Hi from the mid-west!

woolncathairs wrote

on Mar 28, 2009 10:43 AM

 Hi everyone!  I'm a mid-western gal who has been knitting for about 40 years.  I'm 55, married with two great teenage kids - a boy who is 19 and a girl who is just now 17.  Three dogs, three cats, a full-time job as a system manager with a large utility company and kids coming and going all day and night keep me pretty busy these days.  We also have a big old house on 5 acres with a garden.

I am a real knitting junkie and currently have 6 full tubs of yarn, two bags of needles and three stacks of patterns.  It's a passion and source of real frustration to me as I can NEVER find enough time to knit.  My perfect day is one where everyone has gone out, the dogs have been walked and there are four or five good movies on TCM and I'm in the middle of a pattern I can't wait to sit down to.

I recently had a real dream come true when I found a knitting store going out of business.  Of course, it was very sad to see a knitting store close (the owner is recovering from cancer - GOOD news) but I was able to buy sacks of yarn I normally could never afford.  Now I REALLY have the bug and it seems I will never be able to get to all the beautiful patterns I have plans for!   As I pick yarn with my left forefinger instead of throwing it with my right, I am an extremely fast knitter but it still takes me way too long to get through a piece.  I've also started to work on several projects at once instead of slugging through one pattern at a time while I gaze longingly at my yarn stash.

i would love to hear how other knitters manage their time and balance knitting into their busy lives.  I'd even love to share the frustration!! 

Looking forward to sharing and chatting on one of my favorite subjects!!

AndreaW wrote

on Mar 31, 2009 10:47 PM

 Hi + welcome to Knitting Daily !!!

Hope you enjoy yourself wandering around here + find what you're looking for.

I don't think there is a way to EVER find enough time to knit everything we want to...but if you discover one...please share...we'll all LOVE you forever!!!

I tend to just take the knitting time. of course I do have the excuse that I do sell knits @ times so that makes taking the time more legit!!!...or @ least it SOUNDS more legit which is what counts!!!

If you point out to "the world in general" how much you are saving by making the gift instead of buying one...that will get you some time too. Remind your husband how much he loves your socks...always works here since mine won't wear anything BUT my socks!!!  Keep some sock yarn handy to wave in his direction...

Also my knitting goes where I go. Amazing how much you get done w/o realizing it. Helps w/ boring wait times too!!!

If I lived several hundred yrs...I'de never knit up all my yarn. Oh well....choice is important...right?!?!  I knit continental style too + have knitting machines as well which are even faster!!!

    Take care .... Andrea

Barbe wrote

on Apr 21, 2009 8:40 AM

I'm also from the mid-west, Michigan. I have been knitting close to 50 years. I am retired, and have all the time in the world to sit and knit. Your turn is coming. It's absolutely wonderful.

Happy Knitting,

Barb from Michigan

Sherry@2 wrote

on Jul 5, 2009 6:32 PM

Hi!  I am also from the midwest Twin Cities, MN.  I also work for a large public utility.  I try to take time each day to knit no matter how long.  Some evenings I get a lot done and there are others where I seem to be de-knitting more than knitting.

I'm currently on a two-week vacation knitting crazily trying to get ready for the county and state fair competitions coming up in the next two months.

I have also helped organize a group of knitters and crocheters that work at my company to knit for various non-profit organizations that are in need of items; e.g. Salvation Army, local hospitals, Warm Up America project, and the Mother Bear project.  We've just gotten this kicked off in the last two months, and we have already provided many preemie hats and prayer shawls to local hospitals.  We have a group of about 20 employees who will be helping in this effort.

I am afraid to say this, but I have a whole closet of stash as well as a 3-drawer dresser full of patterns and books and information that I have gotten at the knit and crochet expo at the Mall of America.  I actually need to pull it all out and try to organize it this summer.  Then I'll be able to go shopping in my closet because of course by the time I get to some of the yarn, I can't remember what I was going to make out of it!

Hope to hear back more of your adventures!