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Sock Knitting Victory (and What I Learned Along the Way)

25 Dec

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Most knitters, in my experience, practice learning the basic knit and purl stitches by making a scarf as their first project. One could knit only scarves and find an endless array of stitches, patterns, and yarns to use to make each one unique. But after a while, one tires of the back-and-forth rhythm a scarf provides and the knitter seeks out more challenging projects in order to make something different and also to learn new stitches and techniques for making shaped, fitted items (e.g., hats and gloves). I did just that about one year into my knitting practice. I wanted to learn how to knit socks.

After trying to decipher patterns and instructions for sock knitting I thought it best to take a class at my local yarn store. The class used the Magic Loop technique (knitting socks using a circular needle) and having one-on-one instruction and monitoring to get through the most challenging parts of the pattern were helpful. Then, I attempted to do this on my own.

Using small needles and sock yarn (which is, as you could imagine, thin as well), I quickly cast on my next pair after the first was completed and to my chagrin, without personal attention and coaching, I struggled. I struggled with two specific sections of the pattern – but two sections that are important parts of constructing the heel and moving towards the foot of the sock.

These early solo attempts ended in disaster. And it doesn’t help that when I make a mistake on a project that I typically stick it back in a plastic freezer bag until I am, eventually, inspired to rip it out or to attempt to fix the jumbled, tangled mess left in my wake.

As 2011 approached, I wrote a list, as I do each year, of things I want to accomplish, my goals for the year. These are not resolutions, but more an action plan. Knitting socks was on that list. So, recently, a friend told me about Staci Perry’s fantastic site, Very Pink, and there I found not only clear, well-written patterns, but also a series of links to tutorial videos on YouTube that walks the knitter through each step of the sock knitting process.

What I learned

There were a few things I realized as I completed – yes, I did it! – a pair of socks on my own.

First, instead of using Magic Loop (one point of my confusion was the reallocation of stitches and being clear about the direction in which I was knitting), I chose to use double pointed needles (DPNs). When you have to adjust stitch placement, it is very clear which is needle 1, 2, and 3, and you know exactly how many stitches are supposed to be on each needle at any given time. No cords or loops to try to reconfigure.

Second, before I took on knitting a regular pair of socks with small needles and thin sock yarn, I also loved Staci’s pattern because it’s purpose is more to help the knitter gain experience in the basic functions of sock knitting – using larger needles and worsted weight yarn. This allowed me to see the stitches clearly and the parts that once gave me so much trouble, while following along in the videos, were navigated with ease.

Finally, in this whole multi-year experience to really grasp the fundamentals of sock knitting, I learned it requires practice and perseverance. I finished my first pair (as you see above), and I’m working on my second pair (in which I’ve already made some adjustments to the pattern by using a contrast color for heel and toe accents). With each of the three socks I’ve done so far (I’m working on the mate of the grey/yellow one), the technique becomes more clear, and the sections that were once complex for me are now feeling more natural.

Putting it all together

It’s the kitschy phrase we hear as children that rings so true: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” There are some things that I know I have the physical ability to do, and there are things I really want to do. Sock knitting is one of them. I knew that in order to knit socks, I had to keep trying, and even have a good cry now and then when something went terribly wrong. (You don’t even want me to go into the sock knitting mistakes I have made, though I’ve written about a few of them on this site.) Had I not made those mistakes, I wouldn’t have continued to learn until I became comfortable and knowledgeable enough to make the first pair on my own, and then I went right in to my second pair to continue practicing.

You may have no personal interest in knitting a pair of socks, but you may want to knit hats or sweaters. Whatever the more challenging project to which you aspire, the reality is we all make mistakes. The great news is that we always have the choice to either walk away defeated, or to keep going and learn along the way.

May all your knitting goals be reached in the New Year!

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Domestic Bliss

10 Dec

This past week, I hit “Submit” and posted my last term paper of the semester.  It was 18 pages and over 6,000 words.  The week before last, I wrote another paper of comparable size.  As this weekend approached, my brain was tired.  It seemed appropriate, then, to spend today, my first day without a book to read, annotation or sketch to write, or presentation to prepare for, doing other things that feed my soul.

