I've been thinking long and hard about what to require of you for the sake of this contest. I'd like it to be interesting, not just to me, but to the rest of you who read this blog, too. So, here goes, as inspired by Cole's comment.
How long have you been knitting? Who taught you to knit and at what age (if you care to divulge that information)? And finally, do you consider yourself to be an occasional knitter, a regular knitter or an obsessive knitter? You know what I mean.
The rules? Glad you asked. Your answers to the questions MUST be left in the comments on THIS post only. You have until midnight on Saturday, March 10 to leave your comment. On Sunday, I will make up little slips of paper with each entrant's name on it and one of the men in this house (I'll explain that another day) will draw one name.
I've not yet decided on a prize, but I do have a few ideas. Let the fun begin!
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I’ve been knitting for the last 3 years, though my Grandmama taught me about twenty years ago when I was a tyke. I am an obsessive knitter when I feel like other things in my life are out of control, and a regular knitter at all other times. By the way, I just finished my Icarus, too – a gift for my adoptive mother, who (breathe a sigh of relief here) said a gift was “perfect.”
ReplyDeleteI've been knitting for 2.5 years now. I taught myself from the internet over my first winter break of grad school. I am probably a mildly obsessive knitter, though some of my "muggle" friends are sure to disagree.
ReplyDeleteI've been knitting since around 2000 at the age of 39 - before that I was a crocheter. My friend taught me how to knit "American" style and after reading somewhere that it was faster (and useful for fair isle knitting) I re-taught myself to knit "Continental" style. I am definately obsessed! Especially with lace lately.
ReplyDeletefirst of all, I'd like to say congratulations on two years of blogging!
ReplyDeleteI don't really remember learning to knit. It seems like I've always known how. I was a child when I was taught by my grandmother, so that would make it 40ish years. I knit quite a bit in college, then put the needles down for a number of years. I started compulsively knitting again about 4 years ago.
My mom taught me to knit when I was 5 years old and I've been knitting 53+ years. Obsessive or compulsive is the knit attitude in my life.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher taught me knitting when I was 7 or 8 years old and so I have been knitting for over 35 years now (with breaks). I am a regular and sometimes obsessive knitter ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Germany
Heike
I learned how to knit in 1st grade In Germany by a very strict, very scary teacher. (My mom tells stories of me crying over my knitting.) I knit various things throughout the years & started becaming obsessed with it about 7 years ago. (when I realized it was a craft I could do with 2 very active boys running around). Adding to that obsession was the many new books & yarns that started coming out soon after. I fall asleep with yarn & my knitting surrounding me, I have yarn laying in various places around my house, & I consider it a wasted day if I never had a chance to pick up my needles. Perhaps I've long past even obsession & now it's something I need to be survive.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness I'm not alone. ;-)
I've been knitting since my mom taught me when I was 5. She taught me how to knit, sew and crochet to try and keep the tomboy in me down. I had three older brothers, what did she expect! I have been seriously addicted for the past three years - knitting most free moments I have (however many there are with a two year old!).
ReplyDeleteFirst of all - Congratulations on 2 years of blogging!
ReplyDeleteMy Grandma taught me to knit 50 years ago, when I was about 5 years old. She also taught me to crochet, quilt, and do counted cross stitch, and sew. I'm defintely an obsessive (compulsive?)knitter. There's almost never a day I don't knit on one project or another.
I was taught to caston when i was 6. by my crochet crazy aunt. i think she just did it to get me off her back,she taught me to crochet and i kept asking about knitting. i have been knitting off and on every since. 40 years.I have been an obsessive knitter for the last 5 years.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and have knit alot of your patterns.
Jeri
I've been knitting for about two years, but only knit scarves until last November, when I knit my first object in the round. And I've been obsessed about knitting ever since. Oh! and I learned to knit from a book, since no one in my family knits.
ReplyDeleteHow long have you been knitting? 7+ years
ReplyDeleteWho taught you to knit and at what age? My mom taught me, I was 28.
