Knitting for Knitting's Sake

Here we are, less than a week before Christmas. A time where knitters world wide are usually found sobbing into their skeins of merino, completely aware that they are not going to finish that shawl for Aunty Mary in time.

Not me. I knitted a hat. It's the Unoriginal Hat by the Yarn Harlot (www.yarnharlot.ca), and I knitted it with King Cole Aero on 7mm needles. I have been meaning to knit this since I first saw it on Stephanie's blog - my first attempt ended up as a neck warmer as I ran out of yarn halfway through (a very effective neck warmer, however). Undeterred, I bought more yarn and knitted it again.

I love this pattern. I knitted it in a day (which always makes me feel good - there is no opportunity to lose interest in the project or the yarn, and something might actually get finished). I love cables anyway - and I got hold of a lovely set of cable needles on Friday that my mother was throwing out. Silly girl.

Nice hat, finished in time for Christmas - surely it would make a great gift? Of course - except that I can't think of anyone to give it to. No one. I think it looks pretty boyish, despite the cables, and I can't think of a single guy that could do with (ie. actually use) a hat. So essentially, I've knitted this for no good reason. Knitting for knitting's sake. Surely the best kind!?

Recycling

I got this poncho as a gift from my parents, several years ago. It was back when ponchos were enjoying their moment in the sun, their 15 minutes of fame. I would like to say I was never a fan of the style, but my wardrobe begs to differ (I have a gorgeous, hand crocheted black poncho made for me by my mother in law, which I love and wear a lot. But it was hand made. And from my MIL. And black never looks bad). The problem with this particular ponch is the length - too short. I obviously suffer quite a lot with short clothing (as my mohair cardi testifies...). This thing just hung off my boobs as if they were a shelf. For shame.

So I let it fester in a cupboard for several years. I don't know what I was hoping for... maybe that it would move out in the night?

Here we are in 2007. I am not buying any more yarn this year (I have my fingers crossed that Ma & Pa have bought me yarn for Christmas - my dad tried to engage me in a conversation about colours of Twilleys Freedom, which was very bizarre and suggests to me he was digging for information... anyways...) so I thought I'd try and recyle the ponch. I attacked it with some scissors, following advice I read in the Frankenknits section of Knitty (www.knitty.com). First I removed the tassles. Then I unpicked the seams - essentially this garment is 4 big blocks of knitting joined together, so unravelling it all was easy. I ended up with 4 large balls and a couple of small balls of this funky yarn - some of it is like roving, it's just actual unspun wool, and then it turns into a really thin, almost 3 ply consistency. Weird. There is just about every colour ever involved here too.

So I knit myself a hat and scarf. I didn't bother about patterns as the yarn is so funky, any sort of pattern stitch would've been entirely wasted. Here is a hat adapted from a pattern from Knitting Pattern Central, knit initially on 5mm needles, and then on 6mms for the main body of the hat (which is plain old reliable stockinette).

I wasn't entirely happy with how the hat turned out - basically the needles were too small. I used 10mm needles for the scarf (which is k1, p1 over 20 stitches all the way up, simple yet effective) which has a far better tension, so I'm thinking with the remaining yarn I might re knit the hat on 7mm/8mm needles. Then I can give the hat to someone or sell it or something.

This was an eyeopener. Imagine how much I could save on yarn if I just recycle old stuff I buy in charity shops or something? It was easy, and I got so much yarn for very little effort.

That said, I am weak. I like the process of going in a yarn shop and touching everything, and imagining it all knit up. It's going to be an expensive new year... especially if Ma & Pa don't come up with the Twilleys....

Digby, The Biggest Sock in the World!**

**This is very witty, believe me, so long as you were a young child in Britain in the '70s.

Another free pattern! Does my generosity know no bounds?

You need: about 50g red DK weight yarn (I opted for acrylic nastiness), 25g each of yellow and white (both in DK weight) but to be honest I probably used less. Obviously you can change the colours.

Set of 5mm double pointed needles.

Using white yarn, cast on 64 stitches and divide over 3 needles (21 stitches on 1st needle, 22 stitches on 2nd needle, 21 stitches on 3rd needle). Place a marker if you need to marking the beginning of the round.

Work K1, P1 ribbing for 4cm. Join red yarn.

Knit straight round until work measures 8cm in total. Join yellow yarn.