Sleeping In

Most days of the week, our house gets going at 5:45 a.m.  If my Other Half does a morning workout, we do 5:30, but in general, it’s 5:45 a.m.  On weekends, we may set the alarm for 7:30 or 8 so I can get up to get a few hours of homework in before I run errands.  Today, though, we set no alarm, and let the morning sun greet us through the blinds, the Comedy & Tragedy masks a friend brought us from Venice hung above the window staring down at us.

Even if I still wake up early, there’s something about waking up naturally, no abrupt slamming into the day, but a gentle waltz into consciousness.  Once I wake up, I, much like my father, have no problem laying in bed another 20 or 30 minutes.  I ponder the day ahead and things on my agenda, and if it is a chilly morning, I simply enjoy the warmth under layers of blankets.  Regardless of circumstances, waking up without an alarm was a simple joy this morning.

Knitting Frenzy

My parents live in Northern California where they have true winters and cold temperatures, and they also enjoy taking early morning walks around the neighborhood.  This year, Mom asked for a knitted hat she could sport on these regular promenades so amidst completing my last paper, I also knit a ribbed hat for her.

Yesterday, I started a matching scarf to accompany the hat and now the knitting-toward-Christmas frenzy begins.  I have a week to finish knitting the scarf and blocking it before both the scarf and hat get sent to California and to arrive in time for the holiday.

This morning, I eased into the day, spending an hour or so curled up in my favorite chair, a cup of robust coffee on the table next to me, knitting row after row of the scarf.  The last time I was able to do so without cause for concern of time was in August before the semester started, so it was very grounding to be able to spend more than a few minutes at a time knitting a project that I hope will bring joy to someone else.

Time in the Kitchen

Something else I enjoy doing is cooking, especially for others, including Mr. O.H. (Other Half).  Today, after I got home from grocery shopping, I got busy.  I baked lemon bars.  I made a pistachio pudding salad with crushed pineapple, cottage cheese, and Cool-Whip.  I made a Chicken Divan casserole.  It was a day full of comfort foods and of spending time in my intimate bungalow kitchen preparing a delicious dinner for my partner and me.

I do spend time cooking during school, but we tend to focus more on 30-Minute Meals so I can quickly return to reading or writing.  Today, I had no place I needed to be and no requirements placed upon my time.  It was energizing to return to the kitchen!

Feeding the Soul

Certain activities may or may not be conscious choices, but what I know for sure is there are things that, for whatever reason, feed our individual souls.  Some may get that energy and refueling from working out or running, others by getting involved with a performing group or community theater, some perform volunteer work, and still others make time to enjoy simple pleasures (like cooking and knitting).  It’s very easy to let time get the best of us, as well as the many demands placed on our time.  But in those moments when you feel the tension coming on, when your patience wears a little thin, or you just want to have a few martinis to numb the pain, consider stepping away for even a short while to do something that you really love to do.  You can listen to some inspiring music or read a chapter in an entertaining book to help you get your mind off things, if only temporarily.

This season is typically busy for many, to the point that we end up not able to truly enjoy the season and the people with whom we are celebrating because we reach the holiday itself in a full state of exhaustion.  Make this year different, and much more enjoyable for yourself (and those around you).  Take time to do the things you love, pursue your passions, and find those unique opportunities when you, too, can refuel and feed your soul.

 

When Time Permits

9 Oct

When I tell people I work full-time and go to school three nights a week, they ask me how I do it.  I think about things I do to make it all work, and what I’ve realized is that there is no easy formula.  Having an internal compass that steers me toward my goals has helped, but in the process, certain things are pushed aside, if only temporarily.

Since I started my MFA program in August, I have not had the time I used to have to spend with needles and yarn.  I am sad to admit it, but my knitting has been ignored.  When I take a brief break before dinner, I may work up a few rows on a scarf in progress, one I’ve been working on for two months.

