July 14, 2005
Okay, I've done very little apart from knit on the Fair Isle hat all day, and once again, I'm making progress.
Here is a silly looking self portrait, modelling the hat.
Em has a friend sleeping over, so they have been amusing themselves on The Sims all day, using cheats to get huge amounts of money and building gargantuan houses, leaving me to knit and knit. Janet mentioned yesterday how slooow Fair Isle is. I know the feeling - I knit for hours last night and today, and I'm only up to Row 25. It might be finished for Christmas - that would be a good thing, as I'm thinking about giving it to DH's sister, who likes unusual hats, and would probably wear it far more than I. :)
Is anyone a member of a knitting guild? Particularly the Knitter's Guild of NSW? As i have mentioned before, I don't know any "real" knitters close by me. There is certainly no local Knitting group or anything like that. The Knitter's Guild does have a meeting 20 minutes or so away, though. However, I don't want to join up if it's going to be just a bunch of crotchety old ladies like my Grandma, who taught me how to knit. I have nothing against older people, I'm talking about the crotchety old ladies who insist that things be done a certain way, blah, blah, blah. My grandma insisted that I do things her way, when she taught me to knit. She would cast on and make me do garter stitch. I got sick of that, found a book and taught myself. She then told me I was doing things "wrong". I don't want to go to a group if that's what it would be like. I'm certainly not intending to offend anyone!
At the recent craft fair, I approached the Guild table, which was attended by 3 older ladies, who acted as if I couldn't possibly know my way around a knitting needle. I picked up the "Australian Afghan" book to look, and one lady said "That's got patterns in it to make a patterned blanket. It's quite difficult" and she indicated the afghan hanging behind her. I put the book down and walked away. Well, as the cover of the book had the afghan on it, I had figured that out! Yes, it was an intarsia afghan, but the way she said it was as if I was a child, touching the grown-ups things. Hello, lady, I can knit!
I'm often not very good around new people, so I'm a bit iffy about going to the Guild meeting. But it would be nice to talk to someone who knits something other than novelty scarves!
Comments
Wow, I was surprised to see you had knit so much after just ripping out the other day. You'll have this hat finished soon.
Posted by: wool winder at July 14, 2005 11:48 PMThe fair-isle hat is coming along really quickly! I am very impressed since it was only yesterday (?) that you had to rip it back. It's lovely!
Posted by: celia at July 14, 2005 11:51 PMOh yeah..I know the type. The "knitting police." One yarn shop in town is staffed by only the KP...women who are so sure that their way is the ONLY way and you are a moron if you don't know how to do it their way in the first place...They are so horrid I won't shop there!
You can always go once, just to see, right? and if you don't like it, leave. But, hey, if you make one friend, just one, it would be worth it, right??
The hat is AWESOME donna!!! have to see if i have that IK at home...you know, like I NEED another project sooooo badly.... :)
Posted by: Lisa in Oregon at July 15, 2005 02:11 AMHey!!L-O-V-E the corrugated ribbing. I did that for the bottom of the fair isle bag from IK Spring 2004, but I forgot how I did it. Yours look great!! You have me thinking about knitting that hat, but let's just add that to the list, shall we?? Oh, and I had to rip my fair isle the same way a few weeks ago..it wans't that bad, was it??
Okay, go knit some more...can't wait to see some more progress pictures...
Posted by: Renada at July 15, 2005 03:21 AMThe hat and the colors are perfect for you. Gracie loves those cheat codes for the Sims. Kevin and I were highly addicted to it for a while. There were plenty of times I wanted to just speed up my life. Like I could do with the Sims.
Posted by: Kathleen at July 15, 2005 09:24 AMHi Donna
I belong to the Knitter Guild of NSW - Kiama Branch, they are from 28 years old through to (I wouldn't like to guess how old) maturer women, We have great fun, each month we have a different thing to learn (for those who want to) or you can just chat and knit. No-one so far has tried to put there own ideas onto others on how they should be doing things. You may have just got someone who's nature is a bit bossy or something. I can't speak about other guilds as I don't really know people from them. Maybe just go along once and check it out and then decide. Otherwise maybe if you like a bit of a drive come down to Kiama (3rd saturday each month 1.30pm - 4.30pm).
Another great group is Wollongong Stitch N Bitch meets last saturday of month at Novotel Lobby Lounge/Bar, 2pm - 5pm. Good Luck anyway finding something closer to home.
That's a fine hat.
I'm a member of my local knitting guild--it's fun talking to all these ladies (no gents in my guild...but they would be welcome!) who have been knitting longer than I've been alive, and those who have little skill beyond the novelty scarves. I'm sort-of the "gifted protege" or something like that--I've been knitting less than a year, taught myself out of a book, and now I'm working on stuff out of Gathering of Lace by Meg Swansen. But I've crocheted for nearly 20 years (off and on, mostly off), so I know how to handle yarn, I'm not afraid to try new stuff, and I'm not afraid to rip. But the ladies in my build are NOT the knitting police--the only rule they have is "No Brick Walls" meaning you aren't allowed to say "I can't do that." You can say I don't want to do that, but not "can't." We have one lady who we're all trying to break down her brick walls--she started knitting about a half a year before I did, and she sees stuff that even I do, and says she "can't" do that. Sigh. We're going to tie her down and make her do some of them some day! Lol!
Posted by: Cathy at July 16, 2005 02:30 AMI love the hat progress! You look so cute too! Can't help you with the knitting guild. But I am so anti the knitting police too. It's a craft that we should enjoy, however we choose to knit or purl. I hope you find a more fun & sociable group to be a part of.
Posted by: Evelyn at July 16, 2005 04:02 AMHi Donna
I've found the perfect solution. I had joined the Knitting & Crochet Guild here in England & found that I was a LOT younger than everyone else. Nobody was condisending & I've learnt a lot. They do a different topic every month & I really enjoy it. The nearest group is a 45 minute drive away. I enjoy the company of older woman as they remind me of my Nana whom I really miss.
But I also wanted a more social relaxing knitting event so set up a club myself as there was nothing local at all. It's great - a real mix of ages & ideas. We meet once a month & it goes too quickly.
Go for it & give it a go - you might be pleasantly surprised.
So now I've got the best of both worlds - the K&C Guild where I go to learn difficult techniques & my own group where I relax & have fun whilst knitting.
Posted by: blueadt at July 16, 2005 08:59 AM
ohhh you look so cute - it really suits you!! and i think it makes you look really young and hip. (not that you already aren't of course).
i also forgot to give you my ballet review. i am having a horror week....but i will try and do it next week.
Posted by: jacqueline at July 14, 2005 11:23 PM