Sock Knitting (and lots more)
In November and December, I was tangled in a knitting frenzy. All I thought about was knitting. I visited a knit shop in Seoul, I started watching knitting podcast videos on YouTube, and I started stocking up on yarn and project bags to carry all the things I cast on. I even read a knitting-related book.
I guess the cold weather and the Christmasy atmosphere made me want to cuddle up each day to knit, and that's what I did. I made two pairs of fingerless gloves (matching - a pair for me and a pair for my fiancé) and I knit a hat, finished a shawl, and even learned how to crochet. I found an easy video tutorial for a crochet snowflake that I put on my tree!
My obsession continued into January, which was declared sock month for many knitters. As I had never knit a pair of socks before, I had to go out on a search for sock yarn and a pattern. I had heard many people talk about the Fish Lips Kiss Heel technique, which is an easier technique with less headache-inducing-math than most other sock heels. I decided to find a plain sock pattern (toe-up) and I even found self-striping yarn at a local yarn store in Daejeon.
I cast on my socks and knit the first one in no time! I was really proud of myself, because I learned a new cast-on technique, I learned the process of making socks, and I got the hang of the Fish Lips Kiss Heel. I also taught myself how to knit faster, by employing the ever-popular flicking technique (as opposed to the throwing technique I learned when I first started knitting). As an English knitter, I was always envious of those who could knit faster than I, but they usually knit continental or hold their yarn on their finger to flick, rather than in their palm.
At first, I was so stressed out, thinking that sock knitting would be hard, sifting through thousands of different sock patterns, knitting slower than most people I watched online... But then I slowly worked my way up to knitting my second sock, and by that time I was quicker, knew what I was doing, and I learned a new cast-off that made the cuffs of my socks really stretchy.
I am still working on a very large and time consuming cowl to go with my hat. When I first started that pattern, I made many mistakes and the pattern often confused me. I actually got almost halfway done when I realized that I hadn't been paying attention and got my right and wrong sides switched (for maybe the third time while knitting this particular cowl) and I had to rip back and knit an entire section again.
My knitting frenzy has slowed down quite a bit, considering I took a Korean test, started preparing for a theatre performance, and noticed that my wedding day is quickly approaching! I only have one project on the needles (the cowl) but it's going to be a while until I finish it. I want to make 2016 the year that I knit (or at least start) a sweater, but a lot of things are changing in the next few months, so I'm trying not to stress myself out about it. After all, knitting should be relaxing, right?
A weekend or two ago, I met up with a Korean knitter who lives in my city, and we had a nice time sitting and knitting together, and next time she will introduce me to more knitters. One of my coworkers who I currently knit with on a near weekly basis is going back to her home country soon, so I need to find more knitting friends. Otherwise, I will be a very lonely knitter indeed.
This winter is turning out to be a very strange one, so I'm not sure how much more I will be able to knit for the cold. Ah well, knitting knows no season. I'm visiting Seoul in a few weeks, so I'll try to make a stop by the yarn shop so I can stock up and get some inspiration.
Are you a knitter/crafter? Don't forget to add me on Ravelry!