Why I Knit

Another year another project

2010-06-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

Again it's another year since I've written about my knitting. I still love my knitting even when I'm not knitting I'm thinking about knitting. Got to finish that sweater or that scarf or the 2nd glove I started about a month ago. It's Spring and not really knitting season, except that here in Oregon it's always knitting season. I'm trying to finish a second fingerless glove project that I started a few months back, pretty soon it will be too warm to wear them and I'll have to wait until the fall to put them on. Working on a pair of lace fingerless glove , silvery blue light weight marino wool yummy can't wait to finish them pair. Time to knit.

Knitting Helps Us Grow

2009-05-11T15:37:00.000-07:00

"You have to unravel the stitches to see the mistakes." I said this today. It was a good one. Maybe I can use my knitting to see my way. Maybe my knitting can help me unravel my life, see my mistakes and make it better. Since I make a lot of mistakes in my knitting , maybe I make a lot of mistakes in my life. It's ok to make mistakes in knitting, I don't mind, I always fix them, I would never leave them. I never mind tearing apart my projects , it's what you do, my grandmother taught me that ... about knitting.
When you're knitting you usually see your mistakes, but sometimes you don't, until it's to late. Sometimes you've finished the whole project before you see the mistake. It's never to late to go back to fix your mistakes. If you don't go back to re-knit your mistake, you miss the beauty of a project with no mistakes. I couldn't live without fixing my mistakes.
If you really pay attention you usually don't make mistakes, but sometimes you do, even if you're paying attention. I think it's normal to make mistakes. Everyone that knits makes mistakes. I don't know anyone that knits that doesn't make mistakes ... do you ?

Small needles

2009-03-21T07:20:00.000-07:00

I can knit on small needles.
I've been watching my mother and sister knit on small needles for years! They crank out socks faster than I can make my bed. I watch them knit on those teeny tinny needles and my hands hurt. Just give me size 10 and I'll knit anything! this past winter my mother made me the most beautiful fingerless gloves ... the envy of all my friends ! I love them, wear them every day. I love them so much I wanted them in 10 different colors. You think my mother was going to make me 10 more pairs ... NOT ! Guess I better start knitting on small needles.
Well , mom let me borrow her double pointed 000 zero's and a way I went. I didn't know someone could swear so much. Getting started on those double pointed needles just about killed me. I finished my first double pointed fingerless glove!
Ugh now it's time to make glove number 2!

February Cold

2009-02-16T11:24:00.000-08:00

It's mid February and time is moving right along. Last I looked it was January and the year just begun, I'm still knitting, haven't stopped, only briefly to do the other things that need to be done in life. It seems I should only be knitting when all the other things are done and organized. Or, is it the other way around, only knit when you should be organizing. It's the later that usually happens.
I've finished a sweater , a shrug, started a sweater, some fingerless gloves and learned that using size 1 needles isn't so bad.

New Years Day 2009

2009-01-01T07:26:00.000-08:00

Wow another new year, a new president, a new hope, a new day and so many knitting projects to look forward to. I've passed the day, I'm free and a new year ahead. I held my breath, I closed my eyes and counted the minutes to get to the new year. I love this day, the first day, the day that brings new energy to my body and my soul. It's raining outside, I don't care, maybe it's washing away the old, cleansing the earth, making way for what's to come.
It's cold and dark this early morning but what's ahead, this new day of 2009... that's the key, each day holds new opportunities to look for, find and hold on to. There they are, we just have to be mindful, slow down, observe, don't judge, just be, it's ok. Yes we can, Yes I can, Yes we can.

Almost the New Year!

2008-12-29T17:23:00.000-08:00

It's almost the New Year and I'm really in the thick of my knitting. This time of year is full of anxiety, restlessness and anticipation for me. I never really seem to like the holidays and getting through them is foremost on my mind. My knitting usually resembles the way I'm feeling at this time of year too.
I have several projects going at the same time and I can't decide which one interests me. I start with one project, get a few rows in, put it down and grab the next one, knit a few rows and go back to the first project. Sometimes I start something new because the 2 or 3 projects I have going just don't do it for me. I can't seem to concentrate on anything at all.
My life at this time of year is much the same, moving from one thing to the next just trying to relax and stop thinking thinking thinking!
Even though I can't seem to settle into one project or another... I have my knitting to entertain me.

