I learned to crochet on March 5, 2008 when an online friend not only inspired me by posting pictures of these fabulous creations of hers, but she also sent me some magazines to really pique my interest. I randomly picked up a crochet hook and some cheap yarn at Wal*Mart whilst we were about one day and several days later, I sat down with the magazine and tried it out. Of course, I had bought only one hook and the charts read like hieroglyphics to me. Thank my lucky stars for the internet! I wasn't going to be deterred. I watched some videos and learned the basics. A few weeks and about 9 skeins later, my first afghan was complete.
Not long after, my friend turned me on to
Ravelry and I was growing a yarn stash. Ravelry is amazing - I can't believe it's still in Beta! If you are unfamiliar, it's capable of keeping track of your projects, your stash, your hooks and needles; there are forums for virtually every type of fiber-lover; patterns galore (it's a pattern *heaven*) and so much more. I found a group nearby that meets weekly, but I was a little hesitant since I was still only a n00bie crocheter and the group embraced the word "Knitter" only in their Ravelry title.
In the meantime, I ventured out to find the LYS (that's fiber-junkie speak for Local Yarn Store) and learned we have 3 in my area! Woohoo! I fondled and groped all sorts of fibers and realized quickly that the stash I had at home paled in comparison. I touched angora, alpaca, silk, bamboo and countless more fibers that were simply amazing to touch. I inquired with the lady at the first LYS that if a girl were interested in learning to knit, what would be a good needle size to start with? And what kind of yarn?
I left that day with a pair of size US10 bamboo needles and Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky - my very first wool buy. Within days, I checked out the other two shops and decided the last -
Grinny Possum Fiber Arts was my absolute favorite. The shop owner was not only absolutely lovely and kind, the place was immensely more comfortable for me than the previous two. I felt I had come home.
I checked out a book at the library and one night I sat down with those needles and that yarn and taught myself how to knit and purl. That was July 13, 2008. Later, I picked up another book and used the entire skein of yarn to make half a scarf (I decided I didn't much care for the mohair content in the yarn - especially for a scarf! - and abandoned that project altogether).
Somewhere during that same time period, I finally met up with the aforementioned group of knitters. It was nothing short of bliss. I had a new challenge before me and new folks around me encouraging me, guiding me and praising my efforts and outcomes.
Since that time, I have accumulated a gob of gorgeous yarn of all sorts of fiber content, started 44 projects, abandoned 5, frogged (knit-speak for having ripped it out - get it? "Rippit, Ribbit") 6 projects, currently have 2 WIPS (more fiber-talk, this time meaning Work In Progress) and the rest - a whopping 32 FOs (again with the yarn-gab! FO = Finished Object). I've made hats, scarves, blankets, a little baby sweater, socks, a cowl, headbands, a cozy for my French Press, a purse, fingerless gloves and even key cozies! I've even gotten a little adventurous and combined a few patterns to make my own
derivative design! A few of the ladies that meet for Knit Night even spin their own yarn and I've enjoyed trying out their spinning wheels (although I'll admit to being a smidge intimidated by it).
Fiber is an adventure. It may seem tedious (it sometimes is) or like something old ladies do to pass the time, but the immense popularity of Ravelry and my own experience out in the real world while crocheting or knitting away proves otherwise. There is nothing quite like starting with a seemingly meaningless ball of string and creating some comfy socks.
It is my hope to catalog my yarn-inspired adventures, my frustrations and my victories, garments I hope to someday design and sell so that I can continue to feed my yarn obsessions.
ObsceKnitty is born!
(in the event that it's not as obvious to you as it is to me, it's pronounced like "obscenity")
