Finished Projects: Baby Cap and dishcloths

Soft green cotton yarn knitted up beautifully in this little baby cap set aside for a baby gift later in the year.

The remainder of the soft green yarn was knitted in the dishcloth below, pictured with the one I pictured in an earlier post as a work in progress. Neither are blocked here as I will likely just put them in the kitchen drawer for use.

Found Items for Notions: Yarn Guide from scrap plastic canvas

I am often frustrated by different yarns in my knitting bag tangling or dropping down in the bag getting lost. I solved the problem by using a scrap of plastic canvas. I cut several square holes and bound the holes with scrap yarn to keep the edges of the canvas from damaging my project yarn. I then pin the guide with safety pins into whatever bag I am using for my knitting. I then string each yarn through one of the holes. If one of the yarns is not currently attached to a project, I weave the end back and forth through the weave of the plastic canvas or just loosely tie it to keep it from falling down into the bag. The guide keeps the yarn from tangling and makes things a little more efficient.

Frugal Techniques: Knitting Notebook

I cannot tell you how many reams of paper I have printed out or notebooks I filled with knitting patterns. It was so easy to just hit the print button anytime I found a pattern online and use the copy function of my printer before turning the knitting books back in to the library. The result was unwieldy stacks of paper stuck everywhere with "important things to keep" and a frustration of knowing I had things that I could never find. I also have the habit of copying a pattern I am currently using on a large index card to stash in my bag instead of trying to keep up with a book for letter-paper-sized pattern. In the effort of organizing and simplifying I have decided the chaos has to stop.

I am creating a knitting notebook starting with an 8"x5" binder and dividers. The binder I am using has the clear overlay on the cover which I used to hold cut outs from yarn catalogs to decorate the binder. For paper, I am using 8"x5" lined index cards hole-punched. I used one card to create a template and keep in the front pocket of the binder and also pre-punched a stack of cards for quick use later. using the cards instead of paper makes the patterns sturdier to take out, use in a project bag and reinsert later. For general notes or lists, I just use the 8"x5" looseleaf paper. The 8"x5" size is small to make it easy to tote in a knitting bag but any size binder suited to the user's purpose would do.

My binder decorated with found photos clipped from yarn catalogs and some pretty scraps of paper.

The dividers are labeled with WIP for Work in Progress, Fine, Medium or Bulky refering to yarn weight used for a project, Techniques, Project Log,and Charity. I will probably add other tabs as topics seem needed. The possibilities for arranging are endless and customizable. I was able to find dividers at my local office supply store at a reasonable price but frugal ones could be made from the index cards themselves and recycled plastic bread ties marked with a permanent pen used as tabs.

I keep a stack of the cards handy while browsing the internet for patterns. If it is a simple pattern, I hand copy it on the card or, if more complex or with a picture, I print and then cut it down to fit on the card. I attach the paper to the card with double-sided tape. My reasoning is that if I expect myself to hand-copy a pattern, it will be really important to me to collect it and I am less likely to keep patterns I will likely not use. I will save the link in my favorites in a "Knitting Patterns" folder before I will copy a lot of them. I use this technique to collect patterns from library books as well. If I know how and when I will use it, I will copy it onto a card. If it was just interesting, I will note it on an index card containing a list of knitting books and patterns. I can go check out the book again it should I need it later.



For gauge swatches, I usually use the yarn for the project and then don't cut the yarn or tie it off. When I am satisfied with the measurements, I unravel it and the yarn is recycled into the project. For swatches to practice stitches, etc that I do want to keep, I will attach to a card with a double hole punched in two places and tie the swatch to the card with scrap yarn. Swatches too large for the notebook can be kept threaded on a metal binder ring and kept with the yarn stash and supplies.





I think the main idea here is to customize what you do keep, organize it and get rid of the superfluous. To each one of us that might be something different. If patterns and notes are viewed as important tools to what we do, they become as important as the projects we use them to create. Any system that allows you to knit or craft wisely using your resources and finding enjoyment in the pursuit can be considered frugal

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A Notebook Page- I cut down an 8x11" clipping to fit onto an 8x5" format and mounted it with double-sided tape to be durable when I pulled it out to work with it.

Happy frugal knitting!

Found Items as Notions: Swatch Jar

After chasing little precocious balls of yarn through my stash, my annoyance was placated when I discovered that I could throw all of those little balls in a vase that was just lurking around taking up space. They are visible and available for quick stitch swatches or to work into "odd ball" projects. Any large jar, vase, or box will do. A colored vase or jar would have some artistic appeal. By setting the jar out in the open, I find I am actually using the little balls up and feel I am making better use of my stash. The occasional glance also gives me that "oooh, look at all the pretty colors" effect. You can beat that! Cheaper than browsing the LYS!

Found Items as Notions: Wine Bottle Gift Box for Needle Holder

I discovered that the round tubular gift boxes designed for giving bottles of wine, vinegars, etc. are the perfect size for knitting needle storage. I got mine for one dollar and they are available in a variety of colors and styles. They take up a small footprint and can be combined for a decorative effect should you want to use more than one for organizing. The wine bottle size gift bags would work if you preferred a soft pouch rather than the box. These are usually found at dollar stores or inexpensive when bought on clearance sale after gift giving holidays.

An even more frugal option would be to reuse pasta boxes (from linguine, fettucine, etc.) recovered in fabric scraps, pretty paper, or even a decoupage of magazine cutouts. These could be layered in a drawer if you did not want to leave them sitting out.

Pattern Phobia

I have been knitting since I was sixteen years old. I have knitted ton of projects with knits and purls, increases and decreases, ribbing and double-pointed needles. For some reason though, I have a phobia of reading and working knitting patterns.

There is something about psso, ssk, yo, p3tog, and those * repeat from strings that just curdle my nerves. I have memorized all the abbreviations and poured over the mechanics of each of the elements so that I actually can visualize what I am reading in the pattern. I made the excuse to myself that my pattern avoidance was due to my compulsive habit of mindless knitting. A complex stitch would require that I pay attention to the knitting.

In actuality, mindless knitting is getting boring and I am finding more and more patterns that are intriquing to me. I am longing to knit socks and have bought several pairs worth of yarn. I have started a few sets and gotten through several inches of ribbing but no further. I am also admiring the lacy shawl patterns that are out now, fair isle patterns and the simplicity of cables. If I want to knit these things, though, I will need to use a more complex pattern. I also have designs on completing the Knitting Guild of America's Master Knitter program. This pattern of phobias will just have to go.

I am collecting some stitch patterns and am starting to work sample swatches. I am finding that I can memorize those repeat strings and keep a knitting rhythm. I have also found a few stitches that I don't like. I guess I have learned that doing swatches is useful for more than just measuring gauge. Anytime I am using a stitch pattern or something unusual I will definitely knit up a swatch first. It will be a great way to determine that a pattern is annoying and just not what I want to do before I actually start a project. It seems easier to commit to a complex pattern when I only have to knit a few inches of a square.

Hopefully working through those squares, I will conquer my fear of knitting patterns and be able to move on to the daring side of knitting, one swatch at a time.