Saturday, January 21, 2006

What Kind of Knitter Are You?

Well, I've taken another quiz. I'm not too sure about this one. I agree with all of it except that I've "passed the growing pains and are feeling more adventurous." I passed my growing pains about 30 years ago! I design my own patterns a lot, especially Arans and have done for years. Hmmm...So I went back and looked at the questions. Well, when you only have 4-5 questions, how detailed can you get? I'll never be one of those people who put strange, funky yarns and styles together and try to pretend that it is creative just because it is bizarre. Now days I guess that makes me too conventional. So maybe I am, but then, who cares but me?

Knitting Adventurer

You appear to be a Knitting Adventurer.

You are through those knitting growing pains and feeling more adventurous. You can follow a standard pattern if it's not too complicated and know where to go to get help. Maybe you've started to experiment with different fibers and you might be eyeing a book with a cool technique you've never tried. Perhaps you prefer to stick to other people's patterns but you are trying to challenge yourself more. Regardless of your preference, you are continually trying to grow as a knitter, and as well you should since your non-knitting friends are probably dropping some serious hints, these days.



What Kind of Knitter Are You?
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So what kind of knitter do I really think I am? I'd say confident, I may not like to do every kind of knitting stitch, but I'm sure I could manage somehow. Next, I'd say sensual. I like the feel, mood, and color of yarn. I have to touch it. This is one time when "look with your eyes" just won't do. I have to rub yarn on my cheek, smell it and relate to it. I like the natural fibers best, especially wool. No matter what we do to it, there is still a bit of wildness in it. It has bounce and "hand" and life. It tells me if it wants to come home with me and a lot of the time, it tells me what to make it into. Sometimes I argue with it, but the yarn ALWAYS wins.

I'm a competitve knitter. I like a challenge even if it is only with myself...sometimes especially when it is with myself! I want to make my knitting match what is in my head. Sometimes I have to wrestle with it and it lets me win when I finally understand it.

I'm definitely a "process" knitter and not a "product" knitter. Projects can languish for ages before being finished. Once I have gained the experience and seen how the sweater will turn out, it's hard to keep motivated. I'm ready to go on to the next challenge. That isn't always a bad thing. When I need a gift for someone, I can take one of my projects and finish it in a few days. Of course, children grow older and my languishing project may not fit anymore, but then there are more children being born who are the right size and the child who has grown out of one project may soon be growing into another.

I am a social knitter. I like knitting groups and they are good for me. I am more apt to finish something on time when I have been sharing it with others. I guess I want to show it off. No matter, if it gets it done. The downside is that I get intrigued with what someone else is doing and I'm off and running.

Whatever kind of knitter I am, I am sure of one thing. I love knitting! If I am in a good mood, I like to knit for the sheer enjoyment of it. I think better with my needles. Whether I am getting ready for a trip or being evacuated for a hurricane, I have to stop periodically and knit. It's not wasted time. It is how I collect myself and think about what is really important. It's like dropping back to punt. I get ahead better if I stop to think, but I just can't sit on a chair and do nothing. I have to do something to semi-occupy myself. I'm like Pavlov's dogs. Give me knitting and I relax and my mind spins free...better to think of important things I might have missed.

When I am making something for someone, I knit myself into whatever I am making. I see them receiving it, wearing it, enjoying it. I think about our history together and the future. I say some prayers for the wearer and sometimes for myself too.

I love knitting so much, I feel sorry for the people who can't knit. I try to teach as many people as I can. I want to share this gift that has been given to me. I guess you could call me a "Passionate Knitter." That about says it all.

Friday, January 20, 2006

What kind of Sock Type are you?

Knee length sock
You quite like socks, but your not overly-obsessed with them. You would have been a pair of knee-length socks in any color, and probably stripy or something to make you that little bit more interesting.


What type of sock are you?
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I found this cute quiz to take to determine what kind of "socks person" I am. It was very clever and I expect that it describes me very well...at least as regards to socks. I love to knit them. There is something about watching the self-striping patterns develop that is so compelling and yet so relaxing. And I love wearing them too. My friends don't understand, but there is something so satisfying about taking a string and two sticks and making an everyday, but necessary bit of clothing and stamping it with my own personal style.

The sox tie me to my Wisconsin grandmother whose chores included knitting the clothes she would wear every day. She'd be rolling in her grave however; to hear me speak lofty words about something she HAD to do daily. In fact, I once asked her why she liked to crochet so much better than to knit. She said that they all had to knit every day, but when they had finished, they could use left over yarn to crochet pretty trims to go on their clothing. She always associated crochet with creativity and individual style...sort of what I was saying about my sox...Hmmm.