Thursday, October 13, 2011

misadventures of a knitter


(a mix of recent and non recent photos. excuse the underwear. keepin' it real here)

I am not a good knitter. At a stretch I may be an okay one. My mother was not a knitter. Nor my grandmother.  But, at the age of 31 and pregnant with my third I was determined to learn. I started off with one of those scarf kits, and with a few pointers one afternoon from my mother-in-law, I was off and away. Or so I thought. That scarf was pretty easy. The dishcloths fun. There have even been a few more complicated projects completed.

But knitting does not seem to come easily to me. I often have to start and re-start a project many times over. And I mean many.  Finding out I twisted my stitches in the round twelve rows in. Realising I cast on the wrong number of stitches. Where did those two stitches go?

I often discover a gaping hole after thinking I've correctly picked up a slipped stitch. Obviously not. Losing count of rows. Losing my little dial row counter. Having half a row torn out by curious little fingers. Sometimes I just want to cry. Or a few not so nice words escape me. Sorry kids.

Perhaps I don't have the concentration for it. Perhaps there are just too many distractions going on around me. Or maybe it's just me.

But despite all the pain and occasional bad language I keep knitting. Despite all this I do enjoy it. I find it relaxing when I get into it. I love nothing more than seeing the kids wearing something I created with my own hands. Mistakes and all. And so I keep knitting.

In the sea of clever knitters out there, is there anyone else in this same boat?

24 comments:

  1. I have been knitting for quite a long time, never brave enough to make anything big though, beanies, dishcloths, mittens, animals, baby clothes....small is my style! I usually have a photocopy of the pattern and write or mark where I am up to, lots of dashes and dots counting rows etc otherwise I cannot remember at all (kids are to distracting!) and I must count my cast on stitches 5 times or so just to be sure! That little cardi your little love is wearing is wonderful, keep at it it will only get easier :)

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  2. I have only ever managed various rectangles - straight rows ... I think you are amazing! I love that little cardi :)

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  3. my nan taught me to knit when i was very young. i still remember to this day and i do love it. however, in saying that i am still finishing off a baby blanket for penny - she is now 3! I love your green cardigan. xo.

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  4. Hi Tania
    I learnt to knit when I was young, my Mother is a great knitter, but I never really understood it. I was always too impatient to to have a garment finished, something that I could achieve with sewing. I have just taken up knitting again and completed a top for myself! I was close to tears many times. It is very basic and short sleeved but a huge achievement for me.
    Thank you for your blog, I really enjoy reading your posts.
    Frankie

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  5. My nan taught me to knit at the age of 7 and despite her best attempts i am *just* ok at it! My nan leart to knit on large nails as a child and became the most beautiful knitter & was still knitting up until she passed away at 85, mostly for charity, baby clothes etc. She found it relaxing. Ive just started knitting squares to make into a blanket - it maybe finished by next winter! That little green cardigan is very sweet :)

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  6. I envy those who learnt to knit at a young age. I decided to try and teach myself last year and so far have accomplished nothing but squares! Love the cardi xx

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  7. Keep on keeping on Tania! Mine is not fantastic but I'm getting the knack of it I think... I do tend to get lost with the increase/decrease bits of a pattern. I've learnt to have a piece of paper next to me and count off rows by literally writing it down (ticking it off). Still not perfect because like you I find at the end that I've mysteriously added more stitches than I'm supposed to! It's fun though and honestly unless the gaping hole is so big that it's obvious, no-one will really notice.

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  8. Tania I learnt the basics of knitting as a child but never really took to it till I got pregnant at 19...knowing I was going to become a mum spurred me on and although I have been knitting for nearly 20yrs now I still have the same troubles you do and to this day have not learnt how to pick up stitches...the reason why I keep at it is that I too find it relaxing and enjoy it.

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  9. Wow, the cardy is so cute! Great Job! I started knitting last winter, I can only do normal knit and pearl. I can't read a pattern yet but I managed to make a little dress and a pixie hat. It is so relaxing and like you said so lovely to see your children in clothing you created!

