My first knitting class was a two-week session at a local chain craft store. It was November 2003, and I was working as a manager at a bookstore. It was hectic, fast-paced, and required long hours with very little compensation. I needed a way to de-stress; one of my co-workers knit, and he volunteered to teach me, but our schedules never matched up to actually do a knitting lesson. So, I took matters into my own hands. I signed up for a Knitting I class on my day off from work. The class had seven or eight ladies of different ages – I was the youngest there, and the one who had the least experience with yarn and needles. Many of the participants used the class as a refresher after years of not knitting, and they made me look bad. It took me awhile to figure out the slip knot, casting on, and even longer to realize the whole knit stitch. Luckily, the teacher was patient, and willing to come over and spend some more time with me. After a few rows, it totally clicked. Sure, I had a lot more to learn (and unlearn, actually, because I was twisting my stitches for months and months). After the first session, I felt pretty darn good.
I eagerly went home to show Kris my work. My chunky acrylic scarf kit with uneven gauge and mistakes. I was proud of it. I stayed up late that night working on the scarf. I put it next to my bed so that I could immediately start it the next morning. The minute I opened my eyes, I wanted to knit. Later in the morning, Kris and I took the train into the city and I saw a knitter on the train – wrestling with this huge cabled sweater with stitch markers, circular needles, cables, etc. I looked on in amazement: I had just figured out what garter stitch was, and here was this guy knitting this amazing red sweater on the train. I stared at his work, and I finally spoke, telling him that I had just learned to knit. Thankfully, he was nice, and told me to stick with it. (Isn't it cool that the first two knitters I saw – my coworker, and this random train knitter – were guys?)
My second session was the "PURL" session. It took a little while to catch on, but when I did, it was good and solidified. I practiced for the rest of the class, and the teacher noted that I had picked it up quickly (this from the girl who couldn't figure out the long-tail cast-on…) The teacher gave the participants a 25% off coupon for the store and as a thank you for taking the class. I decided to hold on to my coupon for awhile, and after the new year (2004), I came back to spend the coupon and a gift certificate I got for Christmas. That's when I saw it…
The Patons Street Smart booklet was hot off the presses – and I loved everything in it. The hoodie on the cover was my favorite of all. However, I knew that it would be a long time before I could take on such a thing – I was scared to try a sweater at that point, much less a hoodie with cables and bobbles… but I knew that someday, that hoodie would be mine.
Someday is today.
I finally started the Street Smart Cabled hoodie. I originally bought some Patons wool, as the pattern calls for, but after seeing this gorgeous blue merino wool from Cottage Craft at Stitches East last November, I knew it was meant to be together. I could just picture it in my head… and after seeing Elizabeth's version of the hoodie last month, I knew I couldn't wait any longer. I was ready to take it on. I am at the point where I can handle those cables, those bobbles, and anything else this sweater throws at me!
Sleeve one has just begun! (See cable detail)
This book has inspired some lovely knits – all four of the designs included are wonderful, stylish, and wearable. There was a long-running knitalong for the Must Have cardigan in 2005 and 2006, and more recently, Claudia completed a beautiful version of the sweater. The Urban Aran sweater has also been the talk of the town, especially after Jared at Brooklyntweed "cardiganized" it last year, Saun followed with a great version, and it is now on the needles of Stacey, Jess, and Wendie – and probably a lot of other knitters as well! The last pattern in the book is a simple cabled pullover called "Easy Street", and I am thinking that it will be a great match for the new Malabrigo I just bought…
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Of course, now that I have reached the someday for the Patons hoodie, I have many other someday projects to look forward to, things I am not ready to tackle now, for fear of messing them up too badly! – Fair Isle, cables, lace, etc. As I become more confident in my skill, I will take on more projects with challenges. Not quite the same as the regular "to knit" list that we tend to queue in our heads, but more of an aspiration of what you can accomplish in the future.
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Do you feel that you still have some knitting techniques to master or perfect before you can make a certain pattern?
What are your someday projects?
Hi! I commented here once before, but always read.
I think that sweater will look GREAT in that yarn – it is an incredible color! Good luck. Can’t wait to see the finished sweater!
Oh my gosh, I have a list. I used to throw something into a list on the sidebar of my blog or if I saw a pattern I liked, I would go out and buy the yarn for it and put it in my stash. But recently I got organized and made a list in my planner (I also bought a planner!) of patterns, yarn requirements, gauge, etc. That way, I know exactly what I have to knit with and I won’t find myself in a store staring at yarn and trying to remember figures.
