I'm a knitter and a weaver.
When I was about 8 years old, my mother taught me to knit and I've been loving it ever since. I started out with the usual beginner scarf project - full of dropped stitches, crooked edges, and lumps and bumps, but to my eyes it was beautiful. I used a Red Heart variegated yarn in bright primary colors and was fascinated watching the colors change as the scarf slowly but surely grew longer. That scarf was the first of many, many projects over the years and I have to admit I still love variegated yarns, especially those I dye myself.
I taught myself to weave about 20 years ago, using Deborah Chandler's book "Learning to Weave," and then took a week-long beginner weaving class with her at Harrisville Design Center in New Hampshire. My first loom was purchased for $25 at a yard sale and it served me well for many years.
Think back to how you began your fiber journey. Were you a learn-it-yourselfer or did you have a mother or grandmother who patiently helped you learn to wrangle knitting needles, crochet hooks, or loom problems?
My best,
Sue @ Catnip Yarns
www.catnipyarns.com
My grandmother taught me to knit.
ReplyDeleteI learned to knit when I was 17. I was an exchange student living in the Netherlands and my host mother taught me to knit. I made a very wonkie scarf and a sweater that was nothing more than a few rectangles stitched together. A year ago I decided I needed to knit again when I wanted to make snoods for the retired racing greyhounds I adopted. I found some videos on Youtube and taught myself to knit again. Next I found a fantastic local yarn shop that offers classes and started taking classes to broaden my skills. I discovered Ravelry and looked for patterns that had stitched I wanted to learn. Pretty soon I was completely hooked (good thing I'm not speaking about crochet or that would be a terrible pun). I've been working on lace, brioche, and am willing to try just about anything in order to learn new stitches or a new technique. I knit every day even for just a few rows. I recently discovered hand dying. So far I've just been using food coloring and KoolAid with vinegar, but it is so much fun. I've fallen in love with stranded knitting so being about to dye small batches of color I want is fantastic. I found Catnip Yarns today while looking for undyed yarn. I am so excited to see the variety of fibers and weights you offer.
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