I was young when I learned. Middle school age, I'm guessing, was the time I first wove yarn with knitting needles. Before that - long before that - I'd learned to crochet. This knowledge of the yarn arts was part of my mother's wise intention that her girls know the basics of all things home & garden. This she did well, over the years teaching us to crochet, knit, sew, bake, cook, launder, mend, garden, and preserve. Not only did she teach us what she knew, but she exposed us to women who knew more than she. Like quilting from our adopted grandma (so much is learned by just watching, even when you're six), baking from the woman who was known to bring six pies to every potluck (it was she who taught me the finer points of crust-making), to the English woman who could knit a sweater without watching her hands while carrying on a conversation.
We had no idea at the time that this wasn't every girl's normal education.
There was something of a learning curve in going from crochet to knitting, what with using two weaving instruments instead of one, neither of which had a hook at the end. But the skill of steady yarn tension carried over, and at the end of patience and intention, the love of making soon manifest in knitted dishcloths. Lots of knitted dishcloths. Then came the ribbed scarves, and that (awful) acrylic sleeveless sweater.
I suppose I may be in the intermediate stage now, though I still often consider myself a beginner, which is the beauty of it. Knitting takes me as I am, where I am. If I need to relax in my current skill set for a while, I can (it's amazing what you can make knowing just the basics). When I'm ready for a challenge, I can pick up a pattern that requires a new skill, such as cables, or lace. There's always something more to learn, yet there's always comfort, and likely success, with a luscious yarn in elementary garter stitch.
On the needles now is hat number three of the season (which tells you straight up that I'm not the fastest knitter in the world). Hats number one and two didn't work out. These things happen. The yarn is unravelled and wound back into a ball for next time. Nothing wasted, only gained.
But this hat? I'm loving this one. It's the Nola cloche, knit in a dreamy baby alpaca by Juniper Moon Farms (Herriot Heathers in Black River) that I purchased at the local yarn shop. The pattern is teaching me new things, but not so steeply that I'm losing step, or falling into dislike. It's the perfect mix of mindless and mindful. When the process is just as lovely as the product, you know it's a winner. I can't wait to wear it.
Some of you have asked about knitting and wondered where you might start. My advice is to take a class, which doesn't mean in a group setting, if that's not your way. Most yarn shops offer instruction for groups or singles, or you may find a friend who could teach you the basic stitches. If a private tutor isn't an option, there are some good books on beginning knitting. I taught two of our boys how to knit (how little they were!) using the book Kids Knitting, which I would recommend for grown kids, too. You Tube has a wealth of visual instruction on knitting, from beginner level to advanced. Online, you will find knitting inspiration in abundance - my handmade board on Pinterest is filled with mostly knitting. Fringe Association is my favorite knitting blog - such loveliness there. She's written a beginner's series, and offers the necessary tools and supplies to get started (and keep going) in her shop. Other choice blogs that often feature knitted goods are Posie and Soulemama. For patterns, there is none better than the archive of Ravelry.
Here's a peek inside my knitting bag, to give you an idea of what I carry around besides the pattern, needles & yarn:
+ yarn of a different color (sometimes you need a contrasting yarn for marking - this yarn I used recently for a Provisional cast-on)
+ an Altoids tin (filled with the little things: stitch markers, a tapestry needle, foldable scissors, a cable needle, etc)
+ a blank Moleskine and pen (for tick marks, notes, and keeping track)
+ the instruction book I learned from way back when, for quick reference (love that it has my Mom's signature at the top)
+ a ruler/needle gauge (from the above mentioned Fringe Supply Shop)
+ a crochet hook (for Provisional cast-on, or for picking up stitches)
And my knitting bag itself? It's one I made last summer, in a flurry, before departing on a long vacation. I thought it was going to hold my make-up on the trip, but I soon found out it was for the knitting. Of course. I love its size for smaller knitting projects - perfect to throw into a tote and carry out the door.
Do you knit? If not, would you like to learn?
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