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  10. Yes! I've tried sevral times and just can't get the hang of it!
    I kept trying though, Untill one day I taught myself how to crochet.
    And now I can't stop! Maybe you should give it a go? Its very easy!

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  11. I have not knitted since about age 13, anow now really like learning to crochet. But I shave simialr issues, I am so slack with the countint the chains and often end up with wonky sides. But similarly love doing it. I drift off to sleep dreaming about crochet.

    Cute smile and cardi.

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  12. I can knit up...or is that down? Scarf? Anyone need ANOTHER scarf?
    My grandmother and mother are awesome knitters, the knitting gene seems to have bypassed me. I only learnt to crochet this year, and it still baffles me. However I do have ambition, lofty ideals that one day it will come to together and make sense....one day.
    ...love that you are keeping it real too.

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  13. that's a very cute little cardigan!
    I learnt to knit when I was very young, then did it for a while....Then forgot everything. Then I picked it up again in my late 20s. Then forgot how to do it again. I am hopeless! I want to start again so I will have to re-teach myself....AGAIN

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  14. Oh, I am with you on this one! I have done scarves, a hat or two, some dishcloths, and that is about it. I still drool over huge knitted blankets and cabled sweaters and have a ridiculously large collection of wool, but I am not too sure if I will ever have the patience to complete a massive project. Oh well, I enjoy it when I knit, and that's all that counts, right?

    Brenna

    consciousearthveg.blogspot.com

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  15. I'm in that same boat. I knit but I have terrible time organising myself when I knit. I forget my count all the time and I always seem to have too many projects going at the one time. I'm okay with tension and neat knitting but it's the rows - I forget which one I'm doing. I do love knitting though. It's like a meditation for me.

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  16. I taught myself to knit when my children were little and I stuck with quite easy patterns, and now that my children are all grown and I'm knitting for the grandchildren, I am more adventurous with patterns - I guess I am able to concentrate more now that I don't have little ones around. The cardi on your little one is beautiful. Be kind to yourself.

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  17. Well I'd be very proud of that awesome green cardigan. It's beautiful, as is your daughter - loving the green. I'm a wannabe crafter in general, never progressed beyond a colourful scarf. I come from a long line of knitters but have no genetic predisposition to it - mum gave up on me.

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  18. I suck at knitting! I want so much to be good at it. I haven't picked up a pair of needles since my daughter was born, I think you may have inspired me. That green cardigan is amazing, if that's what you call bad knitting remind me to never show you something I make :) x

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  19. Knitting really scares me. I've made some scarves and dishcloths but nothing complicated. My mum is not a knitter but my mother in law is a wonderful knitter so I leave her to do it. I think you have done a wonderful job knitting that cardigan it is beautiful Tania. xo

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  20. Stick with it! You will get better and better, just by doing it over and over again. Even expert knitters rip things out and start again, and have difficulty counting some days me. (Check out the Yarn Harlot blog if you don't believe me) and think what a marvellous example of perseverance you are modelling to you children! (And that green cardi looks great by the way)

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  21. Hi Tania,
    I would love to knit. I took a class however I couldn't get it. My dear mother in law could knit so wonderful. I miss her dishcloths every Christmas.
    I love visiting you.
    Blessings,
    Mrs. E

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  22. I just started tinkering with knitting within the last year, and really in earnest these last several months. I am very much in your boat. I find it so enjoyable...and yet spend so much time un-knitting and trying to pick up the elusive dropped stitch! (I can't tell you how many times I've thought I unraveled far enough to pick it up only to get going again and realize that I haven't.)

    It doesn't make sense, but oh well, I love it anyways. And I have a strong motivation to get better so that I can move beyond scarves and dishcloths. I want to make my own socks. That is my dream.

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  23. Yes! Me! I'm in the same boat! I kind of think the flaws make it all the lovelier. I know I've always appreciated the love that went in and looked for evidence of it. The cardi and the gorgeousness wearing it are beautiful :)

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  24. looks pretty bloody good from where I'm knitting...I mean..sitting!
    x

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