I decided that I wanted to learn how to knit. My mom is a crochet/sewing/cross stitch person, so she did not ever knit. She owned knitting needles, of which I was fascinated with when I was little, however when I asked if she knitted she said she had when she was younger but had stopped as she preferred crocheting.  I picked up crochet fairly quickly and after some "parallelogram" shaped potholders /dollie blankets I pretty much had the basic single and double stitches down. Long ago stopped crocheting. Just got too busy I guess. Crocheting and knitting was for Grannies and old ladis, or so I thought...until a few years ago "celebrities who knit." Suddenly young actresses were knitting hats for preemies for Childrens hospitals and various other charities. They would knit while waiting for their scenes. Knitting became intriguing to me again. It seemed, as I watched people do it, to be fascinatingly fast and simple....

Well, Fascinating yes, Simple not so much. Last night I went to the Shawl ministry meeting at PPCC with determination to learn the basics of knitting. Well, the three of us at the meeting had more fun laughing at ME than I could imagine. It took about fifteen minutes to master the basic CASTING ON, then when I got the the end of my casting on I said now what and Traci my dear friend, laughing said you pick up the other needle and do a knit stitch. When she and Sarah, the other attendee had stopped laughing at my confused expressions, I worked the knit stitch after muchstarting and restarting. When I got to near the end the last four cast ons slipped off the end of the needle and I had to unravel the whole little line (probably only twelve stitches) It was the most fun I had ever had at being most frustrated. I was determined toIlearn this new hobby to add to the other hobbies in my Home of the Unfinished Craft Project.  So I started casting on again and  actually got a nice little fairly even row of stitches waiting to be turned and knit stitched.

I may never be able to knit a sweater that Stella McCartney will want to copy for her clothing line, but I am determined to at least get the basics and start with a small  "neenie" (2 year old for blanket)for the animal shelter kitty cages! Thanks Sarah and Traci for laughing with me and helping with my casting on and knit stitches. So next week we will meet again. The Shawl ministry is a wonderful outreach and we had the most fun gossiping (oh yes) and sharing stories and just laughing.

JUlie