Blogging from A to Z: Knitting

Über soft scarf knitted from alpaca fiber.

My grandmother was a big knitter. She’d knit sweaters and afghans for all of her grandchildren. If you were pregnant, your newborn would receive a knitted sweater, booties and hat, all hand-made by my Grandma. One of my most prized possessions to this day is the collection of knit clothing she made for my Barbie dolls. She made a skirt and blouse combo, a stole (women had those in the 60s and 70s), dresses and many other items. She must have knit them with teeny weeny needles because I’ve never seen such fine stitchery. I thought I was the luckiest girl in the world with hand-knit clothes for my dolls.

My grandmother taught me how to knit when I was 12. She also taught me how to crochet but for some reason, it didn’t stick. I’d sit with her and marvel at how she could knit an intricate pattern while watching television. And, she didn’t need to look down to do it. I made a stocking cap and felt a huge wave of accomplishment. That was the extent of my knitting.

Fast forward to 2005. I was 42 years old and had moved from Denver to Terre Haute to work for the Sisters of Providence, a congregation of Catholic women. They raise alpacas because they are gentle animals, their poo helps fertilize their organic gardens and the alpaca’s fiber could be spun into yarn. I couldn’t believe how soft and beautiful the yarn was and in what wonderful, natural colors it existed. I visited our local knitting store, River Wools, and purchased a pair of bamboo knitting needles and for Christmas, everyone received a knitted scarf as a gift. I can’t say I could afford to knit everyone an alpaca scarf (two skeins cost $36). However, the fact that I wanted to try and knit with alpaca fiber encouraged me to take up knitting again.

Although I haven’t gotten past knitting scarves, hats and neck warmers, I still enjoy knitting. I’m currently working on a colorful, cotton-rich baby blanket for my nephew and his wife’s first baby, due in June. (Probably not going to be in high demand in June in Indiana where it can reach 90 degrees with 120 percent humidity but it will look nice on their crib, across the living room sofa or strewn across a chair.)

It’s amazing that it took me 30 years to take up knitting again. What was also amazing to me is that I remembered how my grandma taught me to cast-on the first stitches. And, I remembered how to knit basic stitches. I did have to look up how to purl, but after 30 years, I can’t be expected to remember everything. In some small way, I feel like my grandmother and I have become closer again, although she passed away more than 16 years ago. I learned how to cook and knit from my grandma. And, garage-sale. I think I inherited her best traits!