Saturday, October 24, 2009

and so it began

Little did I know in early April of this year when I planned to learn how to knit with a few friends that I would be entering into a devoted relationship with the craft. I came away from that night armed with the knowledge of how to cast on, how to make a knit stitch, and a mild addiction for the satisfying feeling of accomplishment that follows when one knits. It's awesome, you can sit down with basically two sticks and some string and create something that did not exist before, a quantifiable thing to show for the time you have just passed. It's fun, challenging at times but most often an enjoyable way to relax.

The biggest help that I had while learning how to knit was the internet. I have knitting help websites and how-to videos on youtube to thank for turning me into the barely tolerable knitter I am today. Therefore in an effort to help continue the learn-to-knit-through-the-internet circle of life, I have started this blog. I will share with you the things I have learned and continue to learn as I knit along as well as my ideas, knitting woes and projects that I am working on or want to be working on.

Lastly I have often found that friendships are strengthened and created through the sharing of somewhat embarassing stories or ideas. Therefore to help any one who may be reading this become a closer knitting friend to me I will share this tiny confession...

Among other reasons, one of the things that compelled me to want to learn how to knit was the idea that I would be one step closer to being an "accomplished woman"as so many of the women in my favourite books. Ok, I know there are few mentions of actual knitting in Jane Austens books, in fact to be considered accomplished as Caroline Bingley thought "a woman must have a thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages, to deserve the word; and besides all this, she must possess a certain something in her air and manner of walking, the tone of her voice, her address and expressions, or the word will be but half deserved." but still a teenie tiny part of me thought that by learning to knit I would have one more thing to add to my resume if ever called upon to account for my skills and talents if one were determining if I was an accomplished woman or not. Also I sometimes wish I had a pride and prejudice era dress I could wear while I am knitting.

Are you scared? excited? a little nervous? Have no fear, it's going to be FUN! Grab some needles, a ball of yarn and come along and knit with me!