Here’s my list:
1) A Cardigan for Arwent (I’m so excited for this, it’s next after I finish some kneehighs for my mom)
2) Calliope Shell (from KnitPIcks)
3) Diamond Lace Cardigan (from KnitPicks)
4) Refined Raglan
5) Hourglass Sweater
6) Drop Stitch Hoodie
7) …and then there’s the socks. Wyvern, Monkey, Pomatomus…the list goes on.
Our house is small and doesn’t have much storage space, so when I look in our spare bedroom closet, I know just how much yarn is there. I need to get cracking and work on the list!
I love the color you are using for that hoodie. It will be gorgeous!
I have such a massive “someday list.” If only there were more hours in the day I would definitely work on sweater after sweater. Instead I knit sock after sock.
On my sweater list is Cheesylove from Knitty, Jemima (I think the designer’s name is Annabelle), and Cherry (also by Annabelle). I’m hoping to knit them all sometime during the year.
On my sock list? I want to knit everything in my sock yarn stash and then some!
I have a list of about 25 “must do” sweaters so I won’t publish the details! Your hoodie looks fabulous, love the color. Good job expanding your skills.
I love the fact that you saved this project to do and that it’s still in style!! I have one saved, but its from the 80s. I’ll keep it because I know one day it will be back in style!!
I too have been wanting to knit that hoodie forever!!! It was the first pattern I bought in English and I remember feeling very brave, especially since I had never done cables at that point. Maybe I should get around to it soon – there’s just a few more things to finish first (11 to be precise..)
What a great story!
).
). Never mind that I’m only just working on my first fair isle mitt ever, that I’m a 5’11 behemoth who gets taken for an upright couch in anything with a pattern or that black and white makes me look ill.
Had to de-lurk and tell you that. De-lurking is a New Year’s resolution of mine
I’ve got a dream someday project: Alice Starmore’s Armagh, a black-and-white sweater with Celtic fretwork and spirals. Not only would I recreate this sweater to perfection, I’d also look splendid and svelte in it
A somewhat more realistic someday project? A wedding band lace shawl. Sigh. That would be so lovely.
The hoodie looks pretty! Glad that your someday is now
)
The Urban Aran is definitely on my Someday list. It’s so perfect! I’ve never seen the whole booklet and you’re completely right; all of the patterns are great!
That’s going to be gorgeous!
Patterns I can (usually) take or leave, but I definitely have someday yarn. Stuff that I’m afraid to use because it’s “too nice” for my current skill level, or a pattern that will show it off better might come around later. Right now it’s a bunch of teal and cream linen-blend that I bought probably 5 years ago in bulk without a label – I know it could be something beautiful, I just don’t know what!
Back before I was a knitter, I crocheted, and I read Knitty for inspiration (for crochet ideas, because I just knew I’d never be able to knit). Anyway, one day I saw Shedir, and I knew that if I ever managed to learn to knit, I’d never be able to make it, but I wanted to anyway. To make a long story short, I did learn to knit, and six months later I made a better-than-passable Shedir. Now most of my someday projects are lace, and I’m slowly but surely getting through them!
My someday patterns are lace shawls, but I’m tackling them this spring. I’m knitting Icarus from IK and Fibertrends’s Lace Leaf Shawl. I’d love to do some fair isle, too.
great story, and congrats on starting that cardi
my someday project is rogue – i loved it as soon as i saw it but knew it was *wayyy* out of my league. now, over two years later, i think i’m ready to handle it, hooray.
My someday project is my wedding veil, but I think that has more to do with the length of time between now and whenever boyfriend and I manage to tie the knot. I do want to knit a full-size lace shawl before that day comes though, so my wedding veil can be really, really nice.
It’s kind of hard for me to pick a “Some Day” project. My LYS owner has passed on a sort of “You can knit anything” attitude. And while I am a toe-dipper usually, it seems that I have jumped head on into knitting. Mostly my “Some Day” projects have more to do with time and money than skill. I have yet to knit my first sweater, but that will be happening soon.
So, I choose this as my “Some Day” project. Mostly because there is no pattern, which leaves it up to me and my LYS owner to figure out. I’m confident we can, but I’d like to tackle a couple of other sweaters first.
I’m very slowly learning to knit with DPN’s so that I can knit socks. My next project will be a preemie hat, know any good patterns?
Great story. Love the guy knitters. My someday project includes the Arwen cardigan we looked at in Interweave at Imagiknit in SF. I have the skill level but I’m not sure I have the endurance!
