Craft, Daily Life, Family, Knitting

To Knit or Not To Knit

Cathy

Most of you know I knit – nowadays I seem to knit a lot!
I learnt to knit when I was quite young – I taught my girls to knit when they were quite young – I taught some of my grandaughters to knit when they were quite young – but sadly even tho’ they are all capable – I don’t think any of them have knit for quite a while. 

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I don’t think there are many women my age who can’t knit yet it went out of favour for many years.  Slowly it’s re-emerging and becoming a favourite craft again and these days there are lots of younger talented knitters in the community.

I’ll often have something small tucked into a bag, easy to pick up to take in the car or even on the odd occasional train trip.  Last year I even found a nice new bag for these times – it’s just the right size and shape, has a large top zip opening and two zipped pockets on the back – is fun and looks good as well
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Found on a market during our Central America cruise 
the front is covered in little ‘Worry Dolls” 
Worry Dolls date back to Mayan traditions. Handmade by Maya Indians living in the highlands of Guatemala from wood and scraps of material to create an amulet to soothe away fear and anxiety. 
The tradition is to tell your worries to the worry people then place them under your pillow at night and let the worry people take your worries away.

Yes, I know those little dolls are supposed to go under your pillow but for me they are just a reminder that life is there to be lived – should be fun and not to worry about things.
 
Back to the knitting – 
because of this renewed interest it wasn’t a suprise to me a few years ago to learn that a group had declared one day of the year to be a
Knit in Public Day. 
Nothing new for me but taking a lot of courage for other knitters
It’s now morphed into a world wide week long event
and this year World Wide Knit in Public Day 
runs from 8 – 16th June 2013
http://www.wwkipday.com/about-world-wide-knit-in-public-day

This all fell nicely into place because last Sunday we had one of those dry sunny dry days I spoke of previously and as I was feeling a bit brighter we took a drive out to The Golfers ‘club’ – and what went with me in the car – yes some knitting.  We spent some time tucked up in the corner of the big lounge (out of the way of other people) warm and cozy enjoying the view from the big picture window.  

Golf Club walking track and ranges

In the spirit of the day I clicked away – which I normally wouldn’t do in the club,   the golfer caught up with some magazines (no prizes for the subject)  
we enjoyed scones and coffee and then I walked over to the rest rooms. 
Guess what I saw on the way
Two other ladies with their knitting – chatting to each other and enjoying life.
Looks between us told the story – yes we were all Knitting in Public 🙂

And what was I knitting on Sunday?
(Photo taken this morning 
finished fingerless mitts and another pair on the go).

Knitting bag and fingerless mitts

Now how about you – do you craft in public?
Have you heard about Knit in Public Day and would you?
There is still time to get in on the act!

 

https://www.facebook.com/WorldWideKnitinPublicDaytheOfficialSite
http://www.wwkipday.com/
https://weteachme.com/onabee/world-wide-knit-in-public-day-kensington-melbourne
http://www.meetup.com/Knitting-in-Public-Sydney/events/110715112/

19 thoughts on “To Knit or Not To Knit”

  1. I used to knit – anywhere but the bathroom. I wish I still could, but arthritis has taken over. I still have my collection of needles, can’t seem to let them go. 😉

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  2. Love your bag! I have knitted and crochet in public. I used to take craft to do while sitting with leanne at her chemo appointments. Lots of people would come up and chat to me about what I was making. I have never heard of knit in public day. I’ll have to take some outside and Join in on the fun

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    1. Thats the other place I knit Angela – I think it makes the drs realise they are running late as they always seem to apologise when I go in.

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  3. I haven’t knotted much lately but sure need to get back to it. I only learned to knit four years ago and found it soothing when I needed to rest.
    I do love your bag with all the worry dolls. Letting go of worry surely helps.

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    1. Lovely to hear from you Jan – yes I’d say get those needles out and give it another go. You’ve got nothing to lose have you – best not do it while the kittens are around tho lol

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    1. That really was a great plce to show the world your skills – maybe some of your new found friends did go home and renew their love of knitting 🙂

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    1. It’s possible to learn from the internet these days – or if you need someone to look over your shoulder its likely some community craft organisations would have classes

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  7. I know how to knit and purl but never learned to follow a pattern and use 4 needles or round needles. Nowadays you can learn from YouTube if there’s no one to show you!

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  8. Love your bag! I knit in public, in private, whenever I feel like it. I’m thrilled for the renewed enthusiasm for knitting. And by the way. . . I checked online for Radio Luxembourg and I can listen live onlne! I haven’t had time to check out the available stations, but I plan to, thanks to your comment on my blog.

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  9. I’ve never heard of knit in public week – I wonder if there’s a crochet in public week aswell! I love your knit bag with all the worry dolls on.
    Love from Mum
    xx

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  10. Knitting is a wonderful craft. My mother was a knitter. She tried to teach us. I think my sister learns more than I did. Whenever we were sick and bored being in bed she would bring out the knitting, cast on some rows of stitches for us and she taught us the basics of knitting an purling. I was not sick enough times to every truly master it. I do hate to see women no longer learning the many crafts which women did to make family life to much nicer.

    In my reading I have noticed many places where there are traditional sweater pattern to be knit in places like Scotland and Ireland and even one of our west coast aboriginal communities. How nice this is. I understand in Iceland women used to be able to knit a Icelandic sweater in a day. I have friends that run a sheep station in the Falkland Islands. I tried to find out if they has a traditional sweater their since they raise such wonderful fine wool there. Apparently not. Too bad. It is probably because for so many years they were just wage slaves to absent landowners. Now that the farms are small and family owned, traditions can grow.

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