Knitting
Learning to knit
Let's start with knitting this time.
I've learned a few basics and practiced a few hours which means I'm starting to consider what my first project might be, the one that I actually want to get to outside of learning projects, and this is a vest. I've dutifully browsed Ravelry and bookmarked a few patterns. Nothing fancy, no cables or colour work, no lace work or any other sort of pattern, just some ribbing and plain stockinette.
I know the knit stitch. I know the purl stitch. I know plain stockinette. All I need to do now is to learn ribbing. According to my book, it is a simple combination of knit and purl stitches on the same row. Easy. Well... no.
I am still busy with work on Queer Out Here and actual paid work has been busier than I'd like, so I keep the crafting side of things light. Ribbing didn't feel too much to learn. I sat down one evening, picked up some needles I'd thrifted at my local charity shop, and some yarn from my mom. This part went well. The next part, not so well.
I naively assumed that ribbing would be easy. I could whip up a pair of mittens illustrated in my learner book without too much trouble aside from finding a rhythm with knit and purl, and then I could start to dream of the yarn for my vest. This did not happen. I tried and I tried and I failed and I failed. I gave myself time, thinking ribbing might not be obvious after only a few rows (though it seemed to be on the few videos I checked), but no. No ribbing appeared on my needles. I could only pick out a very messy garter stitch. Frustrated, I frogged my work again and again. I sighed dramatically once or twice, and tidied the needles and yarn away.
Knitting is hard.
I am reminded of it every time I attempt something new. I start with the assumption it'll be straightforward, I try, I fail spectacularly. I get frustrated. I absolutely get frustrated, but at the same time, I am loving this. I adore being a beginner at something and I am stubborn. I will get it, eventually.
I had set my expectations of learning to knit on my experience of learning to crochet. This was incredibly difficult at the start but at one point something clicked, and off I was with little trouble on the way (granted I've not yet tried anything especially complicated). I expected the same with knitting: get the hang of knit and purl and off I would go. Of course, I expected to be clumsy, drop stitches, have uneven tension, and all sort of other things. I did not expect to have to learn the knit and purl stitch over and over again. This is okay. My expectations are now adjusted: every new skill in knitting will have to be hard fought for.
My needles and yarn are still tidied neatly. My weeks are too full at the moment, brain fog a daily companion, and fatigue a little too high. I'm on a thin edge with long covid and I do not want to fall into the pit of PEM, so I rest. Knitting can wait.
Crochet
Knitting can wait but not crochet.
After a week of barely touching anything fibre arts, I've missed it. I tried knitting but it soon became obvious it was not a good choice (see above), so I returned to crochet.
I wanted a small project, a quick task that would be satisfying, a win to remind myself that I can do this, that is not all difficulties and brain fog and fatigue. What did I pick? A lace pattern.
I've never tried lace. I don't even have the correct size hooks, but that did not deter me. I opened a video tutorial I had saved long ago and started a chain. Very quickly, the movements soothed me. I played and paused the tutorial as needed and lost myself in the simple task of single crochet (US), slip stitch, and the occasional double crochet (US). It was fun, it was satisfactory, it was enjoyable. It was so enjoyable that a set of small crochet hooks from 0.6mm to 2mm are currently on their way to me.
Triangle shawl
by Briana K. Designs
I have been day dreaming about this shawl. I miss the steady rhythm of endless treble crochet (UK). I miss the oh so soft and drape feel of the fabric as it grows.
Most of my week's energy has been in reserve for Queer Out Here, a catch-up with a friend, and office days, but at long last Tuesday evening came and I could settle with the shawl. Queer Out Here was about to be released (not the end of the work by any mean, but something to celebrate with a craft project - as you do), and Tuesday was a work from home day. I had a modicum of energy left at the end of it, so I turned the radio on, moved the light a little closer to me on the sofa, pulled out the box with the yarn and hook, and set to work.
