All the Knitted Things | a year of learning, mistakes and epiphanies
About a year ago, on a dark and wet autumn afternoon not dissimilar to today's, I decided to start knitting. I had "learned" at school as a child, but all I remember of the experience are the sweaty hands and the angry tears. Even then, crochet and sewing were much more my thing.
And so it might have stayed, if I hadn't turned crocheting things into a job. Though I still adore crochet, I can't relax with it anymore. I feel guilty if I take time to make something that I won't release as a pattern. I also do get fed up with it when I've done nothing but pore over the maths behind it for an entire day. I needed something else to unwind with (I get too angry with the sewing machine for it be sewing).
So I got a few supplies, took to YouTube (I like Very Pink's videos because they're short and clear), and started knitting. Four hours later I was surprised to find myself with a cracking headache and a sore neck - who knew you could grip a couple of sticks that hard? I didn't have much of a Knitted Thing to show for those four hours either, until a kind soul on my facebook page suggested I try circular needles. What a revelation! It turns out that my hands, used to short crochet hooks as they are, were much happier with those than with ordinary straight needles. I was off.
I haven't really stopped since. I love it for so many reasons. It (eventually) became relaxing, I can make a wider range of wearables for my family. I have another excuse to buy yarn. It's done wonders for my otherwise insatiable drive for perfection - when there are no deadlines looming, no reputation at stake, I can just let little mistakes go.
And boy, have I made mistakes. I've really struggled with tension, I've unsuccessfully tried to combine yarns of different weights, I've failed to grasp the importance of a stretchy cast-on or a nice, tight rib, I've I've I've... and that's before we even talk about the dropped stitches or the wobbly edges "fixed" with a sneaky crochet slip stitch. There is nothing quite like learning an entirely new skill as adult to cure you of perfectionism, really.
Also, I have learned so much about pattern writing and garment construction, which has in turn benefited my crochet design skills hugely. The simple truth is that the crochet garment pattern industry is really behind knitting, both in terms of quality and diversity. There are clear signs that things are changing though, and I like being able to contribute to that trend confidently.
Above all though, knitting has just been fun. I thought it would be nice to show you some of the things I've made (three have flown the nest, so I couldn't photograph them. Note to self: photograph before gifting), and share the patterns and yarns for each. So here it is, my year in Knitted Things.
The Statement Scarf
Pattern: Mollie Makes issue 61
Yarn: Alpaca Tweed and Big Merino by Lanar Emporio
Skills Learned: increases and decreases, how to make really pommy pompoms (the answer: buy a pompom maker)
Thoughts: Great beginner pattern, don't try to mix yarn weights, oh how this is soft and warm!
Rye Socks
Pattern: Tin Can Knits, The Simple Collection
Yarn: Vinnis Colours Bimbi (discontinued)
Skills Learned: how to sock! This patterns comes with a great step-by-step blog post.
Thoughts: Really good collection of beginner patterns, DPNs are not that scary, whoever invented the Kitchener stitch must have been on crack at the time.
Another Plain Vest
Pattern: Pickles
Yarn: Vinnis Colours Bimbi (discontinued)
Skills Learned: armhole shaping, stockinette stitch practice
Thoughts: Need to work on getting an even tension!
Milo
Pattern: Georgie Nicholson at tiKKI
Yarn: Vinnis Colours Bimbi (discontinued)
Skills learned: top-down seamless construction
Thoughts: Interesting construction and fun to make. Comes up a little boxy for my skinny child so next time I need to go down a size but make it longer.
Clayoquot Toque
Pattern: Tin Can Knits, Road Trip
Yarn: Vinnis Colours Bimbi (discontinued)
Skills learned: fairisle
Thoughts: Oh my god I can do fairisle! Just. Need to work on getting a tighter rib, too.
London Skies
Pattern: Clare Devine, The Travel Trio
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock
Skills learned: twisted rib
Thoughts: Actually, I love knitting socks (but the next pair will be in a kid's size because these took aaaaages)
Next up are many, many more socks to see us through the winter, and then hopefully I'll find time to make a stack of soft baby knits before the arrival of our Bug in the spring. If you want to have a look at what I've got my eye on, check out my knitwear pinterest board. I think I'd need a few lifetime to do all the cardigans, but still - Such fun!
