Friday, December 18, 2009

A Simple Twist of Fate

Well! I have a new obsession, and the funny thing is, I didn't see this one coming at all. It is knitting:





That up there is the first thing I ever knit, a hat for Owen's Teddy. I knitted it last Thursday, two days after a friend said, "You're not a knitter? That's a suprise..." Those innocently uttered sentences were the flint and, when combined with the steel of hubby's question, "what're you going to put on your wish list for Christmas this year?" they sparked the unexpected wild fire that is knitting.



One trip to the library, plus the snagging of a pair of knitting needles later, and I produced this excellent hat over the weekend:





I knitted it from yarn that we had around the house, hence its Free-Bowl-of-Soup-With-That-Hat look. I love it, and find myself wanting to keep the house extra-cold so that I have an excuse to wear it inside.



Finally, on the grounds that if I'm going to put knitting stuff on my wish list, I'd better 'make sure' that I do really want to keep up with it, I went out and purchased wool to make a sweater for myself - gotta be my own guinea pig! And now I am hooked (not just on knitting but evidently on bad puns, as well).



The best book I've found on the subject is one I can't even say the name of around the children, Stitch 'N B**ch: The Knitter's Handbook. It is funny, answers knitting questions in the right order, and has some really cool patterns too. If only I didn't have to hide the cover all the time!



9 comments:

jugglingpaynes said...

Oh my. I've seen this knitting pattern before. It starts with a simple knitted hat. A scarf or two. Or seven. Then all of a sudden you are hunting down knitting patterns, talking about "fiber" and speaking in code to total strangers while the rest of your family stares blankly.

That's how it was for Marina, anyway. I'm still knitting challenged. :o)

Peace and Laughter!
Cristina

Karen said...

Oh, Cristina - "knitting pattern"? You've got the pun bug too, even if you haven't caught the knitting bug :-)
I'll have to talk knitting with Marina one of these days!
Karen

Rana said...

Pretty good for your first try, I love the colors of that yarn.

My sisters friend has that book. The first time I saw the cover it caught me off guard, but it does have some great information in it.

I have two family members that I have been trying to pin down to show me how to knit or crochet and it's just not happening. If you can do this by looking at a book maybe I can. Although I learn better by watching people. Maybe you should put a video tutorial for us wannabe knitters.

Anonymous said...

No desire to take up knitting (like I need ANOTHER obsession!!!), but I am always in awe of naturally crafty people - - like those who can learn to knit beautifully in a week. LOVE your hat!!

Karen said...

Rana - I will think about the knitting tutorial! My boys want to learn (that is, when they are done using the needles as light sabers), and that might help them some, too :-)

Topsy - Thanks. I think I am going to ship it down to you, right now you guys need it more than I do! Although, we are about to get 'your' storm, 8-12 inches, so on second thought...

:-)
Karen

Magic and Mayhem said...

You're amazing! That was quick and they look wonderful. I just have it in my head that I can't knit and never got past that. Maybe someday!

Jena said...

Awesome! Welcome to the wonderful world of knitting! You did a fabulous job--I can't believe you taught yourself from a book and got so much done so quickly!! May you have many happy stitches. :)

Karen said...

Alicia - thanks. I used to have it in my head that I couldn't do math, but since I started homeschooling I have changed my mind about what I can/can't do.

Jena - I hope to have many happy stitches :-) I am going to go check out Ravelry, like, right now!

Sparklee said...

Wow--I am really impressed! I have tried to knit before, but never actually completed anything. Somewhere I have a couple of unfinished projects that were supposed to be scarves but look more like hot pads...