The Competence Project: How to Get Competent, and What You Get If You Do
Sharon November 20th, 2008
Ok, there was a lot of enthusiasm for my first post on my new project – people seemed to think I was starting a challenge. That hadn’t occurred to me, but heck, I’m for it – a new challenge it is. I challenge each of you to pick some area of your skill set that’s kind of weak and strengthen it. And when you feel like you’ve gotten competent, well, pick a new skill.
In the other thread, Dewey had the best idea (thanks Dewey!) – I’m going hand out official “Competence Project Merit Badges” (and hope various scouting organizations won’t sue me 
) to people who meet their goals. So post your first project, and I’ll have periodic threads in which people can be awarded their merit badges for whatever skill set you are trying to gain. Merit badges are completely virtual, of course, but if someone wants to make up a spiffy visual that people can add to their blog, I’m all for it.
Several people asked how they should go about learning their skill set, and I have a few suggestions for resources. I’m sure the rest of you have some good ideas as well.
1. Apprentice yourself to someone – this is by far the very best way to learn a skill, and it can save you an awful lot of trial and error. Got a neighbor who is going hunting, fixing his roof or crocheting a sweater? Why not ask if you can help out/get some lessons from them. Barter is a great tool here.
2. Take a class. Local adult education courses often cover things like this – check out their offerings. And stores that sell craft or specialty items often have classes as well – for example, Home Depot offers regular courses, knitting and quilting shops have knitting and quilting classes, etc… Just make sure that the class you are getting works with the skill set you are trying to gain – for example, if you want to learn woodworking with hand tools, make sure that you are getting a class that teaches this.
2. Use internet video – this isn’t an option for me or the rest of the world afflicted with dial up, but it is awfully nice for those who can take advantage. That way, you can actually see how to take your radio apart, or how the purl stitch works.
3. Visit your local library and take out books designed for children. Kids books have to cut the extraneous stuff out, and offer extremely clear language and direct instructions. I finally learned how to knit by using Melanie Falick’s excellent children’s book on the subject, _Kids Knitting_ and I’ve often found books for kids and teens clearer than those for adults.
4. Find comprehensive book sources - besides the ubiquitous “Dummies” series (which varies a lot in quality), Reader’s Digest has an excellent series of how-to books that cover a wide range of skills including _The Complete Do-It Yourself Manual_ (which a builder friend noted would allow you to pretty much build a house from scratch with), _Practical Encyclopedia of Crafts_ and _Skills and Tools_. I’m also partial to Gene Logsdon’s _Practical Skills_ book.
5. Specialize, specialize. I’m a big fan of the personal library if you have space. I find it really useful to have books (or material printed from the internet – never know when the service will go down, computer will be fried or the power will be out) that give detailed information and allow you to get more advanced. Honestly, we’re not all going to get really good at a lot of these things – most of us will have pretty basic skills. Still, I think if you have the money (and these are the sorts of books that often show up quite cheaply on the internet, and frequently at yard sales) it is good to have specialized books for skills you might want or need to invest some energy in. So, for example, I think that while a general crafts book will probably teach you to knit or purl, you might want a sock knitting book, or a mitten book if you knit a lot of them. Basic woodworking stuff in the above books will get you fairly far, but if you dream of building outdoor structures, picking a book that focuses on building tools for farm and garden would be good. I find it is easiest to push myself to pick up a skill if I’m doing something I really want to do – so if you can’t bear the thought of sewing the traditional pair of pajama pants as a first project, it might be worth investing in a book that will teach you to make something you really do want to make.
Ok, everyone sign up for their first merit badge project, and in a week or two, we’ll all update each other on how it is going. My first project? I’ve got a toilet that needs replacing. Let’s just say that the replacement toilet has been sitting next to the defective toilet for a very, very long time.
