Monday, April 26, 2010

Starting Out: knitcroblo1


My first introduction to knitting was probably a cunning plan of my mum's, who, when we were age 6 or 7, gave my sisters and I a toilet paper roll, four lollipop sticks and a ball of yarn and we were shown how to french knit.


Knitting Nancy - or Snake Maker

I believe they are called Knitting Nancy's - we just called them Snake Makers - because we ended up with yards and yards of tubing that looked like snakes. It really was a pointless project as there wasn't much we could do with the final product - but it entertained us for hours - if not days - trying to compete with my sisters to see how long we could make our snakes !! A very clever idea of my mums - as it kept us out her hair for days !!

Said SNAKE !!

It was several years later that I actually learnt to knit with needles. I dabbled a little with it in my teens but never really finished any projects - easily distracted. In my twenties I decided to rekindle my knitting relationship and decided to knit a turquoise scarf - easy first project I thought - my mum patiently showed me the main techniques - and I headed back to Uni with knitting in tow !! The Royal Mail was kept in business that year, as almost weekly I sent my knitting back to my mum to correct dropped stitches. She would send it back, fixed and about 10 cms longer - at one point I sat on my needle and broke it in half - that time the knitting was sent back on chop sticks!!! Thank goodness for MUM !!! After that knitting attempt - which took several months to finish - knitting and I took a little break!

My wonderful mumma - knitting away last summer,

but being somewhat distracted by the delicious Url !!

When I started spending winters in the snow after Uni - I was reacquainted with knitting and tried making hats. This actually worked out super well - I think it was because they were pretty quick knits. After making several for myself - I started knitting for my friends too - the rest is history. Today I make around 70 hats a year!!! I love it. I think knitting and I will be hanging out for many years to come !!!

One of the first hats I made - Hot Pink!

With my friend Emma on the chair lift in Whistler!

7 comments:

  1. I've never tried french knitting but the idea of the toilet roll and pencils sounds like an innovative way of doing it :)

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  2. That is a LOT of hats!

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  3. 70? Wowzers, that's a lot!
    I think I had a plastic version of your Knitting Nancy when I was little, but I had no idea how to use it!
    I just had a look around your etsy shop - very inspiring. I wouldn't usually choose such bright colours, but you might have prompted me to broaden my thinking. :)

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  4. Made a few "snakes" myself, back in the day. Had a plastic mushroom with 4 small nails on the top. Love the picture of your Mum and Url.
    Am thinking of taking knitting lesson to get back into it later this year.

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  5. Sue - you should certainly take some knitting lessons - maybe if we have some time in June, mum and I can give you a little lesson - mum is a very patient teacher !!!!!

    JB - Thanks for looking at the Etsy shop - I'm surrounded by skiers and snowboarders all winter - and it seems the brighter the better this year !!! You should certainly grab some neon yarn and get knitting !!! :->

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  6. This was a delight to read! You have a great sense of humor. My snakemaker when I grew up didn't have a name. My grandpa pounded five nails into a wooden spool with a widened center, and I made snakes just like you, hours on end! Thanks for the memory of something I'd totally forgotten!

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  7. I like your blog, miss hels! I too was a Knitting Nancy field back in the day. long...long...long...entertained. knit, girlie, knit!

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