Monday, January 26, 2009

The right wool

It has only been fairly recently that I have come to realise how much the right kind of wool can affect your work.

While cheap wool is... well, cheap, it doesn't always give you the outcome that you wanted.

I always used the cheaper acrylic wool (eg Carnival) for my knitted toys, it was inexpensive and I didnt really need anything else. However, now that I am making clothes and such, the right kind of wool really does matter!

The right kind of wool can make the biggest difference to your work! 2 different brands of wool might both be labeled as 4ply, but they can look so different as finished products.

I have really come to notice this, but the problem is always having the money to pay the extra amount for the right kind of wool... I have found that it is generally always more expensive, but now I look at how much better my work would look if i used it.

A friend of mine from Trazling (and also Ravelry) has sent through so many links to online stores, including the mills where you can buy the brand name wools direct - meaning that it saves you money!!

The only other challenge I face now, is trying to understand what the different kinds of wool are... there are so many forms and variations, I need to know what they are and what the differences are...

The only problem is, I don't know where to start!!

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Getting the blog up and running

Well, I thought it was probably a good idea to start a little bit of a blog about my knitting exploits.

I'm currently surfing Ravelry one of the best sites I have been introduced to in a long time! Althought at this stage I seem to be finding more things to make, rather than actually knitting...

But then that could have something to do with the weather too!! I always seem to get really into the knitting over summer... You would think that the 35 degree heat would really put me off!!

Anyway, I suppose I should put a bit about me in here!

I am 24, although don't let me age fool you. Not to sound conceited, but there isn't a pattern I can't do! I have been knitting since my mother taught me at age 6 - and I haven't stopped! I have entered craft competitions and come out as "Champion"... sounds a bit like I'm blowing my own horn doesn't it!!

Well, anyway, I have taught a few of my friends how to knit (among other things) and I love having our little 'crafty' days :)

Anyway, I started out making the usual things that a child makes... tea cosies!! lol I then started making bags, mittens, oddly shaped dolls and then when I hit about 14 I discovered Jean Greenhowe and began knitting dolls like crazy!! After a while I realised that I had no idea what to do with all the dolls as they were building up and decided to start knitting more 'practical' things... such as clothes... for babies, children and adults!

So here I am, surrounded by wool, needles, patterns and many ideas!

What to do next!