Thursday, May 12, 2011

You Need a Hat! - Day 4

Today we have a very special yarn to give away along with a copy of Teach Yourself Visually Circular Knitting. I am blessed to live where I do, smack in the middle of a region overflowing with good and better things. Barb Parry's Upland Wool Alpaca from Foxfire Fiber and Design is one of those things! Barb is a natural choice for me on so many fronts. She is an amazing woman and a tremendous survivor. She's a loving and gentle shepherd to her flocks in Shelburne Falls. She makes and dyes amazing yarns. Her yarns come into play in the book on three occasions. Hats, mittens in Upland Wool Alpaca and a lovely pullover knit in her Cormo Silk Alpaca.
Upland Wool Alpaca is a single ply yarn dyed in an amazing palate by Barb herself. I love this yarn, the heathery subtlety of the dye, the soft halo of the Alpaca that sings out on the surface of a finished project. It was a no-brainer really.
Hey, lucky winner, you get TWO skeins of this amazing yarn! If you have a smallish head and hands you could possibly get a hat (pg. 133) and mittens (pg. 146) out of the deal - not too shabby!
The question for today - remember, post your answer in the comments below to be entered - how many licks does it take to get to the center of a.... ok, maybe not. How many years have you been knitting?

79 comments:

Bonnie Lemme said...

Ok..I started to knit when My son was a baby so 20 years. I have only rest a few years in between kids. It's one of the love's of my life!

lemur said...

Just two years now, but I'm hooked... Wait, that's a crochet term.... LOL!

Mya said...

I've been knitting since 2001 so that would make it 10 years I've been knitting.

smitty said...

8 yearsish!d

Anita themer said...

I have been knitting for 23 years. Learned when my sister found out she was pregnant for the first time. And, not knowing any better, I chose an intarsia baby sweater for my first project. It actually turned out pretty awesome.
Anita

Judy said...

I began knitting in the early '60's, with booties and baby blankets. In the early '70's, I was blessed with a knitting machine. I still did much of my knitting by hand but used the machine for larger garments. I clothed a husband and three children in sweaters, skirts, and cotton shorts in summer with the machine and made single socks by hand. (I never made that 2nd sock). I made tube socks on the machine, but they were quite uneventful.

I acquired a room full of yarn and books, along with projects galore. I still made things by hand that I could take along while waiting for children, etc.

In 2002, my dear husband of 40 years was born to eternal life and the realization of what is important in life hit me hard. I lost all desire for doing anything with my hands. My sister was instrumental in getting me out of the house and back into life by taking me with her on daily errands, joining water aerobics at the YMCA, and visiting garden centers.

Two years later, prior to some surgery, I moved out of my large home into a small apartment, taking only a what would fit in my car. I was "downsizing" big time. I joined the local senior center where there was a knitting group that made items for the homeless with donated yarn. I reasoned that if they were going to give me yarn, I'd knit for charity. Luckily, my knitting needles were something that happened to fit into the car.

I discovered your book on 2aat socks and became addicted.

So, I've been knitting for over 50 years with a short hiatus for mourning what was most important in my life. It's a whole new world and I'm fortunate enough to be able to enjoy knitting again.

Sorry to be so verbose, sometimes it just pours out.

(iknit4joy on Rav)

shdawn said...

BoughtKnitting Without Tears when in college 36 years ago and have been knitting ever since.

Debbi Lynn said...

I've been knitting for a little over three years now.

CuriousJess said...

2 and a half years

justjodi said...

3 years or so, just teaching myself a little at a time...

Leslie said...

Well, do you mean since I learned how to knit in grammar school but then put it down until I was in my mid 20's and knit until I put it down in my mid 30's and then didn't pick it up again until I was in my early 50's? And does it count that I moved my small stash and all my needles and pamphlets with me from CT to VT to NH to 3 places in MA before I started again? Insofar as knitting "this time" it's about 8 years.

Unknown said...

