I Made That?

Knitting is weird. When I really think about it, my brain can’t wrap my head around what I am doing when I knit. I just cruise along, clickity clacking my needles together and magically I am making loops interact with other loops and I am forming a fabric. It boggles my mind! But somehow, after the last 15 years of making 302 hats, 49 sweaters, 18 cowls, 13 scarves, 2 pairs of socks and 1 blanket, my brain can take over on cruise control for the most part and I can watch bad TV and knit. My knitting isn't great (I am not opposed to keeping my mistakes, and plowing ahead) but damn I love it!

Now let’s talk about my crafty heritage. My mom, who is 92, knits every Monday with her assisted living buddies (they gossip and have a good ol’ time!) took 29 years to finish knitting a black and white fair isle sweater. I remember it sitting in a wicker basket in the family room. We teased her about it, but us kids kept her too busy I guess for her to finish. She surprised me and completed it and gave it to me for my 40th birthday! I promptly lost it a few years later. Mom was also a beautiful seamstress. She made herself, my sister and I matching dresses, matching pajamas, and Barbie clothes, and sometimes she would put our initials on the left chest – just like that giant L Laverne had. Her handi-work, be it knitting or sewing, was meticulous. When she was a kid, she also did embroidery on flour sack towels. I have several of them, never used. I will frame them in my craft area one day.

My sister is also uber crafty. She went to design school and graduated in technical pattern editing for sewing. She also can knit and crochet. If I have sewing questions, she is my go to. She does custom sewing projects on the side, she just made pants for a 7 foot tall dude. Her sewing basement (the whole basement, no joke) is like a little mini factory.

Back to MY knitting. Clearly I am obsessed, but my favorite projects of late are making sweaters for my dog. He loves to wear clothes – when I take out a dog shirt or sweater, he runs over to me and puts his little doggie arms in the air, as if to facilitate the dressing process. He is a skinny little guy, so I get it, he gets cold. But the joy in his heart when he puts on a sweater I made him, it is something to see. I have yarn put aside for 8 more sweaters for Pop-Tart. (Yep, that’s his name).

Shall we review some recent knitting projects?

1) Pop-Tart’s cotton summer sweater – a pop of color and a fitted silhouette – what every fashionable dog needs in those warm summer months!

2) We must be ready for winter! Pop-Tart gets chilled to the bone! This warm and tweedy sweater puts Burberry to shame.

3) Last but not least, here is a collage of some of my recent non-dog knits.

I am proud to be from a crafty family. Don't be afraid to embrace your inner maker! Here are the essential items I would suggest for any one leaning into their crafty side:

A sewing machine. FIND OR DOWNLOAD THE MANUAL. Doesn't have to be a fancy machine, just a reliable one that you know how to operate.

Get your tools organized. Get a good pair of scissors. I have several sizes, you will be using them a lot!

I organize my knitting needles by type - straight, circular, double pointed. I like bamboo needles so I don't drop stitches.

Join some online groups - for knitting, definitely sign up for Ravelry. It is free, with a huge data base of patterns. It is like Facebook for knitters.

I hope you find as much joy in making things as my family has!