Occasionally it is fun to reflect on where I came from and how I arrived where I am today. Since knitting is such a big part of my life now, the question of what was my first knitting project seems to be a natural place to start.
I’d love to hear what your first project was, too. Please feel free to use the comment area below. Even if you are not a knitter, I welcome you to share the first of whatever main hobby interest you enjoy.
My answer —
Vintage photo of my Mommy knitting
First knitting: I am 5 years old or so — always seeing my Mommy knitting socks for Daddy (intricate cabled and pattern stitch stuff with itty-bitty yarn on fine knitting pins (i.e. double point needles). I want to knit, but Mommy says “no”. I am required to take naps in afternoon on my Mommy’s bed. I hate naps. And so it happens on afternoon, there is a sock in-progress lying on the bed and I start knitting instead of sleeping. Needless to say, I make a mess, try to fix it, and finally lay it aside as though nothing happened. I am found out and knitting continues to elude me.
Little blue ball of yarn - do you remember old aluminum needles like these?
First (real, sort of) project: I am 8 years old or so and have the opportunity to learn basic knitting in Brownies (i.e. little people Girl Scouts). I get one ball of donated blue yarn and needles, and knit 2-needle mittens. Never finished though, because there was not enough yarn. But I unraveled that yarn many times over and re-knitted while learning new things about knitting. Just none of them turned into projects because I still only had that one small ball of yarn. Eventually things got better as I got older and Mommy now asked ME to knit for her and her friends. So now I was supplied with enough yarn and needles to complete real projects.
Emily Ocker lace shawl
As to first (overall) lace project — I would attribute that to Emily Ocker’s “Lace Garland” in Knitter’s Issue 9, 1987. Although I’d done small lace-type panels on sweaters before, little did I know that knitting lace was to be a turning point in my life. I was captivated by the idea of taking a doily pattern and scaling up to shawl size. I’d always been intrigued by the shaping and structure of knitting stitches, and lace design is very satisfying in this regard. (Too bad … this is the piece that I wrote about earlier this week that had been damaged).
So that’s my ramblings … Your turn!
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6 thoughts on “What was your first [knitting] project?”
I learned at school when I was about 9,
while living in Oxford, England. Attempted to make a scarf for Barbie, but it
was more trapezoid than rectangle, with several holes from dropped stitches.
Back to the USA… 4-5 years later, my mother suggested (strongly!)
that I needed a hobby. I had a beginner’s knitting book and some
needles from Oxford. Pulled them out, refreshed my memory with some scrap yarn –
or more accurately, taught myself to knit from the book. Next trip to G.C.
Murphy’s 5-and-Dime, I bought AFGHANS (Coats & Clark’s Book No
195), 1 skein of “avocado green” (yes, late 60’s!!) and 1 of royal blue. I
started “Bric-a0Brac”, made in zigzag strips, buying
one more skein each time I ran out of yarn. I did finish it eventually, and both garter stitch & stocking stitch were very even by the end of the project. Lessons learned along the way: (1) there IS a difference in color from one Dye Lot to another, (2) different
brands of “4-ply worsted” acrylic yarn knit up differently, (3) I HATE sewing 15
skinny strips together – especially when sewing side edges to cast on’s or bind off”s. And last, but definitely not least, wool and acrylic
yarns may look similar, but they machine wash & dry VERY! I went on to make the “Treasure Chest” (diamonds and cables, only
9 strips) a couple of times and “Cables ‘n’ Bobbles” MANY times – knit in 1
piece on circular needles, a really luscious afghan!
I learned to knit when I was 7 or 8 years old at a summertime crafts program at my elementary school. The first project was a “beach bag” knit on what seemed like huge needles to me (probably 10-1/2s) with some beautiful, variegated pastel yarn. I was in love right away and have never stopped knitting! I immediately started making scarves and headbands – I must have had 100 headbands as a kid – and tried valiantly to make Barbie clothes, but usually failed! My love of knitting continues to this day some 50 years later. 🙂
I seem to recall knitting (and never finishing) a pair of 2-needle mittens when I was in grammar school – maybe grade 4?? Unfortunately, due to a medical treatment I don’t recall many things from my childhood but I know the knitting lessons stayed with me because… In the mid 1970’s I decided (out of the blue) to make my husband a saddle shoulder cardigan. There I was, at W.T. Grant’s, standing in the knitting area, thumbing through pattern books! I found something I liked, made my husband choose the color of Bernat he wanted, purchased it with a pair of needles and off I went.
