Trying Something New in a New Year

So, I have never blogged before, but since I have a lot of knitting projects planned for the coming year I thought a blog might be a way to track the progress of my endeavors and projects.  WARNING.....  I DO TEND TO RAMBLE.

Before talking about the projects for 2011 I should probably give you a brief history of my knitting.....

I love to knit and I tend to be just a little bit competitive about it as well.  I also tend to be pretty much a perfectionist about my knitting (or anything else I do for that matter).

I was 35 before I taught myself to knit using a book that I found at a yard sale.  I immediately became quite a prolific knitter producing a lot of projects in a short time.  When my first grandchild was born, I knit a sweater a week the first few months (most all of them were later burned in a house fire when that child was 10).  With the exception of a few tips from friends along the way, I am a totally self taught knitter and pretty much just "fly by the seat of my pants" when it comes to knitting projects, etc.  I don't follow patterns all that well, I mostly just start knitting and figure it out as I go.  If I do start with a pattern, I tend to make changes as I go.  The projects that I have liked the very least are the ones that I followed a pattern to the letter.

About 6 or 7 years ago I had to quit knitting due to pain from an unknown cause.  I did manage to knit a few small projects from time to time over that time but not without extreme pain and the projects took forever.  It was like having one of my arms cut off to not be able to knit.  In June 2010 a large mass was found in my right kidney.  Early August 2010 I underwent a procedure to block off the blood supply to the mass with the hope of killing the "critter".  The procedure worked and I have my health back.  By the end of August I was knitting without pain again!  From the end of August 2010 to the end of December 2010 I completed at least 8 projects including an original designed Christmas dress for my little great-granddaughter.  I am still waiting for pictures good enough to post as I gave it to her before getting pictures. 

I have joined a couple knitting groups at a local yarn shop (LYS) and enjoy getting together with other knitters to knit together and visit.

What is in store for 2011?  I am currently working on samples for a friend's hand dyed yarn for a fiber show in mid-February.  At the same time, I am working on a sweater for a co-worker (working on gauge swatch); this sweater will be knit from a pattern that I will have to follow to the letter.  I have promised to knit sweaters for a friend's two children (my own pattern for a Henly style pullover that I have prefected) as well as several extended family members have requested sweaters for their children.  Not to mention that I have 15 grandchildren of my own to knit for.  My daughter-in-law has requested a hoodie and a niece has requested a sweater as well.

The thing I am most excited about for 2011 is that I have discovered The Knitting Guild Association and their correspondence classes.  http://www.tkga.com Remember I am self taught and although all my friends (both knitting and non-knitting) tell me I am a great/fantastic knitter, I feel inadequate and want to learn the "proper" way to knit.  After discussing with dear, supportive hubby, I have decided to start with the very basic class and work my way through what I call the "foundation" classes to The TKGA Masters Knitting Program.  http://www.tkga.com/resources/TKGA_CATALOG_Color020510P3.pdf  It is working through the classes that has prompted starting this blog.  I plan to track my course progress as well as my projects during 2011.  It may be of no interest to anyone other than myself, but I will have this for documentation of my progresses and defeats throughout 2011.  I have already signed up for the first course (Basics, Basics, Basics) and am waiting for it to arrive to get this process going.

Today, I am taking a two hour class at the LYS "Decorative Cast Ons" taught by the LYS owner.  I am looking forward to this.

I pray you are all always happy, blessed, loved and healthy.

Have a God filled day,

Grammie Vee