I'm starting a new sweater for my granddaughter, Eli. We went to a knitting store in Williamsburg and she picked out a bright yellow yarn for the body of the sweater and kelly green for the trim. It's a darling pattern and should go very well.
It was fun watching her in the store. I think she is going to be a knitter. She looked at the yarn "respectively...with the kind of look that knitters get. She was compelled to reach out and touch the yarn and when she made her choice, she really looked all the possibilities. I'm going to be going to Virginia in the summer for two months and I am going to try to teach her to knit then.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Socks for Addie
Around Christmas I saw some stretch sock yarn on sale and thought I would give it a try. I didn't have a pattern, so decided to use the tube sock found in Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush. It said cast on 48 sts., so I did and it is turning out so small. I didn't have anyone in mind when I started, but I think they are going to be for my 6 year old granddaughter. That is one of the things I love about knitting socks. I don't worry too much if my gauge isn't exactly right because I decide who to give them to when the socks are done. I used #1 needles and am very pleased with the way the yarn is knitting up. The colors are pink and green and there is a nice blend.
I was looking through all my knitting catalogs and I just had to wonder at all the choices we have in yarn. I am amazed at the richness and variety. I remember the lean years when you could only get Red Heart and a few other brands without traveling to the city to find the one and only yarn shop. It wasn't like that when I was in college in the 60's. Back then Department stores were actually department stores, not just glorified clothing stores. There was a housewares section, yarn and needlework, and fabric section. I could lose myself for hours. Then came the Hippie years and we had quilt fabric, macrame and all sorts of fun things. I cringe at some of the things I made, but still I was able to find materials for my hobbies.
But then something happened. I think it was a huge shift in retail. Corporate executives wanted to only look at the bottom line. Whatever sold the best is what we got and that was clothes...clothes, and more clothes. Store owners were no longer able to order what the people in the area actually wanted, but were forced to accept the dictates of Corporate policies whose leaders only worried about the bottom line. If you don't believe it's true, then follow the history of Walmart. It's a far cry from what made the store so successful in the beginning. OK, off my soap box. I'd better go look for that camera.
I was looking through all my knitting catalogs and I just had to wonder at all the choices we have in yarn. I am amazed at the richness and variety. I remember the lean years when you could only get Red Heart and a few other brands without traveling to the city to find the one and only yarn shop. It wasn't like that when I was in college in the 60's. Back then Department stores were actually department stores, not just glorified clothing stores. There was a housewares section, yarn and needlework, and fabric section. I could lose myself for hours. Then came the Hippie years and we had quilt fabric, macrame and all sorts of fun things. I cringe at some of the things I made, but still I was able to find materials for my hobbies.
But then something happened. I think it was a huge shift in retail. Corporate executives wanted to only look at the bottom line. Whatever sold the best is what we got and that was clothes...clothes, and more clothes. Store owners were no longer able to order what the people in the area actually wanted, but were forced to accept the dictates of Corporate policies whose leaders only worried about the bottom line. If you don't believe it's true, then follow the history of Walmart. It's a far cry from what made the store so successful in the beginning. OK, off my soap box. I'd better go look for that camera.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)