Let’s talk about knitting…well, I am going to talk about knitting. You can read or if knitting isn’t your cup of tea, feel free to move on. You won’t hurt my feelings.
I did not knit this sweater, but it is one of my favorites.
I learned to knit the summer between my junior and senior years of college by a girl who was my friend Rebecca’s roommate during her junior year abroad. I took to it immediately. No scarf knitting here – I just jumped right in and knit a sweater. So, it wasn’t the best, but I felt hugely accomplished and kept at it. I then started knitting in hats in the round – I was so so at this (see Fatty’s first hat here – I think I had been knitting for about 18 months when I met him). Back to the sweaters. I even knit one for myself. I knit a Dale of Norway one for Fatty to learn fair isle and to improve my knitting in the round skills. I made Fatty a pair of socks – not fun and complete disaster. Sock knitting is not for me. Then Fatty’s friends started having babies – so baby sweaters it was. For a long time. Then we had kids – I knit them each a sweater and one blanket that didn’t get completed for Jane, so it is Kate’s. And besides a few little projects sprinkled here and there, I didn’t knit much for the few years.
I now have a yarn store that is walking distance from my house. It is also on the way to and from Kate’s school and is one block from her best friend’s house. Danger! Well, only kind of. This winter I have knit a bunch of hats – I counted 18. I know – that is a crazy number! I don’t have any good reasons for this, either, except that small projects are excellent for the carpool line and hats make good gifts. Once I was turned on to the provisional cast-on by Sarah and her flapper hat pattern, I was hooked. I didn’t stretch myself very much – I used the same yarn for most of them, with the same basic pattern using different colors. No gauge swatches necessary – a huge bonus in my mind.
Except now I am done with hats – I really don’t want to knit another one for a good long time. I can’t even make myself take the last one off the needles. And that is okay – it’s March, you know. I started the Clementine Shawlette from the Spring issue of Interweave Knits. Knitting lace is a nice change of pace, but this is going to get big pretty fast and won’t be very portable.
I still need something to do in the carpool line and reading magazines is only good for a day or two. Sarah suggested sock knitting. My immediate reaction was no. My previous experience left a lot to be desired, but that was ten years ago. Ten years. Long enough to forget why exactly I didn’t like knitting socks. I think it was the yarn. And I imagine that sock yarn has come a long way. So I am taking Sarah’s suggestion and knitting little kid-sized socks. Kate-sized socks, to be exact.
I took Kate with me to the local yarn store. She chose the yarn with the most girly colors she could find. I am not a huge fan of variegated yarns. I think they are so attractive and beautiful before they are knit up; I am just never sure if I am going to like them once I start knitting. I gave in, though. Kind of like her all pink apron, she had to have it. And in my mind, it’s not worth fighting with a five year-old girl over something as silly as sock yarn.
So far I am liking it. I did have to rip out about two inches to fix a mistake – I hate that. I thought the size 1 needles would irk me, but they haven’t. And I am pleasantly surprised by the stripes the variegated yarn is pumping out. Now if the socks fit and I can make them the same size, I think I may try a second kid-sized pair. You guessed it, a Jane-sized pair. Does anyone have a good kid-sized sock pattern they want to share?
And the shawl – I had to frog the entire thing after I saw two big mistakes. Oops. But the best thing about knitting is that you can start over without wasting anything but time. Tonight I will cast on again. Here’s to hoping I can keep to the stitch chart this time.
you know that you have MY attention Wow…..love the shawl….i have been eyeing that……as far as sock patterns for kids, I always just do an adult version and continue slipping it on their feet for size……i have been known to sneak in while they sleep to try it on!
See. I told you socks were good. Kid sized ones especially. As far as other kid sized patterns, one thing I didn’t mention in the novels I wrote to you about socks is that I often will find patterns for adult size socks in a worsted weight yarn and then knit them as written on smaller needles with a dk, sport, or fingerling weight yarn. Like Leslie, I tend to try them on the feet I’m knitting them for often to make sure I’m on the right track.
I predict you’ll be a sock knitter yet. Even when forced by your children to knit with varigated yarns in colors that clearly you didn’t choose.
Those socks are turning out really cute! I have yet to catch the knitting bug, though I have tried. I love how portable it can be.
you are ever so talented miss erin! i swear!
I remember your dislike of knitting socks, but I’m glad to see that you’re giving it another try – I’ve never done them myself. I just started my first lace pattern, and I’m loving it (I say that now – I ripped it out at least five times before I got the hang of the pattern). I’m anxious to hear how your whole experience Kate’s socks turns out – I may have to give socks a try myself if you give them a thumbs up.
Yeah, I knit my husband one sock and am now seriously thinking of just throwing in the towel. I knit a pair of Jaywalkers and liked the results, but really don’t think I’m a sock knitter. I’m not sure what I want to knit after I finish my granny square afghan. We’ll see.
I think the socks are turning out nicely, by the way.
I have yet to try knitting socks, although some of that sock yarn is so cute!
Great socks!!! The stripes and colors are fun. Good choice by the girl~~~
beautiful things! if you ever find yourself with too many hats or scarves-if you have a fairly local women’s or homeless shelter they are always happy to receive!
I found your blog by looking at Flickr knitting photos. Love the socks. I will be starting the Clementine shawlette soon in Teal (any tips)?
It is so funny how we find ourselves making multiples of the same thing (maybe different colours but similar patterns)! I just finished my 4th lapquilt & am committed to making another lapquilt, this time for my sister-in-law (specifics to be posted on my blog soon!) This means, I will have to make lapquilts for 2 sisters as well! LOL! I thought my 4th lapquilt was my last machine quilting project! LOL!