Other things knitting has taught me...

I recently wrote a very serious post about all the great things knitting has taught me. Having thought about it some more, I realized there are other things I've learned from knitting, in a little lighter vein...

1. There are a LOT of experts out there. And they all know that you are crocheting all wrong. (Even if you're knitting)

2. Everyone had a grandma who knit. What's really great is if someone old enough to be your own grandparent tells you that they had a grandmother who knit. Not only are you now OLD, you are ANCIENT. Gosh, thanks.

3. Sometimes it's better to just smile and nod. (see points 1 and 2) You won't really change their view of knitters by biting their heads off, though muttering about them under your breath later can be quite therapeutic.

4. Seemingly normal animals who completely ignore your knitting to your face will sneak into your yarn basket and ingest copious lengths of expensive yarns when you are not looking. The clean up from this is never pretty, and in fact can make you no longer love that yarn. (Now you'll be checking my yarn giveaways for wet spots and teeth marks...)

5. Growth doesn't always happen. No matter how long you've been knitting, you will make rookie mistakes on a regular basis--more often if you are in the middle of teaching a class. So if you're a new knitter and you just had to tink back 3 rows because you were knitting with the tail rather than the working yarn, accept that you may never really outgrow this. Sorry.

6. Diverting your focus is good for interpersonal relationships.  I try to take knitting everywhere, and sometimes it's a bit of a lifesaver. During sporting events where my kids are competing against children whose parents are convinced they've given birth to the all-time star of the sport, it's vital to have something to focus on other than their nasty comments.  The same goes for committee meetings filled with folks needing an attitude adjustment. Just KNIT, however--don't stab. See below.

7. It's best NOT to stab people with your knitting needles. This is true for several reasons: a) They aren't cheap and if you get them...dirty......you'll want to replace them; b) If you stab someone with knitting needles, you face the prospect of jail time without knitting, since you've proven you can't be trusted with sharp pointy things; c) You could drop stitches!

8. You're never as prepared as you think you are. This is why there are all those tips out there on how to make knitting needles out of a No. 2 pencil. No matter how hard you try to plan ahead and cover all your bases, there will be innumerable times that you sit down to knit and only find you're missing your scissors AFTER the dog has gotten comfortable in your lap. Also, vacations WILL be spent looking for yarn shops to buy more yarn/needles/patterns because what you thought would work while traveling, didn't.

9. "Knitting is addictive" isn't as cute as it sounds. You may say it with a chuckle, but deep down, you know the truth: until you get your knitting time every day, you are twitchy and uncomfortable. Your yarn stash is out of control (though hidden, because you'd rather your family didn't know the extent of your addiction). If the time you spent browsing patterns on Ravelry were spent reading literature, you'd be a tenured professor embarking on a lucrative lecture tour about Victorian symbolism in Dickens' early novels.

10. There is no known cure. I've heard rumors of a 12-step program for knitting addiction but I am quite sure it won't work, because no addicted knitter will ever recognize that he or she has a problem.  And since I don't personally have a problem with knitting addiction, there's no point in even talking about it.

What has knitting taught you that you didn't expect to learn?

Big 10 Knit-a-Long: Free pattern(s) for March

Last month there were THREE patterns for the Big 10 Charity Knit-a-Long. I don't know if that is really impressive or just crazy. Either way, this month, there is only one, but I absolutely love this one. It's easy to memorize and is packed with the instant gratification of looking right sharp from the get-go. (Yes, I watch British television programs whilst knitting. Why do you ask?)

The Lines Block

You'll need: US Size 7 needles or size needed to achieve gauge of 5 sts = 1 inch; Worsted weight acrylic yarn. Finished size should be 7” x 9”.

Cast on 30 stitches.
Knit 4 rows for border, then begin pattern.
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: k4, p22, k4
Row 3: Knit
Row 4: k4, p22, k4
Row 5: Knit
Row 6: Knit
Repeat these 6 rows until block measures 8 inches, then knit rows 1-5 again. Finish with 3 knit rows for border. Bind off stitches and weave in ends.

