Right after I was tossed from the house, I learned to knit. In my mind, those two events are link together. I suppose because I always wanted to learn to knit and my birth mother was… let us just say, not interested.
I’ve knit off and on since then. I’ve been in an off stage for a bunch of reasons that don’t really matter. Recently, I met a bunch of fun knitters who encouraged me to start knitting again.
This week, I opened the closet to look at my knitting stuff. Wanna see what I have?
Thursday Thirteen #38 – My yarnish compulsion.
1. Here’s my knitting “box”. Actually, it’s a free soft sided fishing tackle box that I got from Marlboro. (I used to collect the points off the ground and this was one of the prizes.)
2. Inside the yarn box, lives a little plastic box that holds my 
needles and other knitting essentials. I love Crystal Palace bamboo needles but when I was last knitting they were not making these needles. Now that knitting is “cool”, they are back in business. Plus I had a knitting friend who read me the riot act for my wood needles. We had to use metal or plastic needles around her. Esh. Shut up!
3. I like to knit in the round. Rather than knitting one side at a time, you knit the entire thing at one time. It gets a little tricky around the top, but it’s fairly straight forward over all. Here’s my knitting in the round needles.
In red knitting box
Knitting in the round needles
4. I consider these to be the most essential tools of knitting.
A pair of scissors, stitch holders for sleeves or pieces, caluculator to determine gauge, large needles for fixing things and sewing together, crochet needle for fixing things, and scissors.
5. Here are a few of my favorite books.
I love Emily Post’s knitting, crocheting and embroidering because I’ve had it for so long. It’s my first knitting book – well actually, I stole it from my mother’s bookshelves. She inherited the book from her mother.
The Knitter’s Companion is a great knitting book. It has the basics and also has great tables like how much yarn you need to make a size 10 sweater. It’s small enough to carry with you, so I take it to wool festivals.
The Step by Step knitting I bought in Paris the first time. It’s a fabulous book filled with every stitch you can imagine. Great descriptions of how to make beautiful things. YAY! Oh, it’s in British, so you have to convert a bit.
6. My very most favorite book is the Sweater Workshop. 
This book was out of print forever, but is now back because of knittings popularity. It shows how to easily, painlessly knit. I like it because it takes the drama out of knitting. If you want to knit a sweater, you need this book – really!
7. In the days before the internet, knitting patterns were really expensive and hard to come buy. If someone you knew had a pattern, they would usually make you a copy. Everyone I knew had a binder like this one. Now you can bet patterns really easily and they are cheap! Amazing how technology changes things!
8. The coolest knitting thing I own is a tool from my grandmother. 
She died when I was six months old. There was a chest of her things in our house that I would play with as a kid. This was one of her precious knitting items. I heard that she was taught knitting at the “insane asylum” but who knows? This is a stitch and needle guage.
And yarn? More than anything, I love yarn.
Ok you’ll laugh. I haven’t knitted in at least three years. But I still have quite a stash. Wanna see it?
9. Box 1 holds my sock yarn.
10. Box 2 holds project yarn
This is yarn that I either bough for a specific purpose – to make bears with (brown) or a specific sweater (maroon – trust me I would never intentionally buy this color or anything acrylic). Some of it was given to me in order for me to knit something specific (yarn from Scotland).
11. Box 3 holds yarn I bought for myself.
This yarn I bought for simply because I loved it. I will probably make something out of all of it, but for now, it’s just pretty.
12. So what did I decide to knit?
I decided to knit a lace scarf out of some alpaca that a friend of ours alpaca herd. I just started so here’s what I have so far.
13. Now what crafts or projects have YOU left behind that you’d like to return to?? List your abandoned creative projects in the comments and I’ll add them to the post.