I am envious when friends show me their works in progress and talk about how they enjoyed an entire afternoon of knitting up a new project.  I do recall those days when a Saturday afternoon was full of nothing more than watching movies and knitting.  It was relaxing, and the sense of accomplishment as the project progressed was great.  I do recall those days, and I know they will return.

Now, my Saturday afternoons consist of reading and making notes for a book to be discussed in class the following week, the drafting of a short response paper or, in the case of yesterday afternoon, an 8-page paper that approached 2,000 words.  I’ve never really had so much creative content due on deadline, but that’s part of pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree, isn’t it?  Learning how to harness creative energy and focus on a project under time constraints is a valuable skill, like a Project Literary (instead of Project Runway), though I dare say a 90-minute program of people sitting at a computer typing would not make for great television as the fashion design version does.

But I do miss those afternoons of knitting a project, thinking about how I want to package and present it to its eventual recipient, what the next project will be after the current one is complete.  I miss taking my time to scour my extensive yarn stash, looking for inspiration, finding a yarn that will work well with the pattern I’ve selected.  I may even find a yarn that inspires me to then change patterns because I want to work with that specific yarn.  I know now it was a gift to have time for that type of creative process.

But it is also a gift to me now, even in those brief moments between chapters of a book, during a break from staring a computer screen for an hour or two, knitting helps me regain focus, get centered, and prepares me to return to my literary pursuits with a clear head and new ideas.

Whether I do it for an entire afternoon or 15 minutes here or there, knitting is a gift – of relaxation, of creativity, of accomplishment .  I know it will continue to be so for the rest of my life in one form or another.

 

A time to finish, a time to begin

21 Aug

 

There is something liberating about finishing things.  Whether great, complex projects or daily, mundane tasks, the act of completing something not only brings closure to one thing but opens up time, energy and inspiration to arrive in other ways.  Such was the joy I experienced this weekend.

This week, I embark on a two- to three-year journey toward getting my MFA in Creative Writing.  I am inspired and energized and also am realistic, knowing it will require a great deal of energy, focus and time committed to the pursuit of my writing craft.  And, as I prepare to start classes this week, there were two lingering things I wanted to complete, because I knew that if I didn’t, they would not find their way to the finish line until the New Year, at minimum.

Mission 1: Finish reading “Becoming a Man: Half a Life Story” by Paul Monette

Earlier this summer I read Paul Monette’s stirring memoir, “Borrowed Time,”  chronicling the death of his partner of seventeen years, Roger Horwitz.  Roger died of AIDS complications in the late 80s, a time when ignorance and mainstream denial contributed to the effectual genocide of a generation of gay men, and certainly others impacted by the disease.  I was mesmerized by Paul’s voice, gritty and raw, seasoned with a gruff sentimentalism.  After Paul wrote “Borrowed Time,” he was inspired to write about the first half of his life that lead toward self-acceptance and meeting Roger for the first time.

Largely chronicling intense self-hatred, internalized shame and homophobia, as well as oppressive societal norms of the late 50s and 60s, “Becoming a Man” is stirring in another way.  Although I sensed his emotions extreme, with the turn of each page he would pose a question, state a thought that I can, as a child myself, recall thinking at one point or another as I came to accept who I really am.

Knowing how his life ends (also dying of AIDS complications at age 45 in 1995) made this an even more engaging read, a man peering back at his missed opportunities, acknowledging the gift of a long-term relationship, and then mourning at the moment when he realizes it is all gone and he is alone once again is both captivating and heart-wrenching.

And yesterday morning, as I sat curled up in my favorite armchair, cup of coffee within arm’s reach, I pored through the last pages of “Becoming a Man,” only to find myself moved to tears at the book’s final words which I will not spoil here but must be read, particularly by anyone who grew up feeling unlovable or unloved themselves.  It was an incredible journey, making me both sad and encouraged, inspired by his uncompromising truth and valiant exposure of the depths of denial and deception to which we go to maintain the darkest of secrets.  Mission 1 accomplished.

