My own little knitting blog - March 19, 2004

I am new to blogging and not sure how to begin.
Welcome......
I guess I will share a bit about me and my knitting.
I was taught at a very early age.... 8 or 9 years old.... how to knit, crochet, embroidery, needlepoint and many, many other needlework type things. I am now 45 years old and it is difficult to remember if it was my babysitter that got me interested or was it my grandmother (my Dad's Mom). I seem to remember it must have been my grandmother that first helped spark an interest. I started being taught to chain stitches for crochet with little bits of yarn that my grandmother gave me. I learned to chain by hand and then was given a crochet hook and some knitting needles. I was shown how to cast on to the knitting needles. That was fun, then was how how to knit and crochet with some pretty aqua colored yarn that my grandmother gave to me. I knit a long square and was shown how to bind off stitches. Now what to do with this aqua square that I knitted. I knew right away.... make a little bag to put my bathing suit in for my swimming lessons. So, I took some yarn, stitched up the sides and then added a bright orange drawstring. I was so proud of that little bag that I would take to the pool everyday for swim lessons. I still have this little bag in fact. What a great beginning to learning to do something that has brought me such great pleasure and relaxation for so many years.
From that time forward I learned to do the other needle crafts that I mentioned. Nothing compared to how knitting really captured my full attention at such an early age. This love of knitting turned out to be what got me through many a gym class that I could not take due to being able to participate again but still had to watch. I had some serious problems with my legs that appeared when I was 10 years old. I began knitting clothes for my dolls and many other little things that kept me occupied thoughout those gym classes that I could only sit and watch others have fun. As a few years passed though.... it no longer bothered me that I could not take gym classes and was happy to watch and knit.
Through these years... also at age 9 I had learned to sew on my Mothers old Singer sewing machine. For those old enough to remember.... remember the old black Singer machines? That is what I learned to sew with. No fancy stitches, just plain sewing.
As I grew older I started sewing most of my clothes and knitting sweaters, etc. and made these for myself and as gifts. My prized sweater was actually a very heavy cardigan that I made when I was a Senior in high school. I loved that sweater. And then started making afghans since these could be put away for when I would marry someday. I even remember knitting a boyfriend a sweater and we broke up just before I had the sweater all blocked and put together. I gave it to my Dad instead and he supposedly still has it to this very day.
When I married and later started to have my children I began knitting blankets, booties and lots of other baby items for them. As they all grew older I made little vests with animals on them that were worn over a shirt. And during this time I had found an ad in a local paper from a woman that was going to open a store on the beach. She was looking for knitters to design and create sweaters for her store. I called, made an appointment for her to come to my home to see my work. She was very impressed since I was young..... 23 years old. She told me that from what she was shown that my work was just as good if not better than the older women that she had also interviewed. She hired me immediately. The best part..... I worked at home, designed and knit for her studio. I was brought yarn, needles, graphing paper and anything else that I needed for each sweater or item that I knit for the studio. I was paid per each sweater or item I knitted and in the 1980's what I was paid was really very good for being able to stay home and do something that I truely love.
To tell you a bit more about this studio..... it was located on the beach side of where I used to live. The yarns we used were all from cone yarns and sometimes some other packaged yarns to be wound and blend together to create a one of a kind yarn. Each of the sweaters and other items made for this studio were all one of a kind. Same patterns were used for some items but never 2 that were identical. This made these sweaters and other items very unique for the customers that came to this studio to buy.
Eventually.... 5 years after I began knitting for this studio the owner had a fall that finally forced her to close her store. I was so saddened by this because not only did I love what I was doing but I had become friends with the owner of this studio. When she closed I did go and buy out alot of the cone yarns because at that time I had also bought 2 knitting machines and was using cone yarns for the machines. I also had started to blend my own yarns by winding a one of a kind yarn for sweaters that I made for myself, for my sister, my Mom and for others. Also began to sell some of my own creations at shows.