Would you believe he’s still wearing that sweater? It’s SO raggedy I re-knit the sleeves from above the elbow down about 5 years ago but the ribbing is worn in places on the sweater body and I refuse to do anything about that. Even though I’ve intentionally knit him 3 “house sweaters” and many others cardigans, pullovers and vests throughout the years, he still loves his blue sweater and pulls that on first.
I’m hoping that the current sweater, a saddle shoulder round necked cardi, being knit in the round with steeks, will finally allow me to put that poor old acrylic rag in the landfill where it will continue to be robin’s egg blue forever.
I was a brand new knitter, I had never wanted to learn to knit but here I was knitting a felted needle holder. I liked it so much I made two. I now have one for metal needles and wooden needles and they are both full of needles. Hows that for someone who never wanted to learn. I have gone on to knit lace shawls and knitted beaded bags. I love a challenge.
Katherine
I learned at school when I was about 9,
while living in Oxford, England. Attempted to make a scarf for Barbie, but it
was more trapezoid than rectangle, with several holes from dropped stitches.
Back to the USA… 4-5 years later, my mother suggested (strongly!)
that I needed a hobby. I had a beginner’s knitting book and some
needles from Oxford. Pulled them out, refreshed my memory with some scrap yarn –
or more accurately, taught myself to knit from the book. Next trip to G.C.
Murphy’s 5-and-Dime, I bought AFGHANS (Coats & Clark’s Book No
195), 1 skein of “avocado green” (yes, late 60’s!!) and 1 of royal blue. I
started “Bric-a0Brac”, made in zigzag strips, buying
one more skein each time I ran out of yarn. I did finish it eventually, and both garter stitch & stocking stitch were very even by the end of the project. Lessons learned along the way: (1) there IS a difference in color from one Dye Lot to another, (2) different
brands of “4-ply worsted” acrylic yarn knit up differently, (3) I HATE sewing 15
skinny strips together – especially when sewing side edges to cast on’s or bind off”s. And last, but definitely not least, wool and acrylic
yarns may look similar, but they machine wash & dry VERY! I went on to make the “Treasure Chest” (diamonds and cables, only
9 strips) a couple of times and “Cables ‘n’ Bobbles” MANY times – knit in 1
piece on circular needles, a really luscious afghan!
I learned to knit when I was 7 or 8 years old at a summertime crafts program at my elementary school. The first project was a “beach bag” knit on what seemed like huge needles to me (probably 10-1/2s) with some beautiful, variegated pastel yarn. I was in love right away and have never stopped knitting! I immediately started making scarves and headbands – I must have had 100 headbands as a kid – and tried valiantly to make Barbie clothes, but usually failed! My love of knitting continues to this day some 50 years later. 🙂
I seem to recall knitting (and never finishing) a pair of 2-needle mittens when I was in grammar school – maybe grade 4?? Unfortunately, due to a medical treatment I don’t recall many things from my childhood but I know the knitting lessons stayed with me because… In the mid 1970’s I decided (out of the blue) to make my husband a saddle shoulder cardigan. There I was, at W.T. Grant’s, standing in the knitting area, thumbing through pattern books! I found something I liked, made my husband choose the color of Bernat he wanted, purchased it with a pair of needles and off I went.
Would you believe he’s still wearing that sweater? It’s SO raggedy I re-knit the sleeves from above the elbow down about 5 years ago but the ribbing is worn in places on the sweater body and I refuse to do anything about that. Even though I’ve intentionally knit him 3 “house sweaters” and many others cardigans, pullovers and vests throughout the years, he still loves his blue sweater and pulls that on first.
I’m hoping that the current sweater, a saddle shoulder round necked cardi, being knit in the round with steeks, will finally allow me to put that poor old acrylic rag in the landfill where it will continue to be robin’s egg blue forever.
I was a brand new knitter, I had never wanted to learn to knit but here I was knitting a felted needle holder. I liked it so much I made two. I now have one for metal needles and wooden needles and they are both full of needles. Hows that for someone who never wanted to learn. I have gone on to knit lace shawls and knitted beaded bags. I love a challenge.
Katherine
I love all of your work, but my favorite project of yours was your intarsia butterfly. I hope one day you do that again.
I hadn’t thought about that in ages. Thanks for reminding me of it.