More 50 Things Knitters Didn't Have 50 Years ago

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!  

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?!?!?!"

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.  

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.  

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.

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.

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.  

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.