Knitting...A Favorite Winter Hobby

Knit 1 and purl 1, knit 1 and purl 1, that's the pattern I have been using for my baby blanket. I have finished it and now I'm on to the next one. The first is for a baby boy and the next for a baby girl and I'll change the pattern a bit. Then on to another one for an expected baby...we don't know the sex yet. I love to knit in the winter. There's something comforting about the clicking of needles, holding that soft yarn, the warmth of the blanket starting to spread out over my lap, and finally the accomplishment of getting something pretty finished. I seldom knit in the summer, but one year, I made afghans for several people, and had to start early to get finished. It was before air conditioning and hotter than blazes, but I got through it. My very first knitting project was when my last son was born. I had a friend who said that she would teach me to knit. The first thing I tried was a baby sweater...with sleeves knitted separately,a difficult neckline, and buttonholes. After the first lesson, I took the knitting to a meeting that night, so I could keep knitting and not forget what I was doing. My eyes were crossed when I finally put it down.With my friend's help...the sweater was finished and he wore it! Since that project, I have made various afghans, a couple of baby sweaters, scarves, charity knitting (baby hats and chemo hats) but nothing as complicated as that first project. Another time a friend and I made our girls ponchos with big knitting needles. We thought that they were cute with a drawstring and big pom poms hanging. Mine was a blend of brown and gold colors. It was the late 60's or early 70's and ponchos were all the rage. My daughter tells me now...that she didn't like the poncho....so now I tease her and ask if she wants another poncho for Christmas or birthday. A blogging friend sent me an email this morning and asked if I ever use a pattern, when I knit. I do follow a pattern, of sorts, but not anything too complicated. I tend to forget where I am and have to keep looking at the pattern. I started a baby sweater..that was so complicated...I said to myself, "Balisha, this is supposed to be fun..relaxing even, why are you struggling so?" I stopped it and just put it away and started a baby blanket. I may bring it out and try to finish it. I like to watch TV or listen to music while I knit, so I'm always on the lookout for easy things to do. I tend to do one thing at a time and not have a lot of projects going. I am a finisher and always have been. One step at a time...one project at a time....now that doesn't mean that I don't have another craft waiting to be finished...like painting. I can have a knitting project, and a painting project going at the same time. isn't it funny how we all approach our lives differently? Some of us thrive on chaos, and some need calm. Some need lots of things going on at once and deadlines to meet, and some of us would go crazy doing it that way. It makes for an interesting world...what if we were all alike...Boring!

Balisha