It's "civic holiday Monday", which here in Ottawa is called Colonel By Day, in Moncton was called New Brunswick Day, and in Halifax/Dartmouth is Natal Day. I still call it Natal Day weekend, because deep in my heart I wish I could go to the parade, the fair, and the fireworks. Nothing like a holiday to make you homesick. But I digress.
It was on this same long weekend last year that Peter and I had our whirlwind trip to Manitoulin Island (which we totally fell in love with!), and that I learned to knit. I remember I had this "I taught myself knitting" kit that I bought at Michaels (it's a Boye needles/Lion brand yarn coproduction), and a skein of Red Heart super saver in a beige/blue/orange colourway. We sat in the cabin in the woods, Peter with his book (or, most of the time, napping over his book) and me struggling through those first few rows of stitches. The tranquility of it was amazing and I think contributed largely to my newfound affection for knitting. When we got home again I made a scarf for Peter in Habs colours, and that was the week my daughter was visiting from Halifax and she was admiring how fast I could knit... I would knit while she played "Kill All Humans" on the Playstation. Not really a Kodak moment, but our family is weird anyway.
So my starting-out in knitting was all peaceful and happy, and I've carried that peaceful/happy feeling with me nearly every time I pick up my needles, or play with a new yarn, or read knitblogs and knitgroups, or go to a Stitch'n'Bitch with the gals. It's become an addiction, I admit: a day without knitting is generally a cranky day. And I have a huge stash, only about 3/4 of which is for specific projects. And a project list that will take 2 or 3 years, easy, with more new ones added all the time. But - I love it.
I love knitting the way I love reading, but in some ways more; I can be social when I knit, I can watch hockey or read knitgroups or chat with friends, the way I can't when I'm reading. And the things I have made, and will make... scarves, slippers, sweaters, shawls, socks. Hrm. Mostly "S" projects. Interesting. A couple of throws and blankies also. All that beautiful yarn, knit into warm and often pretty things for my loved ones and sometimes casual friends or even strangers. All those stitches, all the things I've learned. Turning my first sock heel, kitchenering my first toe. Figuring out how yarnovers work, and wrestling with buttonholes until I said not-nice words, but perservering because it was for someone I love. And learning, always learning new things. Someone once told me when you stop learning you're dead. No fear!
And now, on my Knitaversary weekend, another stage of my knitting life, which somehow brings it full circle. See, when I first bought that learn-to-knit kit at Michaels last year, I peeked in the book to see what kind of yarn to buy, and it said "worsted weight". And I asked the nearest sales associate, and she was singularly unhelpful: "Oh, it says on the label what's what." And now, here I am working at Michaels myself! I had my first shift this weekend, and I think I'm going to like it pretty well. I'm in General Crafts, which includes the yarn aisles, and on my first shift I got to answer a couple of knitting questions, which made me feel great - I love that I can share all the knowledge I've piled up the last year with someone else who's maybe just starting out, or is at an unfamiliar stage.
Of course, working at Michaels is also tempting me in new crafting directions - I spent some time in the decorative painting section and the beading section and thought "what if I???". So who knows where that will go. But I think knitting will remain my primary craft passion. Because, after a year, I'm more in love with it than ever (kind of like Peter after six years *wink*).
So happy knitaversary to me!
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