Look! I am learning to knit! That blue thing up there is a hat in progress for myself. I am very happy that I have finally figured out this secret thing called knitting, a skill previously elusive to me for many years. I have known how to crochet since I was a little girl, having been taught by my dear Auntie Irene, but alas I had never learned how to knit. After trying several times over the past few years I have at long last succeeded (at least in the basics) and am enjoying myself immensely to boot.
My previous attempts were with English style knitting, and the running conversation in my head would alternate between Look! I'm really knitting! It looks like real knitting! and Why would anyone want to do this? It's so hard! I could have crocheted five times as much my now! This is terrible! and back again to Look! I'm really knitting! ...Then someone told me about continental style knitting and how it is easier for crocheters to learn, and is faster as well. It has definitely been the ticket for me! It all feels so comfortable and natural, whereas the English made me kind of want to scream (see above). I'm not sure if continental is very unusual or not- I was sitting in a coffeeshop knitting and someone came up and said, Oh! I haven't seen anyone knit continental in years! Made me feel a bit odd, but at least I knew what she was talking about and I was actually knitting. :-) It's so satisfying to learn something new (at my age! ahem), and to learn something that I've wanted to do for so long. It's fun! It's relaxing! I like it! (okay, so I'm a little excited about it!) (pat me on the head and smile)
Oh, and the book I am reading is Towers in the Mist, set in 16th century England,by Elizabeth Goudge. It was recommended by a reader on the girls' blog after Mary Rose wrote a rousing post about her Confirmation and taking St. Edmund Campion as her patron. I do love Goudge's writing, and apparently her historical fiction more than her more modern works (this is reminding me of how much I enjoyed Gentian Hill, my first Goudge love). I have it out on interlibrary loan and hope I can finish it before it's due. (the library failed to notify me when it actually came in, and the return date is fixed and non-renewable - no fair)
I'll also show you all the hats I made for my family and presented to them on Candlemas. My first Finished Object of the knitted variety was a WWII watch cap I made for Josiah:
It's from a 1940 pattern, and just the thing for history-loving Josiah. Everyone was suitably impressed that I had actually Knit Something, and I think it suits him very well.
All the other hats are crochet, as I knew I could do that reliably and in good time. Mary Rose got a green beret in her favorite olive drab:
I used some bulky yarn for some quick-but-cute flowered hats for the little girls:
At first Eliza didn't like hers - she called it a big blueberry and threw it across the room. But then she changed her mind, and now she likes it. :-)
Jonathan got a new medieval looking slouchy:
Michael got a stripey beanie. It fits perfectly and he likes it!
I made Lydia this owl hat, and she looks so cute in it:
And finally Anna's is a felted hat with a bit of a vintage feel, topped off with a pin from the thrift shop:
I've also (finally!) just joined Ravelry as Tea Drinking Fool (I had the hardest time coming up with a user name, can you tell?). My project page is here, where you can find links to all of the hat patterns and any notes and such.
I'm joining Ginny for this week's Yarn Along - visit her to see what lots of others are knitting/crocheting and reading. Currently we are expecting another snow storm, great weather for reading and knitting. And tea drinking. :-)
