Oh my aching back!
I spent too much time bent over student's shoulders. I taught a beginning knit class for moms and kids and my back did not thank me. I ended up having to kneel down next to their chairs to keep my back straight. So, any thoughts out there from you knitting teachers about keeping your back in shape? I did the pen cover, but left it at the shop. I actually am going to try another one today, doing a purled I-cord instead. The purl side of the knitted Fun Fur will give you more lashiness than the knit side.
Sitting here watching the Knitty Gritty on DIY. Not too impressed with the "hipness" factor. Who needs that. The "designer" on this episode of mitten knitting is Karen Baumer? She had a good tip about joining in the round. She takes her tail and threads it on a tapestry needle and slips it through the first stitch on the 1st needle. It keeps your "round" joined as you are going around. I will have to remember that for my socks students. One thing I take exception to in this episode is the size 10 US needles with Cascade 220 yarn. Just what I want, loosely knitted mittens to keep my hands airconditioned! Another good tip, knitting waste yarn into the thumb opening. I usually don't do my thumbs that way, so I will try it to see how well it would work for me. I guess I will leave a note at their site and ask for less hipness and more elegance. Does that mean I am showing my age?
I guess it's time to admit it, I dislike the practice of having to make knitting "hip" so that people will accept it. Who decided that people wouldn't accept knitting if it wasn't hip? I have not seen one person in my area start knitting because it's "hip to knit". But ya know, I am in the middle of the country. Where we do stuff because it serves a purpose rather than because it is a trend. Don't get me wrong, if people start knitting it's great! It keeps the craft going. I guess I just don't like having my passion deemed acceptable right now because it's "hip" to those trendy people. But soon it will cycle through and knitting will no longer be the darling. Who knows what the hipsters will find interesting next. Let's just hope the trend gets some people caught up in it enough to keep with it. But it doesn't matter to me if they do or not. I will keep knitting and hope that yarn shops will still be able to stay open. I will do my best to ensure they do!
I had an interesting time at my knit class last night. I knew 2 of the moms in the group, one I grew up with, the other I had worked near for a short time. Then a co-worker of my MIL's was in shopping, she picked up knitting after some major surgery laid her up. But the best surprise was an all too short visit with Nancy Marchant. I met Nancy online through Knit U, Knitters online community, back in 2002. I had seen a bio on her in a Knitters issue in 2001 and noticed she was raised in my hometown. One post I made on Knit U was signed "from the knitting wasteland of Southern Indiana". Nancy noticed that SI and contacted me to see where I was. Once she found out I was in her hometown, she told me she was coming back for her annual visit. We set up a knitogether with my group and she joined us. She is a delightful lady and such fun. Too bad I was teaching a class and couldn't break free. Pam, 4 Ladies shop owner, is going to try and set up a class for Nancy to teach a Crocheted Shawl. Even though I hate crochet, I might just take it to visit with her.
Well, Caleb's Cables is not coming along too quickly. Just haven't had time to knit and that makes me very cranky! This weekend doesn't look good for knitting as I am helping on a trip to St Louis with (#?) Brownies. I am driving, no knitting. I will take something portable and knitable while walking and standing at the attractions we are visiting. I will be packing a small backpack to have enough room for everything, camera, knitting, billfold, etc. Better pack the extra dose of sanity too!
So, I will be unavailable for the weekend. Need to pack today and get the car cleaned out so 4 Brownies can trash it, oh joy! Keep knitting while I am gone so I will have something to read when I get home!!
