One Year Knitversary

Today is my first Knitversary!!

Although I technically don’t remember the exact date I started seriously knitting, I’m treating the middle of November as the closest day to when my dear friend Sallye finally convinced me to give it a try.

I had learned how to do the very basic knit and purl back in high school when I was a volunteer at a local hospital (a resident of the hospital’s long-term patient floor taught me), but I had never made anything more complex than a basic flat scarf. My first project was the City Cape by Purl Soho and I had made it out of an acrylic yarn because I wasn’t sure if I was really going to take to the craft and didn’t want to over-invest (yes, I too am laughing at how naive I was being).

I had already known about my LYS, The Royal Bee Yarn Company, and I had dropped by a few times when I started to crochet again (I picked it back up to make complex doilies as texture for my ceramics); it wasn’t until I was really knitting the city cape that I became part of the knit group and got to know the community.

I’ve learned so much in the year since: from lacework to dyeing, stranded colorwork to drop spinning. Knitting has expanded my circle of friends the world over (shout out to my fiber friends in Australia and New Zealand!), but it’s definitely centered around my LYS and the good friends I’ve made in just a single year.

And even though some steer away from the political discussions the greater knitting community has been engaged in, I’ve found it to be eye opening and has given me more opportunities to think about my place in my community and how I both contribute and harm said community.

All this while making gorgeous garments that I’ll get to wear for years to come. As I type this, I have a handful of knits on the needles, half of which are steeked (my newest technique that I’m determined to learn). I’m still so excited by what my future holds in regards to this beautiful and ancient art form, and I’m so glad to have found a place to share that love.

Here’s to the second year of magical knitting.