Looking back one year, I never would have imagined that I’d be where I am at now. Sitting here, typing out a post on my knitting blog. I would have never imagined that I would soon carry sticks and yarn with me everywhere. I would have never imagined that I’d soon knit socks during classes, receiving more than one confused stare from a professor or classmate. I would have never imagined that I would one day use knitting as a way to gauge whether a cute girl was “dating material”. I would have never imagined that I’d spend my evenings and weekends winding and dyeing yarn, just because it’s fun. But here I am, one year later, and all of these things that I would have never thought about have come true. So what is it about knitting that has impacted me so much? What is it about purposefully twisting yarn into loops that has me all twisted into loops? Click on to find out!
Chapter 1: The Beginning
I suppose that I should start from the beginning. It was about one year ago today, that I was waiting in the car with my Mom, and she was knitting away on a simple garter stitch scarf. She had been crocheting some little hats, and had recently come back from family wedding in North Carolina where her cousin taught her how to knit. We were sitting there, waiting for who knows what, and I said, “I’m bored. You should teach me how to do that.” So she reached into her gigantic bag, pulled out some plastic needles and acrylic yarn and tried to teach me to cast-on. That didn’t go so well. I really couldn’t figure it out, so she cast-on for me, and taught me the knit stitch instead. That wasn’t so bad, and it wasn’t too long before I’d turned out a couple rows on a scarf.
my first garter stitch scarf!
It took me almost a month to finish that scarf, but there was just something about it that captivated me. It was therapeutic and awe-inspiring to watch tiny movements in my hands translate into a tangible scarf, all from a simple ball of yarn. I wanted to know more about knitting, and being the self-taught person I am, I went and bought a book. I got a copy of Stitch N’ Bitch, because it seemed like a good starter book, with lots of pictures, techniques and anecdotes, and I just thought the name was funny. I read the book from cover to cover, learning all that I could about both knitting culture and techniques. I fell in love with the Geek Wristband pattern, and just knew that I had to make one.
A few evenings and some skeins of Sugar and Cream later, and I had made it! It took 2 tries, since I hadn’t figured out that you have to bring the yarn to the front when you switch to purling…I was so confused as to why there were all these holes and extra stitches! I made a few more wristbands, including one with the Apple logo. (You’ll see that the Apple logo is a theme running through my knitting if you read on.) Anyway, it was this simple wristband that started me down the slippery slope of no return. Yup, that’s right, I discovered my Local Yarn Store.
a whole lot of wristbands…some more nerdy than others.
Chapter 2: The Addiction Begins
Up to this point I had only knit with acrylic yarn and cotton, but I longed to work with real wool. It was also around this time that my Mom discovered a little store called Village Wools. We actually had a yarn store in Albuquerque! I was so excited, I went over on the next opportunity that I could, and bought whatever natural fiber I could afford on my meager budget. I knew that I could make a scarf, so I bought 2 balls of scratchy cheap wool in the colors that I liked. I also knew how to do stripes width-wise down the scarf, but I wanted to do them lengthwise instead. So I taught myself intarsia knitting. Granted, it’s not too difficult to use 2 colors and alternate them over half the stitches, but I was very proud of my achievement at the time. Especially of my idea of switching the colors at the halfway point to spice things up. And although it was (and still is) very scratchy wool, I wore that scarf pretty much everyday for the whole winter. I was definitely hooked.
my first real wool scarf, also modeled by the lovely Emma
Chapter 3: The Community
I’ll never forget the day that I went into Village Wools with my Geek Wristband on, and a very bubbly Scout came up and said, “Oh my gosh! Is that the wristband from Stitch N’ Bitch? You should totally come to the ABQ SnB group! And you need a blog!” It was that day that I was introduced to the broader knitting community, a community of people who have a love for sticks and wool and the art of knitting. There’s something cool about being able to go into a yarn store and meet new people, solicit advice and just talk about whatever. I suppose that this community exists in almost every sort of interest group out there, but I was very happy to be welcomed into the fold as a fellow knitter. It was because of other knitters such as Scout and Noelle that I was inspired to:
- Start this blog.
- Learn sock knitting.
- Start dyeing yarn.
- Open an online yarn store.
- (The list goes on…)
I owe a whole lot to the knitting community, and I’m very grateful for the warm welcome that I’ve received as a knitter. It’s really awesome to have a group of people who accept me (and my “weird hobby”), especially when some of my non-knitting friends don’t really understand what the fuss is all about. So thanks everyone, you guys are awesome!
Chapter 4: The Knitting
Don’t want this to get too long, so I’ll just go over the highlights of my knitting with some pictures. Here’s two of my faves, Emma’s Intarsia Dog Blanket, and my Felted Apple Tote.
While those two are the biggest projects I’ve done to date (just wait until Christmas comes, I’ll trump both of those!), I’ve had just as much fun knitting hats, scarves, socks (my new favorite!), purses, washcloths and even tea cozies! For pictures of all the stuff I’ve knitted in this past year, just check out my knitting set on flickr.
