I’ve tried learning to knit so many times it’s almost embarrassing. My grandmother tried to teach me and my mother tried to teach me, both multiple times. After thoroughly testing the patience of both women over the course of my childhood and teenage years I decided that maybe knitting and I just wouldn’t be friends.
But I’m not the kind of person who likes being defeated by something and so when I got the urge again recently, I was determined to learn. I started with big needles (channeling my inner Buffy the Vampire Slayer!) and the chunkiest wool I could find (which was Wool & The Gang Crazy Sexy Wool) and I watched Youtube video after Youtube video until I was able to cast on, knit a scarf in basic garter stitch and bind off.
The result was a gorgeous chunky scarf that I’ve worn a ton.
Fast-forward to the following winter and I’m tackling a few news skills: smaller needles, finer wool, different stitches, knitting in the round. I knit another scarf and used circular needles for the first time to make this gorgeous cowl.
Want to try your hand at knitting a cowl? Here’s what you need:
Yarn:
- Worsted/Aran weight in a fiber of your choice. Personally, I love merino wool or alpaca because it’s super soft against the skin, but use whatever takes your fancy.
- Think about the colour you want to use. It gets freaking cold in Canada and I often pull my scarf or cowl up over my face, and since I often wear lipstick out I went with a dark colour so if the cowl accidentally touched my lips I wouldn’t get any staining.
Tools:
- Circular needles in a size that matches your wool and a cable length that will accommodate the size of the cowl. I used size 8/5mm wood needles with a 16” cable from KnitPicks and they worked great. They also have a set with interchangeable cables so you can make smaller and bigger projects with the same needles – handy!
- Embroidery needle to weave in the tails once you’ve finished knitting
- A sharp pair of scissors to cut the yarn when you’re done
- Stitch markers x 2
- Plenty of cups of coffee or tea and a blanket to keep you cosy
Skills:
- Being able to cast-on
- Joining in the round
- Knitting and purling
- Binding off
Pattern: I followed this one here and it was great! http://tincanknits.com/pattern-SC-oats.html
My top knitting tips:
- Go slow and count the steps in your head (or out loud) as you knit.
- Give yourself some peace and quiet to learn. Once you’re confident it’s fine to watch tv or listen to music or a podcast, but in the beginning give the project your full attention.
- Don’t worry if you make a mistake! A few flaws here and there are what make the item special and unique to you.
Go forth and create!
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Marianna Halsey has the most boring life in the world. With seven overprotective older brothers, she’s even ended up a virgin at twenty-four. But when a dark and sexy male prevents her from getting her wallet stolen on a Greek vacation, she decides it’s time for some adventure. She’s read a gazillion romance novels. How hard can it be to score a hook-up?
Greek billionaire and stock market whiz, Nico Galinas has built an empire from nothing. Literally. Orphaned as a baby, Nico trusts no one. Especially not the quirky, attractive woman using the worst pick up tricks in history. She wants something, and Nico decides to play along, even when she invites herself back to his place.
But what happens when “the beast” accidentally knocks up “beauty”?
Growing up, Stefanie came from a family of women who loved to read. Her favourite activity was going shopping with her Nan during school holidays, where she would sit on the floor of the bookstore with her little sister and painstakingly select the books to spend her allowance on. Thus, it was no surprise Stefanie was the sort of student who would read her English books before the semester started. After sneaking several literature subjects into her ‘very practical’ Business degree, she got a job in Communications. When writing emails and newsletters didn’t fulfil her creative urges, she turned to fiction and was finally able to write the stories that kept her mind busy at night. Now she lives in Melbourne with her very own hero and enough books to sink a ship. She frequently indulges in her passions for good coffee, French perfume, high heels and zombie movies. At night she writes sexy, contemporary romance stories and tries not to spend too much time shopping online and watching baby animal videos on YouTube.
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