Mission 2: Finish knitting my latest project-in-progress

For the past couple of months, a little at a time, I had been knitting a scarf, my latest in a string of projects.  Primarily intended as a sample to use in the knitting classes I teach at The Black Sheep Shop, this four-row pattern is easy to whip up, only requires knits, purls and a slipped stitch at the beginning of each row, and really evolves into a nice, textured piece.  Using Lion Brand Yarn’s “Amazing” yarn in “Mesa,” I have continued to knit a few rows and here and there until this weekend.

I noticed the second of two skeins was quickly dwindling in size and that I was in fact approaching the end of the project.  Although no tears were shed as in Mission 1, I always take a moment when finishing a knitting project to relish in my accomplishment, swim in the perfection (or, often, imperfection) of it, and think to myself, “Yes, I made this from string with two sticks.”

Knitting is both simple and complex, becoming automatic after much practice, while still always keeping even the most experienced challenged in some way.  Although this is my go-to pattern, the one I have memorized and always pays well in its inspired return on creative investment, I still stood back and admired it after weaving in the last end of loose yarn.

Loose ends accounted for

Today, as I prepare for the exciting journey that awaits me, the new chapter I begin, I am relieved in a way because I have tied up loose ends, finishing two things that are important to me, and clearing the way for all that I am to do in the very near future.

It is liberating to finish something, not only because that task, project or obligation is no longer there to take your time, but it also frees your mind to take your work in new and different directions, giving you the freed space in the human hard-drive to take in and process more.  I breathe deeply, swimming in this moment of closure for two things, and the beginning of something more monumental and life-altering just around the corner.

 

 

5 things to do while knitting

2 Jul

Certainly knitting can provide hours of enjoyment on its own. Spending time with needles and yarn can be meditative and therapeutic (or, if your project is causing you strife, even a bit frustrating). If you are, however, a multi-tasker, there are a few things you can do while you knit away the hours.

1. Listen to audiobooks.

You can feed your mind with new ideas, or with stories of romance or adventure. Having someone read to you keeps the knitting going while you are also entertained.

Also in this category are motion picture soundtracks or Broadway musicals. They take you through a story, inspire you or challenge your thinking and help to pass the time during a section of mundane garter stitch.

2. Watch movies.

If you are a more experienced knitter or are doing a fairly simple project, it is possible to have a movie or television show playing in the background. Much like audiobooks, these can entertain and inform as well.

My only word of caution is that I would stay away from foreign films unless you can understand the language. Otherwise, reading the subtitles and knitting cables may get to be a bit cumbersome.

3. Make it a party.

Whether it’s you and one other knitting buddy or a small gaggle of knitters, having spirited conversation and gathering some good gossip always goes well with knitting. You can keep the hands going and the chat flowing with a glass of wine thrown into the mix.

Another word of caution: if you get to two or three glasses of wine, put down and walk away from the knitting and focus on the conversation. Knitting and above-average amounts of alcohol are stories typically ending in deformed lace or misshapen socks.

4. FaceTime or Skype with far-away friends.

With technology as it is today, you can set your iPad up next to your favorite knitting chair and catch up with a far-away friend or relative. If they, too, are a knitter or crocheter, they can also enjoy working on their project while you work on yours, all the while catching up on the latest news.

It is a variation on number 3, but if you aren’t near a local yarn store or don’t have an established knitting circle in your village, look online and use technology to create a virtual circle of fiber artists and friends.

5. Enjoy the silence.

Sometimes after a long day at work full of meetings, conversations and demands on my time and energy, I want nothing more than to sit peacefully with my knitting. No music. No chatter. Just the gentle clicking of my knitting needles as the yarn lightly glides over and under them. It is a sacred time when no one makes demands of me, my mental agility is not taxed, and I can simply stay grounded in the present moment.

No matter what you do while you are enjoying the pursuit of your fiber artistry, what matters is that the add-on activities are also things for which you are passionate, ones that feed your soul. And if there is something else you do while knitting, let me know – I would love to add more to this list!