I have been knitting for 4 years :)

Sharripie said...

I think it's been 10 years or so that I've been knitting. I started out with a ball of Lion Brand acrylic boucle, a pair of size 15 needles and a pamphlet. I still have that awful garter stitch scarf (with fringe!), but I have to credit Ravelry for helping me find the courage to try new things.

Steph said...

I've been knitting since junior high or so...so, um, 30+ years now. AGH!

izzybellarina said...

I took lessons before going on a cruise so I wouldn't be bored. I wanted to learn to make socks. That was 4 yrs ago and many socks ago.

Unknown said...

Seriously knitting - 5. I learned about 15 years ago when my first child was a baby, but stopped soon after. I picked it back up 5 years ago when that baby began pitching for his baseball team and I was so nervous he would take one in the face (as I had as a softball player resulting in my 4 front teeth temporarily moving to the back of my mouth).

Anonymous said...

Oh, forever! I was taught by my Nan 33 years ago :D

Laura said...

I have been knitting for about a year and a half. Taught myself to make shorties and pants for my cloth diapered twins and quickly became obsessed with everything knitting is and all it gives me. I love to challenge myself with new techniques and patterns and have recently knit my first shawl and am knitting more intricate sock patterns.

Stephanie said...

I started knitting when my grandma taught me at age 11- so that is 29 years, going on 30.

thepaintedsheep said...

I started knitting 11 years ago this fall.

Cathie said...

Three years now and loving it!!! Taught myself and I'm too thick headed to know when I shouldn't try something.

Unknown said...

I have been knitting since I was about 11 yrs old. Which would be 34 yrs or so, on and off. I've recently picked knitting back up again with the intention of making myself something wonderful, like socks. I found your book and purchased some sock yarn. I have been knitting like mad lately, one can never have enough cute socks!

Margo said...

I've known how to knit for more than 50 years. I learned when I was 5 and knit until my early teens. I started knitting again about 2 years ago.

Megan said...

I started knitting when I was pregnant with my 2nd child, 2 years ago, and am now pregnant with my 3rd and officially a Knitter with a capital K!

Janet said...

My mother, who taught herself to knit in 1944, taught me when I was about 11, which brings me to a whopping 52 years of holding the knowledge and skill. Of course, my actual TIME knitting spans a shorter time,as I haven't knit constantly until recently, when it is nearly a 24/7 thing!

mjknits said...

Hmmmmm-7 I think. I started to knit after my youngest son was born-had to do something creative to keep my sanity!

Crunchie Mommy said...

I have been knitting since I was 5 when my gramma taught me how she was an amazing Knitter. I an now 24 so 19 years, I have just got into the online knitting world almost a year ago and feel that it has helped me blossom into the Knitter my gramma was and she would be so proud of!
Aimee crunchiemommy on rav

Anita said...

I started knitting at summer camp. I was about 10. I knitted only thru that summer, and didn't knit again until 2 years ago. So, I've know how for about 38 years, but knitted seriously for only 2 years.!

RubyC said...

How many licks to the center of a tootsie roll pop? For me, none, cause I always crack 'em open. Anyway I have been knitting for nearly six years. I love it. It keep sme sane. Love your new book.

Ruby

Jane said...

A nice neighbor taught me to knit as a little girl. Put it down and picked it up again in college. Put it down when busy with three children and full time teaching (first grade). Picked it up again over ten years ago and never want to put it down.

ChelleC said...

Started as a kid but pretty quickly abandoned it. Then took a knitting class in 2003 and have been at it ever since.

Anonymous said...

I've returned to knitting this past year. My Mom taught me to knit.

esea on Ravelry

pamelamurphy002 said...

my mom taught me which wasn't easy! im left handed and she isn't.....so my technique is a bit wacky!

Id guess about 51 years ive been doing it.

wyvon54 said...

I taught myself to knit before my 1st son was born and he's 33 so I been knitting almost 34 years now. I taught myself to do sock TAT 2 years ago and got hooked.

