Back To Basics Knitting
In my continued effort to use up the many craft materials I have, and finish some unfinished craft business, I am rediscovering knitting. For those who may not have read far back enough on this blog to know, there was a time in my life when I was quite an obsessive knitter. My grandmother taught me simple garter stitches when I was 4 or 5 (I had not yet started school). I managed a few stitches here and there, but it never really caught on in my head.
When I was pregnant with Ian I took a beginner knitting class at Weaving Works here in Seattle. I was smitten with the whole process of my fingers and 2 needles manipulating yarn into cloth, I just loved it. I became quite obsessed with knitting for my new baby and for Emma, and I remember many evenings sitting in my favorite chair, with needles clicking away, the trail of a new panel of something spilling down my very large belly. I knitted a blanket for Ian (out of Little Badgers, my all time favorite kids knitting book), a fair isle sweater, a fisherman sweater, a pirate sweater, pillows, toys…you name it. I was eager to try anything, and tried almost everything. Having bobbins of 7-8 different yarn colors dangling from my knitting didn’t phase me a bit.
Then, just as could have been predicted, I burned out completely. I had grown tired of it. I was over the counting, the blocking, the sewing together, the not fitting. I remember the last project was a sweater I knitted for Emma from Pipsqueaks (a lovely book full of good patterns) and I just loved it. I had stayed up late the night before I gave it to her to sew it all together, had it out for Emma to put on the next morning. She squealed, pulled it on over her head and within five minutes mumbled something to the effect of “its itchy right here” and promptly took it off and never wore it again. To say I was crestfallen is an understatement. I didn’t decide to stop simply because of that sweater, but I definitely took a giant step back.
But I really miss having a project…and easy project…to do with my hands at night when Peter and I are sitting quietly and watching TV. The lighting in our family room is not good for embroidering (although I’ve considered extra lighting, I haven’t gotten around to it yet.) I really need something to grab and just do. But I didn’t even think about knitting at all. But I suddenly had the perfect inspiration last week. Something that would use up my existing yarn stash (or at least begin to), would require no concentrated counting after the initial cast on, could be picked up or put down easily, and could also be completely portable.
I pulled out my wool yarns (which feel like Cascade 220-ish weight, but the labels have been lost, so who knows) and my number 7 bamboo needles. Both these were essential components in those knitting lessons where everything really clicked (and they still feel very nostalgic and easy for me for that reason). I’ve been knitting 8″ x 8″ squares of simple garter stitches (knitting every row). When each swatch measures a square 8″ x 8″, I cast off, and grab another color, and begin a new swatch.
What will all these swatches make, you’re asking? Hopefully a blanket (or at least a throw). I am just going to keep knitting and not try and figure out how many of these squares I’ll really need for now. The most important thing is I can carry on a conversation, and interact while I knit these.
Seems I’ve rediscovered knitting at its most basic level, and I’m so happy to have this project. When I sit down at night, I knit and talk and interact and can almost knit without looking at what I’m doing. Exactly what I was looking for.
Now if I could quilt and knit at the same time I’d be golden.
Oh, and thank you all so much for the lovely comments on the sunshine quilt!
Sarah Jackson
February 14, 2010 at 4:03 pmI love simple garter squares – especially in worsted weight yarn.
btw, I have that garter stitch slipper pattern somewhere, including the pompom. Let me know if you ever want me to dig it out. It’s ancient and out of copyright, so I can share.
blair/wisecraft
February 14, 2010 at 5:38 pmYes! I would love to have a copy some time. Just to have it, even if I never knit them, you know? She made so many pairs of those!
Jessica
February 14, 2010 at 6:32 pmLove those colors!
I am dealing with a similar situation in that I loved knitting so much when I learned, and then I discovered quilting. I do miss the TV-handwork element, though, and so will always have some knitting going for that reason (sewing a quilt binding fills the void nicely, too). Also, while I’ve discovered I don’t have the patience for larger projects, hats & socks & baby-size cuteness I can do, and it’s very gratifying to see those things in use on the people I love.