Do you consider yourself to be an occasional knitter, a regular knitter or an obsessive knitter? I think I'm an occasional knitter. I do need to be in the mood to work on a project. I do, however, carry it around with me obsessively "just in case".
Happy Second Blogiversary, Ev!
ReplyDeleteI learned to knit when I was about 6, over 50 years ago. My mom gave me yarn, needles and a beginner booklet and my great aunt helped me when I kept getting holes and lost stitches. I'm a serially-obsessive knitter though this time it seems to be worse and has lasted for several years now.
My mom taught me when I was 9 or so, but it didn't stick. I learned again by taking a class at my LYS in 2001 and have been very hooked since then!
ReplyDeleteMy cousin, Martha, taught me to knit when I was about 5 years old. Thats close to 5 decades ago! :-) I used to knit blankets for my Barbie dolls...except that even than I gave away all my knitting! I call myself a "rabid knitter" so I must be obsessed! Or possessed! :-) Kate/Massachusetts
ReplyDeleteSometimes memories are not always the truth but here is how I remember learning to knit: I must have been fairly young, perhaps in grade two or three? I remember my mother trying to teach me to knit, but it was difficult because I was a leftie and also kind of stubborn. I think I drove my mother to frustration (it wasn't the first time and it wouldn't be the last). Then, as I remember, a sister, more stubborn than me, sat me down and insisted I would not leave until I learned to knit. I learned to knit that day. Later we had to knit at school and I remember taking my knitting home and HOPING that one of my sisters would pick it up and knit for me. They did, but the teacher could always tell it wasn't my work. Go figure. I have since made my peace with knitting and now consider myself an occasional knitter.
ReplyDeleteAll the women in my close and extended family knit and have knitted for years. None of these people taught me! I learned from the internet 3 years ago and realised I wanted to knit more and more so signed up for lessons at a Vancouver yarn store, now gone. My instructor was a big, bald and hunky African Canadian man... who was an amazing knitter. He learned because he couldn't find sweaters big enough for his substantial frame. I can only say I am so grateful I didn't know how to knit until then...something very inspirational about gazing at a beautiful knitting man!! I keep my knitting simple and consider myself a regular knitter.
ReplyDeleteI have known how to knit for almost 40 years. My mother taught me the first time around. Then I "relearned" about 25 years ago by way of the continental method from a fellow colleague. I have become an almost obsessive knitter. At least always thinking about it.
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother taught me how to knit at age 10 so I've been knitting on and off for 38 yrs. I've been an obsessive knitter for the past 6 yrs. My current obsession is sock knitting although a friend of my daughter's is having twin girls so I think I'll be obsessive baby knitting soon.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the second anniversary of your blog. I check in on you everyday.
ReplyDeleteI learned to knit as a child when I received a kids knitting kit. I was probably about eight. I remember there were yellow plastic needles. I knit very tightly. My Mom did the cast off for me. she broke both of the needles because of the tight stitches and had to buy me 'real' needles. I remember her telling me that she was not going to cast off stitches for me if I didn't knit looser. I continued knitting, but I was not able to read a pattern, so I just rectangles and then sewed them into purses. The one I remember was red, white, and blue variegated yarn. I consider myself to be an obsessive knitter. I take my knitting just about everyplace I go. My family and friends definitely think I am an obsessive knitter.
Lynn
lynnhaffner@kc.rr.com
I learned to knit in 4-H about 50 years ago. Made hats, mittens, a sweater for a 4-H project and then put the needles away for a long time. Every once in a while I would make mittens or a baby afghan, but three years ago started knitting baby caps and donating them to a local hospital. Then, my sis said I needed to learn to knit socks. I resisted for a while, but now mostly knit socks and once in a while for my new granddaughter.
ReplyDeleteThe Grandee Mac taught me to knit on March 24, 1948 (5th birthday). She sat me down on her lap and held my arms over my shoulders and thus was born a knitter. Have been at it ever since and think I might be called an obsessive knitter and after almost 59 years I've earned the title.
