Skip to main content

I knit my first sock! and Learning Styles

Captain’s Log, Supplemental

I had heard that sock knitting is another level up from beginner, so I did some internet searches and a few knitters who visit my blog gave some suggested websites.

I found a great article, Socks 101 by Kate Atherley, with a miniature training sock pattern and gave it a go:



It was a totally neat design to just teach me the basics of working on double point needles, shaping the heel, etc. Making a sock isn’t very hard, either.

Michael’s had wool yarn on sale so now I’m working on a pair of socks I can wear around the house. Gotta finish it before the cold weather warms up!

Knitting has become so much fun! I’ve been getting some great brainstorming done on my manuscript while I knit.

I’ve discovered that it’s because I need tactile stimulation when I’m in a creative mode. Something to do with the way my brain and senses are wired. I have friends who touch things when they enter a room in order to “see” it. My tactile-creativity is something like that.

Have you heard about this? It’s apparently something educators use to teach kids. Everybody learns differently—whether a visual learner, auditory learner, or tactile learner. My friend Christa Allen gave me this website about it.

What do you think? What kind of learner are you?
Labels:

Comments

  1. Julie CarobiniThu Feb 22, 09:58:00 AM 2007

    You know, I never thought about this until my kids started school, then wow! I've got one that taps nonstop while studying, one that needs complete and utter quiet, and one that has to stand up and spin around while memorizing things.

    I'm a visual learner, by the way. Tell me how to do something and I'll forget the moment you close your mouth :-) Show me, and I get it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousThu Feb 22, 10:25:00 AM 2007

    Aww ... that is so cute!! Now you need a little one to ... nevermind. ; )

    I've always admired those who could knit. It's amazing. My mom is low vision, but she's still knitting up a storm. She's been making dolls -- they're totally the cutest things I've ever seen. One of these days I'll take a pix of them and put it on my blog for you to see. They have little hats and everything.

    Later gator! : )

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownThu Feb 22, 02:57:00 PM 2007

    I don't knit. I crochet. But isn't it amazing how we get some of our best ideas when we driving, or crocheting, or knitting? Doing the simple things? Being creative? I think it comes from being relaxed. (And I don't been that knitting is simple as in easy, but rather simple as in non-stressful).

    ReplyDelete
  4. RachelleThu Feb 22, 04:08:00 PM 2007

    Cute sock! I took up crocheting last year and I find it to be the most relaxing thing I ever do. I love it! People are getting sick of me giving them scarves and blankets...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Shelley L. MacKenzieThu Feb 22, 06:04:00 PM 2007

    Camy you did an awesome job with the mini sock!! Can't wait to see your pair. I've got some sock links on the sidebar of my knitting blog (http://kittenyarnsandcrafts.blogspot.com) if you haven't checked those out yet.

    I'm mostly a visual learner I think. And when I'm studying, I have to be in my rocking chair rocking away as I study - course that just might be more for comfort sake than anything...even knitting or reading or writing I am in my rocking chair. I find it awkward if I'm sitting in a non-moving chair, and I'm also less relaxed...don't think that has anything to do with the way I learn though, LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Dineen A. MillerFri Feb 23, 01:19:00 PM 2007

    No comment.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousSat Feb 24, 01:24:00 AM 2007

    Great job on your sock. I think it's fabulous that you're able to plan, plot, and think while knitting. That's what creativity does for me as well...especially scrapbooking. My mind slows down and I am able to sort things out, make plans, and dream. I'm definitely tactile or "kinesthetic" learner. I used that information when I taught junior high...so important to know how to engage them.

    Love you author photo!

    ReplyDelete
  8. AngBreidenbachMon Feb 26, 01:29:00 PM 2007

    Hi Camy,
    I am that tactile learner, but it combines with the visual. Somehow it "pops" and becomes real to me if I can see it and touch it. I'll remember even where in the store it is if I touched it while looking it over. lol. So, if you wonder who I am...you can look in any store and find the gal touching everything, hahaha. And I still hear my parents' voices saying, "Leave that alone, hands in your pockets."
    They had no idea how stifling that was to me:-)
    Angie

    ReplyDelete
  9. Rachel Leigh SmithWed Mar 28, 07:47:00 PM 2007

    Interesting. It said I'm a visual learner. But I'm not. I can't get enough answers on the second test for it to even tell me anything, lol.

