If you haven’t heard the news, knitting is “in” now, and crochet is “out.” I am happy that I learned to knit in 4-H, as it is a good skill to have. At the moment, I am knitting a dishcloth with Sugar ‘N Cream 100% cotton yarn. The pattern I use makes them kind of “nubby.” So, they are great for washing dishes by hand, which of course I do, exclusively.
Over the years, I have knit other things. I have a photo of my nephew, J.R., in a blue, cable knit sweater I made for him when he was about 2 years old. At the time, it was pretty neat to go on an expedition to a department store’s sewing section, to pick out some silver buttons.
Then, there was the Scandinavian sweater, with a multi-color yoke, that I spent an entire summer knitting, the year I worked at a summer camp, teaching swimming and running the Journalism club at a girl’s camp, during college years. When I finished it, and put it on for the first time, the yoke would not lay flat. My “tension” must have been too tight on the yarn. However, it was fun while it was still on the needles. Changing colors was a hoot!
More recently, I made an all-wool dress, oh, I mean “sweater,” for my dear husband. It stretched and stretched and in no time at all, it was a dress! I made a stab at “felting” it by washing it in cold water, but then throwing it in the dryer. That decreased the length, but did nothing to pull in the sides. The wool is very warm, though, and the sweater gets some use, in the house only.
I think that I’d better stick with quilting for now…and embroidery. With those skills, I know what I am doing. Knitting results have been less than predictable, but as always, the outcome was good for a few chuckles.
Me? I’m thinking of a warm, sunny beach somewhere. With that in mind, if anyone cares to send a donation that I could put towards studying quilts, in say, Tahiti, I’ll be happy to hear from you! Until then, stay warm and avoid kissing toads or wrestling alligators.
Patricia