ReplyDeleteI learned to knit as a child - there was a store in town that had knitting classes for kids. But since I could never figure out how to read my knitting I wasn't very good . I was so bad I had to write down if I had just finished a knit or a purl before I could put my work down.
ReplyDeleteTHEN when I was in my late 20's I tried again and knit some scarves and hats for me and various vests and a sweater for my dear husband. He still wears that blue (acrylic) sweater to this day.
I began to suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome and put the kneedles aside where they stayed until about
THREE years ago, when I was born again! Marc's blue sweater was ratty looking, wearing out and needing replacement. So I got some Red Heart at Wally's, found my old needles and went looking on the net for a pattern since I couldn't find the pattern I had used among the knitting books, needles and yarn I had saved. Those knitting implements had gone with us through 5 moves and 3 states.
Now I knit pretty compulsively. I've been down with a cold for the past week and Marc says he can tell I'm sick because I haven't had my needles in my hands as I watch TV with him in the evening.
I've been reading your blog about a year and a half, having found a mention of it in the Townsend Socks Yahoo Group. You're one of the few who have held my interest and I follow you around pretty regularly. Thanks for sharing your life and knitting with us.
Happy Second Anniversary!!!
ReplyDeletethis is the second time I'll try this! I taught myself to knit when I was around 12 because I wanted a Girl Guide badge - GG were older back then!! I got the little blue instruction booklet by Patton's, I believe, which taught you how to knit, crochet & tat. I went on to knit for all my brothers, the babies next door & was knitting my dad & boyfriend sweaters & socks by my late teens. I've knit for about 45 years for all my pals' kids, socks for everyone I know & the odd blanket or dog sweater here & there. I would say I always have a project or 5 on the go at any given time . . . obsessed?? Nah - pretty Normal, I'd say!
Five years old, grade 1, and Santa brought me a red plastic knitting basket complete (large) red needles and purple yarn. Mom taught me to knit (a woman with great patience, she was left handed and I am right). Early on, I created many doll scarves, often adorned with "buttonholes". Hopefully my knitting has improved along my life's journey. Obsessive? perhaps, knitting of some kind goes with me almost everywhere, one never knows when there may be a moment or two of "wait time". Thanks for letting me share!.....
ReplyDeleteMy mom taught me to knit when I was 6 years old, some 50 years ago. I'm somewhat compulsive, knitting in fits and starts. I'll go days when I can't put the knitting down, then for a few days I don't even look at it! I love to knit socks and have just discovered lace knitting and felting.
ReplyDeleteEv, I am a compulsive knitter. I always have something on the needles. I have been knitting for nearly 40 years. I learned to knit from my grandmother. I am driven by process. I have a need to understand what I am doing and why it is done in that way.
ReplyDeleteMy knitting obsession has grown beyond what I do with my own needles and yarn....I now have a daily need to visit blogs about knitting. Yours is one of my regular reads...I enjoy the way you think and the way you write.
I learned to knit almost 40 years ago, taught by my mom (she could do anything). I hadn't knit for many years (since high school) and then my sister taught me how to knit socks almost 3 years ago. I would consider myself a compulsive knitter (esp of socks,I have about 8 pr going). I surf the net looking for new patterns and visiting blogs everyday. yep it's all about the knitting!
ReplyDeleteI have been knitting for about 40 or so years. I don't remember not being able to knit. I know my mom taught me to knit but I don't remember her teaching me. I do remember her ripping stuff out however, isn't that odd. I must have been 4 or 5 when she taught me. I knit everyday, unless I am too sick to hold my needles and yarn, so I would say I am an obsessive/ compulsive knitter and so would my family.
ReplyDeleteMom taught me to knit when I was 8 or 9. She recently told me why she decided to teach me. My friend and I had made up a game of tying necklace chains in knots and challenging the other to undo the knots. Mom thought our manual dexterity should be put to a more productive use, so she taught us how to knit.
ReplyDeleteI go through phases of regular knitting and obsessive knitting. I am currently in an obsessive knitting phase, which shows no signs of waning.