Sharon
- the competence project
- Comments(107)
Oh, and to whomever suggested the Norwegian purling method, I am going to try that. I do not have good purling technique and it messes up my speed all the time, going back and forth like with ribbing patterns.
re: knitting- am lucky to have several “crafty” neighbors who knit- and we have a knitting night- not weekly but often enough- when we knit/spin/chat/drink tea etc- great fun and I can get tips there.
re; bees- yes- used to keep bees- stopped when I lost the hives- it gets expensive to replace the bees- but want to start up again-sure could use the polination on the farm and go through a ton of honey…..
re: sewing a hem- hmmm- my method is scrunch up face, close eyes and gun it!
For those who want to try gardening (Beth, this is for you in particular), have a look at the Square Foot Gardening book. It is excellent! Using raised beds gives you a head start on success like no other strategy … you’ve got a designated ‘spot’ and you only have to have really good soil in that area, plus with the nice divider lines, you know what is where and it’s easy to do succession planting if you live where the growing season is long enough to allow for that (meaning just about everywhere except up here ).
And, for those who want to learn about livestock or sewing or other skills, might I suggest you check out your local 4H club? I know we’re all grownups here and we can’t be members, but clubs *always* need leaders … and helpers … and leaders and helpers get access to all the materials the kids have (and more sometimes) and you have access to the other leaders and helpers (and kids!) who know more than you do. You are helpful even if you are learning along with the kids, believe me. The 4H kids in my local club think it is great fun to teach this former city person about farm stuff they’ve known since they were little, and the other leaders have been a wonderful resource for us. You will have jobs to do … but it’s fun to “learn to do by doing”!
Y’know, Greenpa, I hear that there are some Somali pirates that might be able to get you that oil tanker
Summer is coming here and I have a project list a mile long….but one of the chickens has gone broody, so building a broody box and run has gone to the top of the list.
And I would like to find my front yard again…for some reason the song “Welcome to the Jungle” starts playing in my head every time I’m out there.
For readings, don’t forget Carla Emery and John Seymour.
Remember, too, that many skills are transferable. Though I don’t sew pretty, I’ve discovered I can make decent drapes/blinds for winter warming and summer cooling with a cut-open recycled burlap bag, four pieces of scrap lath, a few whacks with a staplegun, and four wood screws! Just hang it by the handle — either end, where the laths project outwards — over the curtain rods behind the existing curtains in hot or cold weather, roll up when not needed. Tie with a ribbon if you like.
Wanta learn how to make better sauces — growing some good ingredients now, but have been too shy of the blender (that thing is hard to clean).
On a very grey day this post, and the comments, has lifted me; its not often I repeatedly laugh out loud at my pc.
My challenge will be to pass on some of my skills to my daughter who thinks that her knitting is ok if she ends up with 95% of the stitches she started with. We also plan to make a garment from a paper pattern when school is over next summer.
I am desperate to get started with my veg plot but as our land is shared with holiday rental homes and many, many wild rabbits this may be a challenge!
My Xmas wish-list, the first I have ever issued, is full of useful stuff like preserving jars, books on preserving and breadmaking, garden tools etc. No more pot pourri PLEASE!!
The old Square Foot Gardening book was fantastic. The newest version heavily emphasized a soil mix you are supposed to make up of three purchased ingredients, including peat moss and two I can’t remember. It repeatedly made negative comments about “existing soil” and remarked that you don’t have to concern yourself with it at all anymore now that you just plop this box of the perfect mix down on top of it. (Wondering about long-term supply of peat moss? Well, because you’re filling up compact boxes instead of the whole yard, Mel says you’re conserving resources.) Now, this is tempting for those of us with 3″ of highly depleted clay over clay subsoil, but it is not what I hope to do. Instead, I’ve bought humus and fertilizers and been making compost to try to build real soil in my salad patch. The new Square Foot book seems to promote short-term, reductionist thinking with no interest in the ecosystem that the garden is part of. I’m sure there are many copies of the old book available online cheaper.
