Round And Round I Go

This is more like it! Cloudy, cool, gray and rainy. The much herald winter storm that they've been warning us about for the last five days rain finally arrived during the night and is already on its way out. Sunlight skips among the gray puffs and winks at those of us who want to build a fire, stay in our pajamas - knitting and reading on a day like this.

Last night I tackled a project I've been perplexed and facinated by - knitting in-the-round. I've always used two regular knitting needles in the past, but there's another style of knitting that involves smaller, double-pointed needles, and you use 4 of them at the same time! Hats, socks, mittens all use this technique and I've always admired those who could do it. A few months ago I bought a set of these needles, determined to tackle knitting in-the-round. It was not to be.

A couple of weeks ago, while I was pretending to be engaged in my state-required night class but was secretly looking through my latest Martha Stewart Living magazine that just happened to have been mixed in with my stuff, I found an article on knitting mittens, using the in-the-round technique. Heck, if Martha can do it, so can I !!

I got out my yarn, needles and methodically followed the directions, step by step. My first attempt was pretty good and let me get comfortable with the mechanics of it - it's a bit tricky holding 4 knitting needles at once! After a few rows, I started over to see if I could refine my technique.

The result is this! It's really fun and is, actually, quite easy to do. I even got adventurous and tried adding a new color for a row to see if I could do it...I could. I think I'm just about ready to tackle the real deal and make some hand warmers!

All of this coincides with what my book club is reading for February's selection. I just got my book the other night and haven't started it yet - I've been too busy knitting! The gals are meeting Tuesday to have dinner and discuss .... alas, I won't be there because Tuesday's are not with Morrie for me... they are spent sitting in a state-mandated class that I have to take in order to keep my teaching certificate, costs me money, will take 15 weeks to complete and turns my Tuesday's into 13 hour days....but I'm not bitter.

Hmmm... I wonder.... think I can sneak my knitting into Tuesday night's class?!?