Even though our Five Year Plan has been completely reworked, I’m still working on some of the previous goals. Knitting is now one of those goals I can cross off.
I learned to knit last fall, thanks to my friend Rachel. And seeing as how hats no longer fit over my dreadlocks, my first project was a warm winter beanie:
It’s just a regular beanie done in a round but left open at the top. I learned the basics with this hat, such as working in a round, decreasing and casting off. It’s pretty simple, 100% wool and keeps my ears warm.
I just finished my second project, also for my ears: a headband!
This one I’m most proud of since I used NO pattern; I made it up completely on my own! 
I also taught myself how to do a buttonhole and re-enforce it and how to knit-on cast on. (Thanks to hubby for getting me The Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques
Speaking of books, I ran across this one earlier this year: Knitting With Dog Hair
I’ve decided when we’re on the road I’ll be keeping my hands busy with lots of knitting (probably not with dog hair). Socks or toys both intrigue me. Have any good patterns for beginners?
**And since it’s the first Wednesday of the month, don’t forget to pop on over to Not Dabbling In Normal to see me talk about my dysfunctional pumpkin!**
cool dude! You may find free knitting patterns on the net? You should check out fingerless gloves. You may need them as you ‘travel’ around cooler climates.
LOVE the headband! I’m also just learning to knit…you should share the pattern (hint hint:)
what a simple but great idea for dreads. I particularly love the headband, love the style and the colours.,
ps, are you on Ravelry? Tons of patterns, and support there.
I’ve also been wanting to learn to knit. I’ve always procrastinated and used the excuse, “I learn best from being taught face to face, watching how they do it, trying it myself, etc”… but that excuse lost ridiculous amounts of credibility once I found this youtube channel – http://www.youtube.com/user/cyberseams
That’s as close to hands on, right in front of me, one on one instruction as I’m ever gonna get (don’t know anyone who could teach me)… so now I just need to get the gumption to actually try. No more excuses.
Your knitting looks super awesome for a beginner!!
They look great! I’ve been learning to knit (again) too. Ravelry has been a great resource. There is even an RU ravelry group!
I just got an angora rabbit – will be fun and interesting to learn to spin such delicate fiber into yarn this winter. And it is warmer than wool! 
The bunny is cute, too.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tara and Alexis Yael. Alexis Yael said: Nice! I like the idea of leaving the top open for dreads! RT @OrganicSister: New blog post: Knitting: Success! http://bit.ly/O1kEZ [...]
Nice! I need to get back into knitting some more. Christmas is coming!
I think it’s great that you can now have dreads AND a warm head.
Aren’t you clever! They look so great!
love, Annette
How fun! I’ve JUST taught myself to knit and still working on my first project. It’s such a great hobby and relaxing too!
Maureen, if i had any idea how to write a pattern so that someone other than me could understand it, i totally would! maybe that’ll be my next knitting thing to learn?
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Mon and Denise, I am on Ravelry. I just haven’t had time to poke around much yet. There is just SO MUCH there!
THE two most fun things in knitting are discovering interesting home-spun yarns at a sheep and wool festival and making your own pattern.
I am a knitter as well. Really cute stuff. I like to make up patterns using Excel spreadsheets. You can also use standard graph paper. I miss it, knitting that is. Since Sadie was born, I have spent about 2 hours total in 14 months knitting. It is funny because I had these grandiose ideas of all the things I could knit for her and I have done nothing. She got a few hats, but that is it. I am hoping to get back to it. The last thing on my needles was a cute red bib that looks like flower petals. Then I seen what a child can do to a bib. I will probably unravel that one and re-use the yarn. Now I know what to make for a kid and what not to make, because having your own totally makes a difference. There is no way I am putting in a bunch of time to make something she will destroy in short order. I really can’t wait to make her some animals / toys. FUN!
Those look great. I especially love the headband–great colors.
I just learned how to knit a year or so ago and have fallen in love. It’s soothing and productive.
Right now I’m working on a wool jumper for my friend’s 1 year old made with locally spun and dyed yarn. It’s gorgeous!
I really wanted to learn to knit this year, but it hasn’t happened. I feel completely daunted at attempting something I know nothing about with no one to teach me.
But how great is it to be able to make what you need? Nothing like custom-made!
I, too, was going to suggest Ravelry if you’re not already on there.
AND there are whole group of CRAZY LADIES
who knit with cat and dog hair on Lummi Island. You can even bring them the fur of your beloved animal and they will make something from it for you.
Hi Tara,
Wow! I’m so impressed! I absolutely LOVE the headband!! Please, please tell us how you did it! Just a general idea – I don’t care about a pattern. What kind of yarn did you use, and what size needles?
Beautiful!
I especially love the headband. Beautiful!
Okay here is an attempt at a pattern:
Cast on 20, knit a row, then purl, then knit, then purl for the first “block”.
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Then PURL, knit, purl, knit.
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Then back to knit, purl, knit, purl and so on until the second to last “block” where I placed the buttonholes.
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Then one more block, then one row of the next block, then cast off.
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Make sense?
Got your email, Tara, and am having trouble with it today, so thought I’d leave a comment in reply. Thank you so much! It does make sense, and I’ll definitely try this at some point. Thanks so much for taking the time to do that!
Yancy (Yoga Witch)
Hi Tara,
We just wanted to introduce ourselves and this was the only way we could. We, too, live in Vegas and we’ve been living in a motorhome for about two months now. Me, my husband Scott and our 14 year old daughter and 11 year old son. We’ve been in Lee Canyon during the heat and just got back from Lincoln County. We can’t travel around the country as we would like though because Scott is an apprentice with the pipefitters union. We also unschool the kids. I was linked to your website through the unschooling group on yahoo.
Would like to meet you and Scott loves your headband for dreads as he is looking for something to tie his back, we could trade for some hemp jewelry. :O)
my email is asrai22@gmail.com
Love and Light,
Tiffani
Beautiful! I hope to learn to knit when my children are a little older.
those are gorgeous! i love dreads.
I love those!
I may have to get my hands on that dog hair book. We have enough dog hair around our house to clothe a small village…
http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATThallowig.html
Next something for halloween ?
Awesomeness! Headband is a bit genius! And I’m always a bit awed by people who have cracked that mysterious “knitting in the round” thing.
That knitting with dog hair book sounds great! I don’t remember knitting with it but I spun and wove dog hair when I was in high school. My parents had some friends that we visited, they had a poodle/English sheepdog cross. I love dogs so of course I had to pet it, the fur was unbelievably soft. I asked if they brushed the dog and could save the fur for me and they did! It was beautiful and soft. I’ll buy the book when I get some extra money, I have one dog in particular who has beautiful soft, thick fur.
Your hat for dreads is a great idea! Looks really good too. That’s the wonderful thing about making your own, you can be creative and make something that suits you totally!
Hello
I actually used this tutorial to make my first pair. Good luck with it 
http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/
I did one sock on four double pointed needles. It actually went really great!