Chapter 5: The Dyeing
I’m sure you’re familiar with my newest outlet of creativity, dyeing yarn. Again, it’s all Scout’s fault, cause she gave me the dyeing bug. Although I’m fairly new, I’m soaking it in like a sponge, and having a blast. I really love dyeing as an outlet to express my creativity, in ways that can’t be done with code and schematics. (Even though I do love those both too…) It’s also a great feeling to be able to take undyed yarn and turn it into something really special, all the way from dyeing to a finished object. I’m hoping someday to make a transition from the etsy shop into a real online store, but for now I’m taking it one skein at a time.
cooking up some yarn!
Chapter 6: The Future
As far as the future is concerned…I have a whole knitting career in front of me. There’s still many things I’ve yet to tackle that I hope to learn this year. This doesn’t even take into account new dyeing techniques and the potential of learning to spin…
But I have to finish the Christmas knitting first, it just may kill me!
Okay first let me delurk…I found on from either reading StrangeLittleMama’s blog or Scout’s blog…not sure which. Anyways, guys that knit are HOT. :) LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the Apple Felted tote. I’m a G5 person. :)
Wow, you got a lot done this past year year. Good thing you found Village Wools; I visited one time when I went to alb… and loved it. I guess you’ve been purled. What weight is your yarn? If the weight is anything like Scout’s stuff, then I’ll have a pretty good idea of what to expect of yours, because the colors rock.
it’s so cool to read your knitting history! :)
Do you have any other pictures of the intarsia dog blanket? :)
Found you through, I believe, the comments section of the most recent post at Domesticat’s blog! Your yarn looks gorgeous- if I had any extra money (alas for being a broke college student who has to figure out how to pay for nursing school in a year and a half!), I would snatch up bundles of it. I definitely wish I could introduce you to my boyfriend; I can’t get him interested in knitting unless I’m showing him my finished lace projects :)
I’m so glad to have been there almost the whole way so far! I will never for get that day in the shop when I scared you and your mom… lol
Happy one year!
hey, you’ve made incredible progress in one short year! i have a dyeing question … i see the jars with the yarn, and i see the finished hank … so, the parts of the yarn not submerged … did/do they absorb some of the color? did you dye those parts separately after the fact? i’m asking because i didn’t see any white in the finished hank. i’d like to try that method. thanks! keep knitting!
Congrats! You have accomplished alot in one year. Knit On!
I remember when you first posted on the knittyboards about the Apple Tote. What a wonder to behold from such a new knitter! You continue to impress. =)
You’ve come a long way, baby. Happy Anniversary!
My only male pr0nographer and he fails me on the first friday of the month. sigh And I was looking forward to your hand dyed stuff. You have artsygal in the ring now, so you have some stiff competition for your pr0n!
hey, that felted tote is rad! and you know i love the dog blanket :)
look at you, doin’ intarsia and everything…i’ve been knitting since 2003 and i’m still to chicken to try colorwork. keep up the good work with your dyeing. you’re doing a great job! that yarn pictured above…love it!
Hi! Just wanted to let you know that this submission made it into this month’s Yarnival! You can view the issue on my blog. Thanks for submitting! Have a GREAT DAY!
Hi Adam! I wish I had met you when I was out in Albuquerque! I was working out there (Aug - Oct) and found the ABQ SnB group and loved everyone so much! Village Wool rocks too!
Oh and I have a black and white mini schnauzer just like Emma! I’ve never really seen another one - so that is awesome! Mine is named Hurley.
Keep on knitting - I can’t wait to see what you have up your sleeves next! I’m coming up on my year anniversary too - I started in December of 2005.
-Jody
I love the Apple logo knits! As a definite MacAddict that makes my day. The dog blanket is great, if I had more time I’d be tempted to make one for my Mom’s dog (aka, my littlest brother).
Found you through Yarnival. Loved your tale of becoming a knitaholic. Me too. I knit constantly and think about yarn and projects all the time. Sadly I am blogless. I am impressed by all your projects and conquering intarsia! wow. Happy knitting!
Well Happy Knitterversary and welcome to the fold! I too started last year with SnB! Love your Apple Tote really nice!
Hi! Dropped by from Yarnival. Loved your history post. I LOVE the felted apple tote. Is the pattern from a book, or your original? Can you post it on your blog?
I’m also over from Yarnival. The apple tote is just adorable, I’m so impressed with how much you’ve come on, you’re clearly a natural born knitter (starts changing ‘one of us, one of us’). I haven’t tried dyeing yet but it’s on my list of things to do, as is learning to spin. Ah, the more you learn, the more there is to learn…
here from Yarnival too - you have come so far in a year - I’m at 1 1/2 and I’m can’t touch you. I love the dog blanket - I have 3 labs (9yo, 10yo and 10mo) so I can’t consider that til the baby gets old enough to stop chewing every rug she lays on up. Beautiful yarn - I’ve bookmarked your shop for my next stash addition.
LOVE the fact that you knit (I’m here via Yarnival). Now could you talk my husband into learing how to knit? I can’t believe you’ve only been knitting for a year and have accomplished all that. WOW.
That’s a great narrative - I’m glad Yarnival brought it to my attention. I love the Felted Apple Tote, being a Mac person myself. Did you make up the pattern yourself?