Follow the following chart for the stars - the chart is worked over 11 stitches and 11 rows. Basically, you work 1 row of the chart, then knit 5 "separator" stitches (in red) before working the chart again. This is the case for each row of the chart. You end up with 4 snowflakes round the sock.

Once the chart is complete, cut yellow yarn and secure. Continue in red (knitting straight every round) until work measures 15cm in total.

Join yellow yarn, and knit straight until work measures 19cm in total. Change to red yarn.

Continue in red (knitting straight every round) until work measures 21cm in total. Change to white yarn.

Continue in white (knitting straight every round) until work measures 25cm in total. Change to red yarn.

Continue in red (knitting straight every round) until work measures 30cm in total.

Knit across the 21 stitches of the first needle, turn and purl across these stitches and those on the third needle. Join yellow and white yarn at this stage. These 42 stitches will be the heel.

Work 14 rows in stocking stitch (starting with a knit row), alternating colours every 2 rows. Stick with one colour (I chose yellow) for turning the heel:

Turn Heel:

1st row: K30, sl1, k1, psso, turn.

2nd row: sl1, P18, P2tog, turn.

3rd row: sl1, K18, sl1, k1, psso, turn. Repeat rows 2 and 3 8 times, then 2nd row again. (There should now be 22 stitches on the needle). Change to red yarn.

Sl1, k to end, then pick up and knit 11 stitches evenly across the first side of the heel flap.

Using a 2nd needle, knit across 22 stitches of the second needle (instep), then using a third needle, pick up and k11 stitches evenly across the 2nd side of the heel. Knit across 11 stitches from the end of the first needle. You should now have 66 stitches over the three needles (22 on each).

K1 round straight.

Knit to last 2 stitches on first needle, k2tog, k1. Knit across second needle, then on 3rd needle, k1, sl1, k1, pss0, knit to end. Repeat the last 2 rounds until 44 stitches remain. Change to yellow yarn, and knit 2 rounds straight.

Knit to last 2 stitches on first needle, k2tog, on 2nd needle sl1, k1, pss0, knit to last 2 stitches and k2tog, then on 3rd needle sl1, k1, psso, knit to end.

Knit 1 round.

Repeat the last 2 rounds until 28 stitches remain, join red then decrease as before on every round for 2 rounds. Change to white, and continuing the decrease on every round, work until 8 stitches remain. Cut yarn leaving a long tail. Turn work inside out to cast off.

Casting off: (this is the easiest method that I use).

Useful tip: I find it's easiest to turn the whole thing inside out if I transfer the remaining stitches onto safety pins first - the whole they have to fit through is tiny so I don't trust myself to try and get a needle through there or just take the stitches off the needle altogether. Once the sock is inside out, put the stitches back on two needles.

Knit together 1 stitch from each needle twice (so 2 stitches on the right hand needle), pass first stitch over 2nd to cast off as usual. Repeat until everything is cast off.

Maybe that should've been Digby the biggest blog post in the world....

Mixed Feelings

Have to admit... I'm slightly disappointed with the outcome of the Mohair cardi. The fit of it just isn't right on me. Maybe it's my body shape that doesn't suit the garment rather than vice versa... either way, it's a bit boxy.

I like the style. I adore the yarn. I love the ribbon round the edging (which I would definitely include on other garments). I think the main problem with this for me is the length - I followed the pattern to the letter and I think I could've done with adding 2 inches to the length all round.

All of that said - this is the first real item of clothing I've tried to knit, and it's come out cardigan shaped and I could wear it out, so I'm not deeply upset with it. Lessons have been learned.

The pattern is from The Art of Knitting magazine (you can probably subscribe if you look up "Hatchette Partworks" on Google... it's a good series of magazines for a beginner knitter, which I am, but frankly some of the patterns are so easy my husband could probably knit them - and this a man who suggested we improvise chop sticks from my needles...)

The yarn is Sublime Kid Mohair (colour is Venetian Green) which is gorgeous and I would like to be buried in a pile of it. I used 6mm needles which explains why it took me less than a month to knit. I got the ribbon from Army and Navy haberdashery (it was something like 40p a metre. I have no idea what colour it is or anything, but it's about 1/2 a centimetre in width).