It's all about Connecting

2008-11-08T06:22:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time since I've been here and so much has happened. The end of the year is upon us and a new President takes the office. It's all about change and starting over. Moving forward fearlessly. It's the only way to really make things happen. Don't look back, just keep moving forward, opportunity is there. Stop, listen be quiet. It's all right there. Look at everything, notice the detail in the moment, don't rush. it sounds so simple.
I found that if you ask enough questions you'll find the answer. So many things connect us and knitting is just one of them. We have more than one thing that binds us, draws us, captures our soul. The present is sweet and precious, hold on, breathe in...out. Breathing in...I'm aware of my in breathe...Breathing out...I'm aware of my out breathe.

Thinking About Knitting

2008-09-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking about knitting today. I don't have time to knit but I'm thinking about it. I'd rather stay home and knit than go to work. It's absolutely beautiful outside and would be lovely to take a walk but I'd rather be knitting. It's Friday and my mom and her friends will be knitting at Twisted so I know that there would be friends to knit with, but I can't go. Maybe tomorrow I'll knit.

Can't Decide

2008-09-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

I went to the yarn shop yesterday to look for a new project and couldn't decide what to knit or what yarn I wanted, it all looked good. It's the end of summer and pushing into that hard core knitting season where you really want to hang out home and put the blanket over you and just knit.
I've got a few projects started that I should really go back to and finish before I buy new yarn...but it's so exciting thinking about the next project and new yarn. If I go back to the old projects I have to figure out where I am, what row I left off at and that's never really all that fun, but I should finish
Ok I made my decision...I'll finish what I started!

The Silence of Knitting

2008-07-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

The other day I was sitting on my couch working on a dog sweater for my friend. She just got a little Yorkie Terrier and asked me to make a sweater for the little guy. I purchase some beautiful cream colored worsted Elite wool to go with his black and caramel fur.
I was sitting in my living room with no music playing in the middle of the afternoon just enjoying the day. I started to notice the silence around me and became aware of how I was in a beautiful knitting trance all by myself. No one around, the sun shining in my apartment and the wonderful sound of my needles and yarn making it's way stitch by stitch around my hands.
All of sudden I became the observer in this moment, watching myself knit, enjoying completely every movement I was making. I was so happy...such a simple pleasure...if only to remember those moments.

Baby Baby Baby

2008-07-17T10:10:00.000-07:00

Seems like everywhere I look these days someone is having a baby! Good thing too because I love knitting little things that are oh so cute...super cute! I just finished making a baby bolero for my friend Gretchen that is about to have her first. The bolero is a creamy yummy ice cream yellow color Debbie Bliss cotton yarn with a good luck charm knit right in the middle of the back. She's going to love it.

Starting Over Again

2008-07-07T13:36:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like having to start a project over again. If you've made a mistake a few rows back and it just doesn't look right or you can't let go of the fact that you've made a mistake, you might just have to start over again.
If you're like me and can't let it go and move on, you'll start over; or figure out the mistake and only go back as far as the mistake and then keep on knitting. I can never leave a mistake in my knitting, it's just not right!

Bring Your Knitting

2008-06-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

I went to a wedding last night. It was the perfect Oregon wedding set high in the Hillsboro hills at a beautiful vineyard. The day was just the right blend of clouding sunny warmth and a cool June evening.
I wore a sleeveless burnt orange tunic top over light weight summer white pants and brought a bag stuffed with camera, video, plenty of tissue and a beautiful garden green gold speckled shawl I knit stuffed in the top of the bag.
It wasn't quite cool enough to wear my shawl so I hadn't pulled it out of the bag yet. I approached a table of friends to say hello....."hi Laurie Ann, did you bring your knitting?" I smiled, laughed a little and said, " No but I have the results of my knitting!"
And with much pleasure and pride I pulled my hand made one-of-a-kind shawl out of my bag and wrapped it around my friends shoulders.
"mmmmm lovely" she said " I think I want to learn to knit!"

