My first sweater 1980

Today at work we had another “mini” knitting class. It was great fun to see how far along each student’s project has advanced. I felt like a real teacher with the students bringing me their homework to check. They are all doing great. Some are still knitting very tight but they are still working and that’s the important think. I’m really impressed with the abilities my co-workers have shown. It almost makes going to work each morning enjoyable (I hate mornings).

During today’s get together, I was asked who taught me to knit. That was a walk down memory lane. So here’s the story:

In the early 80’s my husband was transferred to Brawdy, Wales with the US Navy. We moved into Royal Air Force housing. Every morning I walked the kids to the bus stop to wait for the double Decker bus to take them to school. After the “kiddies” got on the bus, a few of the British mothers would get together for a cuppa tea and some knitting. Every morning they would ask me to join them, but I thought they were just being nice and really didn’t want a “Yank” to join.

I was wrong. One morning, one of the mothers, Dawn W, just about dragged me to her house with the other women. There I drank tea and watched them knit. They’d been knitting for years, so you can imagine the beautiful things they were working on. I mentioned that I was envious of their talent. The next thing I knew I had knitting needles and yarn in my hands. Dawn was the most patient person I’ve ever met. She taught me a lot of things, but the most important was that knitting was fun and a way to express creativity.

When we left Wales to return to the USA, I was a knitter and I owed it all to Dawn. She shared her knowledge with me and because of her I’m able to share my knowledge with my co-workers. So the circle goes on and on. Everything I’ve ever knitted I owe to Dawn.
The first sweater I ever knitted Dawn said was a great job. She lied and I’ve got the proof. Here’s a photo of my first attempt to knit a sweater. Missy’s face says it all.

So no matter what my students think, my first knitting projects were not perfect. Not perfect? The sweater is embarrassing but everyone has to start somewhere, right?

Let's start knitting

Last year (was it a year already?), I taught two co-workers how to knit. They’ve done very well and they’re still knitting.

Last week another co-worker asked me to teach her to knit and she knew there were others in the office that wanted to learn.

So I sent out an email to the office and ended up with 5 new students. This week we had a “mini” class on Monday with 2 students and 5 today (Wednesday). They learned to cast on and knit. We’re starting with a simple garter stitch dishcloth. They learned quickly and seemed to enjoy the lessons. I know I enjoyed the class.

Each of the “girls” had a different way of holding the needles and the yarn, some knitted very tight and other’s stitches were loose. As I told them, there’s no wrong way to knit, just knit and have fun. And we did have fun.

The hour went by so quickly and then we had to go back to work. Darn, work interferes with my knitting, but without work I couldn’t afford to buy yarn.

I’m sure I’ll have more to share on this adventure.