Visions of Knitting

This blog is about anything and everything to do with knitting. I knit; I love to talk and write about knitting; I long to knit with people, even if it is as a cyber-circle; and I hope to help others begin, expand, explore, and get really freaky about knitting, if they aren't already hooked.

Obviously, I can't do this alone, although I'm game for being one small voice crying in the wilderness for a while. Every journey begins with a single step, so here I go. It is quite unnerving to begin something by simply talking to oneself, so please join in, even if it's just with a smile and a nod.

At the bottom of the page is a contact form for asking questions. Please use it! I'm here to help.

Beginner Patterns Like Forrest Gump said, "simple is as simple does." In other words, something is easy, or "beginner", if that's how it feels to you. It might be hard for you, but simple for me. My beginner patterns are easy for me and for most of the children I've taught to knit. That's not to say that they didn't drop or add on stitches unintentionally or commit any of a myriad of similar beginner mistakes, but these patterns were easy for them to follow and understand.

Blogs I love to read other knitters' blogs, they delight and inspire me, make me smile, or give me fantastic ideas. I'll talk about my favorites and encourage you to mention your favs as well.

Books I'll let you in on a secret. My mother tried to teach me to knit at a much younger age but I resisted. My retort was "why would I want to knit when I'd rather be reading?" I soon learned to do both at the same time, and continue. (See "Beginner Patterns" above.) The books I review will be pattern books, books by knitters, and books about knitters. I love it when personal stories collide with knitting patterns.

How to Knit I don't want to reinvent the wheel and repeat what's been done and said on so many other websites about how to knit. However, occasionally I come across links I'd like to share, videos that seem to show a process really well, or compelling reasons to do something useful or clever. Casting on in a way new to me, finishing techniques that make you want to end your projects with finesse, and how to make sweet embellishments like knitted buttons. That sort of thing.

Inspiration Even knitters get the blues, or as I like to call it, knitters block. Here's how I get re-inspired.

Intermediate Patterns When you're bored with the beginner patterns or are itching for a new challenge, try these.

Resources This is like a Hints from Heloise for knitters - a grab bag of odds and ends that include web links and books that offer charts and information about random topics like yarn substitutions, product reviews, locations of yarn shops or yarn distributors, and so on.

Tools Reviews and where to find such things as knitting needles, yarn winders, skein winders, soaps for laundering woolens, yarn calculators, etc.

Yarn My favorite places for buying yarns, yarn reviews, and more.

Zen and the Art of Knitting This is where I wax philosophical and poetic about the meaning of life and knitting.