Knitting and Walking

2008-05-21T08:20:00.000-07:00

Knitting, for me, is like walking. When I walk, I'm lost in time and space. Walking is my best thinking time. It's a time to be creative and I seem to be an "idea machine". I have the best brainstorming session with myself. I can come up with all sorts of ideas...like starting a knitting blog about why I knit. Well, knitting is the same as walking. It's a time to think and brainstorm and get lost in time and space.

It's a beautiful place to "be"

Knitting With My Family

2008-05-12T09:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Mother's Day and I spent the day knitting with my mom. We don't always get along or see eye to eye on things but when it comes to knitting, I know we feel the same. We don't have to say anything to each other and maybe the silence is better than talking. It's the knitting and the silence that takes the tension away. We are both doing something that we love, so nothing else really matters...does it?

Why I knit Event

2008-05-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

Why do you knit? Come on by Twisted Yarn Shop on NE Broadway and 22nd and tell me your knitting story. Mothers Day! May 11th 2-4pm

Everyone has a knitting story...what's yours?
How did you start? who taught you to knit?
Do you remember the first thing you knit?
Was it for yourself or did you give it away?
What color was it?
Did you knit the dreaded boyfriend sweater?
Why do you knit now?

Are you knitting today?

Night Time Knitting

2008-05-07T20:34:00.000-07:00

It's so nice to come home from a long day of work, sit down, have a cup of tea and knit. No noise, no one bothering you, asking questions or demanding your attention. There is only you and the night full of space and time...just to knit. It's that simple.

Knitting the Blues Away

2008-05-05T20:03:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like picking up your needles when you're feeling blue. Almost every time I'm sad I've picked up my knitting project and with in a few rows whatever has gotten me down starts to fad. The very act of moving the energy somewhere deep into the yarn, the sadness goes away. The deeper the sadness the longer I knit. I just keep on knitting and sooner or later I've forgotten what I'm sad about... and happy I'm knitting.

The Great Avoider

2008-03-10T07:16:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's March already. Time flies when you're knitting. You can sit for hours and hours and knit while you're avoiding all the other things that are nagging at you, like taxes and cleaning the house and the dirty dishes that are in the sink. Oh but it's so much fun to knit.
I love that I have a project to work on. I can always grab that scarf or sweater or that shawl that is hanging from my needles to avoid all the other things I'm suppose to be doing. Oh, just one more row...but I'm almost finished...but it feels so good to sit...There is always tomorrow.

Friday Morning Knit Group

2008-02-29T18:42:00.000-08:00

Every Friday morning my mom and sister, if she's not working, go to Twisted (yarnshop in the Gulch) to knit. They meet up with a number of friends and knit for most of the day. The group usually starts at 11 o'clock when the store opens. I never get to knit with the group because I'm always working. I have to work at noon on Fridays but by the time I get to the store and unpack my knitting, I have to leave.
I usually stop in to say hello with my knitting bag but never actually take it out to knit. I come by to say hello to my mom because I know it makes her happy. Everyone is so happy to see me and they always ask if I'm staying to knit, but no, I have to go to work.
I wish that I could knit with them but I can't. Maybe some day I'll take a friday off so I can knit with my mom and my sister.
It's a great thing to be able to knit with your mom and sister. I did knit today, but I was alone.

The Morning Knit

2008-02-28T08:03:00.000-08:00

Usually I wake up in the morning thinking about knitting. If I'm working on a project all I can think about is knitting. I woke up this morning...barely had my eyes open and was thinking about the row I had left off at the night before. It was a purl row. I could see the color of my shawl, that spring water green color and the gradual increasing pattern that would soon be wrapped around my shoulders. I got out of bed to knit. Knitting is a good reason to get out of bed.

Two Rows

2008-02-27T08:18:00.000-08:00

The thing about knitting is you can knit 2 rows and be completely satisfied. You don't have to have tons of time. If you only have 15 minutes, you can still knit. That's why I love to knit.