Dewey—
1. Tension. So you have loose tension, that’s great actually. I can’t stand helping someone to knit who has achingly tight tension, it gives me a headache. It is helpful to be able to knit socks tightly, but might I suggest you just get a thicker yarn instead of the microthin sock yarn? Like regular sport-weight that you might knit a sweater with? Or (shocker) just cast on five or ten fewer stiches than your pattern reccomends. I wear a women’s size 10 shoe (USA) and a sock for me, on size four double-pointed needles, usually takes 50 stitches with sport weight yarn (I usually can’t afford special sock yarn). I’d experiment with the sock cuff, until you get a circumference that looks right. It’s not as hearbreaking to rip out a cuff as it is to rip out a sock with a heel.
2. Purling. Even the books that teach you continental style have you purling in front? That’s really weird. I always thought purling continental was easier than purling English style. Anyhoo, yes, the way your friend purls will put a twist in the stitch (it’s the way my mom purls) but if I understand your description correctly you’ll untwist the stitch when you purl it again on the next row. Or if you don’t, maybe you could live with a twisted stitch– I have a hard time telling if a purl is twisted or not without looking at the wrong side. It’s twisted knit stitches that show. If the way your friend purls makes sense to you, do that. And then just say that the twisted ribbing is a design feature. It shouldn’t impact the functionality of the sock. (I speak from experience. I taught myself to knit and twisted every single stitch until I read about twisting them on purpose as design features and thought, “but that’s what I’m already doing…”)
3. Ripping/picking up stitches. When you rip, take the needles completely out of the work, and GENTLY pull on the working yarn (the piece going to the ball). I’m betting what happens, if you’re like me when I have to rip, is that you get frustrated and pull real hard and the yarn makes a knot. (If not, post again and I’ll have another go.) If you pull gently, the loops should just come right out. In fact an enthusiastic baby or a panicked dog have occasionally helped me with this when I didn’t need help.
Picking up stitches– I use a crochet hook, turn the work to whichever side has knit stiches on it, and put my hook in the loop of the stitch wherever it is. Then pull the first bar of the “ladder” above the loop through the loop. Now the “ladder” is your new loop. Repeat, until you get back up to the top of the work.
Nobody says you have to knit a full-sized sock your first time, btw. Why not try a baby sock with 25 stitches, six inches from top to toe? All the shaping is the same, and it’s not such a long frustrating process. Try knitty.com for free patterns (but I’d avoid some of their sock patterns, they have some very advanced ones). Set yourself up for sucess. Socks really aren’t hard, I think the people who write pattern books just want you to buy more books when you get frustrated with theirs.
[...] Sharon – without knowing it, apparantly – started The Competence Project: [...]
Dammit, Sharon! I was just about to announced my Incompetence Challenge! But, because of the similarities to this project I’m going to have to rethink it.
I was even going to have Incompetence Merit Badges for those of us without any gumption.
I guess I’d better go buy that sawed-off shotgun and start working on my shootin’ skills. I’ve got at least 9 jars of peanut butter in my basement that I’ve got to protect.
Okay, maybe I should just finish that quilting project instead.
I just signed up for a beekeeping class next spring. Thanks, Sharon, to get our asses in gear!
In the meantime I am going to learn to use DHs power tools. I know… they’re *power* tools, and I too would prefer to use hand tools, but they’re sitting in our basement (unused!) and I’ve got so many building projects in mind, indoors as well as outdoors.
Oh– and here
http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall06/PATTsoxon2stix.html
if anyone wants it, is a way to make socks on 2 needles, flat. I think it’s more fuss than double-points, but just as a service to the public.
And here
http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTuniversalsock.html
is a universal sock pattern that starts at the toe and that doesn’t HAVE to have any ribbing (that means purling) if you’re bothered by it, from what I understand. As I said with the last one, this seems awfully fussy, but maybe it will make sense to someone.
Hope this helps!
I agree with Dewey on the new Square Foot Gardening book. I very much prefer the old one.
