Learning New Things

Summer 2014 will be remembered as, among other things, the Summer I Learned How To Knit.

This has been on my "do this one day" list for a long time.  My grandmother was a master knitter and crocheter, and I've been kicking myself in the head for the last 40 years or so that I never learned either of those skills from her. In retrospect, violin playing/practicing/performing kept me pretty busy from a very young age, and there are only so many hours in a day.  So perhaps that's a valid excuse for waiting so long. Or perhaps I needed this particular activity at this rather remarkable time in my life (I'm living alone for the first time ever, see this post to catch up).

At any rate, the local Joann's offered a Knitting 101 class that got me off and rolling.

There was an instructor from the store plus a kit of needles, yarn and a booklet of basic instructions.

It wasn't a specific project class, just a technique class.

Cast on, knit, purl, bind off.  Repeat until you remember how to do it.

I've since made this ribbed scarf.

I think the yarn is really pretty but being a wool and angora blend the scarf is formidably warm, especially considering that I live in Florida.

This newest project will be a little more usable, being a cotton and acrylic blend yarn and a lacy stitch.

Don't worry, I'm not neglecting my quilting!  But  it's fun to have something to do when I'm sitting with friends or just watching TV.