So I've forged straight on with a stocking decoration I'm knitting for Christmas. The pattern is my own, so it'll feature here in the next day or so. I'm knitting it with old nasty acrylic bought ages ago (no point on wasting good yarn on a project that will essentially see the light of day once a year). I had a bit of red left, a full ball of yellow, and some white all in DK weight, now I'm half way through the stocking and I'm not sure I have enough yarn to even finish it! Time will tell...!

Busy!

It's been an age since I last posted - I've been crazy busy. Which is not to say that there hasn't been knitting - there has. All on the Mohair cardi. I am now finishing off the first sleeve, then it's just the second sleeve to go! Hoping to get some more done on it this week.

I did my Christmas shopping this weekend (having taken a couple of days off work to do so). Guildford shopping centre is officially the seventh circle of hell. And it wasn't even a weekend day... Despite getting dangerously close to homicidal at several points, the Christmas shopping is now done, and I did not weaken and go in the yarn shop (Pandora's). Although I was tempted.

I'm thinking about doing a bit of Christmas knitting. Not gifts for people - I'm going to stop at the socks in terms of gifts - but I thought it might be fun to make some decorations. I get ludicrously over excited about Christmas. I can't help myself. I knitted a tiny tree decoration last year which wasn't too stressful (ie. you can knock it out in a day, so no real deadlines!). I also made stuffed snowmen, which are just the cutest (and you can find the pattern at www.knittingpatterncentral.com). This year I think I should do something different altogether...

Finished Socks of Rock

Another finished item (or in this case, items) to add to the pile! The socks are done, here they are in all their glory on my feet.

These were quick to knit, and the yarn is fabulous. It was my first experiment with self striping yarn and I was pleased with the result, and pleasantly surprised that I managed to get the different colours to pretty much match up. Where there are differences, I'm also happy, as it just makes them look a bit more hand made.

A close up to give a better idea of the pattern of the yarn. The sock pattern itself wasn't much of a challenge - it's a 2x2 rib all the way down, but in my defence, I'm still new to socks so all the fun is in turning the heel etc. for me at the moment.

I used 3mm needles, Regia yarn (the ball band is in German so I'm not entirely sure of the name of the colour... "Jacquard" I think?), and the Legendary Cath's 70's sock pattern. They will be a Christmas present, although I'm not sure who the lucky recipient is... probably my Uncle in Law. Or my Grandfather (who often mentions how he would wear hand knit wool socks back during his years in the navy for weeks at a time, without his feet becoming sweaty or smelly or anything. Bearing in mind my entire immediate family have the worst smelling, sweatiest feet in the world - we're not proud, but hell, we're realists - this is an impressive boast, and makes us all very jealous).

As with every sock I've ever knitted - it was enjoyable during the knitting, but I'm delighted to get them done... now back to the Mohair cardi full time.

I finished the left front last week (in one day!), and cast on the right front. Then I decided to get a nasty cold and put it down for a few days. I shall be picking it up again today or tomorrow - whilst I'm not going to set myself a firm deadline, I would like to get it done in the next 2 weeks. Watch this space!

Brief and to the Point

A flying visit today, simply to report that the back of the Mohair Cardi is now complete - always read the pattern, kids, you don't want to be ripping back six rows of mohair. I managed to salvage everything (after much swearing and pleading with the yarn), and the back is complete and done. I am casting on the right front today (it's half the number of stitches for the back, so I'm guessing I will probably be halfway through it by the end of today).

Also managed about another inch on the sock last night - slow progress, but this still remains the fastest sock I've ever knitted.

I'm suffering with some sort of illness at the moment, which apparently involves not feeling bad enough to take to my bed, but coughing like a walrus and feeling all round shabby. Progress is therefore slow - but there will be pictures as soon as I can be bothered.

Stripey Ear Flap Hat

It occurred to me that I have not blogged the pattern for the extremely funky and cool ear flap hat that I'm wearing in the picture (for which I did make up the pattern). Why deprive the world of such a cool hat! Modelled here by my mother :)

Materials: DK (light worsted) weight yarn in 6 colours (which we shall call A, B, C, D, E and predictably, F). Probably about 25g of each, this was a stash busting exercise for me.

4mm circular needle and 4mm straight needles.

