The Accidental Knitter Story Part 2

I learned to knit because of an accident in 1994. My two very large beloved pooches - now 13 and 15 who still dislike each other immensely, in a geriatric kind of way – just for fun, decided to try and kill each other. (Added later: They are both no longer with us.)I was unaware that they both knew of the exact placement of each others' jugular veins. I tried pulling them apart and almost lost part of a hand. It’s all still attached, 12 years later, but my index fingers ability to work is somewhat suspect. After countless sessions of physical therapy and a not so rosy prognosis, I took matters into my own hands (pun intended) and learned to bake bread as hand therapy. Bread, I might add, smells way better than the colorful clay that I had the displeasure of manipulating in those daily PT torture sessions.

Well, a few more years went by and I needed (kneaded?) another outlet for continuing to exercise my bad paw (puns abounding here – anyone still awake?). In the recesses of my brain, I almost remembered my mother showing me how to crochet when I was a wee pup. More vividly, I remember not really showing any interest in this craft. So of course, many years later, I picked up a crochet hook - with the non-injured paw - and made a few baby blankets. I joined up with a crochet class and soon realized that my preference of stitches were those that emulated knitting, and not crocheting. For any crocheters who might still be reading this, I don’t dislike crocheting…uh well, actually, I kind of do. Oh well, there, I said it. Anyway, I figured since I was in my LYS (Local Yarn Store) http://www.yarnandstitches.com/ anyway, I might as well take knitting classes. I have the pleasure and honor of being taught by Alissa aka http://www.knittingfairy.com/, who is pretty well known around these parts. I really didn’t think that I’d be able to knit because of my bad paw, but one of the first things Alissa showed me was how to knit English (Englishly?) and that she too, had an injured hand. The rest, as they say, is history.

Have the accidents continued? Why yes, yes they have. In the past two years I’ve had two knitting related accidents that have required the services of an orthopedist. The first one was in knitting class and involved a ninety something year old in a wheel chair who backed over my naked pinky toe and then rolled forward over it again. She’s deaf as a stump and to this day she has no idea what happened. I think she figured that she was rolling over a teeny tiny speed bump. I spent 6 weeks in a lovely blue boot for that little gem. Six months or so later, I was pulling a box of yarn out from under my bed. In most peoples’ worlds, this generally isn’t an activity that requires a safety net. My world isn’t like other peoples', and I’ll take this opportunity to welcome you to it. I slipped forward and spent the next two months in a cast and then a splint to immobilize my thumb. I did find out; however, that it is possible to knit socks, on dpns, without the use of ones right thumb.

And the dyeing part, where did that come from? Well, for those of you still reading this – it’s okay if you’ve needed a bathroom break, or even a short vacation to the coast to rejuvenate after the first page – I have a degree in art, from back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and thought it was time to actually use what little I remember from those, ahem, five years of intense study. Turns out you really can get credit for two semesters of weaving and three semesters of ceramics – perhaps much to my mother’s dismay. Anyway, in the not too distant past, I took some dyeing classes and was totally and completely hooked. It was so pleasurable to watch the colors unfold and bloom that I think I was having little yarngasms (I’m sure the spell checker is going to love that one, not to mention the Google hits I’ll get)during the classes. I was amazed at how the colors blended and sometimes even clashed – but all in a glorious manner. My biggest fear had been that my yarns would all turn out in a murky shade of brown – which I’m sure has it’s place, but not on my palate. I am utterly and completely addicted to this endeavor. Diving in head first, I started my own little company, The Accidental Knitter and have not looked back. I haven’t been able to quit my day job, but I certainly have lots of fun moonlighting.

I have yet to have a dyeing related accident – oh, maybe a slightly scorched finger or two and perpetually purple colored nails – but nothing that contributes to an insurance deductible. My orthopedist is truly disappointed by this turn of events I’m sure.

I hope you find my yarns as enjoyable to use as I do. A yarn that make me smile as I’m using it, I find always, always, always, produces a lovely end product. Amazing how a yarn that I find enjoyable to touch, as well as, look at, increases my knitting skill. YMMV (your mileage may vary), of course.

If you’re still here, thanks for reading my story.

The Accidental Knitter.

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