Knitting is my serenity. My go to place when I'm stressed. I wouldn't be able to survive with out it.

momtomany said...

Hahaha! Not even a year yet. Working and trying and moving in the right direction. Crocheting for 25 yrs though.

Ashley said...

I taught myself to knit about 4 years ago, it's amazing how much I've learned since then!

Michelle said...

I knitted a couple years when I was young, then took it up again five years ago in my 40s (in order to justify learning to spin) -- so about seven years total.

Melissa said...

I have no idea exactly how many years I've been knitting. I learned probably between age 10-13, but after some scarves & baby blankets, went for many years without knitting anything. But since last Thanksgiving, I've been knitting lots of socks! :)

Christine Lima said...

I've been knitting about 3 years, but it's become an addiction that I don't see going away any time soon.

Penny said...

I've been knitting since about 2005, so not all that long in the scheme of things! A friend needed a teddy bear, I couldn't afford one, so I learned to knit and made her one! :)

Anna (nifelster) said...

I learned to knit when I was a little girl, think I was 8 years old. That is 36 years now.... I learned it from my mother and we also had to knit at school. I was a slow knitter so I had to finish it at home. I'd rather played with the other kids... so i cried above my knitting. My mother felt sorry for me and said go and play. When i came back home my knitted triangel was done....

ddstrazzy said...

A family friend which was the closest thing that I had to a grandmother taught me when I was 10 years old. As hard as it is for me to believe, it has been 35 years...

Rebecca said...

I've been knitting about 3 years now...after I accosted a knitter in a hospital waiting room miles from home, found out she lived local, and begged her for lessons ;-)

GerryART said...

I believe I began knitting right 'round high school. Okay, that was the late 1950s. How long is that . . . . . . . .
OMG ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Just did the math - that's 55 years.
No way, that long. :>(
However, I just began TAAT in the Spring of 2008 and have knit more than 40 pair of socks.
hugs
Gerry

Tara said...

I took a beginning knitting class in the fall of 2004 when I was on maternity leave with my oldest son. I had no idea it would be come an instant obsession, but I'm happy it did! Almost seven years, yay!!

Liz said...

I started to knit when I was fifteen, in the summer of 2005, although my mom tried to teach me many many times before that, and I'm 21 now, so it's been about six years! Wow.

Also, that yarn is really really beautiful. I saw your new book at a bookstore yesterday; it looks great!!

llamalady said...

I learned to knit 40 years ago and became a serious knitter about 10 years ago.

Pat said...

I've been knitting and crocheting on and off for 37 years but I have been knitting consistently and almost every day for the last 10 years. I really love knitting.

TuttleDB said...

I've been knitting off and on for about 25 years.

Unknown said...

I taught myself from a book I got from the public library. I told my husband I would only buy one skein of yarn because I tend to start things and never do them agian. That was 4 years ago and many, many, many skeins of yarn and much dinero spent of my little obsession!
Dawn Allen

vtknitboy said...

i've been knitting for over 35 yrs! i'm 47.5. fractured my pelvis in 4th grad, learned knit/crochet. but started in full later on.
vtknitboy on rav/twitter

Joan said...

I've been knitting for 50 years...my mom taught me.

Kristi said...

I first learned to knit from the school nurse in fifth grade as a "Gifted & Talented" class. I half-finished an ugly acrylic scarf on metal needles for some boy.

I relearned it during my last semester of library school, but am using better yarn, needles and MUCH better recipients! :)

Unknown said...

I taught myself to knit not quite 2 years ago. I'm still very much a beginner but I'm hooked! I've crocheted for over 20 years but never as enthusiastically as I knit. Weird.

Anonymous said...

I'm now almost 59 so about 50 years off and on. I've been crocheting that long, too

Unknown said...

