Obligatory Introductory Post

The first time I picked up a pair of knitting needles was in fifth grade. My school had a compulsory "crafts" class - which started off as paper-origami in grades one and two, then proceeded to sewing for the girls in grades three and four and knitting and crochet from grades five to nine. I guess the aim was to teach girls skills they could use - you know, like make your own scarves and baby-booties and save some money, or something. Of course, now given the price of yarn, a scarf could cost you $50 in materials alone, which is pretty steep when you think you could get a similar piece for a quarter of the cost.

The first "scarf" I made was about 12 inches long. I got a D for it. My class teacher was disappointed - I remember her saying something about how my perfect "A" report card was ruined with the D. I remember me rolling my eyes. I was an academic. I was not creative and crafty. I liked math and science and while the social sciences weren't my favourite subjects, I could still wrap my head around them. Which was more than I could say about wrapping yarn around my pinky trying to create the perfect tension to knit the perfect (12 inch) scarf.

After school I didn't touch knitting needles till I moved out and was in my first serious relationship. I got it into my head to knit my then-boyfriend a sweater. Obviously, I hadn't heard about the Sweater Curse. (Let's just say I didn't disprove that one!). Sometimes I think I took up knitting again to justify the endless hours of TV-watching that had become a norm for me as a car-less person in Columbus, Ohio. Anyways, this attempt at knitting was a relative success, the sweater was wearable and the flaws not too obvious.

But knitting still remained a "passion" that I pulled out when there were lulls in my social life. And for when my TV line up threatened to keep me captive at home for days. Over the years I've knit sweaters, socks, and hats. Oh - and baby booties. I still haven't managed to finish knitting a complete wearable scarf though.

Now with the Fall TV line-up holding me hostage on my couch, I've dusted up the old knitting needles and resolved to knit up a few items this season. I've also resolved that the items I make will be as close to perfect as possible. No more ignoring the mis-stitch, that admittedly no one would notice, but I know it's there. No more wearing knit items that have not been blocked to bring out the garment's best. No more ignoring guages. More importantly, no more half-finished items.

This is an exercise in learning to finish something I've started. And learning to do it well. Even if it's only a scarf in broken-rib. If this is successful, this will be my first scarf ever. And for someone who's knit on and off over the past years, that will be quite an accomplishment.