10.11.2011

it finally clicked...well, sort of


My unhealthy obsession with trying to knit a pair of socks has actually come to fruition.

With my undying gratitude to Andi for pushing/coaxing/cheering me on --- this is what I have been doing...

Knitting socks!

It has been slooooooooooooooooooooooooooow going.  And I do mean s.l.o.w.

I don't know if it is because I am so used to a hook in my hand and watching each crocheted stitch fall away neatly onto a row, but when I see all of those stitches that I have just knit or purled held captive on a needle w/o ever being let off ---- well, for some reason (yes, you can insert the word crazy here) the stitches feel trapped to me.

And then when I make a mistake in these socks (and there have been a lot of them) I can't for the life of me figure out how to fix the mistake.  A mistake in crochet is easily fixable --- but holey moley, a mistake in knitting is unintelligable for me.  Completely scratch-my-head-what-in-the-heck-do-I-do-now?! feeling.



But the yarn is gorgeous.  Not only in color but also the feeling of it in my fingers is yarn therapy.  Truly.




The directions are clear & concise.  Oh, so easy for the average Knitting Joe.  But for me?  I feel as if I am learning a new language.




And it doesn't help that perimenopause is knocking at my door.  And that is door I do.not.want.to.open "Wrong house!" I seriously want to yell. 

My very funny sister knows this unwelcome guest is darkening my doorway, so of course! -- she sends this supportive-cheer-me-up birthday card.....


So much for supportive sisters (ahem.) and I'll just get my therapy in the form of yarn, thank you.



19 comments:

Aisyah Helga said...

Oh my! I wish you good luck, Dawn, in finishing up those socks! I do love the colors of the yarn! So refreshing! And that card is absolutely funny :D

Marilyn said...

it's your birthday today?!...mine too...Happy Birthday Dawn...and your sock is fantastic and the second one will be too!!! umm... you are learning a new language...a friend of mine said once, when I was lamenting the fact that I'm not computer literate...she said but you don't have a path in your brain to follow...you've never done it before...same goes for learning something new like knitting...remember when you couldn't hook???
:)

Anonymous said...

Happy happy birthday! Hope you have a beautiful day! I think you are doing great on the sox, I'm terrified to attempt to knit sox, so I'll just cheer you on and celebrate with you when you finish them. Hope you have a great week!

Bel said...

Happy birthday! and good work on the socks. I have as yet made a full pair (just yoga and pedicure sock) because I have huge feet and no patience. The colours are gorgeous. you can do it!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! Beautiful choice of yarn and good for you learning how to knit your own socks!

Isabel said...

What a wonderful way to start the day: laughing out loud!!! Yrs was the first I read this morning and all you wrote about the socks it's the truth for me too, and I don't know why because I usually knit and my mum used to do a lot of socks and easily, so ... But socks scare me!!! And the card is great!! It is really that, so funny but real...and somewhere in the way you'll have to open that door, like I did. But very funny, it really make me laugh!!!
Love yr blog and yr work is gorgeous!
Happy birthday! Wish you all the best!
Love
Isabel S. Lisbon-Portugal

Anna said...

Beautiful socks... great colors... hard work...comfy result, I hope ...and happy birthday !
Have a funny day !
Hug
Anna

QuiltedSimple said...

Happy Birthday Dawn! And WHOOO HOOO - those socks are lovely (I'm still working on my first pair a year or so later....almost there;)). See - I knew you could do it:)
Cheers!
Kris

Krawuggl said...

Happy Birthday to you from me, too! I love this card, it´s so very true and funny and having a little laugh about it makes it all easier.
I remember so well when knitting my first socks some years ago, it was so very slow and difficulty and I was really nervously looking at the instruction and often didn´t understand what it was talking about. Now, many socks later, I love to make them a lot, it´s so very relaxing and soothing, very simple and the result is always nice. Having such lovely sock yarn now available makes it even more easy. Love your yarn, the colour is so very pretty and I am sure this finally won´t be the last socks you are making.

Everlasting said...

I am so happy to see your first socks!!! They are looking great. I made my first pair with this yarn too... and since that I am keeping doing socks...and loving it so much!
I love this card, very funny:)
Bonne fête!

Andi said...

I am not sure if you could hear me yelling all the way from AZ, but I was! Whooooohoooooo! Look at you go your brilliant woman. They are looking fantastic. I am sure these will be the first of many. I think it took me till my 10th pairs before I became 100% confident in my sock knitting.
You are fantastic!!!!
Happy belated birthday Dawn. XXOO

pam said...

I am not so far ahead of you in learning to knit socks that I an not truly relate to every word!

Knitting that first sock IS slow going and lots of mistakes - miss-stitches - but remain committed and the day will come when the very last stitch is made and you will feel euphoria!

I finished my first pair last fall and have knitted four pair since - knitting socks becomes addictive!

I know you will be happy you stuck to you guns and persevered. And with that wool how could you help it! Beautiful! Makes you eyes happy doesn't it?

When you are done with this pair, if you would like, i would be happy to share the pattern I used - and still use. It is much easier because it is pretty much straight knitting and easier to keep track. That knit one purl one just made me crazy at first.

I am sending you my best wishes for a successful completion of your very first pair of socks!

Anabela Guilherme said...

Olá

São muito fofas e devem ser bem quentinhas...adorei.
Boa semana
Bj

Dora, the Quilter said...

Great socks! And lovely yarn too. I love the feel of many of Knit Pick's yarns. For years I was afraid of sock knitting--I'd heard a lot of horror tales of "turning the heel" while growing up. Now I knit more socks than anything else. I love to knit two socks at a time on one circular needle.

Also love your sister's card. I'm going to have to remember the names of those seven dwarves!

Unknown said...

Ciao!! bellissima questa lana e tu sei sei sempre troppo brava! complimenti sempre per le foto che trovo meravigliose.....
a presto Antonella

Cool Chic Style Fashion said...

Sono molto belli, bravissima
ciao

annemarie said...

I cannot even imagine knitting socks - you are doing great. I will stick to crochet!! My knitting skills are so very limited. That birthday card is a hoot - so funny!!

Rani said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE The colors. I started out with socks and was surprised when I tried a sweater and it knit up faster! Socks take FOREVER - but we love them, don't we. I am just learning to crochet and love it.P

Tres Chic Bows said...

I completely understand your obsession! For years I wanted to knit Grace Ennis socks, bought patterns, yarn, needles but alas, I didn't know how to knit. So one day I bought "I can't believe I'm knitting" book for children and started knitting. Now, almost all I do is SOCKS!! Still a very unhealthy obsession (for my wallet anyway) because now I HAVE to find and acquire ALL Grace Ennis patterns!!!! Your socks are really beautiful!!