Day 1 - Starting Out

(Okay, so this week I'm gonna be posting each and every day, as I couldn't resist participating in "Knit and Crochet Blog Week." Thanks, Michelle, for the link-up!)  Alright, here goes:

How and when did you begin knitting/crocheting? Was it a skill passed down through generations of your family, or something you learned from Knitting For Dummies? What or who made you pick up the needles/hook for the first time? Was it the celebrity knitting ‘trend’ or your great aunt Hilda?

(Charlie, 2 weeks old)

My "knitterly roots" go back to the year or so after my son was born; I remember picking up a little pattern booklet titled, "I Can't Believe I'm Knitting!" or something silly like that, along with a ball of yarn and some needles and trying to teach myself to knit a scarf...but I just couldn't wrap my brain around the whole concept. In frustration I turned to crochet, which I understood and completely ran away with. I crocheted a baby blanket, a few pairs of mittens, a matching hat and scarf set in some funky retro colors (note to self: should post that someday), to name just a few. And then a couple of years later, a good friend of mine gave me this for Christmas:

I decided to take another stab at knitting, with the help of this book. I figured it out and knit some dishcloths while in a cabin on a little wintertime family vacay in Brainerd, MN with my hubby and son.

After the dishcloths I started knitting us some hats:

And a "Wiggly Worm" scarf for my-then-three-year-old-boy:

(Pictured above is the "Silly Snake" scarf from the book - I still love this pattern!)

And that's how it all began...I wanted to learn so I taught myself, and the rest is yarny history.  I don't know what I'd do without my wool and needles and WIP's - I can honestly say that learning to knit has been one of the best things I've ever done for myself. I only wish I'd started knitting back when I was a kid, but I'll make up for it by teaching Juliet; I've taught Charlie, and once in a while you'll find him knitting a bit, which I think is very cool...maybe someday he'll crank out a scarf or a pair of socks for himself!

I'll be back here tomorrow for Day 2 of knitterly goodness. Until then, have yourself a super-duper day!

Comments

[Jodi]

I love baby cheeks! This is a wonderful idea -- I'll read each and every installment. And I'm so impressed that you taught yourself to knit. I'm trying to make booties, but I really need someone to sit beside me and show me.

[michelle]

Ah, crochet! I've fooled around with it, but have not mastered it. Someday, someday. I wonder what it is about babies that suddenly makes sane women want to take up sticks & string? :) Looking forward to tomorrow. Already have all my "challenging project" pics & links ready to go!

[Natalie]

OH, I love this and I am looking forward to the rest of the week.

[Debi]

I have that smae book! I bought it at the same time that I bought "Knitting for Dummies"! The link to the book with the snake scarf pattern did not work for me. I have a grandson who is enamored with all things reptilian and would love a snake scarf. Could you please post (or email me)the name of the book? Thanks for sharing!