Sunday, knitty Sunday

About a month ago I had Brittany, a girlfriend from work, come over to the house. I had worn my Desert Rose to our monthly meeting where we all come together for updates and chit-chat, and she was impressed that I had made it all on my very own. I proudly showed her the puff sleeves, the lace inset down the front, and the pretty neckline that I! actually! finished! Okay, okay, one more showing and then I'll stop.

(!!!!!)

So back to when I had Brittany over last month. I taught her how to cast on, and how to create a scarf, knitting every row. She picked a tough yarn to use as a beginner, Lion Brand's Homespun Yarn. It's beautiful because when it's knitted up, it's very fluffy, and has a sort of curly weave. But it's tough to learn with.

It's tough because of how it twists on itself. As a starter, Brittany tended to tug and pull on the working yarn, which caused this particular yarn to bunch up on itself. Once she got the hang of it, and settled into the ease of knitting back and forth for miles on end, the scarf really turned out great. Brittany couldn't wait to show me her finished project, a pretty dusty blue scarf made just by her, just for herself. She even got to wear it proudly on a quick weekend vacation in Colorado! She couldn't wait to start on a new project, and was ready to be challenged. And, to top it off, her best friend/Vespa's nanny (for when we're on "holiday" in a week (!!!)) Sabrina wanted to learn the craft.

Sunday afternoon, the girls drove over to my house. We met up, played with Vespa for a few minutes, and squatted at the computer in front of countless projects on Ravelry. Brittany really wanted to knit something challenging, and Sabrina needed something for a beginner-beginner. I wanted something useful and quick. And after about 30 minutes of girly-giggling around, we found something that we all got excited about--a camera sock! These are the pictures that notanartist posted of her completed project on Ravelry.com along with the quick and easy pattern.

Cute, huh? Quick and easy. It was still quite a bit advanced for Sabrina who had never even held knitting needles before, it was a challenge for Brittany because a) she learned the purl stitch and b) she learned to knit in-the-round and c) she learned how to make decreases as well as stitch the bottom closed. And for me, it's been super-super quick. Here's mine, after about 10 minutes of work during Carlton's eye appointment this afternoon, and an hour of work in front of the tv tonight:

Sabrina, Brittany, and I had a pretty good time. It was a little overwhelming for Sabrina, but she stuck in there like a trooper and is excited to get back together soon to finish hers with assistance. Brittany's has turned out great--she worked on it later that night and is almost finished. And mine, as you can see, is a pretty poppy red color and is ready to be used heavily on our trip through Greece!

Here, you can see Brittany proudly wearing her blue scarf as she learns how to join her double pointed needles for knitting in-the-round. Naked Vespa is entranced by Sabrina's kind-hearted chuckle, and glad that her future nanny is so easily conned into scratching her neck for her.

Sabrina and Brittany, smiling with their cookies and yarn. Yes, I made cookies for the knitting girls!

Brittany can even multitask now... Momma's so proud! Just look at those knitter's fingers, all tangled up to hold the needles just so. Only a knitter can appreciate this pro finger stance!

A Sunday Afternoon Knitting Party tradition, perhaps?