Knitting Season
Every few years I get an overwhelming urge to knit, I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a knitter but I have tackled the odd knitting project. Indeed, one still sits waiting to be finished; it’s all cable and tricky stuff, beautiful Aran wool (bought in Ireland).
Even though the back and sleeves are finished, I can’t bring myself to pick it up because I am scared there is not enough wool to finish the front! Pfft, what’s the rush? It will be genuine vintage by the time it’s done!
A more recent project took several years to complete. For the life of me I cannot figure out HOW I missed the word JACKET in the pattern book, and for the duration thought I was knitting a cardigan.
It looks funny when I put it on… because it’s not a cardigan. It’s a jacket.
Ahh but this year. This year I knit. And, if I’m knitting… first, I must stop biting my nails, which I’ve wanted to do for ages. Bonus, I get something new to wear (or gift to some poor, unsuspecting soul).
My Seven Phases of Knitting:
- Phase #1: MINDSET; stop biting nails.
- Phase #2: RESEARCH; peruse lovely knitted things, discover lots of crafty websites for a staggering amount of inspirational items, and free patterns.
Note: Phase #2 can take awhile, which helps enormously with Phase #1. I also remember I have 8 large balls of wool, bought in a sale and tucked into a cupboard. So back to Phase #2: what can I make with the wool on hand?
- Phase #3: DECISION; I will use re-located wool, and make a wrap. You know, to sort of fling around my shoulders slow motion, glamorous fashion.
- Phase #4: MATERIALS; purchase new needles.
- Phase #5: BEGIN; this is it, here we go. I can never wait to see the first few inches, so knit like a woman possessed; fingers aching, eyes stinging… why am I doing this? Stop and check dimensions… arrgghh. Discover if I keep going I will have a square, not a wrap.
- Phase #6: FRUSTRATION; the only way forward is to unravel it. It happens. Back to Phase #5 BEGIN. Wool is piled up around me on the couch, like a puppy. How can I not love it? Undeterred I start again. It’s looking like a scarf now, not sure I need another… but I can’t stop now.
- Phase #7: DONE; celebrate. This phase is still quite away off.
Feeling confident now that I’ve pushed through some challenges. You may observe that I am writing a blog, not knitting. But that’s how it goes, and knitting season has only just begun.
I wonder what the other Aunties are knitting this year?
Aunty Beads xxx
I am knitting a scarf which was begun about three years ago after the success of my first piece. I knitted Uncle Mick a footy scarf. I recall finding the pattern, getting needles, and casting on, and I was away.
Well Aunty Darling popped around and saw me knitting, admittedly a bit unusual. She asked what I was knitting, when I replied a scarf she broke into hysterics.
“No you’re not” she said, “you’re knitting a blanket.”
Out it came and she cast on for me. Im just waiting for her to cast me on again and i can get started – again!
If memory serves me correctly, Aunty Darling is a great one for undoing and re-doing her knitting…Lord knows why, I prefer to carry on regardless!
Oh dear ! you’ve brought back so many memories aunty beads. I used to knit before I took up drinking and dancing and can boast about some beautiful jumpers that I knitted for a long lost uncle of the family. Now picture this, pre children I found the most beautiful pattern and yes it was an Aran jumper for a young boy. So off I go to purchase some of the most expensive white wool you’ve ever seen. I’m not going to go on about this, but I started the jumper for my first born – Zach and ‘needless’ to say I’ve only got 1 sleeve to go and my son turns 29 this year. Oops, where did that time go !
Hahahaha….check the blog on ‘knit that’ TWO years ago…..ok, well I haven’t been back to my treasure trove either! What I really really wanted to do was get some poppies knitted for ANZAC Day and I wanted the Aunties to contribute. A small, poignant project that you give to others. I shall wind you all up for next year! Pattern and instructions coming…
Really love the jacket. Just wear it as whatever…. just wear it. It is cold enough!
The jacket is gorgeous as is the red Aran sweater; do continue with it even if you have to unpick one sleeve to finish the front. You could start a fashion trend of one-sleeved sweaters, à la Edith Piaf. This may be an urban myth though; she is said to have run out of time, wool, money, (all of the above?), whilst knitting a black dress to wear for a forthcoming performance). I’ll bet it’s a case of “any questions asked whilst counting stitches will be answered by louder counting”.