Enlightening Conversation

A couple of weeks ago, I had a chance to sit and knit with the Wednesday afternoon knitters.  The conversation is always interesting, you never know what you'll learn, and I always seem to come away with something new to think about. 

People talked about what the group had meant to them and how coming to the group had really opened their eyes and made them feel better about their knitting. 

Before attending the sit 'n knit groups, some knitters had been hard on themselves when it came to their knitting.  It's funny, but although making mistakes is common for everyone, we seem to think we aren't very good at what we do.  We harbour the illusion that everyone else probably goes from beginning to end of a project without any mistakes or 'frogging' (rippit, rippit!).  Over the years, I've gotten pretty good at fixing mistakes and tinking (unknitting) my work ...because when you make a lot of mistakes, you get a lot of practice!!!

So, I guess, the message today is that knitting is like life.  Mistakes are human.  Learning to deal with them and then "get on with it" is what is most important.  And unlike life, there are lots of do-overs in knitting ...and that's a good thing!

Watch What you Say

You have probably noticed that I like to add quotes to our monthly newsletter.  This month, there was, "Will knit for chocolate, beer, wine, coffee,  ...or whatever," and "Will trade husband's tools, ...or husband, ...for yarn, needles, or whatever." 

The other day, Sue took a phone call from a new customer who asked about one of our programs.  She had received her first LRM newsletter and was interested in trading in her husband's tools because he was older and really didn't use them anymore.  What did she need to do to make this trade?  Sue wanted to giggle, but listened, realized that the woman was serious and explained that this was just a silly saying from a button. 

Happily, she really didn't want to give up her husband. 

His Majesty

This week, spinning night had a special guest.  Janice brought along King Henry VIII, her "50-hour" project for the OHS spinning program. 

He was jauntily attired with a duck feather and beads edging his cap, and gold metallic yarn, all so necessary for royalty, such as himself.

This regal fellow was hand spun and hand knit but demanded much more than the required 50 hours to complete: Janice spent more than 90 hours working on his lordship.

His well-padded body required several layers of undergarments, including this charming "cod-piece," a definite "stand-out" feature!

We were all charmed by his masculinity :)

Well done, Janice!

Knitter's Fair 2011

Here's our Little Red Mitten booth at the K-W Knitter's Fair ...before the crowds arrived!

What a fun event!  So many knitters - young and old, female and male - we are a lively, friendly, varied and creative bunch.  I feel so lucky to be part of this great community of knitters.  This is exactly what I wanted to do when I grew up ...but didn't know it back then :)  

I had a chance to walk around the event before the day ended and saw lots to inspire me. 

I think that is what I love about knitting: there are so many variables. 

You can get totally different results just by changing the yarn ...or the needles ...or the edging, or the shaping ...and the list goes on.

And we live in a time where the choices are virtually endless.  We have multiple fibres and breeds and weights to choose from.  It really wasn't that long ago that knitters spun their own yarn, all from the same breed of sheep, often the same weight yarn and with a limited choice of colours.

Yesterday was a feast.

Today, I will try to digest what inspired me.