These most gorgeous completed sweaters used to be carried by a handful of retail shops here in Oregon but not now that I know of. Years ago I got one of their patterns and knitted a cardigan myself! I love the classic styles!
What beautiful finished products! This is a lovely post. You and your friends are all so talented.
I don't knit, but I cross-stitch (and plan to get more into freehand embroidery) for many of the same reasons. But I have a pair of beautiful, soft wool socks that a distant, elderly family member made as one of her last projects before she was no longer able to knit anymore. They were actually made for a very tall man with big feet, but they shrunk so much on the first wash that they fit me perfectly. I love putting them on in the winter.
I wondered whether you did cross-stitch because of your profile photo (which is lovely, by the way). Cross-stitch is very mathematical too--it's all based on proportions (as I'm sure you know). As for the socks, my guess is that they got felted in the wash, which makes them extra sturdy and warm.
I loved learning about you and your friends experiences and the inherent generosity of knitting....and I always love Susan stories,
My knitting was very limited. In my college days, if you really liked a young man, you knit him argyle socks! I remember all the different colors hanging from little plastic bobbins (probably the wrong name!) Without a special date - knit for your brother!!! Argyle socks and cable sweaters - or scarves were as complex as it got.
Yes! They are called bobbins! I recently learned to knit socks (although I'm still only doing one color), and I thought of your stories of knitting socks for your college boyfriend (or Seth!).
my grandmother tried to teach me how to knit when I was around 8. I was pretty hopeless. Maybe it's my eye-hand coordination or my right/left brain connections. (I did, however, manage embroidery...) Anyways, I greatly admire all you creative knitters out there and love all the examples you show us, Mari!! Very admirable!
You’ll be surprised to learn, Mari, that I knitted a sweater during my college years. That was my first and only knitted product ever. In spite of my non-knitter status, I loved the column, the pictures, and the video.
Before I had kids my co workers and I would spend our tea breaks knitting baby clothes. I remember particularly a jumpsuit pattern that I knitted for a pregnant friend in baby blue with white spots I loved it. Then I had my babies and realized that kitted baby clothes are not the most practical clothing to dress them in (apart from a cardi or hat and booties).
Also I forwarded this weeks blog to my colleague who also knits and she thoroughly enjoyed your thoughts.
Thank you for sharing the post! It is true that babies and little children don't particularly enjoy hand-knitted items--they're too scratchy (as a neighbor's toddler once said about a sweater I had knit her, to the great embarrassment of her mom--I just laughed and filed the episode away as a lesson). But I still think that it's nice for new moms to know that you have made something beautiful for them, and they can always put the sweater on a teddy bear.
Irish fisherman sweaters are such a beautiful art form. I have read that historically every family had its own pattern for an awful reason--so that they could identify bodies of drowned people that washed up on shore. Now that I have ruined the mood, let me add that I would love so much to go on a hike and then knit with you one day!
your mathematics section reminded me of the quote, "knitting is tying a knot so complicated you can wear it when you're done".
That is an awesome quote!
Are you familiar with “Mari” sweaters?
http://www.marisweaters.com/
These most gorgeous completed sweaters used to be carried by a handful of retail shops here in Oregon but not now that I know of. Years ago I got one of their patterns and knitted a cardigan myself! I love the classic styles!
Oh wow! I have never heard of these--thank you so much for the link! (Cables are my favorite. 😊)
What beautiful finished products! This is a lovely post. You and your friends are all so talented.
I don't knit, but I cross-stitch (and plan to get more into freehand embroidery) for many of the same reasons. But I have a pair of beautiful, soft wool socks that a distant, elderly family member made as one of her last projects before she was no longer able to knit anymore. They were actually made for a very tall man with big feet, but they shrunk so much on the first wash that they fit me perfectly. I love putting them on in the winter.
I wondered whether you did cross-stitch because of your profile photo (which is lovely, by the way). Cross-stitch is very mathematical too--it's all based on proportions (as I'm sure you know). As for the socks, my guess is that they got felted in the wash, which makes them extra sturdy and warm.
I loved learning about you and your friends experiences and the inherent generosity of knitting....and I always love Susan stories,
My knitting was very limited. In my college days, if you really liked a young man, you knit him argyle socks! I remember all the different colors hanging from little plastic bobbins (probably the wrong name!) Without a special date - knit for your brother!!! Argyle socks and cable sweaters - or scarves were as complex as it got.
Yes! They are called bobbins! I recently learned to knit socks (although I'm still only doing one color), and I thought of your stories of knitting socks for your college boyfriend (or Seth!).
my grandmother tried to teach me how to knit when I was around 8. I was pretty hopeless. Maybe it's my eye-hand coordination or my right/left brain connections. (I did, however, manage embroidery...) Anyways, I greatly admire all you creative knitters out there and love all the examples you show us, Mari!! Very admirable!
Thanks! Your grandma may have been so eager to teach you that she started before you were ready. If you can embroider, I bet you can knit!
You’ll be surprised to learn, Mari, that I knitted a sweater during my college years. That was my first and only knitted product ever. In spite of my non-knitter status, I loved the column, the pictures, and the video.
Thanks! And it doesn't surprise me at all, because you are so creative and artistic!
Before I had kids my co workers and I would spend our tea breaks knitting baby clothes. I remember particularly a jumpsuit pattern that I knitted for a pregnant friend in baby blue with white spots I loved it. Then I had my babies and realized that kitted baby clothes are not the most practical clothing to dress them in (apart from a cardi or hat and booties).
Also I forwarded this weeks blog to my colleague who also knits and she thoroughly enjoyed your thoughts.
Thank you for sharing the post! It is true that babies and little children don't particularly enjoy hand-knitted items--they're too scratchy (as a neighbor's toddler once said about a sweater I had knit her, to the great embarrassment of her mom--I just laughed and filed the episode away as a lesson). But I still think that it's nice for new moms to know that you have made something beautiful for them, and they can always put the sweater on a teddy bear.
I’m a basic knitter. My grandmother was an expert, who knit beautiful layettes and Aran sweaters from patterns she made up.
I would enjoy nothing more than to visit with you, hike, then have a knitting lesson.
Oh! And my husband knows how to do basic knitting also.
Irish fisherman sweaters are such a beautiful art form. I have read that historically every family had its own pattern for an awful reason--so that they could identify bodies of drowned people that washed up on shore. Now that I have ruined the mood, let me add that I would love so much to go on a hike and then knit with you one day!