We have mediocre soil and I want to build it up to good soil using only what we have on the property (compost, compost lots of compost, and cardboard boxes) and a minimum of other things like lime, straw, etc. Vermiculite (which along with compost is the other ingredient in (“Mel’s Mix”) is quite handy but, in my eyes, not a sustainable resource.
But the first edition is fantastic! There’s nothing like those date charts: they’re the only thing that keeps me thinking I can get our garden started off on the right foot.
For me, I think this will involve shutting off the water, pulling the tub faucet valves, taking them to one (and then perhaps the other) of the two hardware stores that will either have the replacement part or perhaps if necessary new faucets and then installing them — Thanksgiving weekend (not turkey day) seems like the time for this project.
Somewhere down the line, I also need to convert the broken bathtub drain stopper to a regular plug stopper. But I expect one plumbing project at a time works best.
We had the toilet replacement project earlier this year — I read up on what needed to be done, bought the parts, but then hired someone since moving the throne was too much for either or us.
And before that was the leaky bath drainpipe joint. And the even earlier garbage disposal jam. And the fix of the bathtub drain stopper (before the metal failed).
Wow, I’m running through the plumbing stuff — with the help of two great illustrated books on home repairs, one by Reader’s Digest, the other a Black and Decker pub. Plus a little (or a lot of) help from my friend — I can’t seem to get things tight enough by myself.
On no – I’m going to have to finally make a decision about what to tackle off the project list that’s as long as my arm! There are some things I’d like to do that aren’t really practical right now, now that there are many inches of snow on the ground, so that narrows it down a bit, though. Also, I’ve searched for classes that are local to me without much to show for it, especially in things I’m interested in. So, I’ll be starting with things that I can learn/do fairly easily on my own.
First, I’d like to learn to sew a better, which will hopefully come in handy for three sub-projects. One, I was to sew reusable shopping bags for the upcoming holidays to wrap gifts in, and as gifts in and of themselves. Two, I want to finally make some resuable cloth pads, especially since I have most if not all of the materials. And third, I want to make a quilt out of old wool clothes, despite never having made a quilt before.
Second, I have a source for worms, and would like to finally get that worm composter I keep thinking about set up and running.
Third, I’d like to learn to can food. Being that it’s snowy, I don’t really know what I could can that’s “fresh”, but I’m hoping to somehow find someone local to show me how to do this without killing myself.
Unfortunately, many of the other things I’d like to learn I can’t actually do in my apartment – fussing with the plumbing, wiring, or anything else home maintenance-ish is frowned upon in a rented apartment. I suppose that I could read up on what I’m interested in and then offer up my help in return for people teaching me things here and there. But, for now I think this is probably a good start.
Well, I love this idea, and you’re all so creative! I taught myself to sew in high school – was terrible at it for years, but then I had kids to practice on and got a lot better ( they were too young to object – they actually thought the clothes were cool ’cause Mom made them). My former mother-in-law taught me to knit, but for years all I would do were straight lines, no decreasing or increasing or fancy stitches. But now I have grandkids to practice on . . .
After reading Sharon’s book Depletion and Abundance, I ordered books from Amazon about goatkeeping, beekeeping, chickenkeeping,cheesemaking, graywater recycling, The Humanure handbook and an interesting little volume about using urine for fertilizer. My husband thinks I’ve tipped over the edge just a little bit! : ) Thanks, Sharon, (and everybody else) for the inspiration. It’s always more fun to learn new things together!
My plans are so lame compared to y’alls! I’m going to learn to make homemade snack foods so I can wean my kids off the Oreo’s, Cheezy Poofs and such. I’m going to attempt pretzels and cheese straws, and perfect a recipe for Oreo’s (that my kids so lovingly call Mommy-o’s)
Jenn,
How to can without killing yourself: http://uga.edu/nchfp/. Directions, recipes, tons of information.