Yay – I’m so glad you started the cabled hoodie! You’ll love knitting and wearing it – I’ve been wearing mine constantly. (Thanks for the shout-out, BTW). Someday projects for me…. hmmm. I’ve been thinking about knitting the Lady Eleanor stole from Scarf Style for a long time. I’m intrigued by the entrelac, and although it looks complicated I’ve been told many times that it’s actually quite easy. I’m not sure I’ll knit it, though, because I’m not sure I’ll really use it. We’ll see…
My “somedays” are actually all art quilts I have stuck in my head. Ripping out yarn? No problemo. Dealing with fabric mistakes? Panic!
wow the cables look great…
How funny, I bought that Patons booklet when I first learned to knit too (I liked the Must Have Cardigan), and I feel like I could knit my “someday” sweater from that now if I wanted. But you have inspired me to go ahead and start my Cardigan for Arwen (my “someday” sweater of the moment), I thought the cable looked too intricate, but why not be daring?!
I love that Street Smart booklet. I made the Must Have, but I’ve often thought of going back to make one of the other ones. Yours will be lovely in that blue merino!
I have a lot of projects in the queue. But my “someday” sweater comes right out of the Dale Osterdalen 2004 book. Technique I’ve already got. The cojones to knit up a Dale stranded sweater on size 3 needles and then steek it… that’s going to have to wait a while.
Me so chicken.
What a great story! Good for you that you are tackling the project now so you can enjoy the sweater — the blue is pretty!
I have always wanted to make a floral intarsia sweater. I have the pattern, and in addition to learning to work with all those bobbins, I might also have to learn how to adjust the pattern for shaping. It’s a big boxy sweater. I have some other projects to knit up first, but perhaps this fall it might be something I could tackle. Thank you for encouraging us to pursue our dreams!
Mmmmmmm Malabrigo! Love it! Love the color too and the pattern.
I have so many projects on my list, but one that I would really like to try is entralac.
Great story! I too want to knit everything in that book. My Someday Sweater, though–once I can make two stranded mittens in the same size, maybe–is Eunny’s Venezia pullover from the last Interweave. Someday…
Easy Street was my first sweater!!! Sadly it has since been frogged and the yarn is waiting to be recyled. Due to some bad guidance from a yarn shop they sent me home with the wrong gauged yarn, telling me to knit a size smaller and not to do a gauge swatch. I listened (I was a noob and didn’t know better) and the sweater came out too tight. Not so tight that I couldn’t wear it but tight enough that I would never wear it.
I loved the sweater though and would like to do another… someday…
Go you! I just posted about the completion of my Someday Project (Rogue) a few days ago. It feels so great to be at that point in knitting where you can tackle that project. The yarn you are using looks stunning in that sleeve pattern.
Even though I am sort of a beginner at knitting, I have no fear. I continue to tackle projects that I shouldn’t even be thinking about trying yet and just learn as I go. I am almost done with a sweater that looks like it is the same color as you are going to use for your sweater (that sweater looks amazing and I would love to try making it eventually). You inspire me with all your wonderful knitting!
That was a fun story to read, Lolly! It feels good to be fearless about knitting and choose a project because it’s beautiful and will look good on our bods, not just because it’s at the right difficulty level. Can’t wait to see your cardi; it’s going to be gorgeous on you in that blue.
That’s a great story, Lolly! Congrats on beginning your “someday” project, and in such a beautiful color. I know it will turn out great!
I’m happy to say I’m currently working on my “someday” project–Frost Flowers and Leaves from A Gathering of Lace. I bought yarn for it about a year an a half ago but was scared to start for some reason. Now I’m 25% done with it.
Honestly, I have tackled anke-down socks, lace shawls and blankets without issue. My “Someday” projects are toe-up socks and seaming without worry so I can make adult-sized sweaters!!
=:8
My someday project is to actually knit a cardigan—any cardigan—even a simple one! I’m still trying to master socks after several months, so a cardi is a ways down the road! Also, finding just the right plus-size pattern, and buying enough skeins to make the pattern still seems daunting (and expensive). So for now, I’m happy with small, satisfying projects! Hopefully all of that small-sized practice will add up to something BIG someday–LOL!
Your stories are the best, Lolly! You weave an interesting tale, indeed! (hey, I made a pun, not intended…:)
My some day project is a lace triangle shawl.
I love that sweater you are knitting and I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out.
