Boy, I am such a dreamer.
A few months ago my mother showed me the basics of knitting…casting on, the knit stitch, the purl stitch, casting off…and for weeks I worked on a scarf of simple knitted stitches—no fancy stuff—just something easy to help me get comfortable with the technique. And it was coming along pretty well, too, almost finished…until I noticed…the missing stitch. Yikes. A gaffe that left an unsightly, gaping hole…one that I knew I would not be able to live with. If knitted to fruition, each time I wore the wretched thing I would have to make a conscious effort to hide the flaw, lest tell everyone within earshot to “Turn away! A missed stitch has left a ghastly hole in my hand-knitted scarf!”
So, I pulled out tens and tens of rows, and ya know, unknitting is almost as fun as knitting! Okay, so maybe I wasn’t taking this crafty thing seriously enough. No problem. I’d buckle down and re-attempt that scarf of simple knitted stitches. Instead, though, I hit the internet looking for a pattern for something a little more interesting than a plain ole scarf…something with multicolors…something with a stockinette or cable stitch…something way too complicated for my skill level. So, for a few weeks I jabbered on about a snowboarder hat…an intricately designed piece of wooly wear that would be knitted by me to be pulled down over my ears, albeit only in my dreams. That is, until W returned from a visit to New York. He happened to come across this one on the streets of Manhattan—only $5, woolen with a fleecy lining, and, having already tested it, it is impervious to windy, below-freezing weather. I’m sure that W is just as happy as I am, as this will shut up my incessant prattle on hats that are yet to be knit.
So, as soon as I master that simple knitted scarf, I will try my hand at knitting my own hat.
Again, I am such a dreamer.
Grace
T
8noodles
Anita
justin
YogaforCynics
Great hat and nice find by W! I have a similar one, though it’s not green. You sound like a bit of a perfectionist with the knitting and perhaps with other things, too? Keep up the knitting practice and I’m sure one day you’ll be showing off your own hand-knitted cap :)
Svasti´s last blog post ..On becoming a yoga teacher – part 2
Twitter: junkdrawer
I would have let the hole go and said “Good enough!” Kudos for you for trying knitting. My coworker is an expert knitter and is always suggesting that I would do well at it. Nope. I know I wouldn’t. But it’s nice to see her bring in her new creations and I marvel over them.
Stay warm!
Junk Drawer Kathy´s last blog post ..When I Grow Up …..
Dreaming’s a good thing. I dream of being an astronaut. It’s much safer & less physically demanding that way. ;)
Lana´s last blog post ..In the Works…
Knitting is a great skill. I wished I knew how to do it. It looks like you did a great job on the hat.
AVCr8teur´s last blog post ..Elephant Seals
Knitting is wonderful…when friends and people I work with do it…one gave me a great hat for Christmas that I’ve been wearing every day since…sometimes with one of the two lovely hand-knit scarves I’ve been given in the past year or two…so, yeah, I’m all for knitting…
very cool hat. i never could get the hang of knitting, I can crochet but knitting forget about it
ann´s last blog post ..Go away, I’m watching football
You have beautiful eyes…
Grace´s last blog post ..Nope, I never have wanted to do crafty-stuff
Hi, Svasti, and thanks. Yes, W did a great job picking out the hat, which isn’t surprising—he’s very good at finding deals on neat stuff. And yeah, a little bit of a perfection issue here. Working on that, though, so I can get that scarf knitted! :o)
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Hi Kathy. I almost let it go, and it wouldn’t have been that bad if I had. Just indecisive and being me. Ya know, your avatar just screams “I’m crafty!” :o)
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Hee-hee, Lana. Yeah, knitting a hat wouldn’t pose much of a danger, but it could be physically demanding…getting sleepy… :o)
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Hi AVCr8teur. Personally, I don’t think it’s very hard. It seems a little awkward, though, balancing the needles and trying not to drop stitches. Oh, and W bought the hat…I’m not nearly that advanced!
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Drjay, have you ever thought of taking up knitting? I used to work with a guy who was really into it…and I think W knows how, though he’s not a practicing knitter. Then again, with friends who knit and gift you with their creations… So, are you wearing both scarves in this weather? Brrr
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Hi ann and thanks. I love this hat. My mother crochets also and that looks very hard to me. Maybe I’ll try it if I ever get the knitting thing down.
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Awww, thank ya, Grace. That is sweet of you to say. Don’t laugh, but one of my eyes is a little off center (Lucy’s, too), and it always makes me think of Marty Feldman. Okay, now laugh! :o)
Twitter: lannaxe96
I am so jealous. I always tried to get my mom to teach me to knit, but alas, she just never had the patience.
Lauren Axelrod´s last blog post ..The 26th Annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival
I think it’s worth dreaming about this one then trying it out and seeing what happens.
And I love this picture of you — it reveals just enough to get a sense, but not enough to recognize you. You do have beautiful eyes.