Ear flaps (make 2):
Using A, cast on 7 stitches.
Row 1: K1, P to last stitch, K1
Row 2: K1, KFB (knit into front and back of stitch, creating 2 stitches), K to last 2 stitches, KFB, K1.
Repeat rows 1 & 2, change to B.
Using B, repeat rows 1 & 2 (13 stitches), change to C.
Using C, repeat rows 1 & 2 (15 stitches).
Row 3 - K1, P13, K1.
Row 4 - K.
Repeat rows 3 & 4 (so 6 rows have been worked in colour C in total). Change to D.
Using D, repeat rows 3 & 4. Change to E.
Using E, repeat rows 3 & 4 twice (so 4 rows total have been worked in E). Change to F.
Using F, repeat rows 3 & 4 (2 rows total). Change to A.
Repeat rows 3 & 4 twice (4 rows total). Change to B.
Using B, repeat rows 3 & 4 (2 rows total). Place work on a spare needles. (I generally weave in ends here, saves time and effort later).

Place first ear flap on circular needle (always make sure that the right side of the ear flap is facing outwards) - attach colour C and knit across stitches of ear flap (15 stitches), then cast on a further 38 stitches. Place the second ear flap on the circular needles and knit across those 15 stitches, then cast on a further 32 stitches, and join up with the first ear flap (you'll have 100 stitches total on the circular). I also find it handy to place a stitch marker at the beginning of the round.

The pattern for the main body of the hat is as follows:
K19, (P2, K2) repeated 8 times, P2, K49.
I also changed colours as follows (starting with the colour you cast on the main body of the hat with):
Colour C - 6 rows
Colour D - 2 rows
Colour E - 4 rows
Colour F - 2 rows
Colour A - 4 rows
Colour B - 2 rows
Work the same row as many times as each colour dictates until hat measures 17 cms from the cast on edge of the main body (You might want to measure your own head for this - mine is ENORMOUS).

Decrease row 1 (keeping the colour change pattern as for the main body - you may also want to change to 4mm double pointed needles): (K2 tog, K8) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 2: K
Decrease row 3: (K1, K2 tog, K6) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 4: K
Decrease row 5: (K2, K2 tog) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 6: K
Decrease row 7: (K2 tog, K1) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 8: K
Decrease row 9: (K2 tog) repeat to end of round.
Decrease row 10: K
Repeat row 9.
Cut yarn leaving about 20 cm. Thread needle then thread remaining stitches through, tie tightly. You can opt to plait some of the yarn you used in the knitting to make funky tassles for the ends of the earflaps - just plait about 30cm of yarn together, secure at one end and fasten the other end to the ear flap by sewing.
Voila! Cool stripey hat to amaze your friends and relatives.

Progress on the sock and the mohair cardi continues - nothing really exciting to report, but hopefully photos after the weekend.

In Which Much Progress Is Made

Exciting progress on the sock... I woke up 1/2 hour before my alarm this morning, so took the (extremely rare) opportunity to have a cup of tea and turn the heel on Regia Sock the Second.

This is my quickest sock ever. Usually each sock takes me about a month - I lose interest in the whole process for a while, but this one has me hooked. I'm pretty confident that I'll be at the toe by the weekend. I've decided I'll probably stockpile this particular pair to give to one of my male relatives at Christmas - the colours here are pretty masculine, and nothing says "I didn't have a clue what else to get you" like a handknit pair of socks. Plus I've done them at least a size or two larger than I wear.

Even more exciting than the socks is the Sublime Mohair cardi. Work has commenced, and continues apace. I am loving absolutely everything about this - the speed at which it's growing (the picture represents about 2 hours or so knitting), the yarn, the colour (both of which are shown very poorly in this photo...), it's like knitting a cobweb. Only a really gorgeous dusty green cobweb which is going to look just so cool with jeans or over a dress... This is the back, I'm hopeful of getting to the shoulder shaping by tomorrow. I am going out tonight for dinner, and there is a large amount of wine on the menu, so knitting may well be shelved for tomorrow...

Mohair Here

I'm pretty much frothing at the mouth this morning - my shipment of Sublime Kid Mohair has arrived for the Art of Knitting Cardi. I have to wag a disappointed finger at the Royal Mail however, who saw fit to leave 30.00 worth of mohair sitting on my front steps all day yesterday, regardless of rain and people who might steal it. Bad effort, Royal Mail.

