The First Garment
So, there was this storm known by most as the Blizzard of ’77. In Western New York. Snow buried our homes, doorway access covered, and the city was closed. Closed for weeks. I was a college student commuting from home. Mom and Dad were arguing a lot when Dad was around and my special needs sister had recently moved to a group home.
I had a college work/study type job working in the Library. Otherwise, I was bussing it to and from home for my classes. At home, I was either studying or sewing. I was an avid seamstress. I sewed pretty much all my clothes and was gifting garments I had made to my friends.
The storm hit. Homebound. Eventually and slowly, we had to literally dig ourselves out of our edifices much like rodents finding the light of day. As the trenches were formed, we, as neighborly folk, concerned ourselves with each other. Somehow, I shoveled my way down the street to make sure Mrs. Graf was ok. She opened her door with some wooden sticks and a ball of yarn in her grasp. That was my entry into the world of knitting.
She and I became fast friends and she proudly showed me her knitting through the years. Hand knitted suits is what I remember most. Even as a then non-knitter, I could tell they were beautifully done and she was so proud.
She could clearly see my interest with my myriad of questions so she gave me some yarn, a navy blue worsted and set me by her side and helped me knit my first sweater, a solid straight stitch crewneck. Those were days of monograming. So, I took my solid blue crewneck of varying dye lots (wonky in color) to a monograming company and had my monogram, center front, in white, sewn into it. This was a happy moment me and I felt, a happy, proud moment for Mrs. Graf.
The Failure Phase
By then, life was busy. Employment as a public school teacher, purchased my first home, got married, little family included step-son. Then, eventually my daughter.
Mrs. Graf was my inspiration. My knowledge and experience in sewing, my background. Fashion, my passion. Enter, Vogue Knitting. As I sit here and recollect, I do not think I have ever knitted out of any other magazine other than VK. Here is the first issue. (photo) I was enamored, wowed, and amazed at the designs. I studied the yarns used and why. Learned the different weights of yarns and their names. I became determined to knit the patterns and to learn the techniques in which to do that. Eventually the photography, especially in the earlier years of the publications, became my reference, inspiration, and guide.
Back then there were yarn shops. A bunch of them, here, locally. That is where knitters, crocheters, crafters of all sorts purchased yarn. I thought the yarns were beautiful and was always excited and happy with my purchases. However, the yarns that were referenced in the magazines that were used in the sweaters in the magazine were never available, locally.
And, you know that little word called gauge? Well, I just skipped over that. YIKES! Like, why would anyone knit a swatch 4″ by 4″? What a waste of time. All the while, however I would sit at home, read the pattern, try to figure out the stitch and utilize the local yarn shop(s) for help. And, sweater and sweater did not fit. Poor fit = life on a shelf. If my goal was to wear what I was knitting, I wasn’t.
The Fit Phase
The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over, again. Eventually, I asked myself, “What am I doing wrong or not doing at all?” I talked to knitters, I read books, I talked to knit shop owners. And, that little word kept coming up. Much like a diet that you may or may not want to follow but if you did would get you the results that you wanted, that is what knitting a gauge is like. You just gotta knit up a gauge . . . or two . . . or three.
And, so I did/have from then to now. With all follow-up projects and that includes wraps and scarves. That gauge is the defining step you discover the number of stitches to the inch you are knitting. You wouldn’t think 1 stitch off would make a difference but if you divide the width of the garment by 4, it matters.
For ex. 20″ wide a garment. You are off 1 stitch per 4 inches. 20/4 = 5. Now, you are off 5 stitches for the size of the width which interprets as NOT the gauge of the pattern and NOT the size you want. What a knitter who concerns himself/herself with size would say at the point of noticing a gauge issue, “I need to change needle size and knit another gauge.” Yes, UGH but . . .
Now, and finally confidence was growing in my knitting. Finally, garments were fitting and I was wearing them.
The Fotography (photography) Phase
Enter the age of computers. Enter social media. Second home.
Enter Ravelry. WHAT? There ARE other knitters in the World. And, WOW! A knitter’s paradise. Millions around the world were/are sharing their knitting projects on this site. Beautiful, inspirational knitting. And, how does one share? “Oh, NOOOO! Photography! What do I know about modeling or photographing? How do I feel about sharing my projects?”
I cannot tell you how many emotions I have had about this phase. And, not all positive. I had to truly re-build my confidence in order to share my efforts online.
The fine-tuning Phase
Children grown, hubby passed, moved into third home, fully retired.
I’d like to think this is where I am now. I am knitting wide variety of projects, I understand fit, I have garnered lots of skills through determination and when needed, through YouTube, My photography goals have changed over time as has my age. Knitting habits have changed, knitting several projects at once and being ok with unfinished projects sitting around for a while. Also, I knit in shorter spurts of time. I love where I am going with this art form and love sharing with others. But, in particular, I love being inspired by other knitters, love talking to knitters, and continue to be fulfilled creatively with knitting.
The F – – – Phase (not counted as one of the 5, but always there when needed)
Tell me if this word hasn’t been spoken or otherwise included in your knitting journey somewhere along the way . . .
Hollyknits2.0 