Friday, July 30, 2010

Art Every Day, Part Two: Knitting!

This post should be considered a work in progress, like its subject -- socks!

So many of my friends knit socks and swear it's the most addicting thing in the world, more fun than any other project. "You must try it," they say. "You'll love it."

Never mind that I'm used to working on VERY large needles with wool to felt things and the thought of working on needles smaller than a rat-tail comb curdles my blood.

But when my friend Nancy made me socks for Christmas, I discovered -- there is no sock better or more comfy than a hand knit one.

So, it was off to Imagiknit for a sock class!

My teacher was Deby Lake, who designs patterns for -- I think -- Universal knits. She was a talented woman (who was working on these dolls, which cracked me up!)

She calls the boy Pierre, the girl Tina.

Very jaunty!

Well, after a couple hours of knitting, I had about three inches of sock. Now I have about 8 inches, and it's time to turn the heel. A tad terrifying -- we'll see!

For a little extra inspiration, I trotted down the street to an exhibit at the Gaylord Arts Center of fiber works.

Lots of sock inspiration.

This wedding dress was gorgeous, but over the top (and a little heavy). The knitter was selling it used for $2,000. I don't think I could have parted with it after all that.

There were some other fun fiber bits.

I've also been plugging away on a scarf with some gorgeous yarn I bought last month in Cleveland and bought enough wool for two new purses -- on BIG needles! And yes, I did knit every day after that -- and I still am!

(Now on Chopsticks and String: "BackStage with Julia" -- I absolutely loved this book -- but it's about Julia Child so what's not to love?!)

5 comments:

Dusty said...

Art every day! Don't forget to show and tell... Love the posts!

Joanne Huffman said...

I don't particularly love knitting socks, but I love having hand knitted socks, so it's worth it to me.

Anonymous said...

It's been years since I knitted anything. I love socks. They're one of my comfort go-to things. I bet the knitted ones are fantastic.

Anonymous said...

The yarns are beautiful. sometimes I shop with my Mom when she's choosing yarn and I fall in love with the textures and fibers....and haven't a clue what to do with it!!!! How can this be, you ask, when your Mom is such a talent? I don't know. i bog down at the instructions, understanding them, doing anything other than something straight like a scarf.
But the dolls? I love them.
Your purses? A delight!
and the idea of socks? awesome - love the colors, the patterns, the very idea of them.
And it sounds like...fun! Please keep posting on the sock thing. Can't wait to see your first pair? Will they match? If yes, how on earth does that work? (sigh)
Sock on!

ForgedinPaper said...

Oh will have to ask my mum to knit me some socks then as my knitting is my poorest craft. I do like to look at the knitting stuff on Ravelry website and drool though. The felt balls are fab.

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