I bought the booklet for the Must Have Cardigan (which I made and has turned into my all time favorite sweater!) and have been looking at the Cabled Hoodie ever since……but have never made it. Your’s will be gorgeous is the blue merino!
My number one “Someday” knit is the “Celtic Icon” cabled hoodie cardigan in “Inspired Cable Knits” by Fiona Ellis. I love this sweater with a passion, and “someday” it will be mine!
My first new technique will be cabling for Fetchings. To be started and completed during the first two months of PS 2.0
The cables are coming up beautifully! Perfect match for the yarn you chose. Feels good to start that ‘someday’ knit, hey?
That sweater’s going to be gorgeous, and I love your choice of yarn! I’m definately going to have to get my hands on some…it’ll work great for many of my own someday knits…which feature many cables. Thanks for the link!
When I first started knitting I was most inspired by the cables. It’s one of the biggest reasons I absolutely had to learn to knit. Ironically, I haven’t done many cabled projects. I’ve been lured away by socks and lace, but I mean to add some cables into my knittng this year.
What a great story, Lauren! I am sad that your first teacher didn’t recognize that you were twisting your stitches–and even more horrified to think that she might have taught you wrong. Totally awesome that the first exposures you had to knitting included so many men. My mom taught me, and I remember her telling me that traditionally, knitters were men (fishermen, etc) and never _quite_ believing her. (I was 8 years old.)
I love that you’re finally knitting your Someday Project. I guess mine is the Adrienne Vittadini Allegra Twist-Front Top; I finally bought the pattern just a few weeks ago. It’s going to be some time before I decide to make it, and yarn will need to be purchased, which means I need to crank through some more of the stash first, anyway. But I’ve loved that top for the longest time, and can’t wait to embark on it. Someday . . .
Asa new-ish knitter, it’s nice to see hear about someone’s else’s beginnings! I don’t exactlyhave a someday project- but someday, I will tackle socks. Really. I will!
Ohhhh the yarn is lovely!!!!! Oh it’s going to be a stunning sweater!! I can wait to see it grow!!
I just realized, that yarn and colour are very similar to the the Bartlett yarn I bought in denim (I used this yarn but in spice heather for my Must Have Cardigan). I have developed this deep love for yarns (almost) straight out of the sheep/farm!
Mmm blue. That will look great on you! I have only done one fair isle and one intarsia project, so I definitely have not mastered those. But what I really want to improve upon is lace. I NEVER wear it, so don’t ask me why. But I love the process and the results.
Too many to mention, my one problemis bobbles. I can’t seem to master them even though I’ve been knitting off and on for 40 years. ciao
Rogue was the sweater that inspired me to knit. The only reason I haven’t gotten to it yet is cuz I’ve discovered som any other wonderful things along the way. I have the yarn and it’s the next sweater on my list.
Honestly, I don’t hold off on things because I don’t have the skills. If I see something I like, I plunge in and learn along the way. I’ve only been knitting for a couple of years and the only things I haven’t tried are color work (on my list for this year), steeking, and installing a zipper. I haven’t had any problems yet.
Good luck with the sweater! It’s adorable. I may have to go buy some malabrigo now…
i’ve gotta learn fair isle. for some reason it freaks me out to even attempt it. i started knitting in 2003 as well. i pretty much dove right in for the cables and lace–they were so much easier than i imagined. but fair isle seems tricky to me. holding the yarn in 2 hands? that makes no sense. i can only hold it in my left hand. um, also i should probably admit that i can’t read charts. but in fairness to myself, i’ve never really tried to learn…
I don’t usually comment here, but since you’re directly responsible for my someday project, I thought I’d thank you!
My someday project is the striped fair isle sweater on the front of the Lopi 25 book. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/lollyknit/306300869/ – top left!) I’ve never really done much fair isle, but I’m excited. I bought the wool and pattern for my birthday in December and I’ve been practicing fair isle ever since. I’m hoping to be able to wear it next winter!
But anyhow, thank you for finding me my someday pattern!
You’ve got the knitting skills to rock those cables – I hope you’re proud of yourself! That blue color is beautiful, it’s going to look wonderful with your eyes.
My someday project is the Rockstar Cardigan from Alchemy yarns. The entire project is lace and the whole pattern is basically a series of charts. Pretty scary for someone who hasn’t done much lace. I’ll get there, though…
lace! definitely lace. I have dibbed and dabbed, but nothing I can call “LACE”. I will do it in 2007 though- resolution is for 3 FO.
ha!