Bilingual Whittling
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Crochet
I have crocheted for years, though even I cringe at applying the label of “crocheter” to myself. You see, I know one stitch. Appropriately enough, it’s called a Single Stitch, and it is the simplest crochet stitch to learn.
I have made BLANKETS with this stitch.
Those of you who know how to crochet can appreciate how much yarn and just how long that takes. My first blanket completed during my freshman year of college, and those of you who knew me at college will remember I used to carry around a second backpack (with blanket and yarn) to classes and crochet during lecture.
Me and my single stitch have been quite happy, mind you. We’ve watched movies and entire series of tv shows together. I can crochet in the dark, without ever looking down at the project.
And then…Lauren sent me some socks that she’d knitted, neatly sealing my doom.
It doesn’t help that another blog I read, Words and Wardances, sprinkles gorgeous photodumps of her wool spinning and knitting projects between great posts on the publishing industry. She’s got me thinking about raising Angora rabbits and spinning my own wool, which is just insane enough that I’m able to file it away under “some day”, though not insane enough for me not to consider. What can I say, I have a special breed of illness, the kind that responds well to adorable things like bunnies and old fashioned things like spinning yarn and the clickety-clack of knitting needles.
I was able to resist Words and Wardances siren song. Lauren, however, sent me socks. Socks that I can put on my feet and hold in my hands.
Did I mention doom yet? Because I’m doomed.
Knitting
Last night, the hubby and I went to Michael’s and picked up a “I Can’t Believe I’m Knitting!” book and a pair of knitting needles.
While he recorded the next Cipher podcast, I sat on the floor and frowned mightily at the instructions for “Casting on”, knitting and unfurling the ruddy thing a billion times.
The cat helped. (You’ll note I call him “the cat” more often than by name. That’s because his name is Tuxedo Squeakerpants Ninja McGee, and we often call him “Ninners” or “Ninnerneens”. I won’t say he has too many names, because he thoroughly earned each and every one of them and he’s just awesome enough to bear up under their combined weight with dignity, but it does make it more confusing if I use them randomly throughout the blog. “The Cat” is less confusing.)
Naturally, I’ve also accumulated a list of far-too-complex knitting patterns from the internet. (And yes, Jayne’s hat from Firefly is on the list. Like I’d neglect that. Pffft.) I’ll try one or two of them once I reach “silk cloth” skill levels. I’m still at the bottom of the “linen cloth” barrel. *winks*
Whittling
My husband (bless his hobby-tolerant heart) calls my crocheting “whittling”. I told him I wanted to learn how to “whittle in a different language” and he knew what I meant. Ah, I do love that man.
Also, he gleefully revealed to me that he fully intends to have warm winter socks out of this hobby. *shuffles hands together* So now I have a goal!
Just so’s you know. Those socks were actually crocheted… with nothing more than single crochet stitches… Just so you know :-)
Seriously, knitted socks are much softer and more flexibile and take much less yarn (allowing you to use the nicer, more expensive yarns!).
Good luck with teaching yourself to knit! If you’ve got any questions I can answer long distance let me know!
@Lauren
Egads, seriously? I could make socks? (no, not at my current skill level. I can single stitch in a straight line till the cows come home, but those socks had like…foot-shapedness going for them. More than a simple single stitch was involved!)
I know for a fact that Jessi still knits and I think she spins her own yarn sometimes. Do you remember her?
@KristenSue
The name sounds familiar, but I can’t attach it to a face or an event. Where would I know her from?
She was in the dorm with us freshman year. She’s short and cute and had curly brown hair. She introduce me (and maybe you) to livejournal and answers QotD? under the name Skittl. For some reason I think that you and here were involved with the 1st Annual 48 Hours of Fun and that adorable dog computer game where we adopted a floofy white dog (Lasagna?) as the official mascot of 48 Hours of Fun.
@KristenSue
Gah, Annan is the only one with curly hair that I remember off the top of my head. Sadly,Jessi seems to have fallen off my memory radar (an easy feat, as my memory weaves around drukenly, shedding people, events, and reminders that aren’t properly tied down).