Knitting, the Beginning

I'd learned early, somewhere in the range of 8-9 years old. Mom taught us (I have a sister) for, I think, a Girl Scout badge. I'd learned to knit, purl, increase, and decrease, everything you need for a scarf or shawl.

I'd tinkered with it through the years. I spent most of my crafty youth on needlework, such as needlepoint and cross, because it's relatively cheap and I didn't have much extra moola.

I pretty much gave that up in my 30's, as law school did nothing for my eyesight and I had a job that required too many hours.

I got another job and, one day, decided to really learn to knit. I went to some good knitting stores, bought some nice yarn and some good bamboo needles, and set to. I then decided that I could learn to make a sweater. I read books, learned to read a pattern, and chose a super-simple pattern from 25 Gorgeous Sweaters for the Brand New Knitter. I recommend this book for your first sweater -- they are simple, and they aren't that fugly stuff from Wal-Mart.

I bought some Tahki Soho Tweed and some nice bamboo circulars, and what ho, a sweater emerged. Unfortunately, it came out as if it were made for an ape -- it was way too big, the body too cropped, and the sleeves too long. Thus, I learned the importance of gauge. I ripped it out and went on to other things.

I then, on a whim, bought an Incredible Sweater Machine off of Ebay. I learned to use it, and while not terribly versatile, can do stockinette faster than by hand (FYI -- don't let anyone tell you differently -- it is NOT a time saver to do anything other than stockinette on that thing). I decided to do the sweater again, this time translating it onto the machine. It turned out pretty well, don't you think?

Unlike the last one, it actually fits.

At some point after that, I discovered the unmitigated joy of discount yarn off of the internet. Good yarn, retail, is very expensive (this is one EXPENSIVE hobby, but my excuse is "Andrew bought a BOAT. Until I've purchased the equivalent of a bass boat in yarn, I'm good.") When the yarn was discontinued, I bought 11 more skeins at more than half off. It's going to turn into a coat from the Best of Lopi book.