That's Random: The Knitters

Yesterday, Laurel and I attended a mother-daughter "Learn to Knit" party that I'd signed up for at a school auction.

Now, let me preface this by saying that the domestic arts have never been my forte: I don't cook much that doesn't involve boiling water or a microwave (though I have been known to bake on occasion -- albeit nothing much more complicated than the Toll House recipe), can't sew to save my life, and leave things like pumpkin-carving or anything involving cutting and gluing to my husband, who has much more patience and facility for these kinds of things than I do.

Suffice it to say, I'm pretty much hopeless when it comes to traditional domesticity -- decorating being the one (arguable) exception. My mother was a pioneering career woman, not a homemaker, and she's inspired me in different ways.

That said, I've always glanced longingly over at the women I see pulling out their knitting at meetings and other gatherings, admiring the way their fingers fly so deftly as coils of yarn are miraculously transformed at their touch into brightly colored ribbons of hundreds upon hundreds of tiny knots -- all while they nod along with the speaker or chat with friends. It's always struck me as incredibly meditative and cozy.

So yesterday, thanks to the guidance of three very patient instructors, Laurel and I actually learned how to knit! I got the casting-on part down pretty quickly, but the actual knitting part proved a bit more challenging for my big, clumsy fingers to master. Still, I did finally get the hang of it, repeating over and over under my breath, "Put the bunny in the burrow, give the bunny a scarf, take the bunny out of the burrow ... "

I've already ripped out my lopsided, raggedy rows five times since then, and am pretty much going to be glued to the illustrations on Learn-to-Knit any time I pick up the needles. I doubt I'll ever get past the basic knit stitch -- the purl stitch seems utterly unfathomable to me at this point, and likely will forever. But while there probably aren't any home-knit sweaters in my future, there may be a lumpy, awkwardly crafted scarf or two. And to klutzy, home-arts-impaired me, that feels like a huge accomplishment.

Laurel, on the other hand, took to knitting like a seasoned pro (that's her handiwork above; my own is not fit to be photographed). The girl is a natural. Once she got the basic concept down she was off and knitting, her long, delicate fingers in constant motion and her brow furrowed in concentration. Before the party's end, she was halfway to a potholder and by dinnertime, she pretty much had one (her macho big brother was even impressed enough to ask her to show him how to knit). She's totally jazzed about knitting, and is already crafting elaborate plans for a trip to our local yarn store to stock up on supplies.

I honestly don't know where she came from, but Ms. Martha had better watch out for this girl.

Anyway: Yay, knitting! (And thank you Adrienne, Lisa, and Stephanie!)