This post was EXACTLY what I needed to read this morning. I'm knitting my first sweater and I tell you this silly wrap stitch thing catching me every time. Not the wrapping, but the picking it up to make it invisible. So off to work I go with my knitting bag to beg a coworker to sit with me for ten minutes (payment in coffee!) to figure it out. If you have any suggestions I'd love them, too!

you are completely right.

You have the best cookies and sweaters. Knit and purl and Mom. For anyone without mom nearby there is the internet with videos, it can help too.

Thanks for the encouragement :)
Cookies look yummy.

i love your new blog header! very pretty.
i love this post, very encouraging... and the pictures look delicious.
thank you!!
kendall
now about those socks in my bag....

So true, Leslie. The woman who patiently taught me to knit five years ago told me the same thing; I need to be reminded of this truth and often repeat this to myself under my breath when I'm knitting something difficult.

I can just imagine the crazies with the powdered lips! The cookies look delicious.

good morning leslie,

I have knitted scarves for just about everyone in my family and made a poncho for my mom. I have embarked on my first sweater, a baby sweater. I have only had to rip out the right front side twice due to dropping stitches!!
Those cookies look wonderfull and remind me of my mom. I'll need to make some for her.
Have fun today and thanks for your words of encouragement.
Sherry

ooh, those cookies sounds fantastic...

You are absolutely right about the knitting. Some, people however really do have a problem reading the patterns. I am an abbreviation type of person, so it came easy for me. Cookies look delicious.

You're so right Leslie (about knitting...and about icing sugar). What a great post!

Great pep talk! It is all so true...

If there is a choice, always choose to sprinkle with powdered sugar. :)

As a wise woman recently sahred with me...TUT in the for real this AM here visiting you.

Inspiration. Promise. Accomplishment.

Time shared and we'll all know our dreams and creative desires. Most especially, we'll know a world at peace for the individual fulfilled.

Sweet happenings to you and yours...today.

one of the things i love about knitting is the feeling of accomplishment you feel when you learn a new technique or figure out what the abbreviation in the pattern is.

"shared"

those cookies are going on my "to do" list.

I just cast on my first sweater for me (the famous central park hoodie) and am pretty much scared out of my mind. So, thank you for the encouragement! It was just what I needed.

So true - my sister often tells me "oh, I can only knit hats and scarves" and I always tell her that if you can do those things, you can knit anything!

Dude! My complimentary comment for your lovely Plisse is much delayed! Oh, it's so gorgeous. I am glad you listened to Jeeves.

Your cookies look fabulous. If only I hadn't given up sugar. <3

Ooh, sign me up fir anything with lemon! Except that the baking needs to be a night owl thing for now, as we are still resisting turning on the air conditioning... the upside- more grilling! (much more!)
My first actual project was an aran sweater, though it was baby size. Nothing like jumping in with both feet, I always say... well, okay, not always, some things need caution and careful consideration, things like buying cars and homes, but knitting? no way, just grab a cute pattern, some good yarn, needles, and a handy reference book, and get to it! Works for me...

back to the garden, and maybe some afternoon knitting-
ali

YUM! I love slice and bake cookies - I'm definitely going to veganize this recipe - thanks!

good advice! I'm all for jumping in and learning as you go! Thanks for the inspiration. those cookies look fabulous.

Yeah... my thing with the powdered sugar is they end up breathing in the powder and choking and then coughing cookie bits all over the place. Very fun. Your kids don't do that?

it's so fun to read your thoughts on knitting. i agree with you...having someone help you decipher a pattern is key!!! i am finally learning how to knit socks and i'm OVER THE MOON excited about it! and i have a wonderful teacher that is demystifing lots of things for me. it's so exciting!

Anything lemon...I'm in! :)

I can knit very well but sweaters intimidate me. So, I'm still very impressed!

You are absolutely right! Like you, my first project was a sweater. I said to my mom, "Do you think I could make a sweater?" Her response was, "Of course you can!" I'm so glad my mom was supportive and nurturing or I might have given up long ago. Cookies look yummy...

oooo, those sound and look very yummy!

ohhh me too... I thik if you can master the knit the purl is a sinch and the world is your knitting oyster. great post.

need to say no more on that! truly spoken wisdom.
but i need to say your banner is adoorable! just love it!

I totally agree with you on the "anyone can do it". I try to convince people of this all the time when they can't get over something I've knit.

And you're KILLING me with all your delectable cookie shots. Don't you know I'm trying to get rid of those last 10 lbs?

Thanks for saying this. I totally agree. I psyched myself up about socks, and after a little push, they were a cinch! Many beginners (and even the advanced) need to know that.