- Jewelry making (Janet at Fond of Snape)
- “My grandma taught me how to crochet when i was little. i don?t remember how to do it but i would love to re-learn so i can make a scarf. i love scarves.” (Jehara)
- “It?s been years since I?ve knitted anything.” (Sarah at Puss Reboots)
- “Sort of like I used to bead and had so much beads and bead gear, but a few years back I got rid of it all. It just got out of hand but it served me well for quite a few years as in income.” (Colleen at Loose Leaf Notes)
- “I decided to ?bead?. It worked well until I adopted Rumsfeld, who delights in spreading my beads everywhere. He put an end to my needlepoint – shredding the yarn. My newest idea is cigar box hand bags. We shall see.” (SJ Reidhead)
- “I have a never ending scarf that my children think is hilarious. I find I love to knit when my mind is cluttered. Funny thing is, I have no idea how to end it LOL I guess it doesn?t much matter because I?ll probably never finish it.” (Adelle Laudan)
- “I do calligraphy?just used it for a girlfriend?s wedding invitation?used to do latchwork but then I discovered the ?net?and 15 years later?well?lol.” (Yasmin)
- “After years of passionate crocheting, I?ve just started to knit. And yup, already the unfinished projects – one knit teddy bear that?s almost done being sewn up, one small purse in the same state, two doll sweaters. But I did finish matching sweaters for our little one and her favorite doll. Very cool!” (Grandmother Wren)
- “I have gone through many hobbies: painting, cross-stitching, scrapbooking, photography?.. I have discovered I have boxes and boxes of scrapping materials. After I get L?s baby book caught up, I think it will be time to get rid of it all! It is just taking up precious space.” (Tommie at Tuesday Update)
- ” I do like graphic design.” (Pamela Kramer)
- “I?d rather cook or bake.” (CEO at Morning Meeting)
- “Well, a plethora of unfinished projects!” (Perpstu)
- “I keep telling myself I?m going to get back into painting. I plan to paint something for my new house and even have a blank canvas waiting for me.” (Jill at Another day in the same life)
- “I have also crocheted a little when I was younger and have embroidered a few things. I guess the most I every accomplished was with cross stitching. I just don?t think I am a needle craft type of person.” (Toni at It’s Nap Time)
- “I love knitting I don?t know how to do very much but I find it very relaxing I have tried to learn crocheting but to no avail me and those hooks don?t get along lol.” (Rae)
- ” did a bunch of fabric painting a few years back and there are still tubes of paint, brushes, stencils, etc., etc. etc. in a plastic bin in my closet. I did beading and made jewelry for several years and now all that has turned into a discovery fest for the kiddo too. This is one that I would love to pick up again someday when I don?t have all the ?help?.” (Tricia at Tabbikats Time)
- “I started quilting once, and I guess that is still my downfall. I still find myself at the fabric store (or even walmart) checking out different fabrics that would make a COOL quilt.” (Lisa at Stamps A Latte)
- “Now it?s scrapbooking and photography for me.” (Ivanhoe)
- “About this time of year, the urge to knit becomes very strong. Maybe this time I?ll act on it.” (Heart in SF)
- “I did beaded necklaces for a bit. I still knit, but I never got beyond the scarf stage. I tried crochet once, but I never finished even the one granny square. I also don?t sew anymore.” (Celtic Librarian)
- “I would like to return to scrapbooking (which has taken a definite hiatus since joining the Cult of Insanity). I?ve always wanted to take up jewelry making too. I don?t have enough patience for anything other than writing lately. And, I need to take advantage of the unblock while I can.” (Cajun Vegan)
- “I didn?t knit for most of the time that I was away on my trip so I?m looking forward to relaxing and getting back to the potholders I?m trying to make before I tackle a baby blanket. I?m definitely looking forward to creating some more things.” (Los Angelista)
- “You could say that my writing is/was a casual pursuit. yet I have never gone a week without writing something since I was 14. Jaysus! I think I need to get out more or something.” (Mark at the Walking Man)
- “i do/did creative things but never considered them hobbies.” (Jameil)
- “I have stacks of magazines that I pillage for collages I do as a way of seeing the story I?m working on. You can?t create if you don?t have the raw materials. And non-creative types will just have to shake their heads and wonder, because the rest of us will keep gathering our material.” (Julia)
- “My creativity flows mostly from the kitchen in the fall when I cook more?other times I?m challenged to be creative to keep my kids entertained
” (Flowering Shrub) - “Maybe one day, I?ll have a really nice garden to tend?one day?” (Claudia at Skipping Stones)
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Great choice for TT! mine’s uptoo hope you can drop by…
My wife used to knit a lot. It isn’t a hobby – it’s a science
I’m probably the perfect person to get hooked on knitting because I hate to be perfectly still. I don’t knit because instead of using my fingers on needles, they tend to dance over keyboards.
