A New Community

I have commented previously on how knitting or the fiber arts in general have the power to bring people of varied backgrounds together. The act of knitting or crocheting is common ground that helps people connect - and then, as conversation starts and ideas are exchanged, we begin to realize all of the other ways we are more similar than different.

Such was the case for me over the past couple of weeks, having met some wonderful people at one of my LYS, Sip & Knit, in Maitland, FL. Taking a Christmas Stocking class, I was introduced to Barbara, Karen and Chris - and what I love is that we are of different backgrounds, different life experiences, and yet we can talk about music of the 80s, classic films (we had an extended dialogue about "Imitation of Life" and acknowledged the campiness of "The Valley of the Dolls"). We talked about theater and we talked about BBC America and how Karen hearts "Cranford" and I just bought the DVDs. Barbara talked about the rock bands she got to know in her NYC club days. Chris lamented on family frustrations, but also laughed along with the rest of us.

The class was scheduled from 12-2 p.m. I got there early, just to settle in and catch up with everyone. We started knitting and we started talking and suddenly it's four o'clock and we all acknowledge the other responsibilities of life that will require us to leave the sanctuary of this yarn shop, the sacred work table, and the comfort of gentle people who understand and appreciate and - yes, even encourage! - our passion for yarn and for creating beautiful things.

This is the power of knitting - had I not learned to knit, and had I not ventured out to my local LYS, I may never have met these wonderful people who, very different in their own right, have made me feel like part of the family.

The Nostalgia of Knitting

I've been thinking this week, in the moments I am knitting at home, that there is a nostalgic appeal to the craft.

Growing up, I would spend time during the summer with my grandparents. Originally from Missouri, my grandfather played the guitar and we would often go to farm houses of their friends or Grange Halls in Central California to listen to live country/bluegrass music. There we would find people playing guitars, fiddles, piano, etc. My grandmother was a master crocheter back then - and although I was only doing very long chains, and I am a Knitter now, I still equate yarn arts and bluegrass with those summers spent with my grandparents. I remember sitting in my chair back then, listening to their old country albums on a record player, while Grandma crocheted, and Grandpa napped. They are fond memories.

Today, my most calming, comforting moments where I feel most in my "sanctuary," I create when I'm in my chair knitting, and listening to SIRIUS Bluegrass Junction on satellite radio. The whole experience together connects me with those days that have passed, while at the same time creating new memories in this moment.

Perhaps one of the reasons why I knit is to stay connected to my family and my history. And I'm always interested in hearing why other people knit or crochet, too.

The things people say

As I speak more openly about my knitting exploits, and as I get a bit farther along in my journey as a Knitter, I have become more aware of what people say about those of us pursuing the fiber arts.

At two separate dinners with different sets of friends, when I told tales of the community I have found amongst knitters at the Knit Night I attend, or the sense of accomplishment I have at the conclusion of a sock knitting lesson, I have received similar responses: "Why?" "How much does it cost?" "Have you factored in the time you spend?"

After I fail to provide them with a convincing response to their inquiries, they simply nod, shrug their shoulders, and, in no certain terms, file me away on their list of loonies.

Last night, I was waiting at a bar to pay my tab when I tuned in to a conversation between two people standing next to me. The conversation, at the point I tuned in, went something like:

A: Well, you should take up knitting.

B: Are you serious? I'm not freakin' old yet. Knitting's for old biddies.

Now, part of me thought of this as an opportunity to interject, to be the spirited messenger of the Kingdom of Knits, to tell her she's missing out on so much by ignoring the Call of the Fiber Arts.

But, part of me didn't want to get involved - they didn't seem like fence-sitters who could have been swayed, and with two blackberry cosmos under my belt, I was not in the right frame of mind to counter their illogical thoughts on knitting.

This all has simply served as a reminder to me that there are still many opportunities for us to speak up, when appropriate, and encourage people. The only way stereotypes about us knitterly folk will change is to speak out and to share our activities and our projects with others.

Some will maintain their limited view, and that's fine. But there will be those beautiful moments when you speak up, as I regretfully did not last night, and say, "That's funny, because I knit - and in fact, people of all genders, races and ages enjoy knitting."

I promise to speak up next time, my friends, and I hope you will, too.

Knitting transcends our differences

I sat at the table with 8 women and, being more of an introvert, I did a lot more listening than lobbing in with my own view on things. What I learned, as I sat there, was that knitting really has the power to bring people together.

To look around that table there was a mix of genders, races, interests and life experiences, perspectives and politics - and yet, despite those differences, everyone was still sitting at that table, talking about different stitches, helping each other to wind yarn or measure the length of a project (while keeping the adorable and persistent shop dog from getting tangled in yarn). I, myself, have benefited from the helpful nature of those gathered, and it makes me think of the greater possibilities.

If we were able to get more people knitting, and then gather initially because of our love of knitting, we may also have the opportunity to get to know others in a way that we may never otherwise. They may differ in politics from the person sitting next to them, yet they both may be working in double moss stitch. One may live on the opposite side of town, and still we trade stories of shopping in LYSs in the cities to which we've traveled.