Blessed Jeeves, she did a good job and now there is you who can knit so well!

Right you are!

The cookies look so incredible. I can't wait to make some!

As for the knitting thing, I think I'm saving this post and sending it to all the people who tell me "oh my god I could never do that".

I can't remember if it was in a book or on her blog, but have you ever read the Yarn Harlot bit about the lady on the bus saying "So all you're doing is making a bunch of loops? Hell, I can do that!" Hell yes, you can.

so inspiring to hear that almost anyone can knit...there are some projects that just seem overwhelming! might need to get my feet wet and just try! cookies look amazing!

So true,so true. You are so inspirational!

after I read your post this morning, I jumped in and started the mittens for my advent project. I had been hesitating. your encouragement put me in motion.
thank you!

That is so true about knitting. I am lucky as I had a Mum and Aunt teaching me knitting and crochet!
Yum to the cookies!

Thank you for those encouraging words about knitting. I love knitting & have made a few projects but the last couple have gone horribly wrong & you have motivated me to get back to my needles & not give up!
Tina x

I love this post, so encouraging. Your Plisse looks lovely. I finished knitting my first garment recently and you are right, reading the pattern was the tricky bit, but managed to asked some lovely people at my knitting group which helped a lot. It's so good to have wise knitting people around.

Love your knitting directions interlaced with the cookie steps - very smart. Boy those cookies look good. Can you send us some?

I totally agree with you! When I picked up knitting again a few years ago, my first project was a sweater. If I came to a term in the pattern that I didn't understand, I googled it and the internet served as my teacher. Fine tuning things like fit I've found take a little more experience, but I totally agree that if you can knit and you can purl, you can make anything!!

thanks so much for this post...i get so intimidated so easily by patterns...it was so nice to read this. and the cookies look amazing too!

i love anything with lemon in it! yum.
i know what you mean about the knitting! yes. those patterns when you first start out can be so frustrating, but once you get it, you get it!

Thanks for the recipe. I love the log cutting bit of the recipe :)

Thank you so much for this post - it is so encouraging for knitters who are less experienced. I joined a group at the local library and have met great new friends. I have really had fun teaching myself some things and getting help with others. I love the idea that I CAN do it and I feel so proud. I'm about done with my first pair of socks after many, many hats.

It really does help to have someone guiding the way. What a great mama you have! The cookies look yummy!

so, seeing that you did a sweater for your first project.... I would love to make one... I am stuck on fingerless mittens, ponchos, beanies, scarfs and wash clothes. What sort of pattern would be a good starter?

I am loving the slice and bake cookies! My latest batch were double ginger cookies (though I could easily have made them double ginger, because the ginger flavor is pretty subtle).

I've never met a yarn store employee or owner who won't take a second and help you decode the pattern also. Knitters love to help. the best part of being in the secret society of knitters.

Brilliant advice. I say it goes for just about anything.

Yor words are true and sweet Leslie, thank you for them!

And also for the recipe of these great biscuits ;-)

I saved this recipe and tis morning I've mixed it up. It's the Queen's birthday public holiday here. Looking at the clock, on a usual Monday morning I'd be heading off to class now, ready to teach the year 10s. Instead, the house is quiet. The pets and I are the only ones up. Your lemon poppy seed biscuits are in the fridge. I'll pull them out for afternoon tea while I'm sewing on a quilt. The kids will be rapt! Thanks.

Well, I had discoved the madness of knittin in London, many, many years ago, when working for Oméga. In the bis store * Lewis *Oxford street, I saw a beautifull bright green dress, model to knit in Annabel news paper. I baught the wool grey color. I had to do special order for the magasine, having wait to long to buy it in store.In one month the dress was done. since, I never stop knittin..Havin knit lot of yagger wool, hawin knit lot of modesl in magasines, I decide to create my one models and I enjoy it.You can see some of them on my blog : http://beatrice-De.blogspot.com
But, you have to go on archives already.One jaquette, is mix with a piece of felt i have done in course. Very exiting plan !
Sorry for my brocken english, fergot a lot. Salutations cordiales de Béatrice , Switzerland

Do you have time to read all your messages ?

Those lemon poppyseed biscuits are GORGEOUS!!! Highly recommended.

My parents dropped in around 4pm and the dough was still in the fridge. It was so lovely to just casually whip it out and give them fresh home made biscuits with their coffee.

Thanks!

The cookies look so good! And yes, if you can knit you can do anything! :)

love those lemon wafers:)

Wow! I'm impressed that your first project was a sweater. That's intense!

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I was recommended to stop by here and have a look, I am really glad I did, the information is great.

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