I have been really lazy in the yarn department so I decided I needed to get off the computer, put the books down and pick up some yarn and retry a knitting project I tried a few years ago. I have been a crocheter for a very long time and it is really relaxing and easy, but knitting is not as easy for me. I have to have total silence so that I can focus on nothing but knitting. I understand the basics, but my biggest problem is fixing mistakes! When I took knitting lessons our teacher didn't teach us all of the basics, she just had us pick a project and then she helped us with that project. I wanted to try felting and it was fun, but the problem was that anytime I made a mistake the teacher would tell me not to worry about it because I would never be able to see it after the bag was felted. Hence my inability to fix mistakes.
So here is the project I started a few years ago (I am wondering why on earth I ever wanted to make a shawl) and made a huge mistake and when I couldn't figure out how to fix it I got pissed and pulled the whole thing out. That is why I have this gigantic ball of pink yarn, which by the way cost a pretty penny. I have felt guilty for awhile that it was just sitting in the drawer so I thought I would try again. This time I was only a few rows in before I messed it up. I went to Ben Franklin and asked someone how to fix the problem. She showed me how to work backwards to get rid of the problem. Of course I didn't stay at the store and do it and when I got home and finished I had the yarn from the ball weaved in at both ends of the needle. Why does this happen? If any fellow knitters could enlighten me I would really appreciate it.
I was tired of the big pink ball so I decided to try practicing on with a nice easy wash cloth. Well things have been going great until today. Somehow I managed to get 2 extra loops of yarn (not really stitches) on the needle. I know that without seeing it is hard to tell, but what do I do when this happens? Well anyways, I decided to pull the work off of the needle, pull out a few rows and try again and to my delight it worked!!!!
Hopefully I will have more knitting updates soon. My mom's group is working on having a knitting night so hopefully I will find someone here in town that can help me out. I may also look into taking more lessons.
A friend of mine from work is having a baby this June and this pretty green blanket is for her new little one. She is tough enough not to find out the sex so I am making a neutral color that hopefully matches the bedding she has picked out. I really wanted to knit something for her, but since I don't have a ton of time I figured I better crochet since I am much faster at that. 
I have made some progress on the shawl. It is slow going because it is just knitting row after row. I was hoping to have it finished for Easter since it is such a bright and springy color, but obviously that didn't happen!
Here are the wash clothes that I have knitted. I have realized that knitting isn't as hard as I thought it was. All the patterns explained how to make the stitches and if I'm not sure I just go to you tube and find a video to watch. I am excited to find a more challenging project. I think that I am going to knit a baby blanket for our new little girl on the way. Once I finish up some other projects I will be heading back to the store to pick out a pattern and some yarn.
