I started knitting less than two years ago. Before that, if someone asked me what I thought about knitting I'd probably have said something like: lame, waste of time, and isn't that for old people? I was so scathing I would even roll my eyes walking by the local yarn shop (gasp!). At the ripe age of 24 I apparently became an old person. I was waiting around at my pharmacy, and a woman next to me was knitting. She was working on a tube-shaped thing with some pretty small needles, but I remember it being a really lovely variegated red. Deep and vibrant. We had a pivotal conversation in which I learned how wrong I was, and she inspired a passion in me to learn knitting. I remember it exactly: "Are you knitting?" "Yep." "Is it difficult to do?" "Nope." I was sold. That very night I bought some cheap yarn and needles, intended to make a scarf (those are simple right?) and I was off! Or was I on? Wait, what's casting on? Casting off, are we sailing? How did I make that hole? Purl?! There's more than just a knit stitch? Basically I had no idea what I was doing, and this has become a theme throughout my knitting. But after watching the same YouTube videos over and over (shout out to knittinghelp.com) and getting some basics down, I decided to use that holey, uneven, lumpy "scarf" to learn more techniques.
I've been knitting ever since for a few reasons. The most obvious is sweaters are awesome, and there are a lot of fashionable designs out there. Who doesn't love a good fall sweater, or summery linen top? But beyond the great fashion potential, I really love knitting. It's steady, rhythmic, and helps slow my mind down. But what I may love most is the progress. When you knit a stitch, you've made a stitch. It's right there for you to see. I love this. In the lab I work in, that type of visual progress is almost non-existant. I can't see what's going on at the cellular level, but I can see a stitch.
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So why do you knit? For me, it's because I love the process of seeing something take shape. Tell me how you got started knitting! Did you learn as a child? Did you teach yourself after being an ass about it it, like me? Is it a family tradition? Share why you love it! What is it about looping yarn around itself that draws you in? I'd love to hear!
A few years ago my grandma had tried to teach me to knit but I was too young and she only came twice a month. A couple years later I asked her to teach me again, and I love it. When I turned 13 my mother let me on Ravelry, and it has been an amazing resource. I like being able to knit while doing other things, and the creativity of designing patterns.
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous you had someone to teach you! I think my grandma crocheted and knitted, or at least I remember her doing it when I was really small. But she has rheumatoid arthritis and can't anymore, I'm bummed I missed the opportunity to learn from her. Thanks for sharing what you like about knitting Kaira!
DeleteMy grandma taught me to crochet when I was 6, but I remember going to the hair salon and hearing the click-click-click of the knitting needles from women sitting under the hair dryers. It struck up an interest in me, but I didn't know anyone who knew how to knit ( I didn't know those women in the salon). When I was 22 I bought a Learn How Book on knitting and that was my instructor. I just dabbled in it for many years, not really staying focused enough to complete a project. I always started big projects!
ReplyDeleteMy last project back then was a zIpper-front sweater for my husband with a deer on the back. I mostly used scrap yarn that people gave me for the deer, grass, & trees, and had no clue about different types of yarn! We lived in a basement apt. and one day the apt. flooded, and my 3/4 finished sweater was so near the floor that it got sopping wet. I tried to salvage the project, but when it dried I discovered the scraps of yarn I used for the picture was wool, and it shrunk - A LOT!!! It went in the trash and I never picked up needles again for about 30 years!
Now I have a hard time putting them down, but then, I'm retired and don't have a houseful of children and can focus much easier. The computer has been a great tutorial for me.
Seems like knitting was more popular back when salons used those giant hair dryers; but then again maybe I just don't know other knitters. It's cool that you were able to pick up knitting again after not doing it for 30 years and being scarred by a ruined project!
DeleteTo be honest.. I started to knit because I saw a girl making a Harry Potter Gryphindor scarf in like a day. I started a few years ago and still haven't made one. Next project I swear. I like to knit while watching TV or listening to music - I feel like I'm just wasting my time if I'm sitting in front of the screen just doing nothing. This way I get pretty cool things while watching Modern Family. Actually it's pretty hard knitting and watching that show. Too funny :)
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way! I can't just sit and knit (unless I'm outside) without some sort of background noise and movement. And there's no shame in drawing your inspiration from HP!
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