You know what works for me for small finished projects to learn new things? Washcloths and dishcloths! You can pick up some sugar ‘n’ cream cotton or some other kind of all-cotton yarn at Michael’s or other craft shops for fairly cheap. Then you can knit about a six-inch practice swatch and actually have a finished project when you’re done. And you get to use it every day and think about how cool you are for making this yourself. 🙂 Here’s a site with some good washcloth patterns.
The “Grandma’s Favorite” one on page two was the first washcloth I did (totally lopsided, but I didn’t care), I think, and last month a friend came over and saw it and said, “You made this? My grandma used to make these all the time! Brings back memories!” Needless, to say, it made me feel really good.
On a somewhat related side note, I was going through my stash and noticed I had some duplicate things. I was going to sell them on eBay, but frankly, I won’t get more than a couple of bucks for them. If anybody wants them, holler.
I haven’t gone through it all the way, but so far I see an extra package of stitch markers (you put them on your needle to mark the beginning of a row or repeating pattern, especially on circular needles, but frankly a loop of contrasting scrap yarn works just as well), 16″ long size 8 bamboo circular knitting needles (great for hats) and some size 17 wood knitting needles – perfect for chunky scarves. Also, two skeins ofSirdar Wash ‘n’ Wear cotton dk yarn and no, that’s not my auction. Besides, my yarn’s aqua. This is the dishcloth yarn I was talking about above. It’d probably make great booties, too. I don’t think they even make this stuff anymore, that’s how long it’s been in my stash.
Anyway, I’m off to work on a) a wedding for DR and b) a mystery project gift for a friend. I wish it weren’t in that order, but the wedding’s today, so I want to be sure everything’s perfect before I do anything else. I’ll post pictures of the mystery project after he or she has safely received it!