needles & vectors

As of today, I’ve been knitting for one year. While I have trouble remembering back to a time when I didn’t knit, I still feel like a beginner. I have no real idea how cables work, knitted a fitted garment terrifies me, and I can’t seem to finish anything that takes more than two months to complete. I start a million projects, buy way too much yarn, and want to make it ALL. But I guess that’s what it means to be a knitter.

For those not familiar with the story, I’ll explain how I started knitting. I’ve always been a crafty person. Not a creative type but into crafts. I love making stuff with my hands. I was basically a cross stitcher a year ago. All other craft endeavors had fallen to the wayside. I thought about learning to knit but thought it wasn’t for me. It was too popular and – according to an article in an in-flight magazine – too hard. I’d suck, hate the outcome, and have wasted tons of money. But I decided to try anyway. I checked out three books from the local library and bought myself some squeaky baby blue yarn and size 9 bamboo straight needles. Soon I was addicted; I downloaded podcasts, requested every single knitting book available through inter-library loan, and joined a knitting group.

So, what have I gotten done in the last year? Two (almost three) baby sweaters, one and a quarter socks, three headbands, a lace shawl, two bookmarks, two Clapotis’s (Clapoti?), three scarfs, a hat, and a pair of fingerless gloves. Not bad for someone who finishes only a third of what she starts – and currently has eight different projects on the needles.

I’m very happy I decided to try knitting. I’ve met some great friends and have a way to keep my hands busy that’s productive and artistically satisfying – and lets me fondle soft things.