Inherent Dangers of Knitting

I picked up knitting as a hobby because I was fascinated by the idea of doing something constructive and creative with my hands. I am a Hands On kind of a girl. My sister started knitting before me and had made some scarves. When I saw them, I had an instant desire to do the same. A few weeks later I was at an art opening at a friend’s house and I saw a chick there knitting. I approached her about it and she showed me what she was working on and she demonstrated knitting to me. It looked like magic. I saw fingers and yarn moving and I wanted to do it. I wanted to make magic. She recommended the book Stitch ‘n Bitch to me as an excellent beginner’s how-to book. I went out and purchsed the book, some crappy acrylic yarn and metal Boyle’s needles and never looked back.

I had lofty plans with my knitting from the get-go. I was going to knit my entire wardrobe, or so I thought. And all my accessories too. Well, at least several bags. I have knit one bag. I have made one sweater. I have two sweaters in various stages of progress. I might finish them before I die. I have made several pairs of socks, quite a few scarves and hats, the t-shirt patches and a postcard. Oh, and some dog "clothes."

I’m sure there are other things I’ve made. Baby booties come to mind. And there are still things I have not yet made that I want to make. I am, however, a one project at a time girl. I might have several projects on the needles, but I pretty much work on one project at a time. I have found that if I cast on for too many projects, nothing gets done. I have also found that if I leave one project for another, I rarely go back to the project that was left for the newer, shinier, more exciting project. And while I am quite sure it is much better to exhibit this kind of behavior with my knitting than say relationships or jobs, I still feel a little guilty about the unfinished projects. This is one of those inherent dangers of knitting that no one warned me about.

Nor did anyone warn me about all the different types of yarn that are available. I think that almost every knitter I have ever talked to started with acrylic yarn. Then once she (or he, though I have not yet met a male knitter in the flesh) is addicted to knitting, she or he then learns about real yarn shops with fancy yarn, the wooden needles, the Denise interchangeables, notions, and all the things you didn’t know existed but ohmygodIneedthat! And oh, the yarn. The wool, angora, mohair, silk, cotton, hemp, the blends… The list goes on. And the color selections of all these yarns. Talk about your sensory overload and your credit card bills. But let’s not discuss the credit card bills or how you can easily blow $100 at a time when visiting the yarn shop. What? I know it’s not just me. We won’t even get into the buying frenzy that occurs when the LYS (local yarn shop) has a sale. Let’s just say it’s not pretty.

Then you discover that you can buy yarn that hasn’t been dyed and you can dye it yourself. Any color or color combination. Hand dyed yarn. That you have made yourself. How amazing is that? I have not done this yet, but it is on my list of things to do and it is simply a matter of time. Elizabeth and I have already talked about having a yarn dying marathon get together.

Then you discover spinning. This is when you get to make your own yarn. You can buy roving (pre-yarn) that is already dyed and spin it up. You can buy roving that is not dyed. You can dye the roving before you spin it or after you spin it. I got the kit, but I need someone to show me how to do this. This is going to be one of those hands on learning experience things for me. I am ok with this. I just want to do it NOW. It’s going to have to wait until SAFF.

Oh, which brings me to Fiber Festivals. This is where knitters and spinners and weavers and crocheters and all people of all walks of life that have anything to do with fiber arts come together and drool (but not directly on the yarn or roving as this might lead to felting) and shop and take classes and congregate in joyous bliss. Or so I have heard. I will be attending my very first fiber festival this coming October. I’m going to SAFF with some girlfriends. Camping, friends and a fiber festival. I don’t think it gets much better than that.

Oh, and how could I forget blogging? I didn’t know what a blog was until I started knitting. An innocent google search for more information on knitting lead me to the world of knit blogging. (This is purely a tangent, but why is it that I cannot, CANNOT drink coffee without spilling it on myself? Why?) After perusing, oh, I don’t know, probably hundreds of knitting blogs in a matter of days (sensory overload. again.) I decided I had to have my own knitting blog. It started out innocently enough. I started out on blogger. And for awhile, that was good enough. It was free. But now, I’ve moved on to this blog, which I pay to keep, but oh the benefits of the Typepad make it worth it. This is my little corner of the internets that I can show off my finished knits, rant about my inherent stupidity or inability to read a freaking pattern. Or read at all. To share my triumphs, joys, happiness, love, failures, sadness, anger, whatever. It’s liberating, really. And so much cheaper than therapy.

I’ve made some internet friends through my knit blog. Some of them knitters, some of them not. I stalk quite a few blogs. I’m not much of a commenter unless particularly moved by something I read. Not that I don’t enjoy reading them, because I most certainly do. I guess I’m just not really a garrulous commenter. Which, if you know me in real life, is honestly quite odd. I can talk the ear off a wall. In fact, I’ve had a brick wall beg me to stop talking. When I was growing up, my dad was pretty sure that I could not breathe unless I was talking. But I digress. Again. (Something else I’m quite good at doing.)

Where was I? Oh right, dangers of knitting. So there were all these things that I discovered along the way that go with knitting. Some of them good – meeting other knitters and discovering that I am not so crazy in my obsession fondness for knitting, creating something, giving someone something you made with your own two hands and with great care and love, learning something new. The list goes on. And some not so good – …. blink blink …. blank stare … blink blink … blink blink ….

Ok, maybe it’s not so good when you think you can go without food, but not without yarn. Maybe.

Anyway, don’t ever let someone tell you it’s just knitting. It’s not. It’s so much more.

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