A surprise gift brings inspiration

22 May

I woke up last Thursday and, much like I do each morning, I made myself a cup of coffee and sat down with my iPad to review Facebook, Twitter and news of the day.  I saw that I had a new message in Facebook from Peter Brown, owner of Woodfield Ranch, a small alpaca farm in Eustis, Florida.  I visited Woodfield Ranch last year (read about my visit here) and was gifted with a large bag with an entire fleece from one alpaca at the conclusion of my visit.

The cryptic Facebook message piqued my curiosity:  ”Brian, Please give me a call. I have a gift for you that I know you are going to love. Peter”

I arranged to meet Peter earlier this afternoon and the gift he presented to me was two bags containing a full shearing’s worth from  one of their younger alpaca males, Newton.

Some may balk at my excitement, wondering what enjoyment I could get from two large bags full of alpaca fiber.  Indeed, as a spinner of yarn, I find great excitement in this rare gift!  As I put my hand into one of the bags and felt the amazing plush serenity of Newton’s fine coat, I not only relished this particular gift, but also had another epiphany at that moment.

In order to spin fiber that comes in its natural form like this, one has to either comb it or card it (and carding may be done by hand or by using a drum carder).  Upon realizing that I now have a total of three large bags of alpaca fleece, I knew that the next step in my yarn spinning journey is to get a drum carder so that I may properly prepare the fiber and spin it into a finished product.  Certainly the fiber’s beauty is evident:

But there is far too much fine alpaca fiber in my collection to simply sit in a bag – I now have the inspiration to get the proper tools needed to be able to spin this fiber (which, ultimately, will then open up opportunities for spinning other yarn from raw fibers directly from the farm).  Accomplishing this will realize one of the goals I set out to accomplish when my fiber arts journey began in 2008 – to see a project from fiber to finished object.  There is something endearing, nostalgic and inspiring about taking a raw fiber through its multiple preparations to get it ready for spinning, then spin it into a beautiful yarn, and ultimately knitting it into a beautiful finished object.  Much like the pioneers of another era did, taking something from nature that does not create harm or injury, and transforming it into a useful material with which to make something useful, something beautiful, is part of this experiment of mine, this knitting lifestyle.

Every day when I sit in my armchair, I see my spinning wheel – a beautiful Schacht Matchless wheel I bought last year.  I do continue to use it, but not with great frequency.  Receiving this wonderful gift of beautiful fiber has reinvigorated my interest and passion for spinning yarn.  I’m looking forward to sitting down at my wheel once again this week, and now I’m searching for the right drum carder that will help me take my spinning arts to a new level in the future.

Any creative act or process requires stimulation and inspiration – and knitting or spinning yarn are no exceptions.  A new yarn or pattern may give me the right amount of inspiration to begin a new knitting project.  And a beautiful, thoughtful gift of an alpaca fleece is more than enough inspiration to reacquaint me with my spinning wheel once again.

To leave a legacy

15 May

My partner and I attended a performance of the Orlando Philharmonic last night and the opening musical piece was one written in honor of a well-known music teacher in the area who led all of the major children’s orchestras in Central Florida.  The piece was written by his brother, and three of his children performed in the 2nd children’s orchestra that was added to perform the piece last night.  His wife, who played his cello that was also his mother’s before him, was the featured cello soloist.  It was in his honor because he unexpectedly died just under one year ago.  The conductor, as he introduced the piece and the players, concluded with the affirmation: “That is legacy.”

Seeing that monumental display and hearing the conductor’s words, I began to ponder the concept of legacy, what it means, and specifically, what is the legacy I will leave.  Although I do not have children, I do try to embark upon each day with the intention of making a difference to someone.  I also think we often underestimate the value that one conversation can have in a person’s life.  The simple acts of assistance or kindness we may offer up may make an overly difficult day just that much easier for a colleague.  Taking time to affirm your love or care for a family member may be just what he or she needs to hear at precisely that moment.  Then, it came to me.

