We are going through a knitting renaissance. And we are all getting better. Once you master the basic knit and purl, it's a whole new world. Here are some ways to grow as a knitter.

When you pick a project, make sure it will add a new skill to your repetoire. This can be a new technique like intarsia, or a new pattern like popcorn stitches. See if you can find something just a little harder than what you've done before, but not overwhelmingly so.

If you are in over your head, admit it. Set the project aside, and come back later when you have more skills. Things that used to baffle me 10 years ago now seem relatively straight forward. It is not uncommon to finish a project you started 5, 10 or 20 years ago.

Don't get addicted to one kind of yarn. Make sure you are expanding your skill level by trying various thicknesses of yarn. And don't just try yarn. Try plastic strips cut in a spiral out of a plastic bag. Try knitting wire, or twine, or clothesline rope.

Don't get addicted to one size or type of needle. There are a whole lot of sizes out there, from needles that are wires for beadwork to jumbo needles for knitting hammocks. There are straight and circular needles and double pointed needles.

Learn to make all the geometric shapes, not just squares and rectangles. That means you'll have to learn to increase and decrease. Many garments from hats to shawls are made from circles. Triangles and stars are a lot of fun as well. Think modular. How many squares does it take to make a sweater? How would you design a tube dress?

Design a pattern to call your own. You'll learn so much about the designing process that way. Be sure to write down how you did it so you can do it again or improve on your mistakes.

Learn to crochet. Crocheting a trim around a knitted garment will add a lot of scope to your fashions. You'll have so many more textures you can work with if you can knit and crochet. Like peanut butter and jelly, they go great together.

Are you stuck in a color rut? Do you prefer earth tones? Do you only work with gem tones? This might be scary for you then. Have a friend with different tastes than you pick out some colors that you would never use. Even colors you despise. Most of us are very opinionated about color. I had to laugh when a friend recently divulged to me that her mother would have been appalled at the skirt I was wearing, because everyone knows you never wear red and purple together. Fight against your color prejudices and you will expand your horizons. If you need inspiration, look to nature. Pick your favorite seashell or flower and match those colors with yarn.

Sometimes we get stuck in our knitting comfort zone. That is how you get people that only make hats, or people that only make socks. Just to shake things up, go off the beaten path and knit a doll, or some earrings, or a vest. Something you never even thought of attempting before.

Teach someone to knit. They say you don't really know how to do something until you know how to explain it to someone else.

And if you enjoy knitting, you may also want to explore dyeing your own yarn, spinning, weaving, macrame' and other related fiber arts.

Now that you are off on new adventures, don't forget to practice the skills you already learned. They do get rusty.

Try out some of these tips or all of them and you'll find your skills growing by leaps and bounds.

Last night at the store I even saw knitting needles with tips that light up so you can knit in the dark. Now that's what I call a devoted knitter.

If you are a knitter and want to share your knitting with us, please list your blog links or photo links in the comments box so we can all go admire your handiwork.

This is my favorite 'how to' page because it has videos that show you step by step how to do things:

http://www.knittinghelp.com/

Knitting needle size chart:

http://www.fibergypsy.com/common/needles.shtml

Standard yarn weight system:

http://www.yarnstandards.com/weight.html

Useful knitting abbreviations:

http://www.yarnstandards.com/knit.html

Pagan Knitters Forum

http://www.paganknitters.com/index.php?sid=6e0d6986f4eada11237c9fc3eee1ee68

See my new hub on Exciting Yarns From Nature.

http://hubpages.com/_l6f64eotqm13/hub/Exciting_Yarns_From_Nature

Starting on Nov. 1, 2006 on the first Wed. of each month I'll be teaching beginning knitting at Michael's craft store in Buena Park CA. (by Knott's Berry Farm).

The class is $15. and goes from 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

Bring size 10 short needles and a skein or ball of ordinary yarn (not the fuzzy or eyelash kind) as you will need to see each stitch.

Please sign up 24 hours in advance or sooner because Michael's will automatically cancel any session that does not have any sign-ups in advance.

For my current class schedule, please E-mail me at queenofdreams@gmail.com.

If there is a knitter in your life, here are some gift ideas.

Yarn. If they only use wool, get them wool.

Most knitters are happy with any new yarn.

There are some wonderful knitting books out there. I just inventoried about 100 of them at Michael's. There are books for beginning, intermediate and advanced knitters and cover everything from stitch patterns for afghans to purses, shrugs, sweaters, hats and beadwork.

Project bags. You really do need one for every knitting project.

Knitting needles, knitting guages, cable needles and yarn needles.

A gift certificate for knitting classes.

If you really don't know enough about their tastes to get them yarn, get them a gift certificate to their favorite knitting shop.