An update very late in coming

Okay, so I know it's been two and a half years since I posted anything. But I've been busy! Not as busy knitting as I would like, but I've experienced a recent flurry of knitting activity that I just had to share with you...

In July 2006 I declared that Christmas 2006 would be the Christmas of the Knit Gifts. After taking orders for a sweater for my sister-in-law, a stocking cap for my brother, a set of golf club headcovers for my dad, and two cat beds for my mom I proceeded to not finish any of them in time for Christmas. Oops.

But wait! 9 months after Christmas, everything, except for the two cat beds, is done!

The sweater for my SIL is my pride and joy. I used the pattern "Pin Up Girl" by Annie Modesitt from Debbie Stoller's book, Stitch N Bitch. It's a great pattern and works up beautifully, but it was quite challenging for a beginning knitter. I used Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran Tweed in Russet, and I think it came out great. I'm especially proud of learning how to sew the pieces together! You almost can't tell where the seams are, they are so nice and flat.

My brother's hat was a pattern I've done several times before. It's "Tricolored Stocking Cap" from Judith Swartz's Hip To Knit. I've made three of these already for my husband in different colors and weights. Husband Hat 1 was in charcoal grey Karabella Margrite. Husband Hat 2 was a little longer (to cover his ears) and striped, charcoal grey and red, also in Karabella Margrite. Husband Hat 3 (just finished this summer) was in a much heavier weight heathered yarn of grey and tan, whose name escapes me at the moment. For my brother's hat, I worked up the same pattern in navy blue Karabella Aurora 8, a super-soft merino wool yarn. My brother has a navy blue peacoat, so this will look great with it!

I should especially mention the golf club headcovers I made for my dad. He got two of them under the tree (for his driver and his 3 wood), but I didn't finish the set (5 wood and 7 wood) until this summer. I worked them all up in Lion's Brand Wool-Ease Think & Quick, in black with charcoal grey stripes.

Knitter's Blog, Preface

Welcome! So, I'm a brand-new blogger, as well as a brand-new (well, pretty much) knitter. I've been blogging since today and knitting since November. So pretty much a total newbie.

I'm trying this cool new software named Zoundry to start my very first (ever in my life) blog. Blogging is scary, but at least this software makes it pretty easy. Why is blogging scary? Because here I am babbling and making a fool of myself and you're reading it!

Oh, but this is called The Knit Wit, right? So I suppose I should talk about knitting! Well, I have now knit the following:

One scarf to learn on, of Cranberry Lion Brand Wool-Ease

One scarf for my mom, of Windsor Lion Brand Homespun

One autumn scarf for my sister-in-law, of Sierra Lion Brand Homespun

One winter scarf for my sister-in-law, of Mission Lion Brand Homespun

One scarf for my brother, of Edwardian Lion Brand Homespun

One scarf for my Secret Santa at work, of Antique Lion Brand Homespun

One autumn scarf for me, of Corinthian Lion Brand Homespun

One winter scarf for me, of Wine Lion Brand Thick & Quick Chenille

A hat for my husband, of Karabella Margrite (DELIGHTFUL cashmerino!!)

A really ugly cable-knit hat for me with a GIANT pompom, of Encore Melody (it may be ugly, but it was my first experience with cables, so I love it!)

What am I working on now?

Another hat for my husband, of Karabella Margrite - he liked the first one, but he wants some color!

A poncho, of Berroco Suede

If you're wondering how I came to knitting, it's a pretty familiar story... When I was really young, my grandmother taught me how to knit and purl. Never learned how to cast on or cast off, however, so after knitting about half of a scarf and getting bored, I put the needles aside and never went back.

20-some-odd years later, a co-worker decided to start a knitting club. I learned the very beginning basics (cast on and knit) from her, got bitten by the knitting bug, and went out into the wide world hungry for the information on all things knit. I stumbled across this FANTASTIC knitting resource, Debbie Stoller's fantastic book, Stitch N' Bitch . From Ms. Stoller's book, I learned everything else... casting off, purling, increasing and decreasing, using circular and double-pointed needles, cable stitches... Really, if you don't have someone standing by your side helping you learn all the skills you need, this book is a great tool!

So get out there and get knitty with it! As this blog develops, I'll add pictures of my knitting adventures, as well as some tips I've picked up along the way.