September 6, 2005

Oh yeah - did I say “knitting”? Yes! I have finally mastered the knitting stitch! Soon I will attempt to learn to “purl” too so I can make some really wonderful things. Shawn was sweet enough to buy me a pair of knitting needles and the most luscious pink yarn for a Christmas poncho for our little niece Grace. If her’s turns out alright then I have 3 more to make. For our 3 other nieces! I heard from a fellow blogger that these books are great for teaching oneself to knit and I couldn’t agree more. If you’re looking to learn to knit check out these 2 books (in order) :

The Knit Stitch by Sally Melville
The Purl Stitch by Sally Melville

One little tip for fellow knitters: If you’re just getting started like me, and are intimidated by all of the big projects in the pattern books why not try your hand at making doll-sized pieces? I taught myself to “increase” using the above book and ended up with a pint-size doll shawl! I added fringe (another skill needed for adult size projects) and there I did it! And it won’t end up in a scrap pile either since Abby’s American Girl doll will look adorable in it for Christmas. And casting on and getting a really good feel for the yarn and needles in your hand is fun when you end up with a something useful. I have a couple of dishcloths now too made from cotton thread I had been crocheting with. The knit ones are so much nicer looking. I just can’t stand to “practice” things like this. I truly can’t stand the waste of such a notion. So I have to MAKE something from the VERY beginning of learning a new household skill. I just have to. :) I’m sure some of you out there can relate. :)

She seeketh wool, and flax,
and worketh willingly with her hands.
Proverbs 31:13

Isn’t it interesting that 5 of the 31 verses in the beloved Proverbs 31 passage speaks of skills using cloth or fiber of some kind? That’s almost 20% of the passage on godly womanhood devoted to sewing/creative skills having to do with USEFUL items!!!! WOW! Learning to knit takes on new perspective huh?