Tuesday, March 26, 2013

When does one become a knitter?

I do not come from a family of knitters. I am not that gal who learned to knit from her grandmother, who learned to knit from her grandmother, and so on... I would love to have a story like that but I love my story too.


I was a Senior in college, it seems I learned a lot that year, and just about out of the blue decided that I wanted to knit. There was a yarn shop in our little college town called The Camel. I wondered in there one day and fell in love with all the fiber I found there. As the days passed I could not get that little shop with all of it's texture and shelves of potential waiting to become something out of my head. I wanted to learn how to make something with all that amazing yarn!

The teacher was from Scandinavia. She taught us, four of us if I remember correctly, to knit continental style, or left-handed knitting because that was how her grandmother taught her. We learned with circular and double-pointed needles to knit a hat. It did not take long before I was hooked. I was knitting with every spare moment I had. Knitting at night after my studies, in the morning before practice, between classes, anywhere I could find a few minutes for a few stitches I was knitting. One night, while staying up late waiting for a certain Mr. to get back from a geology field trip gone awry, I knit, and knit, and knit. Once he arrived home at 2 am I had three hats! 

In pretty typical new knitter fashion I moved on to scarves. And... over the last 17 years or so I have not ventured far from those roots of hats and scarves and the occasional big blanket. That is fine. That was fine for a good long time because that was knitting's place in my life. A place I could go and have something to do but not have to put a whole lot of thought into it! But for whatever reason, maybe midlife, I want to move forward with my knitting. I want to think about it. I want to become what in my mind is a "knitter."

This shot shows the yarn color best for those of you interested.

I want to be that knitter who knits a gauge swatch. Who tackles projects that might make her winch when she first sees the pattern. Who walks into the knit shop, with said pattern in hand, and without fear asks for help. Yes, for years I was actually intimidated by "knitters" and was afraid to show how little I knew after all these years of knitting. Crazy. I know.

It started back in Nova Scotia with the design of this little bracelet pattern. Now that we are settled I am ready to get knitting again. 

Last weekend, after failed attempts to find yarn locally, and being a bit nervous and impatient to order yarn online, I went up to Durango and discovered the most wonderful yarn shop. I took a deep breath and walk through the door, pattern in hand, and asked for help! Lonnie, the shop keeper, was great. She saved me from buying needles I really did not need for the project. She showed me YouTube video of a new-to-me technique right on her computer. And she made sure I bought just the right amount of yarn for my project... not too much!

Asking for help was awesome. She was awesome. 


When I got home I looked up how to knit a gauge swatch on circular needles. Amanda confirmed over twitter that she does it just the same way and I was off... It seems that I knit just the same way the pattern designer knits. My first gauge swatch matched up!

The thing I loved about knitting the gauge swatch as that it also helped me practice the pattern, a Spanish Moss. I cursed that knit-to-together more than a few times but kept on with these tiny needles!


 I have started the ribbing of my little leg warmers and after a few rounds of figuring it out really like the magic loop technique. Have you tried it?

Looking at this process I am thinking one becomes a knitter when they first start to knit, but like everything in life, it is a process.

Do you knit? When did you feel like you really became a knitter?

20 comments:

  1. I taught myself when my first baby was about ten months old because I wanted to make him a special Christmas stocking, nevermind I didn't know how to knit yet! (Er, it was October.) I am stubborn and persistent and I love that first wonky stocking. I will say I was a Knitter from Day One, because my first project was basically a big sock, complete with turned heel, on DPNs. But it didn't become a need in my life until my second child was approaching toddlerhood--until then I could go months without knitting a thing. I think that is when I tipped from a product-oriented knitter ("I'm knitting to make this specific thing") into a process-oriented one ("I'm knitting because I must, because I want to figure out xyz, because I have this idea in my head I must see in yarn, because if I don't I may stab someone...").

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    1. Amy, You sound a lot like my mom. She she first learned to sew she we straight for the French sewing... Go big or go home!
      You make a great distinction between the product and the process. I think that is finally where I am at. Not in a hurry to finish, just enjoying the process.
      "... I may stab someone..." planted a vision of an unhappy woman and empty knitting needles in hand!

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  2. I taught myself to knit when I was in my mid-thirties, intrigued after watching a knitting show on PBS or something.

    I've probably felt more and more like a Knitter gradually over the years. Maybe a little more legit after I graduated from cheap $1.99 yarn from Hobby Lobby to merino wool, and then maybe even more after I bought a swift. Now I feel like a Knitter because I know the kind I am and I am content being the person who loves to knit hats but can't quite see the point in a lace shawl knit on 00 needles that no one I know will ever wear.

    So jealous of your new LYS! Mine went out of business and I haven't found a suitable replacement.

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    1. Deb... Funny about Hobby Lobby. That is where I was looking for yarn and came out empty handed! Great place for many things but...
      Yes. Knowing the type of knitter you are and being happy with that is awesome. And Yes. There is no point in knitting something no one you know is every going to use or love. Too much time and effort for that!
      Sad about your LYS!

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  3. my mother taught me to knit when i was probably six or so. i can remember sitting in our very old house with my feet on the cast-iron heating grate knitting wonky little squares that i used as doll blankets and doll scarves and doll sleeping bags... my sister and i also had free rein with the pedal singer sewing machine that belonged to our great-grandmother. we sewed doll clothes on the machine and by hand and made jewelry and things out of scraps and buttons and whatnot. i don’t think i knit a real item (a pair of mittens) until i was in college, but your fingers remember.