    I'm not surprised that it can't peg me though. I'm very unique.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Laura’s Apricot Shell Shawl knitting pattern

I usually have a knitting project in mind when I write it into one of my books, but Laura’s apricot-colored shawl just kind of appeared upon the page as I was writing the first scene of Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 4: Betrayer , and it surprised even me. I immediately went to my yarn stash to find a yarn for it, and I searched through my antique knitting books to find some stitch patterns. I made her an elegant wool shawl she could wear at home. The shawl ended up tagging along with Laura into the next book, Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 5: Prisoner , where it imparts some comfort to her in her trying circumstances. The two stitch patterns are both from the same book, The Lady’s Assistant, volume 2 by Mrs. Jane Gaugain, published in 1842 . A couple excessively clever and creative knitters might have knit these patterns in the Regency era, but they would have only passed them around by word of mouth or scribbled “recipes” to friends or family, and it wouldn’t have been widely use
2 comments
Read more

Narrow Escape contest for January!

I’m so excited because my January Love Inspired Suspense, Narrow Escape , is now available! Here’s the back cover blurb: KIDNAPPED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT Arissa Tiong and her three-year-old niece are snatched off the street by members of a notorious drug gang. Having lost her police officer brother to a drug bust gone bad, Arissa knows the danger she's in. But she has no idea why they want her. Desperate to protect the little girl, Arissa escapes and runs straight to Nathan Fischer. She knows the handsome, weary former narcotics cop hasn't told her everything about the night that ended her brother's life and Nathan's career. But he's all that stands between her and dangerous thugs who are after something she doesn't even know she has. This is the 4th book in my Sonoma series , but each book is stand-alone. The hero is Nathan Fischer, who had a minor role in the 3rd book, Stalker in the Shadows . To celebrate, I’m giving away 10 copies of Narrow Escape ! Her
99 comments
Read more

Keriah’s Pyrennees Shawl knitting pattern w/ @knitpicks Palette

Why I knit this shawl: I wanted to knit the sunset-colored shawl Keriah was wearing in chapter 5 of my book, Lady Wynwood’s Spies, volume 2: Berserker , so I looked for an antique pattern that might have been used during the Regency era. This one caught my eye, even though it was published in a knitting book a few decades later than the Regency era. The Spider-Net border pattern was most definitely in use in the Regency period, but it’s also remotely possible that the Alice-Maud stitch and the lacy border stitch patterns were also in use during the Regency, being passed on from knitter to knitter via hand-written receipts, by verbal instruction, or with knitted sampler squares (like how many Shetland lace patterns and Bavarian cable patterns were shared). My/Keriah’s version of this shawl would have been lacy but warm because it is knit with fingering yarn on small needles. Since Keriah was cold, I think she would have grabbed this shawl rather than something more elegant and airy.
4 comments
Read more

No Cold Bums toilet seat cover

Captain's Log, Stardate 08.22.2008 I actually wrote out my pattern! I was getting a lot of hits on my infamous toilet seat cover , and I wanted to make a new one with “improvements,” so I paid attention and wrote things down as I made the new one. This was originally based off the Potty Mouth toilet cover , but I altered it to fit over the seat instead of the lid. Yarn: any worsted weight yarn, about 120 yards (this is a really tight number, I used exactly 118 yards. My suggestion is to make sure you have about 130 yards.) I suggest using acrylic yarn because you’re going to be washing this often. Needle: I used US 8, but you can use whatever needle size is recommended by the yarn you’re using. Gauge: Not that important. Mine was 4 sts/1 inch in garter stitch. 6 buttons (I used some leftover shell buttons I had in my stash) tapestry needle Crochet hook (optional) Cover: Using a provisional cast on, cast on 12 stitches. Work in garter st until liner measures
10 comments
Read more

New contest!

I haven’t had a contest since October! Here’s new one just in time for Christmas. I’m picking 3 winners to each be able to choose 10 books from my Christian book list! And yes, that list includes my books! 1) You get one entry into the contest when you sign up for my email newsletter at http://www.camytang.com/ . If you already belong to my email newsletter, let me know! 2) You get a second entry into the contest if you Like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CamyTangAuthor . If you already Like my Facebook page, let me know! 3) You get a third entry into the contest if you join my Goodreads group: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/49078 . If you already belong to my Goodreads group, let me know! 4) You get a fourth entry into the contest if you follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/camytang . If you already follow me on Twitter, let me know! 5) You get extra entries into the contest if you get someone else to join my email newsletter. Just email camy {at] c
59 comments
Read more