What you could can now, depending on what you happen to have around: quince jelly or jam, cranberry sauce or jelly, apple sauce, apple butter, pear butter, sauerkraut, spice vinegars, baked beans, bean soup …
And starting in January, depending on how you feel about local foods, all sorts of citrus things, since that’s when they’re in season. Orange marmalade (with whiskey or coriander), lemon curd, grapefruit marmalade, lime marmalade etc.
The site above has recipes for cranberry orange chutney and cranberry salsa that look good (you can also make cranberry ketchup, I’ve read). Main thing is to use tested recipes, which the site provides. The directions really are pretty easy to follow. Start with acidic things (apples, pears, cranberries, flavored vinegars) before you get into pressure canning (vegetables and beans); because it’s easier and less intimidating. But you can learn both from books. Also check to see if your local extension service offers Master Food Preserving classes; those are great.
Another great resource is the Ball Blue Book of Preserving; most places won’t stock it til spring, but you could look on Amazon, or check the library. Look for a current copy.
And have fun!
That should have said, how you feel about non-local foods. But anyway — the same site also offers an online course in food preservation you might also like, from the University of Georgia.
Thank you to all who’ve answered with idea for learning to garden. I’m making notes and will be tracking down some books and materials for further study!
I’ll echo what others have said…I’m learning so much just from the comments. Now I’m wondering if my 7-year-old would like to join me in taking up beekeeping? Hmmm….
Ok. I’m another of those knitting people. My Mom tried to teach me to crochet when I was young and I made a pretty sorry scarf but I didn’t keep it up and never learned to knit. I got supplies and book and have been working at it since last weekend. I pretty much have the hang of casting on and have been working on the knit stitch. Now if my dog will just stop thinking the skein of yarn is a chew toy, we’ll be fine. I have several friends who knit so I can ask them for help as soon as I’m really stuck.
Beth — I don’t know if your serious about your 7 year old and beekeeping but here’s my own personal experience. My dad was a beekeeper — and exposed us kids to it from an early age. ( When I was about three I helped him with extracting the honey for the first time, this involved getting little snacks of honey comb including one I sneaked on my own which had a bee on it. ) When I was 7, I was pretty fascinated by the life cycle of bees, and my father’s one frame glass bee hive, but as for actually working with the real hives, that was fairly intimidating until I was somewhat older.
Hi there – I am learning to knit – from my best friend & from you tube.
I am also learning to sew from my mother -in-law & getting Christmas money from my mom to take a continuing ed class at the local middle school. That’s my Competence Project. Thanks for the inspiration!
For beginning sock knitters: I want to second Raven’s suggestion about staying away from “sock” yarn for first socks. I’ve done two pairs with sock yarn and quickly realized that if they were my first pairs of sock I would have given up in screaming frustration.
I have 2 short term projects that are totally new for me. The first is building a raised bed, not a big deal I know but using tools is pretty new for me. The other short term project is building a small moveable chicken coop using a dog crate and fence wire. Again, it will involve using tools and some creativity in design.
I also have 1 long term project, to build a large chicken coop out of wood. This will involve learning a lot of new skills.
I’m going to finally start quilting again. I started a couple months ago, but ripped it all out cuz I was trying something different. Uh, it was too “different” – lol! So I’m cutting out my squares and will start hand sewing them together soon. I intend on making curtains and tablecloths.
I also want to research more into self watering container gardening. I have a whole upstairs where I’d love to have an indoor garden. The only problem is it’s quite chilly up there. There’s only one vent from the downstairs to the upstairs where the furnace air can filter up. I could see my breath upstairs this morning, so I’m afraid it might be too cold to have my indoor garden in the winter.
The first one is minor, but a necessary skill: Darn a sock.
The second: Homebrew. I’ve done it once, more than 5 years ago. And I’d like to try again.
For those KNITTING SOCKS (or not knitting them as the case may be), I made these felted slippers, which are like giant socks, before attempting socks. They were pretty easy, and helped me understand how socks are knit without as much hard work.
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter02/PATTfuzzyfeet.html
There are of course many ways to knit socks, but this helped me see how to turn a heal and finish a toe without so many stitches.