So, when the studio was finally closed for good I decided why not open my own "shop" and decided that I would actually create a mail order yarn business. I had many obsticles to go through to get the approval from zoning to have this in our home. I was persistent though and did all that I needed to do including going to the town meeting which is also radio broadcast to request approval for my mail order business to be run from my home. I was granted approval and opened a Post Office Box, applied for my business license and I was open for business.... finally. Then came the decision making for what yarns to buy and from where. Now this is back in the day where there was no internet so this took alot of time and work to get the contacts I needed for buying what is known as mill end yarns. My friend that owned the studio also helped provide me with where to search for the yarns I wanted for my business. Then the orders started to come in with my inventory. Advertising began both locally and also found that I could advertise in a McCalls Needlework magazine. Later I was found and asked by a writer to be included in a new book..... Fiberworks Sourcebook.... this was also in the 1980's. I was so thrilled that I was going to be included in a book and had hopes that this would help with my business sales.
Since this time.... I had divorced and had 4 children to raise alone. So, it was time to pack up, sell the house and move near my parents. At the time I was living in Florida and my parents were in Indiana. This was a big decision and move for us. I had to close my mail order business at that time also since I knew I would have to get a "real" job once we got ourselves moved.
Through these years.... since 1991 I have managed to get far away from knitting as I used to. I had only knit alot of cotton dishcloths and a few scarves through these years. And I have missed knitting so much. As a young mother though once I had to start working part time and then went back to college, then working full time in addition to college, raising a family.... there was just no time to enjoy knitting as I once had in the past.
Until now....... I remarried almost 5 years ago and this winter I have finally managed to knit something more than cotton dishcloths/washcloths and scarves. I found that some of my internet soapmaking friends also knit and from photos shared of projects they have been working on I was inspired. I wanted to knit again.
So..... I found a few local yarn stores and bought some sock yarn, yarn for making a French market bag for a knit along. Started a pair of socks.... still have the 2nd one to complete. Those tiny size 1 needles are hard on my hands. I was still determined to knit more things. I started the french market bag and wanted more yarn for 2nd one. So, I accidently came across a retailer that had a mail order yarn business less than a mile from my home. They opened in November and I found them when a link for Denise knitting needles led me to there mail order website. I look around their website and loved all the yarns that I saw. I just had to plan a visit to this store so I patiently waited until they opened, gave them a call, asked if I could come by the store to shop and see what they have. Also told them I wanted a set of the Denise needles. I made a visit to this store and it was like a child walking into a candy store. I just "had to" have some of this beautiful yarn. I found yarn for a 2nd french market bag and also some yarn for making a Booga Bag. I was so excited about this new store, the new yarn and my new needles.
Since this discovery of these stores I have managed to knit 1 1/2 pairs of socks, 6 scarves, 2 French Market Bags, 1 Booga Bag and a 2nd one almost completed. I have started another pair of socks for my husband and have plans to make more of the Booga Bags for gifts for my sister, my Mom and my oldest daughter for their birthdays. I also have found several new patterns, a couple of books and several magazines..... all of this since early February. I think the "knitting bug" has bitten me bad..... really bad! And I am am enjoying every moment of it.
Oh.... also during the first visit to a yarn store I also bought a top whirl spindle and have had some wool roving to begin learning to spin. I was given a very quick showing of how to begin spinning with the spindle. Now to just put down the knitting needles long enough to give spinning a "whirl". I want to learn to spin my own wool for future projects since I am enjoying knitting and felting purses so much. I also have been creating drawings of purses that I would like to graph and create.
My true love of yarn at the moment is handpainted yarns. I absolutely love all the gorgeous yarns I have seen while doing online searches. I want to buy everything I see. Wish the budget would allow that..... reality though says NO. Just have to bookmark websites and will have these for future purchases.
Well.... that is about all I can think to share today about myself and my own knitting experience.
Have a great day..... And HAPPY KNITTING!

Sharon