(by the way, I always feel a little funny about my commenting avatar. It doesn’t really look like me, though it is me, with the half-circles under my eyes washed out by sunlight or something. Though I do like the idea of having the same enigmatic expression as Mona Lisa.)
Jennifer´s last blog post ..Suspicious minds
Twitter: john_metcalf
The hat looks great. I was momentarily impressed by your knitting skills, until I read where it came from :-)
John | English Wilderness´s last blog post ..The River Witham Frozen Over
Hi Holly! Your hat looks kewl. It gives a kind of terrorist look together with that thing covering your mouth, but I assume it’s just the weather. I don’t think I’ve tried knitting (it’s not a guy thing, ya know), but I do know how to use the sewing machine. I learned it when I was a kid by watching my grandmother. My wife can’t even believe it. *wink*
It’s ok to dream.
“I dreamed I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky; then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am a man?” – Chuang Tzu
Peace and respect,
Ryhen
Ryhen | Mind Power´s last blog post ..Cause and Effect: How To Really Change The World
Hi Lauren. I don’t think I would’ve thought to learn knitting except that my mother knows how and likes to instruct. Otherwise, I would get on the internet. I bet there are some pretty good instructional videos.
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Hi Jennifer. Yeah, I agree, and I’m really gonna try to stick with it. Thank you on the pic. Truthfully, this is one of my favorites, too. Vanity kept me from revealing my overly plump face, too-large nose and off-center teeth. Yikes. Some things should be left to the imagination, I think. I know what you mean about half-circles…my “bags” were mostly washed out by the sunlight here. W thought of the Mona Lisa as soon as he saw your avatar and even put this together…beautiful!
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Thanks, John. It’s whatcha call the head fake. :o) I aspire to create something like this someday, probably after many scarves!
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Hi Ryhen and thanks. Yeah, I shoulda titled the post, Ninja Nitter. Anyway, yes, it was very cold that day…20s. I guess knitting is traditionally a girl thing, but a lot of guys take it up also. That’s neat that you can sew, though. It’s a handy skill. Thank you for the quote!
Dreaming of your very own knitted hat will one day materialize. Just keep at it until you get it right.
Good luck,
Tasha
tashabud´s last blog post ..28. Clint and Makenna
Hi tashabud and thanks. Yeah, the hat will be someday. As soon as I finish that scarf!
Twitter: craftybird
Wow, ok Holly there are so many things here I wanna say I better be careful not to trip over myself…
Firstly… yaaay hat! What gorgeous greens – W knows how to shop for you, huh? It’s a beauty and not just the hat either – my, what big eyes you have! I’m so keen to write this that I skipped through the other comments, but I’m pretty sure that everyone said (or thought – enviously) the same thing!
And on the subject of knitting… do we have the same thoughts? I learned to knit a few months ago and have found it a laborious joy, I know the pain of the missing, dropped and twisted stitch and say keep dreaming because it is the kind of dream that CAN come true… eventually :D Have you seen the site Ravelry? There are some really good hat patterns there, I have one that I downloaded that was not too hard. I’ve been thinking of sharing my knitting escapades on my blog warts and all, so c’mon, I will if you will :)
Bird´s last blog post ..Feed The Birds
Haha! I love that picture. The first thing I noticed is how color coordinated you are. The hat, the coat, the scarf and your blue eyes. Even the background seems to blend with the color of your clothes and skin. Of course I’m color blind, so everything I just said may be utter nonsense.
nothingprofound´s last blog post ..
Twitter: plasmanc
A nice hat, Holly – but I wouldn’t wear such a thing – mainly because I look like a complete burk when I wear a hat. My mop of hair keeps my head warm instead
:-)
Cheers
PM
Plastic Mancunian´s last blog post ..Plastic Surgery For Plastic Mancunian?
Hi Bird. I know, hat, yay! And green…I love green. Yes, W does know how to shop. We’re not big consumers, but he always recognizes a good deal! Actually he bought me another one, too…only $2.50 and a livelier print, but I don’t think it’s wool. And we may be on the same wavelength regarding the knitting, although it sounds like you’re well on your way and I have yet to get back to it. I shouldn’t wait too long as I don’t want to forget the little I’ve learned. I looked at the ravelry site (love that name) and it’s pretty cool…thank you! And yes, I have no problem exposing my knitting projects, however they may be, to the world…so, I’m in. Let’s do it! :o) (And thank you on the eyes…I must admit, though, that they are not a fair representation of the rest of me…ergh…)
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Hi nothingprofound and glad you like it. Heh-heh…believe me, the color-coordination was a complete fluke, though I am often in blue, green, black… And I could tell you were color-blind right away—my eyes are hazel. :o) Don’t worry, your words were no more nonsensical than my self-photo shoot. :o)
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Hi PM. A burk? That is a new word to me, but I take it that it is undesirable. No matter, though. It sounds as though you have your own built-in hat. Nothing wrong with that, as long as it does the job! :o)