Just a quick one today, about knitting needles, who are often made of metal, and make a special sound when being used. I have some vintage knitting needles, after my mother.
I love the coloured ones!
My knitting needles lie silent and idle for now, but I know where to find them if I want to pick them up, to make that subtle sound that I like so much.
I have always liked the idea of mixing hard metals with soft techniques. This year, my theme for the A to Z challenge is “Metal meets textile”. From A to Z, I talk about work with metal wire, textile techniques like crochet and knitting, show some pieces I’ve been working on, share some thoughts on metal, textile and jewellery. I hope that you’ll find something of interest to you!
Beautiful photos! My mother taught me to knit, sew and bake. 😉 I didn’t save any of her knitting needles but she was knitting up to the end and she left a closet full of handknit sweaters, a few of which I still may have somewhere. 🙂
I see your mother was really a dedicated knitter! It’s special to have clothes made by someone we know, even if we don’t use them. I have a sweater that my mother used to wear a lot when I was a child, knitted by a friend of hers. It’s laying in the closet, I don’t know if I’ll ever use it, but I’m happy to have it.
That’s so sweet – the fact that it was made by her friend and that you remember her wearing it. It gets hard to hold onto these wonderful objects when you move a lot and as time accumulates, the objects do, too. I’m constantly scolding myself for not organizing things like that better.
Lack of space is always an issue, and things can also become a burden… I have sometimes found that making photos can be a compromise. Like that, the objects can leave, but I still have a trace of them.
I’m not much of a knitter but I was given several pairs of really vintage wooden needles by a friend. I use one to hold my hair up in a bun! Black and White: K for Kitezh
I have short hair, so in my dreams that I can ever use a knitting needle in my hair… I love how that looks! Nice that they come to use, even if you don’t knit.
I don’t have any knitting stories to share except one. My sons and I play a lot of Role-Playing Games and I have an RPG blog. So one day we were all headed to our Favorite Local Game Store. I had to park a bit out because this is a busy place (pre-covid).
We were walking and there was this sewing supply store on the same street. Inside there were all these women in their 50s-60s and one dude in his 30s all knitting. Everyone looked like they were really happy, talking laughing, enjoying each other’s company and their hobby. Exactly what my boys and I were about to do in the store two or more doors down.
It struck then that guy was a kindred spirit to us. He didn’t care what society’s expectations of him were, he was living his life and he was happy, at least in that brief moment of time I saw him.
Thank you for posting this so I could share this story. I hope that dude is still knitting away and having a great time!
Me too, I hope he’s still knitting away together with his knitting friends! Thanks for sharing this story, I loved reading it and I think I see what you mean. Certain activities are for certain people (or so we are taught to think) and it takes a lot to break those stereotypes and go our own way. Groups often become more interesting when there is a mix of gender, age, background, etc.
But hang on, do I also hear you say that role playing games are a “strange” thing to do (in some people’s view)? I know nothing about it, so bare with me if it’s a strange question or if I misunderstood you here. I’d better come over to your blog and learn more about it…
Thanks for stopping by and sharing this knitting story!
Knitting is something I never got the hang of. I crochet, and dealing with two needles just confused me. My mother didn’t knit either. My grandmother tatted, and crocheted. I guess I come from a long-time non-knitting family!
Sounds like you all have very clear preferences! There is no ‘one size fits all’ with crafts, is there? I would like to learn tatting, I bought a shuttle and made some attempts but didn’t pursue, would need to give it more time.
Beautiful photos! My mother taught me to knit, sew and bake. 😉 I didn’t save any of her knitting needles but she was knitting up to the end and she left a closet full of handknit sweaters, a few of which I still may have somewhere. 🙂
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I see your mother was really a dedicated knitter! It’s special to have clothes made by someone we know, even if we don’t use them. I have a sweater that my mother used to wear a lot when I was a child, knitted by a friend of hers. It’s laying in the closet, I don’t know if I’ll ever use it, but I’m happy to have it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s so sweet – the fact that it was made by her friend and that you remember her wearing it. It gets hard to hold onto these wonderful objects when you move a lot and as time accumulates, the objects do, too. I’m constantly scolding myself for not organizing things like that better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lack of space is always an issue, and things can also become a burden… I have sometimes found that making photos can be a compromise. Like that, the objects can leave, but I still have a trace of them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not much of a knitter but I was given several pairs of really vintage wooden needles by a friend. I use one to hold my hair up in a bun!
Black and White: K for Kitezh
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have short hair, so in my dreams that I can ever use a knitting needle in my hair… I love how that looks! Nice that they come to use, even if you don’t knit.
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I don’t have any knitting stories to share except one. My sons and I play a lot of Role-Playing Games and I have an RPG blog. So one day we were all headed to our Favorite Local Game Store. I had to park a bit out because this is a busy place (pre-covid).
We were walking and there was this sewing supply store on the same street. Inside there were all these women in their 50s-60s and one dude in his 30s all knitting. Everyone looked like they were really happy, talking laughing, enjoying each other’s company and their hobby. Exactly what my boys and I were about to do in the store two or more doors down.
It struck then that guy was a kindred spirit to us. He didn’t care what society’s expectations of him were, he was living his life and he was happy, at least in that brief moment of time I saw him.
Thank you for posting this so I could share this story. I hope that dude is still knitting away and having a great time!
—
Tim Brannan, The Other Side: 2021: The A to Z of Monsters
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Me too, I hope he’s still knitting away together with his knitting friends! Thanks for sharing this story, I loved reading it and I think I see what you mean. Certain activities are for certain people (or so we are taught to think) and it takes a lot to break those stereotypes and go our own way. Groups often become more interesting when there is a mix of gender, age, background, etc.
But hang on, do I also hear you say that role playing games are a “strange” thing to do (in some people’s view)? I know nothing about it, so bare with me if it’s a strange question or if I misunderstood you here. I’d better come over to your blog and learn more about it…
Thanks for stopping by and sharing this knitting story!
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My experience with knitting needles is their use as a murder weapon in a good murder-mystery novel! I don’t think I’ve ever even held one!! 😉
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That proves that you’re not the murderer! 😉
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Oh Yes!!! Knitting Needles – on a par with fishing gear – designed to catch fishermen more than fish…
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I knitted when I was younger but not well. I would like to try it again some day though. https://weekendsinmaine.com/2021/04/07/atozchallenge-a-french-mattress-adds-some-cozy-style-to-our-sleigh-bench/
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Most important is to enjoy it! Internet is full of inspiration and instructions, for whenever you feel like picking it up!
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Knitting is something I never got the hang of. I crochet, and dealing with two needles just confused me. My mother didn’t knit either. My grandmother tatted, and crocheted. I guess I come from a long-time non-knitting family!
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Sounds like you all have very clear preferences! There is no ‘one size fits all’ with crafts, is there? I would like to learn tatting, I bought a shuttle and made some attempts but didn’t pursue, would need to give it more time.
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I never learned to knit but would I would like to. I love the coloured knitting needles. Fun letter K post.
Stopping in from A to Z: https://writingiscommunication.wordpress.com/2021/04/13/k-writing-words/
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I’m glad you liked it! Thanks for stopping by, and good luck with your future knitting journey!
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