Knitting Meme

Amy tagged me for this almost 2 weeks ago! Where does the time go?
1. Do you knit continental or English?
Continental, sorta. I hold the yarn in my left hand but I still wrap the yarn around the needle rather than picking it when knitting. My hands cramp up if I try to pick so I don’t! I think the way I knit looks really weird but I get good tension and very rarely have hand or wrist pain, so I no longer concern myself with needing to learn how to knit “correctly”.
2. How long ago did you learn to knit?
I think I was in late grammar school — probably 6th or 7th grade. So that would make it approximately 20 years ago. I taught myself over the summer when I was looking for something to do while watching Wimbledon. I don’t know why I remember this detail, but I do!
I had learned how to crochet several years before that from my Aunt Mary but I always thought I’d have to learn how to knit to be a “real” yarn crafter. No one told me this, I just decided it on my own. I’m sure it had something to do with the fact that at that point there were virtually no crochet sweater patterns, and the ones they did have were pretty butt-ugly.
While my Mom doesn’t knit or crochet, I have to credit her with my lifetime love of handcrafts. She taught me how to embroider (crewel) and sew. She’s a master at both. She made her wedding gown and almost all of my clothes when I was little. I absolutely loved wearing things she made. One of my favorites was a little denim jumpsuit with an embroidered scene of a rainbow with the sun shining down on the trees and flowers. It was gorgeous. I think I was 4 or 5 when she made that for me.
It almost makes up for that yellow and bright blue chevron-striped sweater vest pant combo (the pants were solid bright yellow) that she dressed me in for Kindergarten pictures. Pictures, mom? What were you thinking?
aside — where did numbers 3 and 4 go?
5. First FO?6. Favorite yarn?
I can’t pick just one. I love Schaefer Anne for lace (the bit of mohair makes up beautifully!), Araucania’s subtle variations, the Silk and Wool yarn from Tess that I used for my Mom’s feather and fan scarf, Cascade 220 because the color variations can be so rich, and Plymouth Encore because it’s durable and yet still behaves like wool.
Oh, here’s a shocker. I’m not a fan of Calmer. For some reason I need to knit the yarn on 6 or 6.5 mm needles to get gauge. It makes absolutely no sense! But I hate knitting with big needles so it’s just not a treat. A friend (Hope) suggested I try wooden needles and see if I have any better luck. I haven’t tried yet but I probably will once the weather warms up.
7. Favorite pattern?
The thing I’ve most enjoyed knitting in the past year is the Hanging Vines Scarf. Even though I knitted it on deadline I absolutely loved working on it.
8. Favorite pattern source?
There are so many great sources and I’d hardly qualify my list as unique, but here are a few: Heartstrings for all the beautiful lacework, Rebecca because I love their designers’ integration of lines within their patterns (e.g., traveling stitches, twists, eyelets outlining a curve), and Phildar because similar to Rebecca, their patterns utilize stitch combos that make unique-looking garments, and their Irlandais books are to die for!
9. Favorite needles?
Depends on the project. I most often use Addi Turbo’s, but if I’m making a small scarf I consider it a treat to be able to knit with my Boye Aluminum straights. Crazy, right? But there’s something about them that I just love for those small projects. Oh, and if I’m knitting lace I’m partial to Addi Natura.
10. Nicest thing you’ve ever knit?
Hmmm…I guess the Hanging Vines scarf.
11. Most hated project?
I can’t really think of one. If I decide I don’t like something about a project (yarn choice, the way it’s knitting up, the pattern), I’ll frog it and start something new. My knitting time is too precious to waste on something I’m not enjoying.
12. Who are you going to pass this on to?
No one. This has made its way around the blogs. If anyone wants it though, feel free to leave a comment and consider yourself tagged!