I have some very good friends who knit. I’m in awe of every single one of them… errr, you.
Jewelry making
I actually hadn’t thought about knitting in years. My mother use to knit and crochet. Nice hobby.
Looks like You’re ready to go!
Happy T13!
my grandma taught me how to crochet when i was little. i don’t remember how to do it but i would love to re-learn so i can make a scarf. i love scarves. happy tt
It tried knitting but wasn’t doing it right and it make my hands ache. I admire all those who have mastered this craft!
It’s been years since I’ve knitted anything. Happy TT.
I don’t knit, but it looks like you know what you’re doing!
Yeah, I know that Darwin never said a fish grew legs, and really the whole Darwin fish at legs is a crack at those who put Jesus fish on their car. And I don’t think anyone’s proven anything of the sort happens since it’s not scientifically observable, but that wasn’t the point anyway. But it’s just an interesting thought I had.
Thanks for stopping by!
Sort of like I used to bead and had so much beads and bead gear, but a few years back I got rid of it all. It just got out of hand but it served me well for quite a few years as in income. Floydfest was my TT appetizer.
Don’t you just hate yourself when you do these things? I decided to “bead”. It worked well until I adopted Rumsfeld, who delights in spreading my beads everywhere. He put an end to my needlepoint – shredding the yarn. My newest idea is cigar box hand bags. We shall see.
Good luck. I think they have support groups for people like us.
SJR
The Pink Flamingo
I have a never ending scarf that my children think is hilarious. I find I love to knit when my mind is cluttered. Funny thing is, I have no idea how to end it LOL I guess it doesn’t much mattter because I’ll probably never finish it. Happy knitting.
I’m not very creative…oh wait…I do calligraphy…just used it for a girlfriend’s wedding invitation…used to do latchwork but then I discovered the “net…and 15 years later…well…lol.
I have a couple of bookclub members who enjoy knitting…will send them ova her to check out your blog.
After years of passionate crocheting, I’ve just started to knit. And yup, already the unfinished projects -
one knit teddy bear that’s almost done being sewn up,
one small purse in the same state,
two doll sweaters.
But I did finish matching sweaters for our little one and her favorite doll. Very cool!
Thanks for sharing your stuff!
I have gone through many hobbies: painting, cross-stitching, scrapbooking, photography…..
I have discovered I have boxes and boxes of scrapping materials. After I get L’s baby book caught up, I think it will be time to get rid of it all! It is just taking up precious space.
How cool to have those knitting supplies from your grandmother!
WOW – You are so organized! I don’t have a craft that I can get back too. I do like graphic design but I don’t think that is what you had in mind.
Oh I have to LEARN I have to!!!!
I have never knit, I’d rather cook or bake.
Yet another thing we have in common – knitting. Well, that and a plethora of unfinished projects! I like you more and more every single day!
You are sooooo organized! I can’t knit, so why don’t you come over and teach me — and then stick around to organize my house too :p
Every hobby takes a ton of stuff inorder to complete a project. Kim
Your list looks a lot like I would have done, but not knitting…I crochet. That gauge of your grandmother’s looks really nifty!!
Happy T-13…hope your day treats you well. Come on by if you can find time, this week Jef?’s back with her Thursday Humor………..
You have quite an impressive knitting collection Claudia!
I keep telling myself I’m going to get back into painting. I plan to paint something for my new house and even have a blank canvas waiting for me.