SHARON, DH installed a toilet this weekend. It was pretty easy; easier than the other minor plumbing work he’s done. Good luck! I am sure it is well within your abilities.
Hi Sharon,
I’m in!
This year I want to learn how to grow shiitake and oyster mushrooms.
Yesterday I received the parcel with the “mycel” (what’s the word in english?) and now I have to learn how to fell a birch, so I can let the mushrooms grow on the wood. Husband will have to help me with that
It’s great you all are learning to knit!
I’m knitting since I was 5 yrs old. It’s so comforting. Nice, warm wool on your lap, and then a cosy sweater to wear…
I recommend the Elizabeth Zimmermann – books, especially “knitting without tears” – for all those knitters who HATE to sew the knitted pieces together!
Regards and thumbs up! , Bettina
Susan in NJ,
Definitely serious about the 7 yo and beekeeping…thank you for sharing your experience. My kids are 12 years apart, so 7yo basically lives with 3 adults and I think sometimes he feels a little useless even though he has some chores to do. I would really like for him to have something to be involved in that makes a difference in our family’s well-being.
I’ve committed to improving my incredibly rudimentary sewing skills, though I plan to wait until all the hubbub of the holidays is over. I want to sew a replacement tea cozy for our tea pot, using our current cozy as a model. If I get halfway decent at it, I’ll make a few extras to give away as gifts.
I love the merit badge idea. It’s just going to take a while before I can clear my deck enough to pursue it.
Raven – Thanks for the great advice! That was a very helpful explanation of picking up dropped stitches, which I always have a miserable fight with (when I rip out to a certain row, before I can get the needle back in, about half the stitches drop down to the next row – argh!) My current sock pattern is done with sport weight yarn. So far I’ve only knitted patterns from Laura Bush’s Folk Socks book (either the basic sock pattern, or now the Welsh stocking type). I have not felt knowledgeable enough to change them in any way. If I reduce the number of stitches to let myself knit big, though, will the resulting sock not still be less comfortable and less durable because the fabric is less solid than it’s supposed to be? I get wool boot socks from the store that are about 15 stitches to the inch.
Oh, and where sewing is concerned, I discovered at the class last night that the same sort of project goes a lot better with an $1100 machine and $300 worth of giant ruled mat and rotary cutter than it does with a $75 machine and a yardstick and scissors. Anyone surprised?
Carpentry! I’m fairly competent with basic tools, but haven’t ventured beyond raised beds. I want to build a chicken tractor (having just learned that I CAN have some hens in the city). I also yearn for a garden shed — nothing fancy — just a place for me to putter and the feral cats to hang out in. Just need to get over my fear of screwing up and wasting materials. I have a good friend who is in a woodworker’s guild. He’s retiring in January and will have time on his hands — he doesn’t know it yet, but he’ll be taking on an apprentice ;0
Sealander- Good idea!
or even; some of us could become apprentice pirates! It pays well, and there’s good tradition! All the way up to Gilbert and Sullivan. Sharon, get your Piracy Merit Badges ready.
Or we could apprentice on Wall Street; for the same badge.
Beth — I’m not trying to be discouraging, there are definitely things a 7 year old can do to help with beekeeping, but a lot of the “live” handling is probably beyond an average 7 year old’s strength/height, etc. My dad encouraged us to read a book called “First Lessons in Beekeeping” and gave us all a hive scrapping tool for Christmas. Also the boy scouts had merit badge material for beekeeping. I’m sure if you take a class, the instructor will have ideas. Plus, it was pretty cool to dress up in the beekeeping hat/net. One thing to watch out for especially with a child though is bee allergy and reaction to stings, my little brother, who wasn’t allergic, at about age 9 got very badly stung by a generation of mean bees.
In addition to sewing better and butchering chickens, I’ll add:
- knitting a pair of socks (L knits well so I have an in-house tutor as well as some other friends who knit well)
- learning to crochet (I couldn’t figure out how to get to the third row years ago, just kept making a long skinny spiral)
- learning the mysteries of the heating wood stove. First lesson is today. L completed installing it this week so we are doing test burns. He did the first one yesterday and the draft is fine.
