I spent a lot of time with my grandparents growing up. My Papa would play checkers, backgammon and chess with me, and I would sit with him at his workbench in the garage and watch him carve. He was a woodcarver. He would visit with me about my day and explain to me what he was carving as his hands moved expertly across the wood. It was always the favorite part of my day.
My Nana would do puzzles with me and I would watch her sew. My Nana was an amazing seamstress. She could sew even the most complex pattern to near perfection. Every stitch was straight, every seam was finished. She also knitted and crocheted, beautifully. I was always amazed at how nimbly her fingers worked the fabric or yarn as she was making something.
Despite my interest in the art of sewing, I never really got into sewing when I was younger. I didn't have a machine and even if I did, I wouldn't have even known where to start. There weren't a whole lot of resources for the teenage audience at the time. Not to mention that it took a level of time, perseverance and patience that was overwhelming.
My freshman year of college my Papa died. It was days before spring break, so I came home and stayed with Nana during that week. During my stay, sitting on the sofa together one evening, I asked her to teach me how to knit. She gave me a large pair of needles and showed me how to cast on, knit stitch and cast off. We practiced, sitting side by side, working the yarn. The rhythm of the needles was so calming. I think it was something we both needed at the time.
My first knitting project was... unique, to say the least. I wanted to make a scarf.
... I did not end up with a scarf.
As a novice knitter, I didn't quite realize that as you cram those rows together on your 13" needle, they will not knit into a tight little 13" scarf (those of you who knit are probably already laughing...). Yes, novice knitters, count your stitches. Those tightly crammed stitches will expand into... well... not a scarf. My little mishap required that I buy a couple extra skeins of yarn (okay, maybe three or four...) and in the end, I created a slightly narrow throw blanket when I finally admitted defeat and cast off. Nana laughed with me when I told her about it, and said she admired my perseverance. I followed that project up with a couple of scarves (that actually looked like scarves) in my first year of college, but as classes got busier I put the knitting needles down to focus on school.
Fast-forward to after I had my daughter. I saw a sewing book, Amy Butler's Little Stitches, and impulsively bought it. I didn't have a sewing machine. I hadn't used one since middle school. But I knew I wanted to sew.
I came home with my book and pronounced, "I am going to learn to sew!" to my husband. (Much like Gru from 'Despicable Me' walking into the room and pronouncing, "We are going to steal the moon!")
... I should insert here, how blessed I am to have a husband who just shakes his head knowingly, hugs me, and supports my ridiculous "I AM GOING TO ___[fill in blank with crazy project]___" moments.
I borrowed a machine and powered my way through the monkey laundry bag (pg 113 in Little Stitches).
I was hooked.
At the end of the project, I started researching sewing machines online. I read reviews. I went to every store in town and tested the different machines. I asked Nana about hers. We saved, and finally I bought my machine. I've been sewing ever since.
Last year Nana passed away. It was a very difficult loss for me. I wish I spent more time learning all she had to teach, but I feel so blessed that I was able to have her as long as I did.
This week I picked up the knitting needles again. Nana knitted afghans for each of her granddaughters, and she gave me the extra yarn left over from mine. It was just a small ball of yarn left from that skein. I knitted a small doll-sized scarf for a doll I will make Little Tomato.
Yesterday I picked up a knitting book.
Once again, husband gave me the knowing shake of the head as I declared, "I am going to learn to knit!" and began teaching myself to purl, rib and cable knit away...
