Thursday, April 28, 2005

knitting is good: part I

There are many reasons why knitting is good, and I will attempt to provide you with some of the reasons over the coming weeks. I began knitting for real when I read a book about it, so I have strong feelings about books about knitting. Pattern books, story books, quote books, picture books - it doesn't matter. I enjoy them all.

A book I currently have on loan from the Public Library is "Knitting Without Tears" by Elizabeth Zimmermann. This brings me to my first reason that knitting is good: You can enjoy passages such as the following, even when you are not knitting.
"Decide on the width of your sweater. There is no set rule for this as bodies and tastes in fit vary enormously. Pay no attention to your "size," be it size 7, you enviable creature, or 54 1/2. The important thing is the body-width you want, and the best way to ascertain this is to lay your favorite sweater out flat, and measure it. Multiply the number of inches around by your guage (see Chapter 2), and the result is the number of stitches to cast on for the sweater body. This is almost the only measuring and deciding you will have to do for yourself (after all, no one can do it for you), and it is important to do it accurately and conscientiously. Otherwise you may sup the porridge of regret with the spoon of sorrow."
Wonderful, isn't it? So informative, and yet so subtly hilarious. I can't wait to make my first seamless yoke sweater using the techniques put forth by the self-described "opinionated knitter," Elizabeth Zimmermann.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness, I love your blog. Also, I am a fan of the knitting, although I have a half-scarf I've been knitting for so long, I've told 3 different people it's for them.

Mandy said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Mandy said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Mandy said...

My anonymity was being threatened, and with advice from my legal team, I took the precaution of removing the messages.

Mandy said...

Muoa-ah-ah-ah. I deleted your comment. I can do anything. Muoa-ah-ah-ah.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry for being a big stupid moron.