At this moment in my life, one of the legacies I am building is through the students to whom I teach the art and craft of knitting.  I’ve now been teaching knitting at The Black Sheep Shop in Orlando, Florida for about a year.  I’ve taught over 40 students in that time, each one with their own reason for learning, some more eager than others.  My most recent student, Amanda, is a cancer survivor, and wanted to learn to knit as a way to relieve stress.

In the short time we spent together, she had gained a new appreciation for the practice of knitting and took to it very easily.  I am looking forward to seeing where she takes her new found avenue for stress relief and creative expression.

I also think of other students I have had like Robby, who continues to share his knitting experiments and successes with me.  He has taken a strong command of knitting (and is already learning crochet as well) in a fairly short period of time, has experimented with stitch patterns and is increasing and decreasing with the best of us.  His exuberance when sharing his recent project or knitterly discovery brings me joy, and seeing his growing passion for knitting inspires me as both a teacher and a knitter.

Legacies don’t happen overnight.  They are very often not even evident until someone is gone, until the absence of their spirit illuminates the gap, the need, the lacking joy left behind.  So in this quest for considering what my legacy is and what it is to be, that is not my doing.  It is my intent merely to do my best always, do what I can to show my care and respect for others, and seize every opportunity I find to share my passions and interests with others.  In doing so, I trust that somewhere along the way, I will make a lasting impression or notable difference to someone just as so many have already, to date, done for me.

Why I do what I do

8 May

I’ve never been one to ponder the potential reactions of others in advance of stepping out and doing something I want to do, learning something I want to learn, cultivating a budding passion.  It is, however, a practice for me to reflect on my choices and put them in context when I do see the faces of surprised grandmothers when they see a man in a yarn store – teaching someone else how to knit.  I know that it may not have been a common sight in the 1940s, 50s or 60s but I believe it’s slightly more common now.  The handmade movement continues to grow and people are discovering a sense of empowerment amidst the nostalgic act of retracing the adept hand movements of our own mothers and grandmothers, learning a skill that helps us connect to our past, our family, ourselves.

On this warm, lazy spring afternoon in Florida, I find myself pondering why I have pursued the fiber arts (particularly knitting, spinning and soon, dyeing) with such persistence and fervor.  I have been known to “go through phases” of learning.  There was the French cooking phase.  The learn how to paint watercolors phase.  There have also been myriad experimentations of various religions and spiritual paths along the way.  So how was it that knitting became a lifestyle for me, an expectation as much as that first cup of coffee in the morning, a kiss from my partner before bed?  Why do I pursue this art and continue to find ways to challenge myself, while also taking time to share this skill with and cultivate it in others?

I’ll be up front and attest to the fact that there are personal benefits to the practices of knitting and spinning.  There is the sudden, almost metaphysical calm that consumes me after about 30 minutes of knitting or spinning at the conclusion of a busy day.  There is the ability of these acts to suspend my thinking, allowing me to become centered and focused on nothing more than what is happening in my hands with needles and yarn, what is transpiring in the present moment.  I can also choose to keep my hands occupied with either knitting or spinning, giving my mind the freedom to wander and process through the events, interactions and successes from the day.  Knitting is a unique relationship between knitter and project materials, and as the fiber alchemist brings together variables like yarn, color, pattern and texture, a mystical transformation occurs, a radiant knitted fabric evolves from the active digits flinging fiber.

Knitting and spinning, however, are not selfish acts alone.  At one point in history, having the skills of construction, or farming, or domestic arts such as sewing or knitting, were elements that contributed to survival from the colonies to the prairies to the western coast of this nation.  Today, it is simple to buy anything one needs, and so elevates the acts of spinning yarn from fiber, knitting a garment or decorative item by hand to art.  By learning and nurturing my knitting and spinning skills, I have been able to produce something of quality and beauty by my own hand.  With the finished objects, be they multihued skeins of handspun yarn that I present to a fellow knitter, or a knitted shawl to serve as a virtual hug to a friend or family member far away, I am able to use my skill to bring joy to others.

