On Knitting

I've been meaning to write this for awhile, but I couldn't find an appropriate moment. Now that I successfully completed the Fireman Sweater it might be time.

I've always been drawn to craft, particularly things involving yarn. No one in my family knit, and I have an Aunt who crochets, but not avidly. My mom was crafty for a time. She used to sew, and make decoupage, and before I was born she did some macrame, and made all of our Christmas ornaments. But then alcoholism took her away from all of that and me for a very, very long time.
You see there was no particular reason for me to be "crafty", but I would walk through the aisles of the Ben Franklin 5 and 10, of later Frank's (which was a nursery and craft store) and I would be drawn particularly to the yarn, but also the cross stitch kits, and needlepoint kits, and really anything that wanted to be made into anything else. It wasn't long before I was asking my parents for acrylic yarn (so many colors!) and a learn how to crochet kit, or a learn how to knit kit, and I taught myself. I particularly remember a little booklet printed on the 50s or early 60s, that another aunt gave to me with the basic instruction for how to knit, how to crochet, and I believe how to tat. That book was my bible and by looking at the pictures and reading the words, and thinking I taught myself how. And I could knit a passable scarf or crochet the same (nevermind that until recently I only crocheted through the front loop of the stitch, not both!) I also did some cross stitch, embroidery, and needlepoint. I was fascinated by making things in "an old fashioned way" like I imagined they would have in little house on the prairie, or Anne of Green Gables, or the accomplished girls in the Jane Austen books. I was fascinated, but I could only take it so far and by the time I was in college I didn't do any of it.
Then I was in grad school, and my sister was expecting her first child. And I went to the local Barnes and Noble and perused the craft section. By this time the knit revolution was happening, and there was a Debbie Bliss book of baby knits that looked approachable (and ever so pretty). And I picked up the needles again. I made a couple of baby things for my nephew, all in acrylic based yarns. They really were pretty awful, but I didn't know better yet. But I had taken my knitting to another level, I had knit actual garments.
Then perusing through the local Barnes and Nobles I picked up Jacqueline Fee's Sweater Workshop This book takes a heavy nod from Elizabeth Zimmerman, but frankly explains how to knit the basic raglan sweater using EPS (Elizabeth's percentage system) in every detail one would want. This was my introduction into circle needles (yeah! I never new how ackward straight needles were until I discovered circle ones), knitting in the round, and eventually wool. It also has a wonderful tutorial of basic knitting skills needed for a sweater. In short although the sweater's in the book were dated and not very inspiring, it taught me so much about knitting.
This is the book I turned to when I asked Pizza what color he wanted his sweater to be. Initially he said "red, with yellow stripes," but I got him to change his mind to black with yellow stripes, and I added in the grey (he already has a play firecoat in red, with yellow, and I was envisioning something I a little easier on the eye). My goal with this sweater was to make a fireman's sweater that looked like a serious sweater, but still respected what he wanted. I think I accomplished it. It has an obvious nod to a fireman's coat, but it isn't over the top and hopefully isn't too campy. I feel there is a serious dirth of little boy's sweaters that aren't overly cutesy, so I'm attempting to fill that void.
So here is the result knitting completed,still needing lots of ends sewn in and buttons. Next it will be completely finished and I'll write down the details.

But it fits well, and I'm very pleased. As always crafting along on or about Tuesday with Keep Calm Craft on