Chinese Take-Out and Sushi for One

Captain’s Log, Supplemental My agent sent me an article from Publisher’s Weekly that discussed this incident: Chinese Take-Out Spawns Christian Controversy And here’s also a blog post that talks about it in more detail: The Fighting 44s This is Soong-Chan Rah’s blog: The PCS blog In sum: Apparently Zondervan (yes, my publisher), who has partnered with Youth Specialties, had put out a youth leaders skit that had stereotypical Asian dialogue, which offended many Christian Asian Americans. In response to the outcry, Zondervan/Youth Specialities put out a sincere apology and is not only freezing the remaining stock of the book, but also reprinting it and replacing the copies people have already bought. I am very proud of my publisher for how they have handled this situation. The skit writers have also issued a public apology . (I feel sorry for them, because they were only trying to write a funny skit, not stir up this maelstrom of internet controversy. I’ve been in youth work long enou
39 comments
Read more

Toilet seat cover

Captain’s Log, Supplemental Update August 2008: I wrote up the pattern for this with "improvements"! Here's the link to my No Cold Bums toilet seat cover ! Okay, remember a few days ago I was complaining about the cold toilet seat in my bathroom? Well, I decided to knit a seat cover. Not a lid cover, but a seat cover. I went online and couldn’t find anything for the seat, just one pattern for the lid by Feminitz.com . However, I took her pattern for the inside edge of the lid cover and modified it to make a seat cover. Here it is! It’s really ugly stitch-wise because originally I made it too small and had to extend it a couple inches on each side. I figured I’d be the one staring at it, so who cared if the extension wasn’t perfectly invisible? I used acrylic yarn since, well, that’s what I had, and also because it’s easy to wash. I’ll probably have to wash this cover every week or so, but it’s easy to take off—I made ties which you can see near the back of the seat. And
23 comments
Read more

Wasabi Wednesday – Year of the Rat mug

Captain's Log, Stardate 01.09.2008 Get free short stories and info on exclusive book giveaways when you subscribe to my newsletter! The winner of Abandoned Identity by Tamara Tilley is Amanda Congratulations! Blog book giveaway: To enter to win today’s book, leave a comment on this blog post, giving your name and saying you want to enter. International readers are welcome to enter! Please leave a WORKING email address or website where I can contact you (please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail.com--or something like that to prevent spammers from trolling for your email address). Please make sure your email address works—I’ve had several winners where my email to them bounced and I couldn’t get hold of them. It is the winner’s responsibility to check to see if you won and to email me if you haven’t yet heard from me. You have a week to comment--I'll pick a name out of a hat on Wednesday, January 16th. (BTW, you can post a comment and NOT enter, too.) Doing s
27 comments
Read more

I GOT A CONTRACT!

Captain’s Log, Stardate 03.29.2006 I had a wonderfully funny blog post planned for today, but I got sidetracked by some news yesterday! Zondervan has offered me a three-book contract on my Asian chick-lit series ! I’m still stunned by everything that’s happened. The series is actually a 4-book projected Asian chick-lit series about four cousins who fall under the infamous family title "Oldest Single Female Cousin," and their ruthless, wealthy grandma applies pressure on each of them to improve their lack of love interests. I think the first book is tentatively scheduled to be released in August 2007. The blurb on the series is on my website here . Brandilyn Collins posted to the ACFW loop about my writing journey, and Tamara Cooper asked that I share it. And since you all know how much I like to talk , here it is. My writing journey: Like most writers, I have wanted to write since I was very young. (In high school, I wrote a fantasy novel that will never see the light of day
34 comments
Read more

I’m a Book of the Year winner!

Captain's Log, Stardate 09.22.2008 I won first place in the Debut Author category of the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year awards! Here are all the winners! Debut Author Sushi for One? (Camy Tang) Zondervan, editor Sue Brower Bayou Justice (Robin Miller writing as Robin Caroll) In Between (Jenny B. Jones) Contemporary Novella Finally Home in Missouri Memories anthology (Deborah Raney) Barbour Publishing, editor Susan Downs Moonlight & Mistletoe in A Big Apple Christmas anthology (Carrie Turansky) Remaking of Moe McKenna in Race to the Altar anthology (Gloria Clover) Historical Novella Love Notes in Love Letters Anthology (Mary Davis) Barbour Publishing, editor Rebecca Germany Beyond the Memories in Missouri Memories anthology (DiAnn Mills) The Spinster & The Tycoon in The Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner anthology (Vickie McDonough) Lits Splitting Harriet (Tamara Leigh) Multnomah Books, editor Julee Schwarzb
31 comments
Read more