Knitting projects

I love Saturdays. Saturday is the day I get to be with some of my favorite people, the Knotty Knitters. I was introduced to knitting, kicking and screaming. I am a crocheter. This confession in the knitting world is akin to admitting, while sitting in a synagogue, that you are a Jew for Jesus. Just imagine... A friend took me to the new yarn store in town and I fell in love with the place and one yarn in particular. I tried crocheting with this yarn and couldn't figure out how in world you could hook the knobby bumps. Sigh...Somewhat defeated but willing, I asked the owner of the store, now my friend, Laura, to show me how to knit. Well...I fell in love. This is the very first scarf I ever made. I am pleased to say I still love it and receive compliments every time I wear it.

I have bought yarn. I have bought drawers full of yarn at the yarn store, yarn in New York, yarn in Switzerland, yarn in Italy and yarn anywhere else that catches my eye. I have become quite the expert in one stitch, the basic garter stitch. One of my knitting friends has begged me to branch out from scarves and so I have knit hats. I have completed a grand total of 4 hats...and am working on a 5th hat. This hat has come so close to being tossed in the fire, I can't even tell you. I started it when a dear friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer and was about to start chemo. I am still working on the hat...and she has finished with both chemo and radiation, her hair has grown back and she is in remission, thank God! She does keep her hair short now, so she will still be able to wear it. Sigh...

When in New York last year I stumbled upon a yarn store whose "hook" was that if you purchased enough yarn for a sweater, they would custom design the pattern for you. DEAL!!! I fell in love with this yarn, Noro Silk Garden with a color way of greens/purples and golds. YUMMY! (one of my criteria for loving yarn is the test of whether or not I want to put it in my mouth...once a chef always a chef...) Because the sweater was to be made with a garter stitch bottom and then was garter stitch mixed with purl (this is the second stitch I learned!), it seemed "do-able". This is the sweater so far. I have finished the back and am about at the point on the front where I need to start decreasing and I am scared to death!!! I have to get over the fear of making mistakes if I am going to become a full-fledged knitter. Sigh...

I am also working on another project, something easy. What you see is a 2007 Christmas gift for a friend in Florida. I love the colors! They remind me of the sun, sunsets and the ocean. Sigh...I am almost finished and will get it in the mail this week.
I am deeply in debt to all of my friends at Knotty Knitters. A special word of gratitude goes out to Romi. She has taught me to be patient, that the word for ripping out is "frogging" ('cause you ribbit out!) that backwards knitting is called "tinking", and that the world of knitting is not just limited to yarn, but by your imagination. She has also become a dear, sweet friend. I also have to mention another friend, Dana, who has taught me a lot, but especially when fretting over my lilac hat, she told me not to let a little ball of yarn get the best of me. Well said!