Question # 3

is from Sarah at Journey of Truth. She asked me about my handwork skills.

I learned to knit while I was in High School. We had classes during our lunch hour that we could take if we wished. Somehow, I ended up in the knitting class. I learned the basics of knit there. How to knit, and purl and a little about how to read a pattern. Enough that I wanted more. Being a simple naive person, I thought I knew how to knit so I embarked on a project, a pretty big one for me at my skill level. I made Stan a sweater. Not really knowing or understanding the gauge thing, I bought yarn and needles and commenced to go to work. It was a beautiful (or it would have been done correctly) neck down ski sweater. It was basically white with a brown and orange yoke. I wanted to give it to him for his birthday so I knitted fast and furious. I made the birthday deadline and so proudly gave him my gift. You have seen the pictures of Stan, he is not and was not a very large person. The sweater would have fit an amazon whose arms drug on the ground. At least his left arm. After that the needles were put away for a season.
When I was expecting Kris, I thought I wanted to try again. Still not completely understanding the gauge I went to a yarn shop and bought some beautiful pastel soft yarn and commenced on a blanket for her. I used the fan pattern for it. In doing this I had to learn yarn overs and how to decrease. It took a while, because you know, Kris was my fourth child so there were loads of diapers to wash and fold and other things to be done before I could knit. I was successful with the blanket. I think Kris still has it even.
The next year we moved to Alaska and Bryan started kindergarten. Again, the knitting bug hit me so I embarked on another project. Off to the yarn shop again and I bought the yarn for a sweater for Bryan. This one was a vast improvement over the first sweater I had knit so many years ago. Bryan wore it for the whole school year. I probably sent it on to a cousin after that, cause I do not know where it is these 34 years later.
I did not knit anything again until Bryan was 18 years old. That year I made him a rag wool sweater that I loved. He wore and wore it, until the day he was in a very serious accident and they had to cut him out of it at the hospital.
I did continue to knit from that time on and find it something that relaxes me completely. I can carry it any place with me and quietly work on it in almost any setting.
As for crochet, my Grandmother was an master at the craft. She tried and tried to teach me how to do it. Finally giving up saying she thought I could not learn because I already knew how to knit. I wanted to learn so while we were living in Alaska I bought a book and taught myself. I did kind of understand the basics because of Grandma. I love to crochet lace and have a roll or two that I have done over the years. Have not attached them to anything yet, but you know how good plans are sometimes. I have also crocheted a pineapple design tablecloth. I did most of it in the car traveling between Washington State and Georgia while Stan was going to school. I do not get to the crochet as often as the knit and sewing, but I do enjoy it when I set down to it.
Sewing, I was taught to do by my Grandmother also. I spent every summer I could with her and when I was 13 she helped me make my first dress. I remember it was blue and buttoned down the front. I loved that dress and wore it as often as it was clean. Remember that in those years, girls did not wear pants to school. We always wore dresses. Being from a large family, money was pretty scarce and my knowing how to sew was a plus for my wardrobe.
Thinking of these past memories makes me think I will dig through some of my pictures and maybe find some of said projects to show you. I think I have them someplace.
Thanks for the question Sarah.