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I know I JUST said there would be only one block this month. The temptation to see how this block would look if I added some vertical lines of reverse stockinette was just too great, however. This variation did not turn out like I envisioned, but it does look more interesting on the both sides than the Lines block does, so I have included pics of both sides of it.

The Lines Block Variation

You'll need: US Size 7 needles or size needed to achieve gauge of 5 sts = 1 inch; Worsted weight acrylic yarn.
Finished size should be 7” x 9”.

Cast on 31 stitches.
Knit 4 rows for border, then begin pattern.
Rows 1, 3, 5: k7, p1, k7, p1, k7, p1, k7
Rows 2, 4: k4, p3, k1, p7, k1, p7, k1, p3, k4
Row 6: Knit
Rows 7, 9, 11: k11, p1, k7, p1, k11
Rows 8, 10: k4, p7, k1, p7, k1, p7, k4
Row 12: Knit
Repeat these 12 rows until block measures 8 inches, then knit rows 1-5 again. Finish with 3 knit rows for border. Bind off stitches and weave in ends.

There you have it (them): a pattern (and a half, ha!) for March. Just now joining us? Check out why we're knitting these afghan blocks and join in the fun--Big 10 Charity Knit-a-Long.

New Sock Pattern and a Sale!

I am so excited to announce that I have a brand new sock pattern! And because I'm so excited, from now through March 31, it's on SALE.  Get my Diamond Ring(let) Sock pattern from Ravelry for 50% off the regular price.

If you have a subscription to KnitCrate, it may look familiar because it was in the February sock crate! Here are reviews from some awesome KnitCrate knitters:

“The Diamond Ring(let) sock pattern is probably my favorite KnitCrate sock pattern thus far. Tiffany D.

I think this sock pattern might be the best yet. Shelley

Diamond Ring(let) is far and away the best sock pattern included since I first subscribed in January of 2014. Brava, Tamara Goff!
Erin”

The ringlet stitch is used to make larger diamonds on the front and smaller diamonds along the sides and is easy to master. Knit in the round on double-pointed needles, these socks are worked from the cuff to the toe.

Bootleggers, rum runners and knitters

So I'm reading this book about "Jazz Age" Manhattan and since it's such a big interesting book, I'm sort of immersing myself in the time period. In pondering the ins and outs of what we remember about the 1920's, I'm seeing a lot about Prohibition, night clubs, jazz, urban construction, disreputable leadership and a hero who flew a long ways all alone.

Thus far I have encountered no mention of knitting. Not one. Why then, do I even bring it up? It's not that there were no knitters in the Roaring Twenties, it's just that, sandwiched between the First World War and the Great Depression, both times of increased knitting activity, knitting just wasn't as big during the Jazz Age. Being a student of history, I understand that things ebb and flow in popularity.

This all makes me wonder...in 90 years when historians look back on our time, will there be NO mention of knitting? Will it be such a small part of life in the first part of the new century that it will be forgotten? Or will it go on record as having had a resurgence in popularity that endured despite the ups and downs of the economy and the ubiquitous nature of technology and the "plugged in" generation?

Will Knit in Public events and charity knit-a-longs and enormous knitting conventions make a blip in the history books? Will we be remembered as the generation that brought back the art of making things by hand?

While it is impossible to know the answers to these questions for several generations, what IS possible is for us to do all we can to make sure that knitting does get that mention. It really is up to you and me to make history--this year and next year and for as long as we have the opportunity to make a difference of any type. It's up to us to knit for charity, to learn all we can about knitting, to spread that knitting know-how far and wide and to leave a lasting impact on future generations. When my great-great-grandchild writes the history of the southern United States, 2000-2030, I want it to be written, to be remembered, that we were knitters in our time. I want it to be written that we changed the world for the better, just by picking up sticks and string.

We can do it! Who's with me?