My name is Rachel and I am a sock knitter.
Though it's amazing to me that I know how to knit at all.
Reading through some blogs, watching podcasts and perusing thru the Ravelry forums, it seems like my knitting story is similar to so many others. I've noticed that many people mention that they were first taught how to knit as a child by an older family member, but it didn't seem to stick and they abandoned it until college or a bit later. My first knitting memory is of five year old me sitting in my grandmother's wooden rocking chair, playing with her knitting needles. I recall my grandmother patiently trying to teach me a knit stitch over and over again, but I didn't seem to get it. Instead, I remember wrapping the blue yarn over the needle until it was wound around the thing like string on a yo-yo. If you've ever seen the funny Youtube video, Knitting 101 - YouTube, you can easily picture what my first knitting experience looked like.
My second attempt at trying to learn how to knit came years later, when I was a student in grad school. For some reason, I picked up once of those "Teach Yourself Knitting" kits at Wal-Mart, and thought I could easily conquer it. Sad to say, that experience didn't go over very well either. My mother-in-law was staying with us at that time, and she also tried to help. After that experience, I think she is more surprised than I at what I am now able to do.
Four years ago, I decided to give knitting one final try. I can be a very stubborn person, and I think I didn't want to believe that there was something out there I couldn't do if I really put my mind to it. That day, it clicked. Thanks to YouTube, perseverance, and a really big skein of Red Heart acrylic, I was finally able to wrap my head (and fingers) around something that had eluded me for so long. Today, I am a full-fledged sock knitter with a pretty decent stash of yarn, and a newbie to drop-spindle spinning.
Sadly, my grandmother passed away before I was able to take up the craft. I'd like to think that she can see me and is proud that someone is carrying on the knitting tradition in the family. Though she's been gone for a few years, I think of her every time I pick up my needles.
If you are a knitter, what is your knitting story? I would love to hear it.
Until next time....
Though it's amazing to me that I know how to knit at all.
Reading through some blogs, watching podcasts and perusing thru the Ravelry forums, it seems like my knitting story is similar to so many others. I've noticed that many people mention that they were first taught how to knit as a child by an older family member, but it didn't seem to stick and they abandoned it until college or a bit later. My first knitting memory is of five year old me sitting in my grandmother's wooden rocking chair, playing with her knitting needles. I recall my grandmother patiently trying to teach me a knit stitch over and over again, but I didn't seem to get it. Instead, I remember wrapping the blue yarn over the needle until it was wound around the thing like string on a yo-yo. If you've ever seen the funny Youtube video, Knitting 101 - YouTube, you can easily picture what my first knitting experience looked like.
My second attempt at trying to learn how to knit came years later, when I was a student in grad school. For some reason, I picked up once of those "Teach Yourself Knitting" kits at Wal-Mart, and thought I could easily conquer it. Sad to say, that experience didn't go over very well either. My mother-in-law was staying with us at that time, and she also tried to help. After that experience, I think she is more surprised than I at what I am now able to do.
Four years ago, I decided to give knitting one final try. I can be a very stubborn person, and I think I didn't want to believe that there was something out there I couldn't do if I really put my mind to it. That day, it clicked. Thanks to YouTube, perseverance, and a really big skein of Red Heart acrylic, I was finally able to wrap my head (and fingers) around something that had eluded me for so long. Today, I am a full-fledged sock knitter with a pretty decent stash of yarn, and a newbie to drop-spindle spinning.
Sadly, my grandmother passed away before I was able to take up the craft. I'd like to think that she can see me and is proud that someone is carrying on the knitting tradition in the family. Though she's been gone for a few years, I think of her every time I pick up my needles.
If you are a knitter, what is your knitting story? I would love to hear it.
Until next time....
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