BLOGMAS - MAKING A SCARF PART 1

What you need:

• 3-5 balls of yarn
• I used Patons Classic Wool, each ball of yarn was approximately 78 yards long. The amount of yarn you choose to use is based off of your personal preference.
• knitting needles (size: 10.5)

The slang you've got to know:
*check out my last post for an in depth explanation of how to do the following:

• "CO: cast on
• sts: stitch(es)
• k: knit
• p: purl" (Ham 20). 

These abbreviations are used to make the instructions more concise.

1) "CO 28 sts loosely, and work the 8 row pattern as follows:

• Row 1: (k4, p4) to last 4 sts, k4.
• Row 2: (p4, k4) to last 4 sts, p4.
• Rows 3 and 4: repeat rows 1 and 2.
• Row 5: (p4, k4) to last 4 sts, p4.
• Row 6: (k4, p4) to last 4 sts, k4.
• Rows 7 and 8: repeat rows 5 and 6" (Ham 51). 

This is the main bulk of the project. As you continue to knit, the pattern becomes a lot easier to achieve because of its repetitiveness. With such a simple pattern you can easily lose track of time while working, that's why it's important to take breaks in between. You have to allow your muscles to loosen up before they start cramping (Ham 19).

When I first started the project I kept messing up because it was basically my first time knitting. I didn't know how to undo my mistakes so every time I messed up, I would start from scratch. This is one way to fix your mistakes, but the further along you mess up, the more you have to redo. Eventually, this method becomes very time consuming. My book doesn't mention how to correct mistakes so I had to look it up after deciding that I didn't want to waste my hard work. Turned out that this method was not only easier, but also saved me a lot of time.  

Undoing a knit stitch:

• Pull up on the yarn you're working with and a gap will appear.
• With your left needle, go through from front to back to secure your old stitch back onto the needle.
• Once the old stitch is secure, pull the remaining stitch and yarn off of your right needle.

Undoing a purl stitch:

• Undoing a purl stitch is almost identical to undoing a knit stitch.
• In your right hand, you should be able to identify a bump that formed from your purl stitch.
• With your left needle, go under from front to back to secure your old stitch.
• Once the old stitch is secure, pull the remaining stitch and yarn off.

When you make a mistake, do you let it hold you back from prospering?

Ham, Catherine. Knitting 20 Simple & Stylish Wearables for Beginners. New York: Lark, 2003. Print.