Why not.
10 Knitterly Things You Don’t Know About Me
1. I have never knit a sweater for myself. The One Skein Wonder is about as close as I’ve ever gotten to making myself a garment. I used Noelle’s handspun and it’s gorgeous.
I started the Ribby Cardi but stopped after knitting the whole back. Maybe one day I’ll pick it back up again….
2. I have absolutely no interest whatsoever in learning how to knit socks toe-up. Don’t even go there. Don’t try and convince me why I need to learn. I’m stubborn too? Did you know that?
3. When you are a ski racer growing up in Vermont, you grow up making ski hats doing intarsia and fair isle. I only found out a few years ago that these skills are considered challenging and scary for a lot of people. It just seems funny to me since I was eight years old when I started doing it.
4. It wasn’t until I was about 20 years old that I realized there was a whole world of yarn out there other than Lopi. I honestly thought that Lopi was the only yarn there was. Oh, and angora for intarsia/fair isle accents. I always just thought the world was destined for a lifetime of scratchy foreheads.
5. I also have no interest in making a lace shawl or anything lace for that matter. Ever. I’m just not a lace girl. And Lauren? Give it up sister. Not going to happen. And it’s okay.
6. When I cast on, I do not use a slip knot. It’s how my mom taught me forever ago. I simply hold the yarn over the needle and cast on. Again, when you learn something as a child you think that’s the only way. I didn’t know until about 7 years ago that there were numerous ways of casting on.
7. I like to knit in public so people will leave me alone. Really. Whispering Pine wrote about not KIP because she thinks it’s an instant conversation piece but I feel the total opposite. If I want to be left alone I’ll bring it, keep my eyes on my knitting and throw out the “leave me the hell alone I’m busy” vibe. If you don’t look up, they can’t talk to you…
8. Because I’ve knit for almost 30 years, it really iritates me when people talk about knitting being trendy and popular right now. If I’ve done it for 30 years it’s always been cool. Ha!
9. I have been a yarn snob from day one. My mother was the type of knitter to knit the amazingly beautiful sweaters out of Vogue Knitting Magazine. She wouldn’t substitute yarn due to cost. My mama had some serious taste. So I guess I did know there were other yarns but never really put it together until I was an adult.
10. I’m a figure-outer. (like that word? feel free to borrow it) I either look things up online OR in the books I have in order to figure something out in my knitting rather than go and get help.
Remember the other day when I told everyone to go out and buy this book?
I got my signed copy yesterday from Lisa and holy crap y’all. Go today. Go buy this book. I can honestly say it’s one of the prettiest knitting books I’ve ever seen. And, I could see making almost everything in the book. It actually might get me to make a garment. I even showed T. the men’s sweater and he said, “Yeah, that’s really cool. I’d wear that for sure.” This is from the man who wants me to knit him nothing. I wish I could show you all of the things I want to make. Just trust me. Get the book and you’ll see. We will have them at Village Wools soon so the locals can check it out.
15 Comments
Write a Comment»wait a second-you grew up in vermont? where?
i grew up in CA, but have lived in vermont now (norwich) for about 6 years and i am loving it! (except for that fact that my parents and sisters still live on the west coast)
I’m with you on the lace thing. Guys just don’t look good in it, no matter what.
I was going to write a comment trying to convince you to try Toe-Up Socks (cause they’re amazing!), but I know too what it is like to be stubborn. I still refuse to watch a single solitary episode of Lost, no matter how much my entire family becomes a gang of Lost crack-heads…and I really don’t care if it’s good or not, I just can’t watch a show that has freaking polar bears on a desert island! (Ok, rant over.)
And you can make fair isle ski hats and you didn’t tell me??? That’s like number one on my to-do list for this ski season. Now that I have money and don’t live in Socorro (read: No Snow) I can actually ski this season! I’m super psyched! Although I don’t know that I’ll use a fair isle hat since I wear a helmet these days, but at least I could look stylish for those ski bunnies in the lodge.
You’re stubborn? That was not a secret.
I’ve only ever knitted socks from the toe up - after my first attempt at top-down, with trying to get those dang skinny needles to stay put while I join the round and not twist, I’d never have knit sock one.
Sorry, girlfriend, but you already have succumbed to lace as I knew you would because all good knitters do. =) Remember that French Market bag? That’s lace, baby! Ha!
I will *only* knit socks toe up. Between the two of us, we’ve got it covered.
Going to cast on a pink fichu for Dave…
I like that knitting site
Great list.
I saw that book at B&N the other night - some very nice stuff in it.
Question for you: what’s the dumbest question you’ve ever gotten while working in the shop? Come on, give it up!
You and I must be knitting sisters because…..
I refuse to do toe up socks
Lace doesn’t jazz me at all
I KIP in public for the same reason, except when I’m with my knitting sistas
I get irritated when customers come in wanting help when it is something they could figure out for themselves.
Amy
Heh, I’m not very patient either with people who ask before trying to figure something out on their own - or sometimes even before thinking about it!
I found myself nodding in agreement - I love the “leave me alone” vibe knitting can create when you just need to be alone:) And the book, it’s gorgeous - so I’ll have to buy another book - okay!
Very interesting!! I too like the “LMA” vibe, cause sometimes, I just don’t want to talk! I
all day at work..wanna take a break sometimes! Ahhh skiing in Vermont..so long ago!
You know, I didn’t like lace either, why knit something to keep you warm if it has holes in it, right? Well, then I knit some lace. I’m hooked. I know you’re stubborn but it is horribly addictive.
I love your list!
I just looked through the book yesterday at Barns. I’m in love!! I can’t wait for my book order to come in.