My Spanish teacher, a nun in a private boarding school, taught me to knit. That would be about 40 years ago! The first item I made was a cabled sweater for my boyfriend (now husband of 35 years). I can still see myself dropping a stitch (one of many)and running down the hall yelling "Sister Mary Frances, Sister Mary Frances, help!" Hubby still has the sweater but doesn't wear any sweaters! I am a regular knitter but a compulsive buyer of patterns and yarns!
ReplyDeleteNeat idea for a contest!
Maria
My Mom taught me how to knit 4 years ago. (I think, knitting blends into my life so well!) I used to work as a CNA, taking care of people in their homes. I needed something to keep me awake while I chatted with my patents after I finished everything. Since I was at most peoples homes for 6 hours or more and finished my work in 3 hours. I have to say I'm an obsessive knitter. I dream about yarn, knitting and patterns!!
ReplyDeleteHallo Ev. In Holland all the girls learned to knit in the lagere school, at the age of about 7.(at least that was so 50 years ago)I'm 54 now so I knit almost 45 years. We had a special teacher for handwerken,and the boys did not have to follow that class!
ReplyDeleteNext month I hope to become a grandmother and therefore I knit a bit more than I used to do, but not as much as you do. So I'm an occasional knitter.I like your blog very much and was very surprised to find a pair of children's socks in a pattern that my mother knitted about 25 years ago for my children.
Thank you for your nice blog and I hope you will continue knitting and writing.
Hello, I learned to knit as a pre-teen in the early 70's and then got obsessed in my twenties. Stopped knitting for about 15 years and now knitting, knitting, working and knitting. I really enjoy your blog.
ReplyDeleteI've been knitting for either around twelve years or for less than one, depending on whether I'm considering when I first learned a bit or when I really took it up as a hobby. My grandma taught me a few basics when I was about 8, and I've been relearning and learning new techniques through books and websites in the past year (I'm 20 right now). How much I knit depends on where I am - when I'm at university I knit regularly, but when I'm at home I only knit occasionally.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on two years of blogging!
I learned to knit at 4-H in high school, because my mom made me. My teacher was a relative. I took a break (about 20 years hehe), but now I am a regular or semi-obsesed knitter.
ReplyDeleteCongrats Ev!
I learned to knit in Brownie Scouts when I was nine years old. Our scout leader taught all the girls in the troop how to knit. That was over 45 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI think I am an obsessive sock knitter. I always have at least two different sock projects on the needles at the same time.
I really enjoy your blog.
Kathy in Minnesota
My Nana first taught me to knit when I was little (about 5) to keep me occupied; I thought it was a game then. She taught me the basics again in the summer of 2005 and she gets "tickled" everytime I show her a new completed project. She may have only showed me the basics but I have taught myself the rest that I know adn gotten advice from other knitters via blogs. She passed on a special gift in my opinion. Thanks for letting me inspire the contest but please do not enter me.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember who taught me to knit, but it was either my Aunt or my mom. Either way it was long forgotten until about 12 years ago when I took it up in earnest again. I am not an occasional knitter, I have several things on the needles and I knit every day, for as much time as I can get in. I always have 2 or 3 pairs of socks on the needles (knit 2 on 2 circs) and presently have 2 sweaters going as well as a shawl.
ReplyDeleteThe blogosphere has definitely "upped" my interest but my skill as well.
I learned to knit a few weeks ago at the Mall of America (Minnesota). There was a great American knit out thing going on and local knitting groups were there giving one-on-one lessons. I have been knitting every day since then, and reading as much as I can to figure out what all of the pattern codes mean. I have also started drawing out patterns on graph paper for once I do figure it out. I am in my late 20's and I would consider myself a regular knitter and an obsessive learner.
ReplyDeleteI've been knitting for 22 years. My mom taught me how to knit when I was 6. A year later I wanted to knit panties for my doll, and as my mom was busy she said I should ask my dad.. He taught me to k2tog, he even finished the panties after I went to bed. I was angry for days, it was MY panties, it was ME who should have finished them... :)
ReplyDeleteI knit regulary, like every day.. I guess you could say I'm a obsessive knitter!