My Most Favorite Of All
(L) Placemat - Me - 1979
(C) Doily - GG Norris - 1938
(R) Tablerunner - Grams - 1960
How and when did you begin knitting/crocheting? was it a skill passed down through generations of your family, or something you learned from Knitting For Dummies? What or who made you pick up the needles/hook for the first time? Was it the celebrity knitting ‘trend’ or your great aunt Hilda?
I was exposed to needlework and fiber arts very young. Things not often said anymore like tatting, crewel, and Irish lace varieties were very common in my family. One of the first pieces I saw my Great Grandmother working on was a colorful fair isle sweater. Her technique for color wrapping is one I have not seen anyone else ever use. I wish I had learned from her, pushed her to show me or had the ability to go back in time and look over her shoulder. To this day I can see it playing out but can not replicate it for some strange reason. The next year she passed and I was too little. Its something my Grandmother did not learn nor anyone else in my family. Its sad such a unique technique was lost.GG Norris did beautiful traditional pieces, and really was a talent.
My Gram, Aunt Happy and Uncle Bud did knit. Bud learned at an early age, as my grandfather passed away when my mom was only five. Everyone in the family had to do something to help earn keep. Grandmother Ethel had 13 children to tend and no family help. Its one of those stories.
On summer visits when I was older, I began with Crochet. Happy was my initial instructor as my mother only enjoyed embroidery, crewel and cross stitch. Grams would inspect my work as she was really the master. She never offered tips tricks or additional input though, I believe this was more her personality than inability. She would sit quietly and crank out things again I have never seen replicated since. Selfish Tart!
During my youth and teens, I would always go back pick up a hook and make something for a doll, friend or holiday decoration. Resources then were limited to magazines and very dated articles not really an inspiration. You can imagine how the ability to connect via web with others has REALLY changed that.
Fast Forward to the "Great Leg Break Incident" 2007.
I moved to a new home a new state and into being a new single parent. In the process I found a lump in my breast and fell down a flight of stairs breaking my right leg in plenty of places. I had made several attempts after Pixie (my teen daughter) was born to try Knitting but really got lost in charts numbers repeats (still am) and basic stitches. Admittedly I started with the worst possible patterns from books, no classes and even worse no understanding or access to web sources. 1995 did not exactly see the boost in chic and hip patterns or resources we have now.
As I laid in bed, in my very very dark place I decided I needed something to do rather than make a stupid decision. It was a very very painful place. I do not think people realize how something as mundane as a leg break can shift your perspective on the world for a little while. Things like grocery shopping become an event and severe chore especially when there is absolutely NO ONE around to offer a hand. Little things like being able to get down stairs so you can eat or make food for your child become almost impossible, more obviously at the beginning. I found ways including learning to drive with my left foot and using every day tools like chairs and extension tools to shower mop clean and eat. Keep in mind I was in and out of casts, then surgery, then air boots and finally ankle supports for almost 18 months.
In this decision I taught myself knitting all over. Not just that wacky fur yarn scarf, I progressed to some advanced books on technique terms and finally texture.
I still cant cable, just learned magic loop, and want to take a class to improve technique, tension and speed. I will eventually but now, I can do most. I am really fantastic at lace :)
I would encourage every women to understand it better and share it with a loved one. Its not horrible but affects so many women these days. I blame chicken, but that's another story for another time.
It is CRUCIAL to know your boobs and the differences between this type of lump and another. Luckily I had a PA in my doctors office who while still being a man is very sensitive to women's health issues. I suffer with this and its not pleasant. I however always have my hands all over my TaTa's every month pre post and sporadically away from menstrual cycle to understand what lumps are there not there or changing.