Hmm, learned to knit about 15-20 years ago but never really went anywhere with it. Then I discovered Ravelry and KnitPicks last year and have been crazy into knitting ever since! Ravelry for the wealth of info - tips, techniques, patterns. KnitPicks for affordable yet lovely yarns. Now I am fairly confident in being able to figure out new techniques so am branching out into the many lovely yarns available!

neknitsandbeads said...

I'm going to be going on 6 years of knitting. In looking back I've come a long way from basic knit and purl. Who knew I'd get so addicted!

I enjoy reading Barb's blog!

Leslie said...

You mean the lovely answer I gave here yesterday is gone? Phooey! To repeat myself (this is like talking to my husband...) I learned to knit in grammar school then put it down until my mid-20's then put it down in my early 30's until I was about 50. I moved my needles and some stash with me from CT to VT to NH to 3 different houses in MA -- I knew I had never really really stopped knitting!

Dawn said...

I've been knitting a little over 4 years. My Godmother taught me many years ago. My mother had issues with me knitting for some reason so I put it down and didn't pick it up again until I was pregnant with my 4 yo.

alcatmom said...

Been knitting since 1982 or 1983. I tried it when I was in junior high but after figuring out crochet I had a hard time with a stick in each hand.

Mich said...

I learned to knit in 2003, but I don't think I seriously started knitting until fairly recently. 2009 I think as it coincides with when I went back to school. Thank goodness too! Knitting is the only thing keeping me sane nowadays.

So the answer would be 3 yrs I guess.

kaykatrn said...

I tried to learn at age 12 and failed. Then when I was 35, I got tired of trying to get gauge with crochet and bought Evie Cohen's Learn to Knit Book, and have never looked back. That was 24 years ago!

Judy said...

I taught myself to knit from a mirror and a book, due to my left-handed disposition. I've been knitting for about 50 years, but never so obsessed as I am now with socks, two at a time. hehehe

Cathy said...

I am behind on my replies! Blogger would not work on my phone for some reason, but I am back on the computer. I learned to knit years ago from my grandmother, then abandoned it. Eight years ago I picked it back up with a vengeance. Better yarn and better needles made all the difference for me. Now it's - so much yarn and so little time!

ikkinlala said...

I think I've been knitting for almost five years now.

lauriekivi on Ravelry said...

I'm self taught about 25 years and I still have lots to learn..

Rebecca said...

I just started knitting this year.
I had some knitting lessons on school when I whas young. But the real work... just started a couple of months ago. After I received a pair of knitted socks and wanted to make them of my own. They where awsome! Right now I'm almost finishing my third pair of socks.

Rebecca said...

3 years - I had a much longer, nicer answer, but blogger ate it ;-)

justjodi said...

I am new only 4 years and not full time knitting just trying to learn on and off

jillian.vantuyle said...

I have picked it up from time to time since 1999. But I really became a dedicated daily knitter in Jan of 2009. It only took me 10 years to fall in love!

Unknown said...

I've been knitting for just 2 years.

Gina said...

A neighbor taught me before I went to live in Italy for 4 years, this was in 1993. I didn't do much knitting while I was there, but I did quite a bit of crocheting.

This time around, I have been knitting for 3 years, and don't think I will ever stop knitting. (I have to use my handspun somehow! LOL)

jenfer said...

I just taught myself 6 months ago!! And I love it more than anything else I do!!!

Heli said...

Less than one year and loving it!

ME215 said...

Ok, for you I'll do the math. I learned to knit in 4-H when I was about 11 or 12. So that would be about 42 or 43 years. And gorgeous yarn by the way. I wanted to buy some Saturday at the tent sale but it just wasn't in the budget......

TuttleDB said...

I've been knitting for about 25 years -- meaning I could knit and purl, but couldn't make anything. I've been knitting and actually making usable items for almost 2 years now.

Bgstoner said...

About 8 years now.

Diane (djuseless) said...

I have been knitting for 5 months! I caught on quick and ran with it!

Anonymous said...

I learned to knit 37 years ago, but took an 18 year break while my daughter grew up (not sure why, could have used the good knitting energy).