Drugs, Rock n Roll and Lace Knitting

I really do need to get more consistent with my posts!

I've been knitting socks again. I've finished a few more pairs but I'm really bored with socks now. They are so boring in fact that I had to put my knitting away for a bit.

Last night I attended my first knitting class. Never thought I would need to take a knitting class but this one sounded interesting, lace knitting. I had never done lace knitting before so I thought what the heck.

It was a great class! The teacher taught us how to cast on using a crochet needle to begin. I've never casted on this way but I really do love how it looks and it is super easy so I may use that technique later on other projects as well. She also taught us that when we are winding our balls to wind it over a finger so as not to pull the yarn too taunt and stretch the life out of the yarn. I never knew that.

Once the first row was cast on we began the lace part of the knitting. It really consisted of a few yo and k2 tog so it was easy however we were working from a chart. I've never knitted from a chart either so it was an evening full of firsts.

Another first for me was listening to two 57 year old women talk about how fantastic the 70s were and all the things they got themselves into. They talked about how easy it was to have fun, how free they were when it came to sex, the drugs they took, the parties they attended....really interesting stuff but not the kind of conversation I would have expected at a knitting class. It was a great surprise really!

The other student (there were only 2 of us due to illness) was working in a fine, black alpaca lace-weight yarn. It looked like a fine cobweb however it also seemed to be more difficult to work with due to the yarn slipping around the needles and being harder to control. My yarn was a 40% merino, 40% silk and 20% bamboo mix. It was a bit heavier but as light as all get out so it was perfect as a beginner yarn for lace knitting. The scarf I am knitting is looking so luxurious. I absolutely love it! The bonus is that I am using up some of the stash I brought back with me from Calgary this summer.

Once I get a little further along I am hoping to post a few pictures and maybe share the pattern. It is really quite pretty and soft.

On a side note, the fitness plan is coming along perfectly. I have lost quite a few inches and have lost many a dress size. I feel great and almost ready for Mexico in February.

Well the clock is ticking and with Christmas just around the corner and so much left to do I'd better get back to knitting.