In which I inadvertantly knit myself a hat.
When I first started really getting into knitting and crochet, was when I was sitting in a waiting room for about 12 hrs. a day for six weeks, waiting for my mom to get better. There is really nothing better to do when you are stuck doing that. I had known how to crochet before that, but I never took either craft seriously until then. Of course, the desire to knit became larger and larger as I found that it was not only a great way to relieve anxiety (which sitting in a waiting room can create a lot of) but it had this whole grassroots, hippy art girl culture that appealed to hippy art girl me the more and more I got into it.
So I conquered the p2tog's, the toe-up socks, intarsia (kinda) and gauges. I plowed through books and taught myself a majority of what to do. If there was a fancy technique, I'd try it. Cables? Aced. Lace? Ate it for breakfast.
However, I hardly have anything to show for it. The reason being, is because I am slow. And not just jesting to make other knitters feel better. I am turtle slow. Sloth Slow. Granny-trying-to-back-out-of-a-parking-lot slow. Not only am I slow, but the whole first year was filled with "Oh I can knit you one of those!" or "Of course I'll make you a hand knit sweater!" Needless to say, no one has gotten anything from me yet besides good half-finished intentions and one really horrible sweater.
The point being is, even though I am a slow knitter and have been knitting for quite some time, I have NEVER knitted anything for myself. So I decided now is the time. And THIS TIME I will finish the project. I will not start anything until I finish this one project, and break my never-finishing streak. It was then I decided to knit the longest project known to man, the Rapunzel Stockings from Knit.1 Magazine.
These socks are fine gauge, small needles, million cables kind of socks. The thing that kills me the most is that even though they go to the knee, I know that at any time I can finish them and just be done with it. Secret: I broke my great idea of not starting another project. I decided to cast on Foliage on Knitty's website with a chunky yarn. AND I FINISHED IT IN TWO DAYS! And have been wearing it since then (yes it's June but apparently Milwaukee doesn't know that yet.)
So here is the moral of the story. If you are a really slow knitter, get an extremely complicated project that requires a million years and is using toothpicks and thread to complete. Then half way through, pick up giant needles and yarn. Not only will you finish a project, but it will make you feel like you are the fastest knitter in the world.
Second moral. I now have something for myself to show for all my knitting!
p.s. I bought myself a knitting machine over the weekend. More developments as they occur.
