My first sweater ...

I updated this entry with some new pictures, this is my Einstein pattern projects, once I learned the pattern I could not stop knitting it. Now when I look at the pieces my knitting skills have improved in the last couple of years, I've graduated to knitting Hanne Falkenberg designs. I must say the Einstein was a lot easier.


*Photo credit: Ellen Bloom* Thank you Ellen.

Until about 2 years ago I did not know how to read a knitting pattern. It looked like a different language to me and I did not know how to speak it. Knitese, bunch of shorthand with k2tog, ssk, yo, yib, who knew what all this meant. I have knit most of my life but only by visual freeform knitting and just sort of made things up. My mother had a few little patterns written down and she showed me how to knit and read her patterns. I lost them years ago and was left with "freeform" knitting.

One day I was at Stitches from the Heart looking at yarn and Kathy Silverton the owner of the charity approached me and asked what I was going to knit. I don't know just something, then I told her my big secret that I really did not know how to read knitting patterns. Kathy suggested I buy Sally Melville's book "The Knit Stitch" I picked the Einstein coat, since I've made several variations and really love Sally's book. She illustrates with great color pictures and the patterns are written so even a person who has never read a pattern can follow.

When my mother died and I was going through her house and belongings I found this glove she had saved. It was part of a set I knit when I was about 11 or 12 years old. I made a scarf and a hat and gloves to match. Only found the gloves.




Here are some other "Einstein" pattern projects I've knit. Once I remembered this simple and easy pattern I started knitting it over and over again. This green wool coat with sleeves and the others as vests.

Green sport weight wool coat, I don't love it but it's ok.

Then came this one I knit this on a trip and found this lovely green silk ribbon at a yarn store in Venice, Italy. My friends were sightseeing and I was sitting and knitting at a yarn shop. Had a great time...


This is Black Cashmere from Scotland, this yarn is coated and does not become so soft until it is washed, so I washed it and threw it in the dryer. It is just heavenly soft.

I added a bit of a border on the armhole edge.

Then I loved it so much that I made this red one also cashmere but this yarn is from China. Soft but not as nice as the Scottish cashmere.

Again some crochet edging

Links: The Knit Stitch

Stitches from the Heart

At last finished!

I no longer call this "freeform" knitting I now call this method "abstract" knitting. No particular pattern used but an idea is sort of followed, in this case sort of the "Einstein" sweater but adding lots of other elements. It started out as a crochet scarf. I didn't like how it was turning out so I put it aside.

One day I saw this unfinished scarf and did not have the heart to "frog" (unravel) it so I added to it. Maybe now it could be a vest....Then once again put it away it was just not looking and fitting right..... finally not too long ago as I was reviewing my UFO's (unfinished objects) so I decided that this one needed to be finished or tossed! I tried it on and decided that a short row front was all that was needed and it completed the look. Now it fits and feels comfy to wear.




This one took me quite some time. I got this chenille yarn a long time ago because it was cheap. For good reason, chenille is very difficult to knit with because it's so flat "ribbon like" and if not knitted properly it "worms". So when knitting it has to be done slower and make sure that each stitch is pulled properly and watch out for "coils".

Now I feel I should explain "worming" because when it was first mentioned to me I said "what" "worm" what is that? It is when the yarn kind of gets stuck sort of "coils" and more yarn gets used accidentally than the stitch actually requires. Then all of a sudden you have this odd long stitch they call them worms. Sorry this is the best I can do in explaining this phenomena.