Just tonight I was grumbling to myself that I wished I had a more inspiring knitting project to work on, because everything I have going has become frustrating or boring, but I’ve vowed not to buy any more yarn until I’ve used what I have. I’ll have to see what I can rustle up…
emily
February 14, 2010 at 6:39 pmthat project looks like just my speed! maybe after the next cowl, i’ll use your idea to clear out the yarn corner of the closet.
blair/wisecraft
February 14, 2010 at 6:46 pmI am still planning to make a cowl. I think that's a good portable project for me.
Erin | house on hill road
February 14, 2010 at 7:06 pmkate and i were just talking about how knitting is a great craft for tv watching and taking along. she and i sat at jane’s guitar lesson knitting and chatting. it was really fun! and tonight, all three of us girls were knitting while watching the olympics. i even offered to teach fatty (you know, so he wouldn’t fell left out) – he said the only thing he knits are his brows.
Miranda
February 14, 2010 at 7:35 pmisn’t it nice to have a craft that is just making you feel happy and content? i am very much a seasonal knitter and i feel like that is what helps me keep from burning out and helps me stay happy whenever i knit.
Molly
February 14, 2010 at 9:23 pmI am brand new to knitting, but loving it for all the same reasons — portable, simple, compatible with life and laughter and lots of small hands. (Sewing has yet to take off, as my Bernina is so much less portable than 2 bamboo needles.) Thanks for the titles — these may be my next steps.
Islay
February 15, 2010 at 1:26 amI find I really go through phases with knitting – sometimes I can’t get enough of it, other times I won’t pick up the needles for weeks on end.
Can’t beat a good old bit of garter stitch for TV knitting though! I’ve got a lot of baby blankets for friends done that way.
Leigh
February 15, 2010 at 7:38 amCan’t wait to see the finished product! How do you make those felted balls? Happy knitting.
Sara
February 15, 2010 at 9:19 amKnitting is wonderful! I find it hard to talk or multi task while doing. Can you explain the garter stich I have only learned how to knit stich and pearl?
blair/wisecraft
February 15, 2010 at 9:47 amThanks Sara. To garter stitch, just "knit" every stitch, meaning don't purl every other row, just keep knitting. What you end up with is referred to as garter stitch and its reversible. Hope that helps!
Annie Brown
February 15, 2010 at 1:08 pmMy 16yr old daughter has been knitting garter stitch squares to make a throw for her bed and I started making some as well to help her along. One day when I was out thrifting, I found a book of 100’s of knitting Stitch patterns and I am now trying out the different patterns in the same size swatches as the blanket ones. It’s fun and I am learning some great new stitch patterns while also adding some different textures to the blanket.
Annie Brown
February 15, 2010 at 1:08 pmMy 16yr old daughter has been knitting garter stitch squares to make a throw for her bed and I started making some as well to help her along. One day when I was out thrifting, I found a book of 100’s of knitting Stitch patterns and I am now trying out the different patterns in the same size swatches as the blanket ones. It’s fun and I am learning some great new stitch patterns while also adding some different textures to the blanket.
Annie Brown
February 15, 2010 at 1:08 pmMy 16yr old daughter has been knitting garter stitch squares to make a throw for her bed and I started making some as well to help her along. One day when I was out thrifting, I found a book of 100’s of knitting Stitch patterns and I am now trying out the different patterns in the same size swatches as the blanket ones. It’s fun and I am learning some great new stitch patterns while also adding some different textures to the blanket.
mims
February 15, 2010 at 9:33 pmblair, if you could quilt and knit simultaneously, then I believe you would be Bleeping golden.
Anywho, it all looks lovely.
amy j.
