17 July 2011

social commentary Sunday . . . 'teaching an old dog new craft tricks'

Greetings all,
I'm always impressed when people acquire new skills, later this week i'll be all impressed with myself, i hope!!  I'm SO excited . . . i'm re-learning how to knit & from chain stitch beginner level . . . how to crochet!!  Kylie from Mealy&i is an absolute sweetheart & offered to teach me (& my 4 children, not sure she knew that was part of the deal but i'm guessing they'll be re-teaching me a few minutes after Kylie leaves).  What a great school holiday activity (yes, we in Canberra have another whole week to go). 
Today i went shopping for the 'tools & equipment' - i guess in time i'll use every one of these different sizes??  The bulk packs were too good a deal to refuse. 
 Art Viva Tasmanian Oak knitting needles from my stock at Shop Handmade.
 I could only find ugly wool on sale, so i sucked up the price & bought what i thought was pretty.  I guessed which would be suitable ply & acrylic balance of the yarns (so many variations).
I just find crochet hooks the strangest things - to me they look like they are ready to have a chat to you.  I assume all crafters talk to themselves, i do, i'm very agreeable, just like these 9mm & 10mm hooks. 
So wish me well, i am prone to not hold things correctly & i'm sure adding knitting & crochet to my skill set will only make my carpal tunnel syndrome groan (in both hands, since my mid 20s, i like to overachieve like that).  Oh well, sleeping in metal hand splints for the last 10 years is just one of sexier boudoir looks i covet.  Have crafty weeks & do try something new soon.  I'll be back with some results for show & tell, i hope.  Eeek, love Posie

23 comments:

Unknown said...

yay go Posie! I'm so glad I finally learnt how to crochet. I'm having so much fun with it. Hopefully your little package will arrive in the mail soon. It will help.

Bree

Kylie said...

Good on you! I truly love crochet... I find it so meditative and calming. If you need a reminder (which I did - many times! - when I was first learning) there are so many good tutes on the Net. Very envious of your re-learning knitting too. I'd love to learn but I honestly need to not take on another thing at the moment ;) Anyway, I'm still super happy for you and can't wait to see what you make :) Kx

Brenda @ 13 Acres said...

oh yay!!! i love crocheting - i am a HOPELESS knitter and have finally found a suitable alternative i like - you'll love it too!! Enjoy! Oh and btw I'm having four days of giveaways this week! Pop past!
much love and enjoy those holidays ;-) xx

Jennie said...

Yay! I've only just learnt crochet in the last few months, since moving here. I much prefer it to knitting i think! There is a certain frustration barrier to push through when you first start learning - but then it makes sense. (tho i am sticking to just making rectangle things at the mo!)

Can't wait to see how you go!xx

Megan said...

Enjoy your knitting/crochet lesson! That will be confusing doing both at once. I learnt how to crochet at the beginning of 2010 and next weekend my Mum is coming to our Brown Owls group to teach the one's who don't know, how to knit and more than that, how to read (and follow) a knitting pattern. Learning new things is definitely cool, no matter what the age.

1000 Homes of Happiness said...

Aaahhhh, lovely. I too am new to crochet...(3 weeks as a matter of fact) and must say I am hooked. (pardon the pun) My mum was desperate to pass down some of her crochet skills and now here I am 9 granny squares in...a little wonky in some parts but lovely all the same. I agree, I find it very calming. xoxox Look forward to seeing some of your projects!

Kellie xoxo

Maxabella said...

It's actually refreshing to find that there is something out there that you need to re-learn! I will enjoy seeing your first items, Jen. And, just quietly, I am also learning to crochet. From a UTube video... it's been... interesting... so far. x

ally said...

Hooray for you!
I bought the wool and the crochet hooks about a month ago....still in the packaging...oh the shame.

I adore those knitting needles - we see them every time we visit Salamanca market and I promise myself I will learn to knit so I can buy some!!

Unknown said...

Yay for you! Good luck with the lessons. I am sure Kylie will be a fabulous teacher. I just got the sweetest most beautiful knitted dress in the mail from her this week. She is very talented with those needles!

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

Oh yes ladies, i'm being taught by the best!! So lucky to have Kylie in my life, love Posie

CHD said...

All the best with your learning. Hope you enjoy it. I love your take on the crochet hook. Cx

Brenda said...

I love new skills it opens up a whole new world, I also love love love your Tasmanian Oak knitting needles....so pretty!

Elisha said...

Not sure youll use all of tnose different hooks, let me know if you do. I find I use my 4 mm the most. Its the right size for 8 ply. I have an 8 mm but its just too big. Have fun, I hold my knitting needles wrong too, whatever works for you... xx

Megs said...

Oh good luck that will be a lot of fun! I too want to master a more advanced knitting/crochet skill set. And isn't carpel tunnel just a PITA! I first got it with my first pregnancy and now I just can't seem to shake it, loving the splints though, I had them for all my pregnancies but maybe I need to keep wearing them? I wonder if it will ever go without surgery???

The Moerks said...

Have fun, I am looking forward to seeing what creations you come up with. A note of warning. Crochet can be very addictive...

Cath said...

Wow, lucky you... You certainly will have a great teacher in Kylie! At SIT I re-introduced Peta from tin&needles to crochet and look what she has been up to since... http://tinsandneedles.wordpress.com/2011/06/14/giveaway/ don't you just love those apple cosies from Mollie Makes! I was lucky enough to be taught both knitting and crochet by my Mum when I was about 8 or 9 however crochet is so quick I tend to do that more often these days. Can't wait to see what you gals make!

Seaweed and Raine said...

Woo Hoo! You go girl! :) Hope you enjoy your "Yarn" with mealy&i. It's a great time of the year to learn. I started teaching one of the neighbourhood kids to knit just before school let out here. It was interesting watching her trying to hold the needles (The SAME way I did when I first started - even though that isn't what I showed her!!!).
Hope your hands hold out :)
Love S&R

Sindy said...

I love crocheting - my mother taught me when I was young, and it is so much more versatile than knitting, and things appear to grow much quicker. However I must say that S finds it completely unsexy, and I am not allowed to sit on the sofa next to him doing it. I can kind of understand... I must say tho' that I don't have CT and my hands get sore after a while of doing it, so do be careful - it is worse than handsewing!

Mel@Georgica Pond said...

Anything that keeps those old crafting skills alive in this day and age, especially with the younger generations, I say go for it. I love the concept of knitting but whenever I start I just end up making dozens of scarves and there's only so many scarves you need. I can't get excited about making clothes, as I'm not big on the whole homespun look, but I think blankets and throws would be great.

Bubby Makes Three said...

I really really wish I could knit or crochet... there are some simply amazing things Ive seen of late that Id love to make!! And those little needles you have are ust so cute!

Kylie said...

Now I am nervous - at least I dont have to impress you with my technique, Being self taught I wing it and dont hold it correctly (maybe I am the wrong person to be teaching you LOL) You have seen my finished products though and I am certain that we will end up with something in the end. The 4 x posie kids are a bonus:)

Looking forward to it. See you soon.

(and I am lucky to have you in my life and crafty circle also)

MultipleMum said...

I am a fledgling knitter who would love to move to crochet. I think it would suit me more? Your needles are worth coveting! x

Kylie said...

It was my pleasure. What a fun day of learning and laughing we had.

Looking forward to the next lesson. I already have it planned:)

The cast on that I taught you was indeed the long-tail cast on, again I possibly do it a different way to what you will find if you were to google it (lol - our crafting style is so similar)

My post is up - funny photo to come.
http://mealyandi.blogspot.com/2011/07/all-you-need-in-knitting.html