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    1. Love your story and all the little details Lori! I can only imaigne how those early experiences shaped your idea of what was possible for you to do on your own!
      "... but your fingers remember." Just amplifies that idea that early experiences are so important, even if they don't blossom into a "career" path, they are shaping you. Love that too!

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  4. I learned to knit three years ago this May from watching Youtube videos. I love it and now have a slight obsession with this wonderful craft.
    Both my mom and grandmother were crocheter's, but it never really interested me and besides, they were both right handed whereas I am a true leftie.
    I'm glad you found a wonderful LYS to visit and help you out, I love mine and the owner, Judy, is always there to offer a helping hand or a wonderful tip.
    Knitters are just plain nice people!

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    1. Knitters are such nice people! I don't know why I was so afraid to ask for help for so long!
      I learned to crochete first but it just did not hold the same possiblities for me as knitting. I have not picked up a hook in some time now.
      Love that you taught yourself on YouTube. Love. Love that aspect of the internet!

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  5. I love when you share your stories, Dawn!

    I started knitting "beyond the scarf" around ten years ago. I fell in love with a long mohair sweater pattern and decided I needed to learn to knit well enough to make it. And eventually, I did!

    I don't like purling, so I almost always knit in the round--or convert patterns so I can knit in the round. I'm a magic loop fanatic! Currently knitting a really pretty beret with magic loop: http://nevernotknitting.blogspot.com/2010/11/autumn-vines-beret.html

    I think it's cool that there's a whole slew of techy knitters out there these days--knitters who learn via YouTube and Ravelry and online tutorials. I'm one of those knitters, and I'm guessing that you are too, Dawn--or will be!

    That yarn is gorgeous!

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    1. Happy you like my little stories Patricia! I always get a little nervous about sharing too much!
      Oh. My. Goodness. That hat is super cute. You did mention the other day you like to wear hats! Can't wait to see it!
      Techy knitters. That is great. Indeed. The power of the internet is not to be underestimated... even for the "old fashioned" art of knitting.

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  6. looks like you're off to a great start! and how lucky to have such a lovely yarn store in your neck of the woods - i'm just a wee bit jealous ;-)

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    1. A start with many thanks to you!
      I might just have to do a little photo tour of the yarn shop... or you could come for a visit and we could bum around Durango together!

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  7. I love to knit and started when I was a teenager. It took a back seat for many years in my late 20's and 30's and over the last two years I have picked it up again. So happy I did.

    My biggest fear was asking for help in the yarn shop. It just seemed like everyone knew what they were doing and assumed I did too. Once I got over that and actually asked for help it was amazing.

    Happy knitting!

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    1. As Tracey said above... knitters are such nice people. Funny that it is hard to ask for help from the people who could help us the most sometimes.
      So happy you had nice knitters on hand to help you along.

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  8. Like you, I just finally decided I wanted to do it and took a class. No learning at grandma's knee. I think I really felt like I had arrived when I finished a sweater. It was just a baby sweater, but that was my, "Gosh, I'm a knitter!" moment.

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    1. Yes. I think a sweater will be a great milestone for me too. I started one years ago but never finished. Maybe this will be my year!

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  9. Before we moved i began to retire my sewing machine slowly and bring out the needles more. I was knitting almost every chance I got in the day before the move. I knitted while the girls played I knitted at bath time, while waiting for the water to boil... My aunt who is a "knitter" taught me to knit years ago after I got married. I then promptly forgot how when I got home. So a year later I picked it up again and taught myself to knit from the stich'n bitch book she gave me.

    I love knitting. Watching a ball of yarn turn into a garment is like magic!

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    1. Yes. You were doing all kinds of lovely knitting before you left! It is like Magic! Hope you can find a yarn shop over there?

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  10. Dawn! I am playing catch up with blog following and wanted to start with you!

    I loved reading how you got into knitting. And your wonderful pics make me want to grab my needles and forget about lessons today! ;)

    I began knitting a batwing sweater (remember those??) when I was in grade 9. I know, I've totally dated myself! It was a simple knit, pearl pattern that my mother introduced me to. I got through the first side and a sleeve I believe and then, I guess more interesting 'interests' came along, perhaps boys...and I haven't seen the bag of yarn since. I wonder if my mother still has it...

    Once I moved out to Nova Scotia and got into the homeschool scene I noticed a lot of ladies busy with knitting while the kids played and recalled my brief days of knitting. I bought Stitch and Bitch and knit my husband a scarf, which I wear all the time! From then I moved on to hats and some fingerless gloves. While trying to figure out how to do the gloves on dpn's I saw a friend knitting in a most peculiar way and I was intrigued and asked her what she was doing and she answered in her British accent. I had to ask her again because I didn't quite catch that she had said 'Magic Loop'! My world changed as far as knitting goes from then on and I haven't knit on straight needles since and bought myself a set of beautiful and colourful circulars. Fell in love!

    Thanks for all your wonderful images and creative endeavours. You help me to find more time in my life to create. Glad you are so happy in your new home!

    xx

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    1. Hey Tam!
      So happy you shared your knitting story! Oh. Batwing sweaters! Ha!
      I love the thought of, I can only imagine that knitter was D, talking about magic loop! Love!
      I miss seeing all of your creations!
      Miss you guys!

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