I had Friday off as compensation for the two 12-hour days of conferences. I was exhausted and didn’t have much energy for anything dramatic. A rainy day, it was the perfect day for knitting.
I finished the socks I started earlier this month and could finally begin the sweater project I’ve been dying to do.
With any project, it is important to start the right way. I gathered my materials: one pattern, two sets of needles, and five skeins of yarn in four colors.
The first step is to turn each skein into a yarn cake. That requires setting up the swift and yarn winder. My rocking chair has the perfect arms for the job.
Within a short time, I had six cakes of yarn. I was turning the handle so fast as I wound the grey (colorway: Great Gray Owl) that popped off the winder. That’s why it looks a little wonky.
And then the moment I’d been waiting for arrived – the moment when I got to cast on.
booksandbassets 
As a fellow knitter I love your post! Your socks are beautiful! I hope you enjoy the sweater. There’s nothing like knitting to relieve stress.
Prep work is so important for having projects run smoothly. Happy knitting.
I crochet and love the feeling of a new project. I crochet shawls for a prayer shawl ministry. Love your images.
I don’t knit but I enjoyed this photo and word description of your prep process. It makes the reader want to find something they really want to start! I think your colors are beautiful. And I liked having a peek into your home and noticed all the dog stuff at the edge of one picture, Ms. BooksandBassets!
I thought about cropping the photos to hide the dog mess, but figured it is also a real part of my life.
I don’t knit either. But I like how, though your post is about all the steps needed to get ready to knit, it ends so happily with the words, “you cast on”. I like how you included all the knitting specific vocab too. Your piece is a good metaphor for many tasks in life….you got to do all the boring tasks and then can have fun!
I’m in awe of knitters. You are all artists. The socks are a fantastic color, and your post reminds me that writing is knitting, too.
I come from a family of knitters, but never took it up myself and it’s always bugged me that I didn’t learn. Cue – bucket list! Your socks are a wonderful hue of green – so apropos in honor of St. Patrick’s Day today! I loved “And then the moment I’d been waiting for arrived” as it made me feel that you had found your “home.”
Prep work is grunt work, but so necessary to make it easy. So intriguing that set up for winding the yarn. I remember holding my hands out so my grandma could make the yarn ball. I never understood why they don’t sell yarn in the form you need to use it. Such talent!
My daughter in law is a knitter, your post made me think about how much she loves every aspect of this devotion! Enjoy your new project, hope you wore the awesome green socks for St. Patrick’s Day!
I did not know a yarn winder existed!
Love this phrase: yarn cakes!
I’m a knitter, but nothing on the calibre as you are. I never saw that “cake” maker before so I enjoyed seeing the photographs. Also, I have a big project that is almost done. You inspired me to get out my needles!
Prep work is important for any task to be completed well. I like getting set up to cook or bake.
That’s the yarn that you got at the Yarn Crawl, isn’t it? I can’t wait to see how the sweater progresses! Maybe I’ll learn how to knit some day….. maybe. 🙂 ~JudyK
Yes, it is. I have been dying to get going on this project.
I love your step by step pictures that go along with your writing. I have been trying to learn to crochet. IT IS HARD. I am so impressed by your knitting talents!