I have tried knitting 2 different times about 20 years apart. It never took with me. I have also crocheted a little when I was younger and have embroidered a few things. I guess the most I every accomplished was with cross stitching. I just don’t think I am a needle craft type of person. I LOVE the stuff just not good at making it myself…
Great list, Happy TT!
I’m not into knitting or any crafts.
Happy knitting!
I love knitting I don’t know how to do very much but I find it very relaxing I have tried to learn crocheting but to no avail me and those hooks don’t get along lol.Happy TT
I used to knit and crochet all the time, now the left over yarn has been confiscated by my 6 year old and the rest of the supplies languish.
I did a bunch of fabric painting a few years back and there are still tubes of paint, brushes, stencils, etc., etc. etc. in a plastic bin in my closet.
I did beading and made jewelry for several years and now all that has turned into a discovery fest for the kiddo too. This is one that I would love to pick up again someday when I don’t have all the “help”.
Well, I never learned to knit, but I do know how to crochet and sew, and currently do not do either. I started quilting once, and I guess that is still my downfall. I still find myself at the fabric store (or even walmart) checking out different fabrics that would make a COOL quilt.
Happy TT!
I learned how to knit & crochet when I was a kid. Just basics though. Never got really into it and did not try it since. Now it’s scrapbooking and photography for me. Have a great Thursday, Claudia!
Oh, we are kindred spirits for sure. I used to spin my own yarns , dye them with natural dyes and knit sweaters with intricate designs. Yarns dyed with plants and nuts and bark all blend beautifully. I also haven’t knitted in many years but I still have a stash of needles, straight and round, and a large basket of handspun yarns I couldn’t bear to leave behind.
I also made organic jewelry to go with my sweaters, and still have a huge toolbox filled with beads.
About this time of year, the urge to knit becomes very strong. Maybe this time I’ll act on it.
Well…I did beaded necklaces for a bit. I still knit, but I never got beyond the scarf stage. I tried crochet once, but I never finished even the one granny square. I also don’t sew anymore.
…now I’m depressed. I need to go home and go through my craft boxes.
Mom tried to teach me the craft, but I didn’t have the patient for it. *lol*
I would like to return to scrapbooking (which has taken a definite hiatus since joining the Cult of Insanity). I’ve always wanted to take up jewelry making too. I don’t have enough patience for anything other than writing lately. And, I need to take advantage of the unblock while I can.
I wrote about What I Am today … sort of.
i just sing & dance. that’s it
What a lovely trip down knitting lane! I didn’t knit for most of the time that I was away on my trip so I’m looking forward to relaxing and getting back to the potholders I’m trying to make before I tackle a baby blanket. I’m definitely looking forward to creating some more things.
You have to have all that stuff to knit? Ok, I have more respect for my Aunt Agnes now. . . .
My TT #2 is about Pixel – she was licking my face when I was trying to come up with my subject, lol.
I thought about this for a day OG and have found that I never really had a hobby. You could say that my writing is/was a casual pursuit. yet I have never gone a week without writing something since I was 14. Jaysus! I think I need to get out more or something.
i do/did creative things but never considered them hobbies. yay for re-discovering one of yours@
Only non-creative types wonder why you would have boxes of beautiful yarn if you’re not knitting at that very moment. Meh to them.
I have stacks of magazines that I pillage for collages I do as a way of seeing the story I’m working on. You can’t create if you don’t have the raw materials. And non-creative types will just have to shake their heads and wonder, because the rest of us will keep gathering our material.
I am one of the lucky people to have recieved a lovely smokey navy blue blanket for my first child from this fabulous knitter! It’s great to know that you have shaken the dust off you case and have started up again. Who knows what creativity will flow from you! My creativity flows mostly from the kitchen in the fall when I cook more…other times I’m challenged to be creative to keep my kids entertained
Here’s to rediscovering something that makes you happy and puts you in a zone!
Maybe one day, I’ll have a really nice garden to tend…one day…
Cool hobby, Claudia! I wish I could do it. Good luck!