Current Project

Right now I am enjoying knitting little caps for babies.  I knit the first one while we were waiting all night at the hospital for my youngest granddaughter to be born... and it really helped lower my stress level! 

I am just using up yarn I have and knitting away...  I have one completed for a preemie.. and I am working on a larger one now.  I am sure I will find babies that can use them.

Baby caps

Great sites

It is so easy to find great patterns and help online.  There are great sites that have lots of free patterns. This is a link to one great site with a large variety of patterns and great hints and tips if there is something in the pattern that is confusing.  Another good site is Knitting Paradise.  This site also has lots of beautiful patterns starting from very easy for the beginner to extremely challenging for the expert knitter. If you want to try crochet,My Crochet Site is great with patterns, explanations and tutorials.

Stress Relief

Both knitting and crochet have been have been written up as great tools for stress relief.  They have been compared to meditation, deep breathing and yoga for their calming effect. Both knitting and crochet are said to lower blood pressure and heart rate. I have not researched medical studies... but for myself... I notice a difference when I am stressed and grab my knitting.  I am able to relax and focus on it.

Learning to knit

From when I was small... I remember seeing my mother knit. She always had her knitting with her. I knitted my first big project when I was in 5th grade - my school teacher taught me how to knit a cable sweater for my little sister. I have been hooked on knitting ever since.

Crochet

I learned how to crochet when I was in high school.  I enjoy both knitting and crochet... and have done sweaters, baby blankets, hats, scarves, etc.  Last year a coworker showed me how to crochet a simple sweater and I made one for my granddaughter. 

Knitting

I love crafts... and really enjoy knitting.  A dictionary defines knitting as "combining a piece of thread with two needles to create fabric".  With knitting you can create anything from a simple washcloth to a beautiful dress, a simple scarf to an incredible lacy baby blanket, and so much more.