Knitting Knicknacks

It is that time of the year again when the knitting bag with all its many bits and pieces comes out of the cupboard and the fun begins.

Inside there are all sorts of different wools of many colours, different sized needles, crochet hooks and so many bits and pieces of finished and unfinished knickknacks of all shapes and sizes.

These are the ones always put off for another day, like the rather large throw rug that I still haven't finished which was started a few years ago.

This is half the fun of knitting, a relaxing creative process that takes many twist and turns and hopefully the item is finished when the right time comes provided there is still an interest.

There are so many items to knit and so many colours and different wools all with different textures to choose from that in the beginning it may seem a bit over whelming.

So we start at the very beginning with a simple pattern, such a scarf, knitted in the simplest stitch, the best one for this being 'plain'.

You need to learn how to 'caste on' stitches and 'caste off ' stitches. With a good beginners book, from any good craft store, beside you or better still with the very experienced knitters, those wonderful mothers or grandmothers with there boundless knowledge, who know all the tricks of the trade, you can start to knit.

There are really only two stitches that you need to know and they are 'pearl' and 'plain.' These two put together create and form all the patterns that you would like to use whilst making your creation whether it be a scarf or a work of art.

You can have fun knitting with lots of colour and differently shaped wools to make a wild and interesting scarf made by hand by you.

Hand knitting has gone through various stages and changes in popularity over the years.

Knitting items were a necessity at one stage as it was the only way to make warm clothing, being much thicker than ordinary material. Jumpers, socks, hats scarfs were in high demand in the cold winter months .These items were all kept after the oldest child of the family had grown out of them and were later pasted down to younger brothers and sisters when the time come. Buying a new jumper from a shop was not heard of back then, this was only for the very rich.

All women learnt to knitted or if not themselves new someone who did. They were very skilled and proficient, handing down their great skills on to all the female members of the family. Knitting was a form of survival back then keeping out the cold with a good jumper or too.

Knitting was still a tradition in our mothers and grandmothers day to hand knit many of the winter clothes and they were particularly busy when a new born was on its way, knitting shawls, booties and caps for the expected baby.

Today, with the arrival of the knitting machine, it is much more convenient to buy our woolens, being one a big time saver and in most cases less expensive.

We now have the choice and the luxury to do both.We still have the great joy of creating and playing with wool in the knitted form with the added pleasure and satisfaction when finished to wear or use what we have made with our own hands.

Knitting is back!!