Jean-
Too bad you aren’t out here- have been canning blueberry jam and strawberry sauce for my Farmers Market. I froze the fruit this summer and now, when I NEED the heat and humidity, I really felt like canning! First time I’ve been able to do the freezer bit since I haven’t had a freezer until now, but this was so much nicer than trying to can in the midst of the summer season. So ask around and someone may have frozen fruit they would be ok with turning into jam, or have apples to make sauce or apple butter with.
Unless I missed it no one mentioned spinning and weaving. I tried both and did quite a bit of weaving but sold my loom when I could no longer afford to “feed” it. Why is yarn so much more expensive than cloth and cloth than clothing? I still have my wheel but spinning quality fleece is hard to find. Do you think there will be a revival of these basic craft skills?
That is SUCH a good question. I can buy a good pair of merino wool boot socks for no more than it costs to buy a couple skeins of sock yarn. I understand that with mechanization, labor and shipping are cheap, but they have to add SOMETHING to the cost!
[...] 21, 2008 by Jen The Competence Project is growing by the minute and I’m nothing if not a joiner. Only I’m gonna make my own [...]
Hi Diane,
I spin and weave already, so I didn’t put them on my list. Although I may be teaching someone(s) to spin this winter… No problem with finding quality wool around here in western MA, but I also sometimes go to the sheep show in Rhinebeck, NY. We have the MA Sheep and Wool show in Cummington over Memorial Day weekend and our county has a fiber artisan/fiber providers weekend event every fall now (Franklin County Fiber Twist). Then there’s the April show in Tolland, CT and something in NH but I haven’t been there. Plus Mass.gov has listings of many of the folks who raise sheep for the fleece, so it’s possible to contact people directly to see what’s available.
I’ve also bought some rovings and fleece online, but that can be a tricky proposition. I’ll confess though that I prefer spinning from rovings rather than processing the fleece myself. I do have a few raw fleeces though, so one of my projects for next spring/summer should be cleaning them — they’re safely bagged and stowed so they won’t be agitated in their bags, but they won’t keep forever, so I really have to clean them next year…. if you have the time though, it’s the cheapest way to get wool for spinning, at least for oneself.
As to cost, I think good quality yarn and fleece are primarily made in small quantities, whereas most fabric is mass-produced on machines. Small operations can’t afford to eat as much of the overhead as the big factories. That may change over time as energy gets more precious — unfortunately I don’t think that means things will get less expensive, just that prices may be more comparable. The only good thing about that is that people won’t be buying more clothing than they need… although again, not good for folks who don’t have a lot of money to start with.
I’ve actually sold a small number of woven scarves since I started selling them last year. I’ve only made real yardage once so far but hope to make more at some point. But it won’t be for sale because of the time involved and cost of materials. Right now I look at it as a way to make custom fabric for unique clothing — and of course it keeps the skill alive. One friend of mine got a new loom as a gift this year (several anniversaries combined), and another is starting to teach some folks how to weave.
Hi Dewey,
Well, loosely knitted things may wear a bit more quickly than tightly knitted things, but you can always work in some clear nylon thread to your toes and heels or whatever wears quickly on your sock (hold it together with your yarn and knit with both like they’re one thread). That will extend the life of the heel or toe significantly. And if you think about it, changing five or ten stitches can’t make that big a difference in the strength of the fabric, or they couldn’t publish patterns in various sizes, could they?
The other thing is, I would just learn to get a pair of socks that fit you right first, and then worry about snugging up your gauge. You can always get a pair of size 1 needles and some very fine yarn if you want to make dense socks, but I would get the basics of sock construction down first, without fussing with the fine needles and yarn. At least, I’m always impatient to put socks on when I’m knitting them.