Anyway I took safe delivery when I got home from work yesterday, and it's so much more gorgeous than it looked in the picture online. I've got it in the Venetian Green colourway; I tried taking a photo of it this morning but wherever I pose the ball of yarn, in whatever degree of sunlight, I couldn't accurately get the colour to show up. Look it up on the interweb anyway, it is definitely the right choice for me.

I'm confident that it will knit up quickly (it's on 7mm needles so hopefully...) because I'd really like to wear this cardi at Christmas.

The sock also continues apace - I know I've had more knitting time last week with the extra commuting, but I'm already at the heel flap. If I can bring myself to put the mohair cardi down for a minute I might actually turn the heel this week.

The Legendary Cath

Progress on the sock has been very reasonable. I've done about 13cm or so, and let joy be unbound, the striping pretty much matches up. Can't say I enjoy a 2 hour commute to work, but the sock has certainly assisted in easing the woe.

This is my 3rd pair of socks ever. When I first starting knitting, I really wanted to be able to do socks - I taught myself to knit in the round, I looked at dozens of (American) patterns, and I couldn't get my head round the technique of turning a heel at all. Short row shaping I could handle, but what is a gusset and what does it do?

Fortunately, my brother had the good sense to get engaged to a girl whose grandmother knits. The gran is a lovely lady, she is the Legendary Cath, and over tea and biscuits one afternoon she taught me to turn a heel, in about 1/2 an hour. She gave me a set of three patterns (a plain sock, a ribbed sock - which is the pattern I'm using for the sock above - and a "fancy" lace sock, which I have knitted already for myself). The pattern must be from the 1970s but I understand it - and consequently I can apply it to any sock pattern out there. Thank you Cath - I still owe you that Sunday lunch we talked about, hopefully the hip replacement has now settled and we can get you up the stairs to my flat!

Today is pay day, and let joy be unbound part 2, I have bought the Sublime kid mohair. It was the cheapest I have seen it on the internet, although I'm not necessarily guaranteed the colour I wanted. That said, I would happily wear any of the colours on offer, so not a problem. Can't wait to get going with it...

I Knit Weird

The sock is under way (here it is on the left), and I've made good progress so far. This is my only opportunity to blog this week as I'm commuting to London until Friday, and I'm not allowed to blog in the office (and too knackered to do it in the evenings), so there will most likely be a great deal more progress next time.

I've noticed that I hold the needles in my right hand in a really weird way. This has happened unconciously - not because holding needles in the traditional way is a problem for me, it just seems to work better if I grip between my first and middle fingers.

"The Claw" - I fail to see a real problem with "the Claw Method". The knitting happens, it happens pretty quick, so the end result is the same. I don't remember when this started, I've knit things on 15mm needles before and I'm sure I can't possibly hold them like this. I'm not sure from this photo whether I'm quite in the "pinky up" position... it would be lovely to think I knit a bit camp.

Sometimes I end up with a bit of hand cramp, but who's to say I wouldn't get that with holding the needles in the standard way? Maybe this is why I can't crochet... can't hold the needle properly?

It is now 2 days until payday, which means 2 days until I spend lots of money on Sublime Kid Mohair for the Art of Knitting cardigan. We will starve if needs be, I must have that yarn.

Hubby's Birthday

Many happy returns my darling P :) xxxx

Blooming Bag Pattern

Yarn: Ry Soft Lux in Clover, 64% extra fine merino wool, 10% angora, 24% nylon, 2% metallic fibre.

Needles: 6mm
Finished Size: 14" by 9"
How to make it:

Cast on 56 st
K 5 rows
Row 1: K5, P to last 5 st, K5
Row 2: K
Repeat rows 1 & 2 until 55 rows have been worked.
K the next 19 rows
Repeat rows 1 & 2 until a further 95 rows have been worked (I find placing a stitch marker at either end of the 60th row helps with seaming)
K 5 rows
Bind off.
Fold and seam (inside out) from beginning to stitch markers.

Strap: Cast on 6 stitches and knit until strap measures 50 inches, sew to side seams inside bag.

Felting: Fill sink with hottest tap water - submerge bag. Start agitating bag with hands. Scream in agony due to hotness of water. Attack bag in fit of rage with potato masher. Mash bag in hot water, screaming obscenities for about 15 mins or until it looks felted. Squeeze out excess water, stuff with a towel, leave to dry.