It is wise in today’s society to act in a spirit of gratitude on a daily basis.  I know that I am grateful for all that I have in my life and I know that many others are as well.  And I know that if I were to purchase a scarf in a store and give it to someone, they would be grateful and provide an amenable expression to signify as such.  However, when I can take yarn and needles and create a scarf customized in colors I know are of special liking or significance to the potential recipient, there is an element of the gift I eventually provide that cannot be duplicated by any purchased item.  As a knitter creating gifts for others, there is no greater joy I experience – not even that of simply finishing the project – than to see the eyes of a friend or family member light up at the sight of my artistic output and, upon realizing it was something knitted by hand for them specifically, the elation is often uncontainable.  Having a skill that allows me to create things that bring joy to others is a gift in and of itself.

Having these skills also allow me to teach others, to introduce interested pupils to better living through fiber arts, to transfer the skill and learning I have gleaned in the past few years to new generations of knitters who will then be able to share their talents and gifts with those who are special to them or to share with community members in need.  Seeing someone gain confidence in their knitting abilities and begin to pursue it with the same or greater passion for the art that I have gives me great satisfaction.  I love that I have a skill that, when shared with others, can create such confidence and joy, stress relief and inner peace.

It is for these reasons and many more that I am a knitter and a spinner of yarn.  People may wonder and question why I pursue these arts that, to some, appear outdated and antiquated.  That, frankly, is their issue to own, not mine.  And to those who are questioning my interest in this art I ask: What do you do that brings you all that knitting brings to me and also enables you to give as much back to others?  And to those who are searching, who are actively seeking ways to balance their hearts and minds, have something to do with their hands while watching television, or who are looking for a way to share a little beauty and joy with others, whether close friends or strangers, to you I say: Consider learning how to knit.  Regardless of your background, your life experience and any other element of personal identification, knitting is a skill that is easy to learn and once you do, the hours of enjoyment and satisfaction you can enjoy are beyond measure.

An afternoon with Chris French

24 Apr

We tried to meet once before last December, but his travel plans were canceled and our meeting postponed.  His wisdom, sense of humor, and advanced technical knowledge of knitting and spinning yarn by hand had been sources of inspiration for me via Twitter (where he is @vtknitboy).  We’ve been trading messages for at least a year and I am always excited to meet other knitters, particularly other men who knit and who are well respected as he is.  His name is Chris French and we finally had the opportunity to meet yesterday during his last-minute trip to Orlando, Florida, my city of residence.

His smile, laugh and ebullient nature lit up Infusion Tea in College Park, a suburb of Orlando, as he walked in the door, accompanied by his partner, Jeff.  While we waited for lunch to be served, Chris presented me with an amazing gift – a handspun skein of 20 percent bunny (one of his own bunnies!) and 80 percent alpaca, also hand-dyed in some of my favorite woodland hues.  Chris has a luxurious palate for fiber and he knits primarily with handspun or high-end yarns.  The picture here does not do his work justice, but having felt the wondrously soft skein myself, I can attest not only to the quality of his fibers, but also of his spinning and dyeing work as well.  I was particularly surprised when he shared he had only been dyeing yarn for about 6 months, for if you see the emerald and chestnut colors he blended into this particular skein, it appears like a more advanced artist had crafted such a colorway.  I was in awe not only of his kindness, but also the incredible technical talent Chris possesses and demonstrates in everything he does.

After some lovely luncheon conversation, Jeff took leave and left Chris and me on a sofa and oversized chair in the back corner of the tea house.  We had another mission – Chris had offered to help me learn how to do toe-up socks (because cuff-down socks have provided me with countless hours of both joy and frustration, specifically with the gusset pick-up).  As he taught me the fundamental techniques involved (e.g., Judy’s Magic Cast-On) he also infused general knitting tips (as well as admonishing me for my favor toward certain lines of commercially produced yarn).

With no offense intended to my female fellow knitters, because male knitters are a rare commodity where I live, there is a different energy, a rare comfort I feel in the company of other male knitters, a camaraderie that I don’t experience that often.  Because I don’t attend knitting evenings on a regular basis, I was reminded of the joy and wonder experienced when two knitters come together and not only create together, but learn from each other (though, in this particular case, it was truly me who was doing all the learning).

