Christmas shopping...

Instead of doing any Christmas shopping, we went to Belmont and bought a large amount of pure wool. Some Icelandic, the grey on the left, and some super untreated Herdwick. Projects in mind include a long cardigan for Agnieszka, a jacket for Kalina and several hard wearing, weather-resistant, ultra-warm hats.

Bless my woollen socks...

One of the changes I have made in recent years has been to try to do something positive at times like Lent and New Year. Instead of attempting to give up or cut down on things, I endeavour to learn something new, or set myself tasks that require a bit of effort throughout the year and not just for a couple of weeks after Christmas.

In November 2008 I, with the aid of my mum’s instruction, a stitch book and a couple of You Tube videos, taught myself to knit. Despite being left-handed (and male) I managed to create half a dozen mobile phone covers, a hot water bottle cover and a scarf made from Shetland Wool (the same Shetlands I would shear later in 2009). I joined a knitting circle, but have limited my involvement with them after the snobby, slightly unfriendly atmosphere I found at the monthly meeting. Although I still ask for bits of advice, on the whole there are plenty of other sources I find more ‘user friendly’.

All this waffle is leading to my New Year’s resolution for last year, 2009, which was to attempt to knit a pair of socks. Wool and needles were duly bought and no fewer than four attempts were made to get started but I persevered and gradually a sock-shaped creation emerged. Interrupted by gardening commitments throughout most of the summer, one and a half socks sat neglected until recently, when the nights drew in and gave me an opportunity to get back to them. They certainly aren’t perfect, any close inspection will reveal their flaws, but they are made by me. I feel chuffed I was able to manipulate five needles, turn the heel and Kitchener stitch the toe and it has given me confidence and an urge to do more.

These were, of course, supposed to be for Agnieszka but somewhere in the measuring I made a mess and they don’t fit. But I have some more wool from Woolfest to knit her a nicer pair and I have, for me, some Hebridean / Blue-faced Leicester wool for a pair of welly socks to keep my feet warm.

With only a few weeks left before the end of the year, I will have to find something new to try for 2010, but I am sure I will keep up with the knitting.

St Valentine's Day...

Did you spend your day with the one you love?

Knit one, swear a bit...

As a child I was surrounded by wool. My mum worked in the wool shop in the village and was constantly either knitting at her machine, or sewing up in the chair by the fire. My nan, my mother’s mum, also knit and it was she who first tried to get me to make something, showing me how to cast on, to knit the stitches and to create small rows of knitting. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried I could never keep to the required number of stitches and my rows grew by three or four at each turn. The wrath of a grandparent ensured I didn’t carry on with something I always wish I had.

So in recent weeks I have decided to try again. I have grand visions of Aran jumpers with great fancy cables up them, fishermens’ ganseys made on the round and with no seams, fancy cardigans sported by super-models, all made by my clacking needles in a few days from the home-spun wool of my own sheep. The reality is much more mundane. For a start I have no sheep, which is a big hindrance when you want to knit chunky shepherd-wear. For another, I have had to start from scratch and teach myself the basics. Thanks are due, in part, to my mum for the basic stitches and to You Tube, for some reminder videos.

Women make it look so easy. They sit there on the bus, in the hospital, by the fire, needles blurred and wool ball bouncing as a fancy jumper takes shape in seconds. Me? I spend twenty minutes trying to knit one row. Why? Because the needles slip out of my hands, because I try to knit the loose bit of wool and not the bit attached to the ball, because the stitches slip off the needles, because my fingers are all thumbs, because I knit so tightly I can’t get the needle into the stitch, because I have only been doing it five minutes where many people learn as kids and carry on. Even so, I have almost got the knit stitch sorted. Next on the list is the purl. Once they are ‘mastered’ I can have a go at casting on (because this is something I don’t quite understand how to do), ribs, cables, patterns and casting off. One step at a time. I do find it relaxing though, until the concentration headache starts, but then I just put it down and go and do the dishes or something.
There’s no real rush to learn, I have all winter. If it takes a few weeks that’s fine, although I’ve had to rethink my original ‘Aran’s for everyone’ Christmas present idea. After that it’s practice and only then, when I have the basics learnt, can I move on to the next step – getting a few sheep.