Radian Lace-Knitting

A favorite past-time for me...

I haven't done much else craftwise since I learned in 1982 or 1983. When I finally learned to hand knit, I realized I was much too slow at it and started checking out the Bond machine I kept seeing at a yarn store I frequented.

Machines

I bought a Bond Classic sometime in the early 90's and did quite a bit with it, but then started reading about more advanced machines. The ability to do Fair Isle and other patterning without hand manipulation really appealed to me. I did some research and bought a Knitking Vcx (same as Brother 965i) and a Garter Carriage in 1995. After 10 years I can still safely say I'm still learning this machine and all it can do. Since then I've added a ribber, a color changer, DAK, and miscellaneous other toys to the setup.

More yarn = More Machines

Then I realized I was adding too much worsted weight or heavier yarn to my stash because it was easier to purchase in person. Machine knitting shops are far and few between where I live. So I purchased an Artisan 70-D mid-gauge machine in 2003 to "help reduce the stash". Right. I can't say I've devoted as much time to this machine as the first one. Mostly because I did an about face and got onto a hand knitting roll again.

Back to Basics

I think the Internet had something to do with this. There were just a ton of techniques and stitches I had never learned, so for a few years I did lace doilies, learned to hand knit socks and knit a few afghans. I discovered my favorite way to hand knit is with circulars and I severely dislike seaming. I finally tried knitting with wool and felting.

Round and Round

By now the sweaters I had made everyone in the 90's had been outgrown and I gained a few grandkids. Sweaters have been passed down from my kids to their nieces and nephews, and actually have held up really well. But trying to keep up with the requests from family for new knitwear by hand turned out to be impossible, as much fun as it was. Some of the most requested things are afghans and lapghans.

So in 2005 I purchased a KnitKing 260 bulky punchcard machine and ribber. This is a really fun machine and I've been playing on it ever since.

It's getting croweded in here...

In December 2005 I was gifted with a spinning wheel. I've got a small craft room to contain all this stuff, but it was getting really hard to work in here. 3 machines, the yarn, sewing machine, serger, fabric stash, filing cabinet, books and magazines, spinning wheel and fiber....something had to go. The Bond was loaned out a couple years ago to my daughter-in-law. I wasn't using the Artisan at all since I bought the bulky machine, so I sold it. Aaahhhh....room to breathe.

Knitting Software

Love my computer, love my knitting software. I have Design-A-Knit, Knitware (all 3 versions!), Garment Styler for designing. I use a program called MyBase to help keep notes and keep track of patterns found on the Internet and computer files. I made my own database to keep track of my books, patterns, magazines, yarn, needle collection and projects with Microsoft Access. I load some of this data to my PDA with HanDBase so I can carry an inventory with me. I'm a geek.

Sharing the fun of knitting...

I pretty much knitted totally alone for the longest time and never could get anyone interested in learning. My daughters weren't into fibery stuff at all, though one is at least crafty and does some cross stitch, latch hook and is a great cake decorater and wants to start her own bakery.

I felt better when I got a computer and access to the Internet and saw all kinds of knitters out there. Joined alot of mail groups, help maintain some websites and such. It's been fun. I still wanted to get together with people once in awhile. There was a machine knitting club a couple hours away when I first started machine knitting, but it's long gone.

So in 2005 I started a local club and meet with some really nice ladies (no guys yet but I know you're out there) at a church in town. We get together every week and just sit and knit.

Even better...I've got 4 granddaughters now. The oldest 2 are either knitting or learning. The youngest 2 are still babies, so we'll see.