May I suggest a pattern from “Homespun, Handknit” from Interweave Press (check your library) called “Family Socks”. It illustrates well how changing the number of stitches can change the sock size without compromising the fabric, and it’s dead easy.
Heather,
Thanks for the really helpful info. I am in R.I. so the places you mention are within reach. I’ll have to get my tetanus booster soon and look for a fleece. (My spinning teacher told us that droppings adhering to the raw fleece could be a source of infection.) Hmm. Something else to worry about after P.O.
Wow! Everyone is going to be busy. Inspired by your earlier post I listed some goals for the next year on my blog. But I definitely think that more frequent progress check-ins will be necessary to keep me going, so I really appreciate that you are making this an official challenge. My goals for the next week or so are to mend a pair of slacks (I have no idea how to do this and have it look ok) and call the extension office to find out about community gardens in my city. I think I can do that!
Toilet repair first: get THREE wax rings at the hardware store when you get the other repair parts you need. If you don’t seat the toilet right on the wax ring it is rendered instantly unusable (it will leak) and this way you have spares immediately on hand and don’t have to go back to the store in a rush.
Sewing: get a GOOD razor blade type seam ripper from LeeValley tools. It makes all the difference in the world when you have to rip out yet another seam. Cheap thread from those dollar bins will not be smooth and will break in the machine. Coats and Clarks used to be pretty good but they have changed their manufacture and are no longer the same so now I have to wait for those 50% off sales at Jo-Annes to stock up on basic colors in those expensive German threads. Besides not gunning the motor when hemming jeans, the best gadget is a “jean-a-ma-jig”. This is a plastic square with a slot cut out and it lets the presser foot maintain even pressure on the fabric as you go over the thick hump at the side seams. They are a few dollars at Jo-Annes and pay for themselves the first time when you get a tight seam and no broken needle. Lastly, machine needles get dull! There doesn’t seem to be any way to sharpen them. If you have a lot of trouble skipping stitches, it may be the needle and/or the cheap thread. You can only use a machine needle so many times and then they have to be discarded.
Thanks for the further advice, Raven! I would use a reinforcing thread next time for sure. I had been weaving in reinforcement yarn on the heel of my first sock in this pair, but yesterday I turned it right side out and discovered that much of the yarn was not actually woven in but hanging loose on the right side, so I’m giving up and pulling it out.
But I finished the second sock last night! Yayyy! I just have to weave in the ends and weave some yarn over the *ahem* ugly little hole in the toe, then I get my merit badge! For those who are just thinking about socks now, I highly recommend the circular needle method. I did one sock of this pair on four bamboo #1 needles and the second on a metal circular (after the first few rows), and the second was definitely easier and (relatively) quicker, although the gauge got bigger.
I want to learn to knit. I took two lessons with a local yarn shop owner and am working on a scarf…. I may actually have it done it time to give to hubby for Christmas.
I love it! I agree with the several people up there who said that earning a badge is much more motivational than my typical lineup of New Year’s Resolutions.
Last week’s post inspired me to learn to crochet. I literally learned how to crochet in one evening with the help of somebody’s Aunt Esther on YouTube. There’s a series of three videos, I highly recommend. I am now six inches into a baby blanket for a friend. Hopefully I can finish it in the next four months.
I then got some books out of the library and re-learned how to knit. And then I went hog wild at the yarn store. I hope to learn how to cable before the end of the year…and, like everybody else, Socks in 2009!
I’m going to have to come up with a good long list of merit badges and put them on my own blog. GREAT idea.
I’d love to teach someone beginning knitting and sewing
. I live in central Ma. zap me an email if interested. Beth
I’m already doing a Pantry Challenge for the month of December–spending only $10 per adult and $5 per child per week in my household (2 of each makes for $30/week)–that dovetails nicely with this project. Our freezer, fridge and pantry are stocked, and now it’s time for me to practice cooking from my food stores. Some aspects of this are new to me–I started fermenting vegetables this summer for the first time and now I get to figure out how to put them to delicious use.