February 16, 2010 at 7:22 amThanks so much for posting this. I’m a new knitter and this stitch is what I can do pretty much at this point, lol. I’ve made a few things with it, scarves mostly and a small purse or two. But scarves take FOREVER and can get boring. This would be THE perfect project for me! I’m always coveting quilted throws and such my friends make, but never seem to have the time to devote to such a project. This however would be perfect and wouldn’t require me to make a thousand granny squares in crochet (which I haven’t quite graspeed yet). I’m picking up that book today!
kate
February 16, 2010 at 4:54 pmloved your post and the colors of your squares. Sometimes our best work is what we unintentionally produce and gives us life along the way. I think you are running in the right direction there embracing the past but living in the now.
Years ago I wanted to make a scarf for my husbands birthday, as a surprise. I had a friend at work teach me a few things and then I would hide in the bathroom at home and power knit so he didn’t know what I was up to. It was the best blue fuzzy amoeba that anyone ever made! Recently I asked a woman in our community who has excellent knitting skill to teach a not so secretive beginning class, hopefully I fair better this go around.
Deven
February 16, 2010 at 9:07 pm😉 I’ve just begun learning to knit. I’m working on my first project – a pink scarf. My 6 yo daughter is so proud of me. She’s given that one scarf away to at least two people now.
I can’t wait until I have a large enough stash to need a clean up!
;-D
Irmhild
February 17, 2010 at 3:20 amit’s great coming back to an old skill, and realising there is still muscle memory, and rediscovering why you loved it…
the colours of your stash are lovely.
my mum has a basket full of these squares, i’m pretty sure she doesn’t know either how many she has and how many it’ll take to make a blanket!
sew katie did
February 17, 2010 at 7:56 pmYeah, I think we like the same colors! I want to learn how to hand quilt. I think it might become my take along.
Denise | Chez Danisse
February 18, 2010 at 10:00 amI love the idea of you knitting these squares and being focused on the process versus the completion. Just thinking of it relaxes me. Enjoy.
Amelia
February 19, 2010 at 11:47 ami love your knitting bag! squares were one of the very first things i knit. i was burned out from a crochet bedspread and needed indeed sth to do while watching tv. i called them my sanity squares. i kept them for a couple of years and eventually crocheted an edge and crocheted them together into a blanket (better than seaming) for baby number one. baby number two sleeps under that blanket now – heirloom status.
blair/wisecraft
February 19, 2010 at 2:33 pmHeirloom status indeed! Its really good to hear from you! xo
Dee
February 21, 2010 at 4:29 pmI love, love, love simple projects like this. Especially right now. Can’t wait to see the finished product!
blair/wisecraft
February 21, 2010 at 6:06 pmThanks Dee! I'm still knitting away. Hope you are babe(s) are well!
Cheryl Arkison
February 22, 2010 at 8:48 amThat’s my kind of knitting. I’ve never had much motivation for the needles.
Amy
February 23, 2010 at 7:51 amThat’s the perfect kind of knitting. Some nights I just don’t have the mental energy to do anything more complicated.
Victoria Johnson
February 23, 2010 at 7:23 pmI crochet–a lot. And I surely understand the importance of having something to work on–to keep the hands and mind busy. Presently, I’m knitting a black Peruvian wool scarf with two different sized needles. It’s my first “real” knitting project, and it looks pretty good. Keep knitting! Victoria
Claudia
March 3, 2010 at 10:38 pmI’ve been reading through your blog and just loved these knitted squares. So neatly done! I’ve been wanting to make squares like those only I am afraid they will never turn out identical and I don’t want to have a wonky blanket. So I never really tried, but I might now that I have seen yours. Another thing that interests me is, how do you sew the squares together? I mean, of course I know how to sew, but is there a special trick to sew the squares neatly together? You can see, I am very interested and I will be watching your knitting endeavours. I wish you lots of luck and send you best wishes from Germany
blair/wisecraft
March 4, 2010 at 6:31 amThank you Claudia! I am planning to sew some squares together soon, and I will be sure to post on the blog. I think the trick to making these is to count your rows, or measure them to keep them uniform. Mine are not exactly square, but they are all the same size, and I have a hunch this pattern is more forgiving than you'd think. Go for it!