You Can Do It: Take a Whirl!

Some of you may be thinking that the BKLG Design-a-thon is a place only for the experts to showcase their wares. Although it is a place where the experienced knitter can push his or her limits of style and create something new, it’s just as much a place for the beginner knitter to create and shine.

Don’t wait for the day when you’re at the expert level to enter a project or two in the Design-a-thon. Entering a project now is the step toward becoming that expert, experienced knitter. Just as with any skill, like sewing, cooking, gardening, jogging, or writing, learning to knit better means taking risks and challenging yourself. 

This is why the Design-a-thon has three levels: A, B, and C. You’ll notice that the projects in level A, like pillows and dishcloths are less complicated than those in level C, like a sweater. So take a chance. Challenge yourself. Find a new stitch that you’ve never tried and make a dishcloth, or take that same stitch—make two squares—sew them together—stuff them, and enter your pillow. Try the new skill you learned in November, like the cable or linen stitch, mosaic or Fair Isle knitting, and create a new “something” that you’ve never tried. Make it your own. Be proud of what you’re trying. Be proud of the growth you’ll experience as you experiment and create in knitting.

Remember, on tables throughout the room, your anonymous projects will be laid out with a label announcing the name you give them, so the members can walk around, checking out all of them, and vote for the best of show in all three categories. (There will be both a 1^st and 2^nd prize winner for all three categories.) Another new point about this year’s design-a-thon is that you’ll be able to touch and inspect the projects. So if your project, knitted in one color, doesn’t necessarily highlight the different stitches you’ve used to create it, the knitters will be able to touch it, lift it up, and notice how your cable weaves around your seed stitch background to create a stunning affect.

Go ahead, knitters of Bay Lakes Knitting Guild. Step outside your comfort zone and create! Release the artist inside of you (all of us are artists—that’s why we knit) and share your talents in living color with your fellow knitting community members.

February is your chance to register ($5 a project) and March is the time to bring your projects to the meeting so Becky & Janette can organize them for the April Competition.