Blog week overview

With the 3rd Knitting and Crochet Blog Week now behind us - though I am still trying to catch up on reading posts.  I thought I'd take a look at which were the most popular posts. Blogger tells me the following.

Day One - Colour Lovers - this one got 12 comments and 31 page views
Day Two -  Photography Challenge - this got 12 comments and 57 page views
Day Three - I went with the Wildcard Craft your Perfect Day -  this one got 11 comments and 22 page views
Day Four - Knitter for All Seasons - 15 comments and 24 page views
Day Five - Something Different - 26 comments and 133 page views
Day Six - Improving your Skillset - 9 comments and 31 page views
Day Seven - Crafting Balance - 5 comments and 23 page views

As you can see Day Five got the most comments and views, I really enjoyed putting this one together.  I also learnt quite a bit too. Days Three & Four got the bigger ratio of comments to views. 

I know for myself, that the weekend meant that I wasn't able to read/comment on as many posts, and that there are still many I haven't got too yet.  It actually all gets a bit overwhelming after a while.  I have only checked out those bloggers that posted their links on Ravelry, there are just TOO many to Goggle with the tags.  Maybe one day when I have nothing better to do.

I picked up a few new followers, welcome to you.  I am also following a few new sites too.

I did prepare my draft posts in advance, tweeked and scheduled them for publication, as last year I found it too difficult to post on a daily basis.  It is surprising just how much time it takes to put these posts together and it amazes me just how detailed some people make their posts, you must have lots of spare time.

So all in all a very enjoyable week, and one I hope to participate in again next year.  Who knows I my have some crochet projects to post about

Day 7 - Crafting Balance

Are you a knitter or a crocheter, or are you a bit of both? If you are monogamous in your yarn-based crafting, is it because you do not enjoy the other craft or have you simply never given yourself the push to learn it? Is it because the items that you best enjoy crafting are more suited to the needles or the hook? Do you plan on ever trying to take up and fully learn the other craft? If you are equally comfortable knitting as you are crocheting, how do you balance both crafts? Do you always have projects of each on the go, or do you go through periods of favouring one over the other? How did you come to learn and love your craft(s)?

I'm a knitter - once a knitter always a knitter.  As I said on yesterday's post, crochet is something I need and will master.  But for know knitting fulfils me.

I was taught to knit by my mother while at primary school, we also did basic knitting in school, and at an after-school girls group.  I only ever knitted squares and simple scarfs.  As the years went by other things took over and I lost interest.  Can you believe it!   It was my husband's Granny that got me back into knitting.  He had asked her to make him a hat for work and she said "no, you have a wife get her to knit you one".  So I sat down with her and by the end of the afternoon I was half way through my first hat, and the rest as they say is history. 

This is the last post for Knitting & Crochet Blog Week 2012 - I have enjoyed writing, reading and commenting.  Thanks should go to Eskimimi for organising this event again.  I hope that those of you that have visited my blog will pop back from time to time to see what I am up to.  I certainly have visited some brilliant blogs and plan to increase my reading list.  Just need to make more time in my day to catch up on everyone.

Day 6 - Improving your skillset

How far down the road to learning your craft do you believe yourself to be? Are you comfortable with what you know or are you always striving to learn new skills and add to your knowledge base? Take a look at a few knitting or crochet books and have a look at some of the skills mentioned in the patterns. Can you start your amigurumi pieces with a magic circle, have you ever tried double knitting, how's your intarsia? If you are feeling brave, make a list of some of the skills which you have not yet tried but would like to have a go at, and perhaps even set yourself a deadline of when you'd like to have tried them by.

First a confession - I realised I don't own any knitting books other than a fairly basic one which I was given years ago.  I have lots of pattern books, some Harmony Stitch Guides, but not anything really helpful.  I tend to rely on the internet or Ravelry if I need to know something.  Maybe I should put a good book on my Christmas/Birthday list - suggestions would be welcomed.

I'm more than happy with my general knitting thus far.  I cable, fairisle, simple lace, some intarsia, though I prefer stranding if I can get away with it. I think my work is acceptable, others might not.

When checking out double knitting - I assumed we were talking ply!! I realised I had actually done some of this in the head construction of this little fellow, nothing to onerous there, so may give something else a try.

Steeking - Oh my goodness, NO, I could not bring myself to take the scissors to something I'd just knitted, really can't see the point.

I would like to do some more lacework. I'm sure I set myself this task last year. I did complete a Travelling Woman Shawl, which turned out ok, though maybe should have been blocked better.  I have bought myself some proper blocking wires now, so at least I can do any new project justice.  I have looked through Ravelry, found and added to my library some possibles.

One of my goals last year was to knit socks.  Well I did, just a small pair, they turned out sort of alright

I cast on these back in January but lost interest, so I guess that socks should go back on the agenda

Felting - not tried yet other than to put my daughter's jumper in a too hot wash!!! We did make use of it though

Spinning - plan to try this later in the year when we have a workshop at my knitting group so watch this space.

Loom knitting - I have a set of these and also a rectangular one.  Had a little play but nothing serious, so something else to try out.



Weaving - I have a small weaving frame - again played with it a bit but nothing produced yet.  I bought it in the local charity shop, it came from Ikea originally so imagine it was possibly for children.  Can't be that difficult to master then!

and then there is Crochet - I have a real blind spot with this. I have been shown a few times, I get it, then if I don't keep at it, forget.  Several ladies in my knitting group crochet so when I have nothing better to do I will try and crack it once and for all.

So no deadline for any of this.  What with working, knitting, gardening, blogging, there's hardly any time for housework/shopping/cooking, let alone anything new, though saying that I have just started patchwork....... I need to retire