Reminiscing

It all started in 2003. I had just completed my degree and a gotten my first job at the university. Since I was just transitioning from starving student back to working woman, there wasn't a lot of moolah in the old bank account, so I decided to make stuff for Christmas. Now, I've actually made gifts for years, but these were desperate times and it was a matter of necessity, but I didn't yet have any ideas. So, I'm reading Martha Stewart Living and there it was, a cute little knitted beanie and scarf. I figured, how hard can knitting be? After all, I've been sewing since age 9, have a degree in Fashion Design, and have done endless types of stitchery and crafts, so I went to Micheal's and bought thick yarn and big needles.

This wasn't my first foray into knitting. When I was 6 I had my tonsils out and received all kinds of crafty kits as get-well presents. One was a knitting kit. It was awesome, with big lime green painted wooden needles and super bulky hot pink yarn, the kind I used to tie around my pony tails. I remember trying to teach myself to knit. I figured out the cast on and knit stitch, but managed to create at least one increase each row and finally got frustrated and gave up. The yarn became hair ties and it took nearly 40 yrs before I would return. Oh, there was the crochet period, when my gram taught me how to make the cutest bobble hat, but then I made a mistake, she ripped the whole hat out and I returned to my trusty friend the sewing machine.

FFW to 2003 where I get the bug to try knitting again. Yes, there was a lot of frogging, but this time I figured out what I was doing wrong (you have to let the yarn jump off the left needle, oh my). I made hats and scarves for my nieces and striped beanies for the boys. Tonight I came across these photos so you can see my first three FOs. I've definitely come a long way and so happy that I gave it another try. As the title of my first blog post states, Knitting is My Savior.