ConnieLene – KnitDesigner

Skill + 1UP or I think I want, I think I want to knit socks!!

Have I been upskilling myself in the knitting world in recent times?

I guess so. In the time since I arrived in Europe, specifically in the Netherlands at the end of August 2008 I have tried a number of techniques that I had never looked at previously and I have rekindled an interest in simple lace stitches. It has been easy to work on new techniques when away from all the interruptions that a normal life at home in New Zealand allows. In New Zealand one had friends to see, family to be with, stuff to do other than knitting, like gardening and so on. Here in the Netherlands Best Beloved is at work so I have peaceful time on my side, time to explore and to play with yarns and concepts and colours and obviously to explore and experience the Netherlands and so I have.

Carbon Footprint - Shadow Knitting

and then there is the orange crepe paper crown that I started, required for Queens Day on the 30th of April. I have also used dpn’s for the first time knitting a pair of simple ribbed fingerless gloves.

Feather and Fan arm warmers

Skirt with hyperbolic plane inc

But my big hairy goal – is sock knitting.

Which sock pattern would you recommend for a new sock knitter, me.

I can knit in the round, I can knit simple lace, I can follow charts, I can follow written instructions, I can knit with dpn’s, I have sock yarn, and I have IOU’s for 2 pairs of red socks.

Help please, advice requested. Which sock pattern do you recommend for plain red socks for the two men in my life, my son and my Best Beloved?

World Wide Words: states that Upskilling is a moderately common technical term and the Second Additions Volume of the Oxford English Dictionary cites a first use as long ago as 1983.

Upskilling refers to increasing the skills of workers, usually through training. Critics say that upskilled workers are not necessarily better paid, nor do they have better promotion prospects, and that upskilling benefits the employer rather than the worker.

I think the critics are nearly right – upskilled knitters are not necessarily better paid – but they have lots of fun, gain pleasure, have more to offer other knitters and are all round contented, well balanced, and interesting people.

Knitting and Crochet Blog Week

The shops windows all have orange decorations, the orange merchandise is flowing out the doors, and the country will be in an orange shambles by the end of tomorrow.

In Amsterdam there will be an orange mess for some days because the cleaners strike at the railway station has become a Queens Day cleaners strike all over.

So an orange mess everywhere after the celebrations for the Queens Birthday.

I have an orange hat and have been knitting a crown for fun. Trouble is I decided to knit it out of crepe paper and not yarn. My wrist is not coping.

My crown will not be in use this Queens Day – maybe next year instead.

Crepe paper is interesting to knit with – but it is slow knitting and doesn’t flow well. The knitting looks okay – and the texture is great, so I will complete it just not for this Queens Day. it might turn out to be something else of couse. Since I have been in the Netherlands I have added shadow knitting, felting, knitting with plastic, moebius with magic cast on, carbon footprint graphs, knit graffiti, Danish shawls and now knitting with crepe paper to my list of new experiences.

It is not so quiet outside – 10.20pm and the party is already on in the park.