I went up to the Stash Studio to take a couple pictures to illustrate my next five game changers. I was looking for a specific pattern, a very old pattern. I started going through my miscellaneous pattern magazines/books that are stored in magazine holders. To quote Mickey Redman, the Red Wings long time announcer, "Katie, bar the door!" I got into this one holder that was a treasure trove of memories. Now, I keep thinking that I need to look at the old things, not just glance at and brush the dust off but hold it, feel it, remember it. If you could see all of the possible containers you would know that time is not on my side! It could take me months to go through all of those holders, boxes and tubs that I've just got into an assemblance of order. Well, order enough to be able to sit in chairs and knit. Maybe, just maybe it may be a post all of its own, all of those memories.
6. This is what I was looking for my Christian de Falbe collection for my sixth game changer. I remember buying this in a kit at a LYS which used to be in the Cary Town mall in Ann Arbor, Yarn Expressions. I loved that shop and the unique, unusual and challenging designs they carried. They also carried exquisite yarn. Yarn Expressions was the first LYS that introduced me to high end yarns and I never looked back. I had the yarn and pattern for quite a while and just couldn't figure out how this was done. I even took it to Lawrence one Christmas to have Andi help me. She didn't get it either. Let me show you the total design.
Today I would recognize this as Entrelac but back then I didn't. It just looked like magic and I wanted to make some magic. One day I got in a very quite place, no TV, no Dick and started reading the pattern out loud. Then I cast on stitches and read the pattern out loud as I knit. Finally it clicked! I got it. I immediately got on the phone and called Andi. This was a game changer for me in that it convinced me I could knit anything. When I finished it, I gave it to a dear friend for her birthday. She was over the top with excitement and I was over the top with confidence.
7. I discovered my next game changer in the Yarn Barn of Kansas. It was my first glimpse of Interweave Knits and my introduction to the magical, kaleidoscopic world of Valentina Devine. When I first set my eyes on this cover, I had never seen anything like this. It looked absolutely impossible.
I devoured the article then began searching for everything Devine. I read everything I could get my hands on but still didn't think I was ready to tackle this intricate technique. Then Linda and I saw an announcement of Valentina being at Crafty Lady. We signed up and as they say, "The rest is history." Linda and I took the class and we made the magic of Valentina Devine.
This is my attempt at becoming Devinesque. I had a ball. I was overwhelmed to learn that Kaffe Fassett was her friend (my favorite color guy.) After my class with Valentina, I never looked at the meaning of knitting in the same way. I learned that knitting doesn't have to be in a straight line AND I learned how to do it. All of a sudden a new world of knitting possibilities was open to me. I also began to understand the differences between the approach an amateur knitter takes and the approach a professional knitter takes. Thanks to this project, I became obsessed with copper yarn. No longer did I need to say, "How'd they do that?!?!?!" when viewing unconventional knitting.
8. My next game changer is the fabulous Crayon Box Jacket by Chris Bylsma. Linda and I took the class from the marvelous Martina of Crafy Lady Trio. I learned all about color. I learned more about putting color together than I ever thought possible. I also learned the addictive nature of the mitered square. "I'm going to finish just one more square, just one more square, just one more square." I also learned "Once is a mistake, twice is a coincidence and three times is a pattern." It gave the the confidence to experiment with color and pattern.
9. My penultimate game changer is meeting and learning from the amazing Maggi Jackson. Linda and I had the opportunity to take a class from her. Her designs also turn conventional on its ear. They are always a little out there. One of the most valuable things I learned from Maggi was how differently the professional knitter approaches things. It isn't just about beautiful or fabulous designs, it's also about speed. When you are knitting for money, you to do as much as you can without taking mistakes out. You learn short cuts. A valuable short cut involves picking up stitches either around neck edges or other places. You pick up the number of stitches you need to to make the garment look smooth. When you're done, you count the number of stitches. If you have to many or too few stitches, you don't take out and start over. You increase or decrease on the next row. Great idea. After Maggi Jackson, I didn't jump to ripping back when a mistake was made. I tried to problem solve a better way to fix.
10. Last but certainly not least is Marilyn my steamer. I really don't think I need to say more than I already have about how Marilyn was a game changer for me. My knitting looks more professional and I look forward to steaming rather than dreading blocking.
This ends 10 things (but not the only things) which were game changers in my life of knitting. Thanks to these 10 things, I am a better knitter, who enjoys and appreciates the process and the product.
This ends 10 things (but not the only things) which were game changers in my life of knitting. Thanks to these 10 things, I am a better knitter, who enjoys and appreciates the process and the product.
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