My only sadness was that our 4 hours together went by far too quickly and it only made me wish we lived closer in proximity so more frequent opportunities to partake of this knitterly brotherhood of sorts could be enjoyed.  Chris is a skilled instructor and an all around great guy who not only has vast knowledge of the fiber arts, but he also knows his tea like I’ve never seen with anyone before.  As we ordered a pot of green tea, Chris engaged the tea tender in dialogue about the temperature of the water, and insisted we allow the tea to cool slightly before enjoying its smoky jasmine flavor.

The true test of a good teacher is that a learned skill can be repeated after the teacher is gone and with my recollections of our afternoon, coupled with clear notes he drew in my notebook, I was able to begin a full-size sock in appropriate gauge for myself this afternoon using the techniques he shared with me.  The true test will be the heel but knowing it won’t require gusset pick-ups as cuff-down sock knitting does (and where I often and invariably make unnecessary errors), I know it will be much easier.

Chris (@vtknitboy) sells his beautiful yarn and knitted finished objects as well so if you want a treasure to knit up a family heirloom or something special for a dear friend or relative, his handiwork is something of high quality well worth every dollar paid.  Also, knowing your purchases are from a wonderful man with a kind spirit, you can be assured his good energy was spun into everything he creates!

The afternoon I spent with Chris yesterday was awesome, and I hope during his next visit to Orlando we have another opportunity to spend time chatting, enjoying a cup of tea, and flinging some fiber.

An Act of Patience and Persistence

10 Apr

I have been working on the same scarf for nearly two months.  It is a twelve-row repeat pattern and I’m using yarn made in Alaska that I purchased in Skagway during my trip there last fall.  It is wool in a variegated colorway of oranges, reds and browns, earthen hues being some of my favorite.

Now, In the past couple of months, I’ve also learned of my acceptance to graduate school in the fall, so that has consumed a great deal of brain power as well as time researching various things that need to be arranged, filed or organized in advance of starting school in August.  No excuses, here.  Just acknowledging reality.

The past few days, though, have witnessed me demonstrating a renewed knitter’s force.  With any opportunity while watching television or engaging in other time-wasting activities, I divert and pick up my scarf again.  I’ve now reached that point where I think to myself:  I just want this project to be done so I can start something new!

This is not the first time I’ve told myself such exclamations.  While working on other scarves or knitting projects, I have found myself growing impatient with each row, wanting nothing more than to finish the item in progress.  And this is what I have learned about lengthy knitting projects:

Finishing a lengthy knitting project requires patience.

Whether a blanket, shawl, scarf or other knitting project of notable size, there are going to ultimately be a lot of repetitive stitches or rows, elements of the pattern continuing to crop up to the point that, sometimes, a pattern isn’t needed because it has been memorized through repetition.  Sometimes I have to remind myself that the act of knitting is not only about finishing – it is, in large part for me, also about the process, the experience of knitting that allows me to use it as a method for calming, centering and relaxing after a busy day fulfilling life’s other obligations and demands.  Be cautious to get focused solely on the getting finished; it will make for a long project and I doubt that line of thinking will give knitting the freedom to bring you as much joy as it potentially could.

Knitting lengthy projects requires persistence.

In addition to taking a lengthy project one stitch at a time, a knitter also needs a good dose of persistence.  Once you are 2/3 of the way into a scarf pattern, you have to find the drive from somewhere deep within you to carry on in the pattern until you have woven in the last end.  To me, if you don’t fully complete a project, the work that remains unfinished was a waste of time, effort and resources.  It is not usable or functional if it is not finished.  After you’ve gone so far, my knitterly folk, please finish your projects!

Ultimately, patience allows us to enjoy the process of knitting a project of any size or length, while persistence gives us the wherewithal to complete the project.  Our joy as knitters may be found in the process of knitting a special handmade item for someone, and our persistence pays off when we see the joy our handmade gifts bring to others.

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