Amy, The Knitter

I've always craved to be skilled. In high school I wanted to join dance line. So so bad. And I was terrible. I can't high kick, I can't do the splits, and I have a hard time keeping rhythm. But I WANTED to be good. No surprise: I didn't make the team. It was probably for the best (seriously... I think my husband does better splits than I do.)

Then of course there was the scrapbooking. I poured my heart and soul into my high school boyfriend's scrapbook, (who is now my husband, so I must have done a pretty good job) clipping dozens of words from magazines, buying glittery pens, and printing the perfect pictures that depicted a happy relationship. After one pen explosion on a page and some blurry photos, I realized it wasn't one of my skills. It was made more apparent when I went to college and, no joke, my room mate had a stackable, wheel-able tote for all of her scrapbooking supplies. She was legit. 

While I have been known to write a thing or two (or hundreds of blogs, an unfinished novel, and a dozen poems) I've always wanted to do something more. And as luck would have it, I have! 

Knitting. 

Ask me a year ago, I would have laughed. And I'm not exactly sure why. It's not that I'm against it, but it seemed like there wasn't time for it or I wouldn't be able to make anything that looks nice. I'm not crafty. And this is definitely a crafty business. But my friend insisted to the point of basically buying my knitting starter kit for my 30th birthday. Hard to say no to that. 

She says I'm a natural. I think I'm faking my way through it. But as the weeks have gone on, I've really learned to love it. It's a nice kind of busy work for your hands and your mind. And what I find thrilling about it is watching the big ball of yarn turn into an object that you can use! Yes... I used the word thrilling. 

As of now, I'm inches away from finishing a hat. Example 1: 

I'm actually already farther than this, but this was from the past weekend. I've enjoyed taking photos of my progress. I am very interested to see what it looks like once I close up the top and add a little pom pom (no hat is complete without a pom pom!). My goal is to use this piece of fine outerwear before winter is over. Luckily I live in Minnesota where winter is 75% of the season. This little friend should see plenty of the white fluffy stuff. 

Is it crazy to already think about my next project? Maybe. It's already clear that I've lost it. I was shopping this past weekend and I came across a very beautiful sweater. I paused and thought to myself I could totally make that. Lord knows if I actually could or not! Perhaps I shall see what the hat looks like in completion before I conquer the knitting world. 

And for those who are just perched at the edge of their seats to see what happens in the "knitting of the hat saga," do not fear. I will post a follow-up the second it's done! I'll even model it, how about that? 

Always, 
A