Gee How Quaint

I can knit it here or there. I can knit it anywhere.

 

This weekend I took the train up to Edinburgh to experience my new life in the big city crash pad.  I am rather pleased with the part of town in which Husband and I have selected.  There are boutique shops galore (expect letters soon, shop owners...many of you are perfect for Gee How Quaint), lots of coffee shops and lovely little patisserie places.  Eventually, I shall taste your treats and drink your coffee, but it all takes time.

Due to a crazy diversion, my train journeys took me West to Carlisle, thus magically extending what should have been a 90 minute excursion into a 3 hour ordeal.  How to pass the time?  I decided to take my knitting.   With sticks in hand, I flicked the needles around gorgeous charcoal coloured yarn which was oh so soft of the touch.  Rowan, I love the bamboo soft stuff.  Please make more.

I was surrounded by men of various ages, business travelling I can only assume.  They all seemed a bit amused by my grandmotherly activity.  The guy sitting across from me stared.  I plugged into my iPod and listened to Pinback on a loop and pretended that the intrusive staring wasn't happening.

 

Massive

These are not for the faint of heart.  My Saturday was spent demonstrating how to use these massive needles at the Pins and Needles Exhibition in Newcastle Metro Radio Centre. 

You should have seen the look on women's faces as I offered for them to try to knit with this gigantic needles.  The way they backed away from me was as if I had asked them to do something indecent. 

The stall was decorated with all manner of big knitting paraphenalia: Big Knit Kits, Big Knitting Needles in 3 different size, lots of luscious frabric rolled into tidy round balls.  The ones sitting next to me in my read window are made with cashmere blankets.  Ooh lala.  The height of luxury.

If you dig on knitting and haven't tried it big stylee, I suggest you give it a whirl.  As does Ingrid Wagner, the master mind behind this regions big knitting craze. 

ravelry.com

Ravelry is a great website for chit-chatting about all thing knitting and crochet.  As this site is currently in its testing phase, there is a bit of a waiting list.  It took about three weeks from my initial request to be a part of this knitting on-line community before I was able to join in the discussions. 

Why should you become a member?  If you like knitting, there are lots of people to give advice, display their crafty items as well as forums for local knitting groups.  Plus, you get to display all of the knitted items you have been working your little cotton socks off for. 

Learning to knit by osmosis

This weekend my husband and I drove to THE SOUTH to visit all of our many friends that we left behind when we were relocated to THE FROZEN NORTH.  I had to admit to my friends that I have a new addiction:  Knitting.  Some of them were very shocked to find that I had travelled over to 'the domestic home goods and fun stuff to make' side of art and design.

And yes, my knitting travelled down with me and it did make an appearance at the different homes we visited along the way.  Here, oh yes, HERE is a fabulous photograph of my man friend picking up the knitting sticks and demonstrating that although he had never in his life been taught how to knit, he suddenly found that he could.  He had been sitting by his wife (lovely lady to the right) watching her knit...thought he'd have a go...et voila.  He is creating a lurvly scarf.

This is also a quick reminder about the 'Knit a Sweater in a Month' contest.  Prizes are to be had by many.  Just look at all blogs snuggly tucked into the Contest links on the right.

You can win one of these or these or these!