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BTW, here is my oldest son, Andrew, and his fiance, Kristin.
They’re getting married in May!

Hmm…a knitted garter, perhaps?

Well, last night I started a cute little hat for my soon-to-be godson in Cotton Classic thinking I’d take a break from my wonderful Clapotis. It was so quick and easy I ended up finishing it the same evening. Sure, it was 1:30 in the morning when I finally weaved in the last of the loose ends, but it’s cute, huh? It probably won’t fit him for another month, but here in upstate Michigan we have the never-ending winters, so I have that goin’ for me.

I also finally finished the shrug I made last month out of Lion Brand Chenille Thick & Quick. This was a great no-brainer kind of knitting project that kept me busy until I got the nerve to start my Clapotis. This thing had been sitting on my counter all rolled up waiting to be stitched together for too long. I wasn’t real sure how it was going to look, but once I finished it, I found I actually liked it. I’m amazed how much it even looks like the picture! Hmm. Go figure.

Well, I couldn’t help myself. I went to our not-so-LYS to pick up two more skeins for my WIP, the Clapotis, and ended up finding some BEAUTIFUL hand-dyed yarn from Twisted Sisters in Mirage and decided that would be my next Clapotis scarf for summer. While I was there, I found the cutest patterns for a couple of baby hats for my new twin neice and nephew, so I had to get some yarn for those! I’ll have to get moving on the hats, though. There’s a Christening for them on the 21st, and we get to be Godparents to one (Evan)! I’m tickled pink, but I’ll make his in blue.

Charlotte is alive and well.

I started knitting in December of 2004 after buying a lovely Fun Fur scarf at a crap show. Having given up my photography hobby after starting a family, I never really figured my knitting would amount to much. After all, I’d tried it when I was younger, and I never could get the hang of the tautness of the yarn and the swivel of the needles. This time, though, I had the internet. I had online videos that were like having a teacher in front of me. I learned how to knit with the ‘throw’ method. I had the Stitch ‘n Bitchbook with its countless hints and pages of humor to help me realize (gasp!) it wasn’t just ME!I took to knitting like a spider to spinning. I loved it. I loved touching the yarn. I loved the gadgets. I loved all the different kinds of needles I could find on e-bay and in craft stores. I loved the patterns and started collecting them and binding them before I ever believed I could knit them. I knit loads of scarves, lots of hats , mittens, socks, purses, purses, purses (all felted, of course), a summer top, shawls, kids’ sweaters. When I learned my brother was expecting twins, I went crazy with booties, caps, anything tiny that could be knit up in an evening.

I learned the lingo. I have a “stash.” I’ve had to “frog” my work. I can pm, ssk, ktbl, ptbl, yo, and m1. It’s like another language, and I love it. I find I even like winding balls of yarn! Instead of dreading the monotony of garter stitch, I’ve decided to enjoy the process that lets me feel constructive yet allows me the luxury you might feel staring at a fire or watching waves washing up on the beach. It’s calming. It’s peaceful. It is rejuvinating.

And not a little bit time-consuming.

But now that I’m a little older (I turned 50!), I try to enjoy the moment. These are the good ol’ days.