As a child in Germany, I was taught in school to knit, crochet, embroider, hand-sew and, I'm sure,much more. However, I never laid eyes on any pattern, I never learned to decipher any, so I have been on a warpath with all of them. American patterns, German patterns, French, Spanish, Russian, it's a major international conspiracy! Although I have been able to figure out a simple project with a hands-on technique, as you can see above, (Knitting for Super Dummies), and a slightly more difficult one, (the beginning was entirely unnatural and counter intuitive), I decided yesterday I was not going to be confined by instructions of any kind. And I don't care which language tries to seduce me into a pattern I simply cannot wrap my yarn around. ( Pun intended.)
So I decided to revolutionize my limited knitting world by designing my own pattern for an afghan. Using an idea and very cheap yarn, I cast on 140 stitches.
I knitted the first row, then proceeded with 2k, 2p the first two rows. I then reversed the order to 2p, 2k for the next two rows. As my excitement grew and my heart beat faster, I closed my eyes and gave my hands free reign....
And, a little later, I found this in my lap :
But in my meditative knitting state I must have also created this:
Oh my gosh, it looks like a.....PATTERN! Well, I certainly won't be able to read it.
13 comments:
I am in awe. Thank you for sharing this with "us." Your beauty, vision, openness, and peace are reflected in your patterns, your knitting. You inspire me, oh so much. My dream of learning to knit has been realized. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You are such a blessing - a true miracle, and gift in my life, and on this earth.
Thank you, curiousone143. Our knitting journey has just begun.
Hi Zitrone, i too am confused and confounded by patterns. But little by little it is starting to make sense, like a different language...I think it is fantastic that you learned all those valuable skills in school. They taught us none of that in my school. Just things i grew up not needing or using. Math! Bah Humbug!
Jutta, you're off to a great start, and I can't wait to see the finished afghan. So pretty.
I learned to knit as a child, too -taught by my mother and grandmother. Their method of wrapping the yarn is a bit different from the usual technique, and we never used patterns, either, of course. Now when I try to follow a pattern, some of the fancier stitches are sometimes troublesome to execute. Usually this wierd little method works just fine, though.
Have you been to ravelry.com? THAT will really get you hooked...er, needled... er, whatever!
Lee
Hey, I recognize those projects! Your new one is beautiful. I love the color. Of course, the whole "2K, 2P, cast on" lingo has me completely stymied, but the result is gorgeous!
How come you know how to do all these cool things and I don't? :-)
You impress and inspire me! I do not know how to knit or crochet, although I have tried to teach myself a few times from books. I really wish our schools taught us useful life skills like that.
Even without knowing how to knit, I am a fan of
Knit Witch's Blog
Check it out. You might enjoy reading her stuff.
How talented you are. A simple scarf project I can handle it's the sock project that keeps me confused!
Gorgeous colors, wonderful photos.
Hey, I got to see that lovely knitting project just today. I think it is going to turn out wonderful. And It was very interesting to learn about the different kinds of knitting....I really had no idea. Thanks for sharing that with me.
Thanks, Mare, for sharing your experience with confounding patterns. And you are right - little by little! But that never helped me with (ugh!) math...
cityfarmer, I will post a photo of the finished afghan, whenever/whatever that will be. It's going with me on a trip to the Baltic for some far north- eastern inspiration.
And farmgirl_dk, you never sat still long enough for me to teach you. Your heart was always with some critters.....
Farmer Jen, I could never teach myself from books or patterns. I had to be taught 'hands on'. However, a little video on the web taught me how to make a simple hat. I guess the movement in the step by step process was what did it.
Dog Trot Farm, forget socks! They are way too difficult and scratchy to boot. You can make the most astonishing scarves, though, with different yarn and beautiful colors. Keep doin' it!
altadenahiker, thanks for the compliment. Gives this blogging beginner courage.
frugalmom: It would be really easy to teach you to knit or crochet since you are such a good listener. Anytime you want to, I might even entice you with a turkey sandwich on white.....
AND FINALLY, I have to admit that I knit the continental way. You know, the easy, non arthritis producing way - effortless! Really.
Thank you for visiting and following my blog. I wish I could knit, I have tried so many times to learn with books but no luck (yet).
After reading your profile I felt like we have much in common. The "second half of my life" has started recently and I'm still trying to find my way at times. (It was hard for me to let go of the first half even though it had already let go of me). I am going to enjoy following your blog.
That looks really pretty! I kinda sorta know how to knit, but patterns baffle me and I can never seem to get the sizing right. That frustrates me so I put my knitting down for another year or two before deciding that it shouldn't be that difficult and pick it up to begin the cycle again.
Thanks for stopping by my place and leaving such a lovely note on my doorstep!
Carolynn
Leslie,
I just came across your name again. You wrote to me about knitting way back in June of 2009. How is your 'second half of life' going? I'd love to hear from you.
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