Knitting:            
A Love Story
  • Blog

More 50 Things Knitters Didn't Have 50 Years ago

11/14/2014

3 Comments

 
Knitting opportunities and stories have been very abundant for the past few weeks.  In my desire to keep things current and fresh in my world of knitting, I have neglected the "50 Things Knitters Didn't Have 50 Years Ago" series.  If I am going to relieve the mystery and building tension, I'd better get on with this most exciting series. Just to review what we have already covered: 

  1)  THE SWIFTER AND THE YARN WINDER
  2)  INTERCHANGEABLE KNITTING NEEDLES
  3)  EXOTIC YARN
  4)  FELTING
  5)  LAURA BRYANT AND PRISM YARN
  6)  RAVELRY
  7) TILLI THOMAS YARN (SPARKLEY)
  8)  INTRELAC
  9) VALENTINA DEVINE
10)  HAND DYED YARN THAT STACKS AND SWIRLS
11)  LIGHTED KNITTING NEEDLES
12)  THE STANDARD YARN WEIGHT SYSTEM
13)  COLORS! COLORS! COLORS!
14)  PATTERNFISH

Here we go!  
Picture
Before I got the SWIFTER AND YARN WINDER, my balls of yarn were round and pulled from the outside.  You know what that means!  I spent most of my knitting time chasing balls of yarn all over as they rolled off the couch, across the floor often chased by the dog.  Today we have these BEAUTIFUL BOWLS AND OTHER HOLDERS to keep our yarn under control.  I would get so frustrated I would put my round ball of yarn in a box to keep it corralled.  But that didn't always work so well because the yarn would snag on the box and then I would swear.  It just wasn't a pretty site.  I remember when I saw my first bowl.  I immediately thought, "Why didn't I think of that?!?!?!"
Picture
The YARN BOWLS come in unlimited colors and designs.  I think this speaks to the yoga of knitting.  At least it speaks to me.  I know knitting calms me down and makes me a nicer person.  
Picture
I got this beautiful, wooden YARN HOLDER in the fabulous Silver Threads and Golden Needles in Franklin, North Carolina.  Some times when I am overwhelmed by my yarn stash, I buy other things when I visit my favorite LYS.  Remember, I believe it is my duty to single handedly keep every LYS solvent.  
Picture
There are even YARN HOLDER to take on trips.  I either always have this lovely tool or just a regular ziplock baggy to keep my yarn in when I travel.. I have had to chase a ball of yarn down the isle of a tour bus.  It is not a pretty site.  Standing on your head, trying to reach between some stranger's legs to retrieve a derelict  ball of yarn.
Picture
I love these things!  They are indispensable when sewing knitted parts together.  How many times have I been sewing the back to the front or closing under the arms only to discover I have three inches on one side and five on the other.  Take it out and start over.  I never like to use pins to hold pieces together because they weaken delicate yarn.  I think I will call these cute little pink things YARN PINS because I called the bowls YARN HOLDERS.  You need to have these little beauties in your tool kit.
Picture
Something knitters didn't have 50 years ago is definitely a TALLY COUNTER.  I still use paper and pencil just like in the olden days.  I make a line of numbers for rows and when I finish the row I check off the number.  It is just as easy as this little gizmo.  I make a note about the row like RS or WS, or special things that need to happen in the row.  Quite frankly, I can never remember if I've clicked the little button.  
Picture
My first question is "When did my hands become my mother's hands!?!?" This little thing fits over your finger.  It is right there where you need it, but it kinds of gets in my way.  I guess not all technology is needed or is an advancement.  Sometimes simpler is better.  

I really can't wait to show you the Christmas gifts.  I have some beauties this year.  I have more gifts than I have people to give to.  See you in a few days.
3 Comments
Jan R
11/16/2014 12:33:11 pm

I have never seen yarn pins. Will have to look out for them. I usually end up using safety pins, but these look like they would hold pieces together better. Thanks.

Reply
Jan parson
11/18/2014 09:56:26 pm

I love them. They firmly hold pieces together without weakening the yarn. And they're pink!

Reply
Debi
10/22/2020 08:18:14 pm

Amen to “Did I click the button” (of row counters). 🙄🥳🤪

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    jan parson

    This blog is dedicated to Mary Helen Growt my first knitting teacher and the woman who changed my life.  The mission of Knitting: A Love Story is to preserve, share and promote the love of knitting.

    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.