I think just as knitters have a responsibility to keep knitting, to hone their craft, and to share their hand knit treasures with others - I also believe knitters have a responsibility to teach others to knit, so they, too, may enjoy the beauty of community that comes along with the craft of knitting.

Resolving the mystery of socks

I am currently working on my first pair of socks - and they are surprisingly much simpler than I had expected. But I didn't get to this point of awareness by simply reading a sock pattern.

In fact, I bought a book on sock knitting, and watched videos about sock knitting online - and still, it all seemed a bit strange. I also struggled because I was seeing socks being knit with double-point needles (DPNs) and also with circular needles. I also, being young in my knitting journey, was not yet familiar with knitting with circular needles in general.

Above all of these challenges, however, I knew deep in my heart that I wanted to knit socks. I reminded myself that if they were truly THAT difficult, so many thousands of others would not be knitting them today.

So, I ended up taking some sock knitting lessons at a local LYS - The Black Sheep - with a wonderful instructor named Julie. She gave me step by step instructions written like a human is speaking (versus a seasoned knitter using jargon-laden paragraphs often found in books), and I am now in the process of going through the construction of my first pair of socks.

Using Opal's Harry Potter-branded sock yarn in "Dumbledore," I made a 2x2 ribbing, then simple stockinette stitch for the leg - I've created the heel and am picking up stitches now. My next lesson in July 11 to continue, so in the meantime, I've started my 2nd sock (using a 2nd ball of and 2nd set of needles) just so that I can get a head start on the second sock.

There are very clear sections of a sock and, from what I am gathering, despite the patterns and stitches used, they are constructed in a very similar fashion from sock to sock.

Living in Florida, I don't have the luxury of wearing scarves and other winter wear for too long of a time in a given year - but to be able to wear socks that I hand knit would be nice. I love their compact size (versus toting a blanket-in-progress around) and I like that they are fairly short projects, not taking more than couple of weeks (if you know what you are doing and are able to make time to devote to the project).

I'll post photos of my first completed pair as soon as they are done - and I've already ordered handmade sock blockers online so they'll be here when I'm ready to block my first finished pair of hand knitted socks.

What do you love most about sock knitting?

Construction Alert

It's interesting to see that when we learn something new, our awareness broadens and our focus goes where it didn't go before. Lately, as I've become more aware of knits, knitted apparel, and things made of yarn, I am looking more closely at what people are wearing.

Now, this must be done delicately. My gaze could zoom in to inappropriate locations or veer at inopportune times - taking away from the conversation in progress and creating a rather awkward exchange.

FO construction is interesting because it makes me realize what can happen when different shaped pieces and parts come together to create something more grandiose, something beautiful. A front sweater panel by itself is uneventful and would make a good placemat at best. But bring it together with another front, a back, a couple of sleeves - and you've got a beautiful, useful piece of clothing!

A small square swatch of knitted fabric is either helpful in determining gauge or as a coaster under a drippy beverage. But, if you piece together 40 or 50 of those swatches, it becomes a dramatic blanket, a family heirloom.

Today, I will pay more careful attention to how things are constructed, stitches that are used, yarn that is employed and the role that yarn and its dyed colors plays in the overall look of a finished object.

And, I'll try not to let my attention veer too much due to a fibrous distraction or a cacophony of knitted color.

A Knitting Revolution!

I think it's time for a revolution - yes, a knitting revolution!

Now, granted, I am fairly new to the knitting community - but I am also finding that I can't have a conversation with someone without mentioning it. In the last two days I've made three offers to teach people how to knit. Some look at me like I'm crazy. Some think it's not something they can learn how to do. I reassure them that I am a self-taught yarn-hound, and if I can teach myself, surely they can learn as well.

I mention some of the benefits of people learning how to knit in the welcome paragraph of this blog - and I really believe that knitting makes the world a better place for many - and could do even more.

Knitting is good for the ones who knit - it helps us relax, it gives us creative outlets, it creates a reason for us to gather with our knitting tribes and talk about patterns and yarn and last night's reality show.

Knitting is good for those for whom we knit - they get really cool, beautiful things made out of a wide array of incredible fibers. It also builds their patience with us - as they as understand and give us space to pursue our knit-mania.

I think knitting has a lot of potential as well. I was at a Knit Night this past Tuesday and looked around and saw such a wonderful mix of diversity. There was a mix of genders (well, six women and me), races, ages, and there appeared to be a variety of opinions and perspectives represented in the group as well. But when the many differences that under other circumstances would have separated people were put aside, everyone has a passion and sincere love for knitting and all that entails (yarn, notions, patterns, books, gatherings, ravelry.com, etc.).

I think I've found my platform - I want to teach the world to knit. Imagine what we could accomplish! We could be better acquainted with our neighbors. We would have bigger collections of delicious cookie recipes. We can break through assumptions we make about others because we start out on common ground. If we spend our time knitting, we have less time to argue, to hurt others, to build bombs.

I want to teach the world to knit. I want to start a Knitting Revolution! Please join me.