Enough Knitting Love to Go Around March 27, 2011

I had the supremely awesome chance to surprise one of my best friends this past week. I hitched a ride with our mutual best friend (Knitting Whisperer) and hid in the car until they were all ensconced inside. And it was legen-wait-for-it-dary!

Let’s just say there was screaming and jumping up and down.

So much more gratifying than the time I surprised my mom and she greeted me with a scowl of consternation as she growled, “What are you doing here?” She was expecting my brother. I’m not saying she loves him more than me….but, you be the judge.

But, I digress.

In addition to all the fun visiting and touring we did, my dear friend decided she wanted to be assimilated…I mean, learn to knit.

It turns out she’s a natural. Sitting on the couch with madeira, yarn, and my besties – a day I thought would never come – I had to document the occasion.

Knitting Whisperer is in the back and newest knitter is in the front working on her first swatch - look at her go!

Sharing the Love of Knitting February 25, 2011

Can there be anything better than teaching one of your best friends how to knit? Free yarn, you say? Hmm, let me think. Well, maybe? Nah, I still believe sharing your love of knitting with those you love is better than free yarn, though it was a close contest.

Recently, one of my best friends in the entire world planned a visit to snowy Utah with her fabulous fam. We’ve been friends for years, most of which I’ve been knitting obsessively. She watched me complete my secret six-month sweater project for my husband. And my one and only intarsia baby blanket for our mutual friend’s newest addition. And many other less stressful projects.

Through it all she remained knitting ambivalent.

So, imagine my overwhelming joy when she told me she wanted to learn to knit when she came to visit! I think I may have passed out from my knitting giddiness. We planned a trip to buy yarn and needles when she arrived. I did think about offering her stash yarn, but imagined the moment I broke into tears as she picked one of my favorite yarns lovingly brought home from a trip to Spain or Italy would be off putting. “No, no, please take it,” I would sob.

Or worse, a basket of yarn I was willing to part with presented to her as if saying she wasn’t worthy of other yarn. Not really a good option, either. So, instead I took her shopping so she (and her daughter) could have the pick of the place.

As the kiddos and hubby hurtled themselves down a mountain with wood strapped to their feet and snow assaulting them she and I sat in the cozy living room eating red velvet cupcakes and knitting. Basically, we all got what we wanted. And at the end of the day she had what we all generate with our first knitting endeavor – a misshapen oblongish swatch that she designated as her husband’s new loin cloth. He didn’t seem so keen on the idea.

Basics learned, she decided to start with a ribbed scarf for her daughter. I mildly encouraged her toward a garter stitch scarf, but much like myself (which may be why we’re such good friends) she didn’t want to take the easy road. She liked the look of ribbing and that is what she was going to do.

A few frogged attempts and multiple cries of “How do I have 29 stitches?!?!?!” and she was off and knitting. As we all crammed into the t.v. room to watch “It’s Complicated” she knit and purled away on her scarf. And by the time she left she had a respectable five inches. I was so proud!

I wish she was closer so we could knit together more often and I hope she ends up loving it as much as I do, but even if she doesn’t, it was still awesome to share knitting with her.

What is your fondest memory of sharing knitting?

Juggling Knitting Classes October 7, 2010

Yesterday I was so sick I didn’t even knit.  (Now, that’s sick!)  Unfortunately, it was also the day to teach my Beginners Knitting Class. And I had maximum enrolment.  😦

After crawling down the stairs, dragging my garbage can with me, I called the Shop – they weren’t open yet!  So, I did what any sensible sick knitter would do, I called my husband.  Lying on the floor, with my class enrolment sheet next to me, the very act of talking made me feel like retching.  I gave him the names and phone numbers and asked him to call.

“Do you want to reschedule?” He asked.

“uhhaaaooouuuhhh” I moaned in response, realizing my schedule book was upstairs.  I glared at the stairs.  My nemesis.  Oh for telekinetic powers….or memory enough to recall next weeks schedule.

I heaved myself up the stairs and collapsed in front of my bedside table fumbling for the black book that holds my short term memory: a terrible thing for something so small to have so much power.

I looked at next Wednesday, Beginners Circular Knitting.  But no one had signed up last time I checked, I hazily thought.

*******

I feel much better today.  Time to call the Shop.

Back in August I rescheduled my Sock Knitting class to October, hoping for more than one student.  Alas, no more students, but I feel bad about rescheduling again.  I emailed my one student on Monday.  Checking her response, in between gasps and moans last night, I discover she’s in the states for a funeral.  So, I offered to reschedule the class to begin next week.  And then thought, ‘what if someone else has signed up?’

I held my breathe and crossed my fingers while they checked Sock Knitting sign ups.  Only the one.  HOORAY!  I never thought I’d celebrate not having students.

But, lo-and-behold, I do have enrolment for Circular Knitting (blarg!), which is the time slot I rescheduled Beginners Knitting to (double blarg!).  So, now I need to reschedule Circular Knitting to later in the day!  Sigh.

Who would’ve thought teaching knitting could be so complicated?