A cute young gentleman dared me to knit him a sweater a couple of months ago, after I had uncomplimented the one he was wearing a few too many times. In my defense, I was quite drunk and really just wanted him to take the sweater off, so insulting it seemed like a good option. He promised "three days of goodness" in return for a home made sweater, so the next morning I eagerly signed up for my first knitting class. Well maybe it didn't happen exactly like that. But pretty close.
Truth is, I'm so crazy competitive that I will do anything I'm dared or challenged to do. Especially if suggested by a member of the opposite sex. And knitting has been something I've always wanted to learn, but have felt too young for. (My apologies to Ellie Schwimmer, who has given me many beautiful home made scarves over the years...)
Someone actually tried to add "knit something" to my Forty by Forty bucket list, but I nixed it right away. It seemed so senior/geriatric/boring/lame. Not the kind of adventure I was looking for then. But now, well, now it's different. I've had plenty of adventure, and perhaps it's time to settle down a bit. And be the kind of person who doesn't throw themselves out of a plane, into a boxing ring or dance at Jumbo's Clown Room, but the kind of person who knits things.
Like my grandmother (who perhaps not so coincidentally became a grandmother when she was the age I am now. Oy.) Being forced into those itchy matching sweaters she knitted my entire childhood didn't exactly inspire me to pick up knitting needles, so maybe that was also part of my earlier disinterest. And having had a somewhat itchy childhood, can I really subject someone I know to wear my creations?
Marla, Sule, Zoe and friends...
But there I was, eager to move away from the past and learn something new, because learning is important and fun to me, and it's been a while since I took on a new hobby. I arrived at Zoe Zeynep on Melrose for my Beginner's Knitting class and met Sule, a beautiful and fun Turkish woman who designs, knits and crochets pieces for some very cool and well known designers while running the knitting store, named for her sweet tween daughter, Zoe.
I was excited to find that I was the only student there, because it meant one-on-one instruction. And also, I could safely become the teacher's pet without alienating fellow knitting students. My teacher, Marla, gave me purple needles and a ball of yarn and I quickly learned how to cast on. Casting on is that first row that starts everything and it's important to make sure you get the width right for what you're making.
Next was the basic knit stitch and after Marla showed me, my hands just naturally started doing it. I was knitting, comfortably and quite fast I might add. Maybe it's hereditary? There was a lot of "oohing" and "aahing" over my knit stitch. And I was asked if I'd like to move on to the purl stitch, way ahead of schedule. I wasn't surprised. After all, my perfectionist, competitive, driven personality is as helpful when it comes to physical activities as it is detrimental to my personal life. I've gotten used to it by now and gladly take the victories where they are given, meaning, I'll happily become an expert knitter at the cost of a fulfilling love life. Because at the end of the day, I'll have a scarf, or a knit cap, or even a sweater in my little Swedish hands. Yay me!
The purl knit was no challenge for MacKnit, which was the nickname I gave to myself quietly while knitting away at the store. After a while of the purl, I was offered the more advanced garter stitch, but declined because I didn't like the look of it, although its name might imply I would. But other than that, I was the hit of the store, of the day, and Marla even said I might be the best student she's ever had.
In light of all that, it was time to pick yarn and start knitting my first actual item, so I looked at all the yarn in the store before settling on one in (fifty) shades of grey. It would have been just like me to go from never having knit anything to tackling a sweater, but I'm trying to be less intense and driven, so I decided to start slow and easy with a scarf. Recipient TBD. I opted for a cable knit, which is two knit stitches and two pearl stitches alternating. It's actually not as easy as it sounds because the stitches are quite different, so it's harder to get into a rhythm than if you were just doing the same stitch over and over.
A rare photo because the couches are usually occupied by knitters...
I sat and knitted there for a while after my official class was over, because that's what people do. There are comfy couches and good music, so people come and knit when they have free time or if they get stuck and need help. And people who wander in to buy yarn, end up staying and knitting for hours because everyone is so friendly, supportive and encouraging.
I went home and did fairly well on my own for a couple of days, but then I made a mistake, and since I didn't know how to fix it, I went back and learned how to fix mistakes. The more I knitted, the faster and better I got, and everytime I dropped into the store, I would get compliments over how nice and even my stitches were. (Of course I did.)
I knitted my way through a weekend course, I knitted in front of the TV and at the car wash. I knitted in a director's chair in between takes on set, which reminded me of my days working on Friends, where Creator/Executive Producer Marta Kauffman started a knitting craze among the crew and cast, having decided that down time on set was a good opportunity to create something other than a fantastic sitcom. So it turns out it's a good "Hollywood Hobbie."
At first I was dragging my yarn and the start of my scarf around in a paper bag, but after some discussion about the proper "carrying your knit work" etiquette at the store, I found a retired purse big enough in my closet, which became my knitting bag. I know. It's official.
With the risk of sounding old-fashioned, knitting has been quite soothing and relaxing. It takes whatever extra energy I have...and I have a lot...and channels it into the scarf. (Note to scarf recipient: Sorry about the abundance of energy woven into the scarf.) Also, it gives me something other than playing guitar to counteract the cramps I get from writing, and exercise my fingers a bit. And being part of the knitting community is really cool. No, it's not. I can't write that with a straight face. But I do love it, even if it makes me a dork.
All of a sudden, the moment I had been waiting for came. I had felt like no matter how much I knit, that ball of yarn wasn't getting any smaller, so when I finally got to the end I was really surprised. And a bit sad actually. My scarf, which had become a security blanket of sorts, was done. Well not completely done, because I needed to go back to the store and learn how to finish it off, so I left a bit of yarn at the end. I dragged this part out a bit, like I usually do when something is nearing the end and I'm not quite ready to say goodbye.
When I was ready, I went back to the store and was greeted with love and enthusiasm for both myself and my scarf. It was a quick bind off that finished up my first knit item. And that was that. I'm happy to have stumbled upon this creative pastime, and definitely ready to move on to my next creation. With some new knitting needles that set me back about ten dollars. Turns out knitting is a very inexpensive hobbie. Do it. It's awesome.
Oh, and I got some really soft yarn for the sweater. I hope he likes pink...
This blog made me so happy! My whole family knits from my grandmother to my mother to my aunt and cousin. I have always thought of knitting as an "older" sport, now I can't wait to start and the join the Silverlake hipsters with my cool threads. I hope the boy that started this all enjoys his pink sweater.
Posted by: Ashley Aurell | 03/04/2013 at 04:42 PM