I'm LOVING the garter stitch, and the Tomten project in general.
I've had several conversations with people who are inspired (as was I, naturally)
by brooklyntweed's version, but then they think it is SO gorgeous that it must be
Too.Difficult.
I have to say (IMHO) that I want to knit everything he takes a picture of.
His latest hat? I drooled like crazy when I saw it on his blog, but when I went
back to the magazine it was featured in? meh.
Not.So.Much.
He's an AMAZING photographer and stylist and knitter,
his writing just adds to the magic...It is
All of it. He's the complete package,
and I think that is intimidating to most folks.
So here's MY story....
The first Tomten I knit was a way to return to knitting
garments. I never really stopped KNITTING, mind you, but it had mostly
been small fiddly projects (oh how I wish I had some of those little animals and
gnomes and such to show you...with the current craze over softies....anyway.)
and I had a baby I wanted to knit for.
I was exhausted, and newly pregnant with the second baby,
sick all of the time,
without much time at ALL to myself.
That sweater, in a simple red worsted WOOL
(do believe what EZ has to say about wool and babies!)
saved my sanity. In between things like projectile vomiting and endless
loads of laundry and my OWN morning sickness, I managed a row here and
there, and it was just SO calming to read EZ's words as I was rocking a *not
sleepy* baby.....
I knit several more Tomtens after that, and loved the process (and the PRODUCT)
of every single one of them.
It is a GREAT project for a new knitter,
and there is LOTS of support out there if you want to attempt
the mods of Jared's version.
You should LOVE the wool. That is the first step. You are going to spend miles
and miles and MILES of garter stitch with this wool, so it must elicit at least a
sigh of admiration whenever you see it. You want a *pettable* skein....a fabric that
you could SLEEP with. Seriously.
This is not a quickie, thin thighs in thirty days kind of exercise.
This is a PROCESS that will yield a garment you can be proud to
wear and photograph and know that you have become a KNITTER....
It is like YOGA (and yes I know, we're all sick of the knitting is the new yoga
slogan, but this is the OLD school yoga that used to be on TV in black and white.
Anybody remember Lilias, yoga and you? Jack LaLanne? yep. Old School, baby.)
Pick needles that make the knitting effortless.
Use a row counter.
Take NOTES.
Spend time in the moment with this project
and it will change the way you think about knitting.
At least I hope it will.
I'll post updates here for those who are interested....
but DO search out others who have caught the Zimmermania bug!
ALSO, I put a deposit on an apartment for the Daughter bird today.
Going down to the college this weekend for her to fill out the application
and start the process....
I'll need lots more garter stitch and plenty of prayers to help us both through this NEXT transition!
Happy Weekend, all!