small things

Yarn Along (special guest post)

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs.  I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

Yarn Along

Hello Ladies.  Jonny here.  That’s right.  Now it makes sense doesn’t it?  When you first looked at the picture you were thinking, “Wow, Ginny’s knitting sure is a little frumpy this week”.  But, now you’re thinking, “Wow, that sure is some nice knitting for a really handsome, tough, sensitive, creative, brave and smart man”.  And, you would be right.  It is some nice knitting.

So, I’ve started knitting.  I’ve tried it before.  I once tried to knit a dishcloth with some peaches and cream (I know that you know what I’m talking about…but, I really want to add that it’s a cotton yarn although Ginny has assured me that it would be frivolous).   Anyway, I hated it.  I wanted to throw it at some point because my stiches were so uneven.  Some were loose, some were tight.  It was a horrible scene all around.  But, throwing it wouldn’t have even given me the satisfaction I was looking for.  Yarn doesn’t make a big loud noise when it hits the wall.  The needles may have made a small “tink”, but that would have hardly been worth the effort.  So, I frogged that mutha!  All the way back to nothing.  And it felt so right.

Fast forward to now.  I’ve been convinced by a rather extraordinary woman to pick it up again.  Truthfully, I want to do it so that she’ll think I’m cute.  But, I won’t tell her that.  I’ll let her think I’m doing it because there’s nothing better than the feel of a good worsted weight yarn (Ginny here.  He’s knitting with Blue Sky Alpacas organic cotton) on the needles.  So, for the past week I’ve been knitting.  And let me tell you something.  I’m quite the knitter now.  After trying many different ways to hold the string in my right hand, I’ve come up with a way to wrap it around my “tall man” finger two times that gives me the feel of control I need so I can apply proper tension to get consistent stiches.  My first project was cast on by the aforementioned extraordinary woman and handed over to me.  I battled with the knit stich and conquered it.  The extraordinary woman taught me how to bind off.  I battled with it some more.  I couldn’t really figure out how to use my left hand differently than when doing the knit stich.   But, I persevered, and I ended up with a really nice edge.  My first Finished Object!

I now have another dishcloth on the needles.  Keats taught me how to cast on.  So, I’ll be working on that one now.  I guess I’ll need to start a Ravelry page soon….

I’ve been reading the same book for a while, Confessions of a Bad Beekeeper.  This guy seems to be an English version of myself; it’s easy to be a moron.  Although, I haven’t been stung on the ear just yet.

So, because I’m totally dying to know, what are you peeps reading and knitting?

 

Grab a button for your post or sidebar! Visit the Yarn Along page for additional button colors!
Below is a linky list if you’d like to link up and join the Yarn Along.
(1) Make sure the link you submit is to the URL of your blog post or your specific Flickr photo and not your main blog URL or Flickr Photostream. Please be sure and link to your current Yarn Along post, and not a Yarn Along post from a previous week.
(2) Include a link back to this post in your blog post or on your flickr photo page so that others who may want to join the Yarn Along can find us!
(3) If you have any trouble linking up, just email me and I will help you!
You can also join the Flickr Yarn Along group to share your knitting and reading photos anytime!

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  9. So great, yay Jonny! My husband has learned to knit but the yarn is still sitting on the needles somewhere. But he is actually the one who helped me learn to crochet about 15 years ago. He recently found an old hat he had made and has been wearing at around the house. And he is way better at spinning on a drop spindle than I am so far!

  10. What an OUTSTANDING post! I am so showing my husband. Best wishes with your knitting. I’ll be favorite-ing your knitting on Ravelry! And a high fives to The Amazing Wife and the Most Talented Teacher of Casting On, Keats, for their support and inspiration.

  15. Jonny,
    I’m glad you were convinced to try knitting again! My husband Jeff wants to learn. I’ll show him this post and it might help inspire him more.

    You are hilarious. Thanks for cracking me up.
    Humor is one of the greatest things in life.

    Love,
    Taryn

  16. I love when Jonny posts, they’re always hysterical. Great job! I wish I had someone to teach me because youtube videos don’t quite cut it.

  20. It took me up to now from morning to finish reading it, but love this post, I’m knitting a Totoro hat for a class I give online and I’m still reading your Six Year Old and The Lonely Polygamist.

  21. I love it. That’s just what I did last night, “I frogged that mutha!” Then I made another mistake and “I frogged that mutha again,” wrapped the thread around the ball and went to bed. Its still waiting for me.

    Great guest appearance, it made me laugh.

  25. Jonny, it is good to hear that you are so comfortable in your masculinity:) You and Thomas should get together for a knitting group. You and Ginny are a good team and it shows in your children. Keep up the good work!

  28. Great post! I love Jonny’s sense of humor.

    Ginny, let me tell you what a lucky woman you are. Not only does your husband want to learn how to knit (and I imagine he takes an interest in the things you do), but he calls you an EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN!!! I’ve never been called an extraordinary *anything*. You’d better be swooningl. 😉

  30. Congratulations for the idea!
    Is a problem if I don’t knit as you do? I stitch gobelins.
    If I am not fit into the group just let me know and I’ll understand. It will be no problem.
    Thank you!

  35. Well done Jonny! I taught my husband to knit a few winters ago. It never stuck, but he did learn to make dishcloths well. Next step is making your own hats!

  36. Hey Jonny,

    It might be too late now that you have a good, working system, but it sounds like you might enjoy Continental Knitting like me. The working yarn gets woven through your left hand fingers. For me, it’s much easier, more even stitches, and a little faster, too!

    Great work!

  39. Loved this post Ginny and Jonny!

    I was completely shocked a short time ago when my own hubby announced that his grandmother taught him how to knit and crochet. He just chooses not to do it. His loss, I say.

    Jonny, you and Ginny are welcome to sit around the table at Panera Bread on Thursday night with my knitting group anytime you all are in the New Haven, Connecticut area. 😉

  43. Dear Ginny and Jonny…Last night I tried to nap between my 4 year old daughter and my 2 year old night weaning son. It was not an easy go last night…I say nap because we don’t really and truly sleep much here. My 6 year old wanders in and wakes my husband, but that’s his deal, usually. So, this morning, when I was awoken from one of my 45 minute “naps” to loud whispering beside my head…I was not too sunshiney. I said aloud, “Oh, will you please humour me here?!” ~ like little ones know what that means. Apparently you two do, though. I really really needed this this morning. Absolutely hilarious. One tough mudder knitting…is that part of the race? How was the race? I’ve asked a few times and would love to know. Maybe Jonny might knit up some uniforms next time for the event? Just a suggestion, you know, moving on from washcloths and all. (My own husband is waiting on a knit thneed).
    xo Jules

    • Hi Jules, the race has yet to happen…it will be in early September…I’ll let you (and everyone else) know how it turns out…

  48. Wonderful ♥ It’s so nice to hear yarn-words from a husband’s point of view! I don’t know if my dear husband take on this craft, but he’s sure working in the garden a lot, weeding, and sowing new lettuce seeds, watering…

  49. Great post… too funny. Oh- and could you come over and spend a few days with my hubby? I think he could use a little of your influence….. 😉