I've made about 6 or 7 scarves so far. All super simple...just knitted. I'm getting the hang of the knit/purl/knit thing, but it will be a while before it's not kind of a disaster. And I'm trying to also get the "adding + subtracting" from rows thing down, but again, still in the pitiful stage. I've got a big stack of books on their way from Amazon, and I had all of your amazing suggestions from this post pulled up as I searched and added things to my cart. I'm so excited!
So, I've just been knitting really easy, soothing, beginner scarves at a mile a minute.
Here is one I just finished for my Sara, which was made with that amazing, frothy Twinkle yarn mixed with a cotton white/rose striped yarn. It reminded me so much of strawberry ice cream:
Now I am scheming up new people who might need a scarf in their life. I'm addicted to the simple, basic style, but I want to get better too, so I know I can't keep doing it indefinitely.
Josiah was right when he suspected early on that this would be the thing that made me even more productive. And I am obsessed with being productive. In a good way, not a scary blood-pressure stock broker way.
Because of the new knitting thing, I can be useful in the car!
Watching foreign films! (I have to concentrate too much too paint + read at the same time)
Waiting for food at restaurants!
It's wonderful.
Comments (25)
The best place for knitting is at the airport. It fills the time and calms the nerves if you don't like to fly.
Cheers!
d
Deborah · January 21, 2008 at 02:43 PM
Hmmm, knitting! I don't even remember what life was like before knitting. I personally do a lot of New York subway knitting. I'm so glad you are enjoying it so much. Have you gotten Debbie Stoller's Stitch and Bitch book yet. That was the book that got me hooked. Gorgeous paintings as always! Happy Knitting Emily!
Sonya
Sonya · January 21, 2008 at 02:58 PM
Haha. I feel the same way about crocheting. It's nice to have something to do in the car and in other situations that would otherwise be a waste of time. I have not tried knitting yet, but I would like to. I'm sure I could learn from books, but it's much easier for me if someone actually shows me. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone who knits. :( Your scarves and new paintings are lovely, by the way.
Danielle · January 21, 2008 at 03:02 PM
Oh my God, purling. It took me SO LONG to figure it out. The breakthrough finally came when I had someone else do it in front of me, with my own knitting. She would go, "Like THIS." And then I would try to do it, and be like, "Like THIS?" and she would do it again, and be like, "No, like THIS."
After that, it was incredibly easy. I love purling now. Your time shall come. :-)
Madeline · January 21, 2008 at 03:02 PM
ohh knitting is very addictive. have not picked up my needle this summer for fear of knitting taking over my life....
Anna · January 21, 2008 at 03:11 PM
That's one of my FAVORITE things about knitting!! I have to fight with my husband over who gets to knit in the car...so we take turns :)
adrienneleanne · January 21, 2008 at 03:19 PM
Emily.... I really love that color combo, pink and cream together are my favorite. I would buy that scarf in a heartbeat.
Very nice and I'm sure it's cozy too! Sara's a lucky gal! : )
Jennifer
Jennifer · January 21, 2008 at 03:35 PM
Squee! I'm excited to see you knitting too :) And that productive all the time thing is a big, big reason that I got so into it.
ysolda · January 21, 2008 at 03:38 PM
I laughed when I read your thoughts on crafts+foreign film--every time my husband suggests a movie with subtitles of an evening, I say, "I can't read and sew at the same time." As a result, I haven't seen Amelie in a scandalously long time.
Melissa Crowe · January 21, 2008 at 04:10 PM
Way to go you!!!! I love the color of this one, its soo sweet:) I am still knitting in the beginner stages as well, hopefully i can push myself out of that rut soon. Its a very soothing hobby!
patty · January 21, 2008 at 04:23 PM
That is beautiful! I have been looking for a scarf like that to wear to work, it is so chilly there. I think I will have to try to figure out how to knit again. The last time I ended up with a bright orange knitted bookmark, it would have been a scarf, but I am a quitter, hehe.
voodoo-dolly · January 21, 2008 at 04:43 PM
you're a knitting machine! love the yarn combo on this scarf. i'm sticking with the easy stuff... hats, scarfs and fingerless gloves.
jenniferL · January 21, 2008 at 04:44 PM
fyi
i accept scarfs as gifts.
also fyi
love you
-lil sis
elizabeth · January 21, 2008 at 05:02 PM
Knitting is great! Sadly here in Florida you so rarely need all the warm clothes that I would like to knit. I have a plethora of knitted hats! I really want to learn to crochet, to make amigurumi animals and cute things like the adorable slippers in Happy Hooker! I got the book and needles but I can't figure it out by myself. meh.
kate · January 21, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Stephanie could use a scarf....and coincidently, Bo and I will be in Athens in about 11 days..... :)
Stephanie Wheeler · January 21, 2008 at 05:18 PM
People see me knitting and say "I don't have the time for that," or "I don't have the patience or that" and what they don't understand is that knitting turns dead waiting time into productive time and GIVES you patience!
Cirilia · January 21, 2008 at 05:24 PM
I didn't read all the comments about books on knitting, so sorry if this was already posted. I basically learned to knit from www.knittinghelp.com. Her videos are free and VERY helpful (especially for the adding subtracting techniques).
The scarf is beatiful btw. I love the color & "texture."
Alexandra · January 21, 2008 at 05:30 PM
You look like a pro with the knitting thing to me already. :) Try books on tape.. there are some really good ones at the library. You might like Scarlet Feather by Maeve Binchy .. it's about food and racing and lots of fun things... :)
tiffany · January 21, 2008 at 05:34 PM
oh I love you simple style... it's so beautiful and classy! I'm a beginner as well, but I'm completely addicted... knitting is so relaxing! I'm now in a new project using some number 15 needles... hard... but fun :)
take care!
Ei! Kumpel · January 21, 2008 at 05:38 PM
Miss Emily, welcome to the dark side ;). We have been awaiting your arrival for ages! I just discovered knitting this year, just in time for the birth of my second little girl...I wonder if that is what inspired us to name her Pearl?! The scarf is beautiful. I, too, love the color combo. What size needles are you using? Can't wait to see what else comes from your knitting and purling!
Stephanie · January 21, 2008 at 06:07 PM
you know what, if you can knit a scarf you can knit leg warmers too! i've never formally learned how to knit in the round (at least not yet) so what i do is knit like i would knit a scarf (only be sure to make it extra wide) then sew the 2 sides together when i'm done. super simple and such a fun gift to give.
Sarah · January 21, 2008 at 06:41 PM
jordan and i spent a couple of hours knitting with some older ladies in our local knit shop yesterday. one of the ladies talked about how a lot of folks say they are not patient to knit, but that she feels like knitting taught her HOW to be patient. so maybe in additiont to being more productive, you'll also learn to enjoy the process even more...
i have a super easy hat pattern i can give you. and it really is very easy (so many people say a pattern is easy and i find that isn't necessarily true for a beginner).
risa · January 21, 2008 at 07:07 PM
I totally hear you on the productivity thing. I think most knitters are perpetual multi-taskers!
Welcome to the world of knitting! If you haven't yet, check out The Yarn Harlot's blog
www.yarnharlot.ca/blog
Happy knitting!
Jaime · January 21, 2008 at 08:40 PM
There's math involved?!?!?!? Another reason why I could never be a knitter. You keep at it, looks like you're doing fine. :)
Marilyn · January 21, 2008 at 09:10 PM
Very nice scarf!
My warning: only buy yarn you love. Most knitters -- myself incuded -- suffer from excessive stash. Only take home the yarn you can't live without.
Nadia Lewis · January 21, 2008 at 10:10 PM