Flowers: I got the pattern from this nice lady (link below) - I made three and just sewed them on after felting it.

http://www.fortheloveofyarn.com/Issues/Spring06/patterns/spring06_stashbust_knit.shtml

I didn't line the bag, but I only intend to use it for light use (ie. transporting some cash to the pub, and less cash back). I was pleased with how this turned out, feel free to make it if you can follow my crap directions.

Following yesterday's post, I spent all of about 2 seconds deciding on the next project - the sock won. I've got to commute to London for a week next week, and double pointed needles appear to be a bit more train friendly than hulking great straights.

Awful Cheap DK Acrylic Nastiness Blanket

It is a very strange thing for me to have absolutely nothing on the needles. I would love to be one of those focused, dedicated people who can work on one thing at a time, but I'm not. Usually I have 2 or 3 things on the go at any one time at least. Today, I am project free.

Last night I had a rush of blood to the head and finished a baby blanket I've been working on for more time than I care to mention. I started knitting it about a year ago - then lost interest in the nasty acrylic yarn, the colour, the pattern, and left it. My cousin in law had a baby (my godson) so I wanted to make him something special. Godson is now approaching his first birthday, and I can't help but feel a blanket which would only really fit round a newborn might be a bit redundant.... Anyway, last night, I finished it, and did a lap of honour of the living room to celebrate. Here it is, modelled by the lovely Cow.

It's a basic corner to corner blanket, knit in awful cheap DK acrylic nastiness, but it was a useful exercise to practice, was started well before I bothered actually learning anything about different yarns, and I did learn that I never want to knit a blanket again in anything other than gorgeous chunky cashmere that knits at at the very most 2 stitches to the inch. I put a great big purple stripe down the middle to stop myself from getting snow blindness. Pattern is from the free pattern website, Knitting Pattern Central, which is possibly the coolest website in the world and can be found in Google.

Here is some detail. If I'm absolutely honest, it was as dull to knit as it is to look at - but at least it's done.

So I'm going to celebrate with a new project. I have a sock hanging about which needs a friend - it's in Regia self striping yarn which is slightly exciting, and I was really pleased with how the first sock turned out. Or I might just shelve that for a bit longer and make a hat (I like cabled hats. They're quick and cabling rocks). I am desperate to knit the mohair cardi in The Art of Knitting magazine, but even buying the yarn on e-bay will set me back more than I can afford. So it must wait until after payday (which luckily is next Friday. Unless I cave in before hand and make P go without any lunch for the next week).

The Bag (which I really need to think of a name for) is still slightly soggy, so I don't want to carry out the final adjustments until it's all dry and done. The strap is way too long, so I'm going to fold and sew it (which should also make it a bit stronger). I also knitted up some little roses to go on the front. After it's completed, I intend to parade proudly up and down the street in front of my house, wearing it and waving at pedestrians.

If you blog and no one is reading, does it make a sound?

After two years of knitting, and finally getting reasonably good at it, I have decided to run a blog. It seems to be the thing to do these days, and I read enough of them... I want to join in. I am a realist - I am aware that it's only going to be me reading it for now. But one day, someone might have look and wonder who the hell I am. Hence this post of introduction.

Here I am, I am Sam, in my green stripey hat (but featuring no eggs and ham this time) and surprisingly coordinating t-shirt. This is rare and will not happen often, I usually follow the "complete mess" style of clothing where nothing matches and something is usually held up by a safety pin or bit of string.

Here's a bit of biography - I'm (currently) 28 but have plans to get older, I live in Surrey (UK) with my husband (P) and no children. I do not own a cat but that is only because I can't be bothered sweeping up hair - both me and P have long rock star hair which is enough for any household. I work (from home) for a relocation company, it's pretty dull but the money is OK. I like music, gigs (P is in a punk band), festivals, cooking and knitting. Lotsa knitting.

I am at present blocking a bag that I knitted last week and felted today. I made up the pattern so I'll post it when I have a picture of the bag (which will be a phone picture I'm afraid, as is apparent from the picture of me... it's the closest I have to a proper digital camera). I will also post my felting method - I'm totally new to felting so again I made it up as I went along.

I suppose the main reason I'm starting to blog is to get in touch with some other knitters, for advice, yarn swopping and generally chatting about knitting. Plus I like to write, and long hand diaries are so 20th century.