Knitting again
Oh, you didn't know I knit before? Heh.
So a few years ago (I'm unclear on the time, I want to say "a couple," but thinking about it, it's more like three or four), I decided to try knitting. I like practical hobbies, and knitting is inexpensive and very portable. So I practiced a bit, knit one chunky scarf for my son, got busy and put it in a box to await the matching hat.
But "busy" wasn't the full reason I stopped. A big part of it was the thing that makes people wonder why I even started: I'm a guy. And as this was about the point I realized that I'm looking for social hobbies, I found a local knitting circle. And, as expected (here on the edge of the Bible belt, at least), they were all women. I was a little uncomfortable being the only guy in a group full of women. They were welcoming, none of them ever looked at me funny, but it was awkward, 'cause I'm not "just one of the girls," but conversation carried on as if I were. Not that I'm a prude or anything, but I just don't relate to conversation about boobs and periods and how men never do anything around the house. (And, lady, your boobs look just fine in that sweater. I'm not seeing anything to complain about.)
A couple years ago, a nifty yarn shop (Twist) opened up near my house in the Delano neighborhood, and just going in and looking at all the pretty yarn (the wife gave me an excuse to go) made me want to knit again. But that wasn't enough… still that "only guy" problem telling me "you won't stick with it."
Recently, I discovered there was another guy hanging out at Twist, and through the net I discovered we had a lot of common interests. So I decided to make the trek to Twist and meet him, and I've taken the craft back up. And I just discovered the "eclectic guy" I know from church also knits at Twist. So, three guys knitting at Twist… it must be a movement!
The first order of business was to dig out that scarf… I'd finished all but the fringe, so I added the fringe and gave it to my son just as the weather turned rather cold. He's named it "rainbow", and I'll post pictures soon.
Right now, I'm practicing again, getting ready to knit a hat. My first work with purling and on circular needles, the practice started out a little awkward. But I think I've practiced enough, so I bit the bullet and cast on some sweet baby alpaca yarn and start the real hat at last night's Stitch'n'Bitch at Twist. It went a lot smoother than the practice work I was doing, too. And there wasn't any bitching about men who don't do anything around the house.