My Shawl

2008-02-26T11:29:00.000-08:00

It's hard to keep up with this writing thing. I have no problem keeping up with my knitting. It will definitely be hard to keep writing. I think I like the knitting better. I've been doing alot of knitting since I last wrote.
I'm still working on my lovely spring water color shawl. It's going to be fabulous. I wasn't quite sure that I was going to actually make it. I must have started the darn thing at least a dozen times. I didn't like the way it was coming out and I couldn't figure out the chart that indicated the leaf pattern in the shawl. Knit, rip, knit, rip, knit rip...
I've been knitting forever and I'm still a miff at the way they write patterns. They just assume you know all sorts of things that aren't written in the directions. It usually takes me a time or two to figure out what I'm doing but eventually I get it. I'm a bit stubborn and I know I'll love knitting the shawl... so I never give up. I bought the yarn and I don't want it to go to waste or sit in my knitting bag too long.
Now that I've figured out the directions and the pattern it's quite easy and I'm very excited to see it finished...that's why I knit.

A New Project

2008-02-17T12:53:00.000-08:00

Today I'm going to start a new project. I went to one of my favorite yarn shops, Twisted, and bought 2 skeins of Silky Merino Wool in a 'spring water' yummie color for spring. It's sunny and warm outside today, perfect for the color I bought. I'm making a shawl. It's a beautiful Shetland Triangle with a fun lace pattern. The thing about shawls are they usually don't take that much yarn and they knit up faster than a sweater. They also feel abit fancier than a scarf when you wear them. Time to start my new project.

Valentine's Day Knitting

2008-02-14T08:31:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to me and you. I'm not knitting today but I wish I was. I have to go to work but I'll be thinking about knitting. I finished my last project and don't have any yarn at home. I'm excited about going to the yarn shop, it's right by my house.
My next project will be something for me. I like to knit something for you and then something for me. I think that's how it goes. When I buy something for someone I always buy some thing for me. So, when I knit it's always some thing for you and then some thing for me.
Now it's time for me.
Happy Valentine's Day. Don't forget..knit for you, knit for others and knit because you love.
I love you

Lara's Scarf

2008-02-12T14:31:00.001-08:00

Yesterday I finished a scarf that I knit for my friend Lara. It was a simple cable on the side with a few ribs next door kind of scarf. I used a leftover skien of Lambs Pride worsted wool in a moss green color. It's a lovely scarf. It's thin and not to long. It will go nicely with my friends hair color, which is brownish red and the thinness of the scarf will be perfect for Lara because she's small and petite. I hope she likes it. I haven't given it to her yet but am excited to see her face when I give it to her. I told her that I was making it for her but never said when I would finish it.

That's one of the fun parts of knitting for a friend. If you told them that you were making something for them but they don't know when they are getting it, somewhere along the line they forget that you are making something for them...then...when you tell them that their gift is ready, they are so excited to receive it!

I called my friend Lara and told her that I finished her scarf. She can't wait to wear it. I can't wait to see her try it on. That's why I knit.

My Knitting Story

2008-02-12T14:15:00.000-08:00

My knitting story begins much like other knitting stories, my grandmother taught me when I was 7. I’m not sure what the significiance is about the age 7, but I’m sure it has something to do with the developemental stage when you have some ability to sit still and your hands are big enough to hold the needles and you will do anything to play with whoever is around.

My grandmother was a great knitter. She use to knit hats and scarfs for the men at sea. She was patient, kind and stern. She watched every stitch I made. If it wasn’t right, she made me rip my stitches out and start again. Her favorite saying, “ a job worth doing, is worth doing right”. I don’t know about you, but I have riped hundreds of rows out, unraveled full sweaters, taken 2 years to finish a project and started a thing or two over and over again, to get it right!

There was something back then about knittingI loved. I’m sure I didn’t know then but I certainly know now, why I knit. I know there are an infinite number of reasons why and the reasons are different everyday , but the one thing I know for sure is that I love to knit!