself was pretty good.  I particularly liked the patterns that came with it, for a jacket, scarf and cushions.  I am thinking about making myself the jacket, however, the wool for it is Rowan Kid Classic, which has some mohair in it, which would make me itch terribly, and it would cost about £35-40 to make.  A bit expensive for a beginner pattern, which could go horribly wrong...

Art of Knitting...

Still haven't received my magazines, but got a letter from the Art of Knitting, apologising for the delay and stating that due to the overwhelming success of the magazine, they have ran out, and are having to reprint the first issue so I won't receive anything until next month.  Ho hum...

However, my throw is coming along, albeit rather slowly!

As you can see, I haven't blocked the individual squares yet - just laid them out to get an idea of what the finished throw will look like.  Unless I get totally fed up with it, I'm planning on keeping going, and making it large enough to cover my bed.

As it was Red Nose Day last week, my father-in-law make some cakes at the home he volunteers at, twice a week.  Pretty good for an 81 year old, eh?

Still knitting!

Well my Art of Knitting magazines still haven't arrived, but I've been busy knitting little squares for my throw.  Will add some photos next time.  Progress is slow - I've knitted 16 squares in a fortnight - and I'm thinking this was maybe a bit over-ambitious for a first project...

There is a brilliant site called knittinghelp.com which has some really good videos that talk you through the basics.  I've learned long-tale cast-on and that slipping the first stitch on each row gives a neater edge to your work.

Off to knit some more and will update soon!

Actually started knitting!

I got fed up waiting for The Art of Knitting magazine to arrive, so bought some cheap acrylic yarn from Wilkinsons so I could get started.  Amazingly, I can still knit (a little), so I decided to knit some squares and make a large throw (or possibly a small cushion!), since the store only had a small selection in rather bright colours.  Here's what I've done so far...

 Not sure what I'll do with the throw/cushion when I'm finished, but it'll be good practice for me before I progress to stocking stitch and beyond.


In terms of my M.E., it should work out well, as I've discovered that you can knit while lying down!

New to knitting...

OK, so here I am, starting a knitting blog before I've actually started knitting!  The reason for this is simple; whilst I have an old bag of eyelash wool lurking in the cupboard, I don't yet have any needles!

Actually, the main reason I haven't started yet is because the impetus to knit came from being suckered into subscribing to a step-by-step knitting magazine that has been advertised on TV recently.  Two weeks later, and I am still anxiously awaiting my first issue...


The magazine in question is called The Art of Knitting, and is published weekly (but apparently delivered 4 issues at a time).  It promises to teach you to knit, step by step, primarily through knitting little squares, that you eventually sew together to make a patchwork throw.  They supply the yarn, needles and whatever else is required to complete the throw.


Sounds good, although someone on a forum pointed out that it will cost me in the region of £270+ to make said throw.  But that's not the point, is it?  Otherwise why would anyone knit, when they could just go out and buy things?


I'm doing it because I need a hobby.  I need a hobby because I've suffered from M.E. since March 2000, and therefore spend most of my life stuck indoors, on the sofa or in bed.  Hence the name of my blog...