tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post116887858887353581..comments2023-04-04T04:38:01.234-07:00Comments on RosieBlogs: Stop Insulting My GrandmotherUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-68231722186750873212008-01-24T14:48:00.000-08:002008-01-24T14:48:00.000-08:00amen.amen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-44021214417102379152008-01-22T16:25:00.000-08:002008-01-22T16:25:00.000-08:00THANK YOU!What is 'easy' anyway? I mean, part of ...THANK YOU!<BR/><BR/>What is 'easy' anyway? I mean, part of the beautiful journey that is knitting (or crochet) is to challenge, morph, and re-bake with a special new ingredient all of the things that help us define 'easy'. When I first tried to teach myself to knit - the purl stitch alone seemed akin to being stabbed in the eyes with a feather quill. A few more times and it was 'easy'. The first steek I did nearly gave me a heart failure and I had to have a drink before I could finish it - now I cut through that knitting like it is a sure thing that all will be well. Easy isn't flattering to anyone. It says to the beginner, "hello, stupid, even a troll could do this but in case you still can't, we've drawn you a step-by-step guide" and to the lifelong knitter, "hey, you know a troll could make that!". As if a beginner doesn't have the fortitude or the intellect to actually make something that is just knitting - not 'easy' knitting. I wish someone had told be about short row shaping right off - then my first two sweaters wouldn't make me look like Dolly Pardon!Josettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09220412573472542796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-30485195129952747122007-08-08T19:10:00.000-07:002007-08-08T19:10:00.000-07:00And pay no mind to the gall who knits part time......And pay no mind to the gall who knits part time...<BR/><BR/>Those who really want to figure it out will. You can still do a "big" project, it just takes more patience. Otherwise keep knitting scarves. I'm a beginner too, but I am sick, sick, sick, of boxy sweaters, hats, and baby booties. <BR/><BR/>Gimme something I can really sink my needles in!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-39257346141271342322007-08-08T19:07:00.000-07:002007-08-08T19:07:00.000-07:00Whoo-hoo!To add to the kvetch let's hear it for st...Whoo-hoo!<BR/><BR/>To add to the kvetch let's hear it for stocking patterns. NOT socks, but stockings!!! I am about insane enought to start adapting lace patterns to replace this most basic but shoddily made temporary sock I find at the store... Only I'm new at knitting and haven't figured it out.. heck, it's the reason that knitting appeals to me in the first place!<BR/><BR/>Secondly, isn't knitting, crafts, cooing, etc all about carrying on the threads to our heritage (pun only partially intended)? Let those hamburger eating, pre-packaged scrapbook-toting, let-me-have-the-easy-way folks work at it a bit.... It may just be the first time in thier lives they've gone beyond a paint-by-number approach.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-38161301455313969282007-07-05T08:06:00.000-07:002007-07-05T08:06:00.000-07:00Good for you for giving Grandmothers some credit. ...Good for you for giving Grandmothers some credit. They created some gorgeous things for their era as well as many vintage patterns that are timeless! Some of their ideas are implemented today in modern crochet. They deserve honor for carrying on the history of fiber art.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-65990283383779637442007-05-13T10:01:00.000-07:002007-05-13T10:01:00.000-07:00You bet the knitting books out there aren't my gra...You bet the knitting books out there aren't my grandmother's knitting. She did pillowcase edgings on 000 needles with perle cotton, not size 17 needles with super chunky yarn.<BR/><BR/>That's it; my student is going to make a hat for his first project.FiberQathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06524481267771726089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-71146889301538507922007-03-31T13:57:00.000-07:002007-03-31T13:57:00.000-07:00My mother was a fine craftswoman. Sew, Knit, croc...My mother was a fine craftswoman. Sew, Knit, crochet, quilt, I could go on. I did learn, painfully at her knee but I hated it. What died with her is unforgivable to me. I do not have her patience or talent. I can knit to do a garter stich and crochet a few rows. I'm too uptight and everything gets tighter and tighter. I envy you guys.bfmuffyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02574635436898687772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-23044608824523142012007-02-27T20:31:00.000-08:002007-02-27T20:31:00.000-08:00It's attitudes like this (and yarn snobbery)that k...It's attitudes like this (and yarn snobbery)that keep people away from knitting, crafts and the arts in general. I've been knitting for about two years now, and I don't have a lot of time to devote to knitting: I have a full-time job and an infant. While I love to knit, my priorities pull me away from spending lots of time on a project. Because of that, I look for projects that are fairly easy and quick to learn/knit. In fact, I doubt I will ever learn intarsia, cables, knitting in the round or DPN's any time soon. I also don't have the money to spend on expensive yarns (wish I did). That doesn't make me any less a knitter than anyone who likes a complicated project. <BR/><BR/>Good on you for sticking to your guns and refusing to stock books that market to us lowly,inferior instant gratification knitters but realize that there are people who think the same as me. And easy, quick knit books are great entryway books to learning more complicated patterns and stitches. <BR/><BR/>Condescending to one group is just as insulting and divisive as calling knitting "grandmotherly."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-32652307754883206222007-02-20T23:44:00.000-08:002007-02-20T23:44:00.000-08:00Thanks for the post. I totally agree with you on ...Thanks for the post. I totally agree with you on this - the reason I got into crafts in the first place was all of the beautiful things handmade by my mom, grandma, great-grandma, etc. <BR/><BR/>I didn't notice the whole "easy" thing until I read your post - but I think it's true, publishers don't have a lot of regard for crafters. And I suppose "young people" nowadays need instant gratification, therefore easy and fast projects. I admit, I do use the word "easy" and "quick" for my patterns. I think in my case, I'm letting beginners know, don't be intimidated by a pattern if it isn't a simple chunky scarf rectangle!the fabled needle (jen)https://www.blogger.com/profile/07042055355643888757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-49988914827858653392007-02-16T22:37:00.000-08:002007-02-16T22:37:00.000-08:00Here! Hear! Here! Yes! I've been waiting for someo...Here! Hear! Here! Yes! I've been waiting for someone to say that, and trying to figure out a way to say it myself, but you've really just said it too eloquently to say again. Thanks for doing it so well. <BR/><BR/>For the record, I've just finished my first fair isle project - it ended up as a teapot cozy, but I love it and my husband loves it and both of my kids love it. My husband wants a sweater in the same colorway and same pattern, and my kids want a teapot cozy for their little teapot. I, however, want to start something bigger, better and completely different. Here's to a new challange!kneekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14687315156448085766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-40729010717149642392007-02-16T21:17:00.000-08:002007-02-16T21:17:00.000-08:00I agree with just about everything you are saying,...I agree with just about everything you are saying, but...don't insult us Los Angelenos! We do learn to knit hats in the round in our first knitting class (I did) and we do knit plenty of interesting items. Believe it or not, we are "real" knitters, too.Jeanninehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10073424653312202168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-36649859483728146092007-02-16T16:33:00.000-08:002007-02-16T16:33:00.000-08:00yes AMEN! and yes we need another and another. sta...yes AMEN! and yes we need another and another. stand up and be counted! my grandma was an awesome knitter!!! and she taught me how to knit.<BR/>I am sick of broom sticks and rope! thanks god for blogland, where we can see how great knitting is all over the world!HPNY KNITShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01364973961188155339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-50768049093510441572007-02-15T22:40:00.000-08:002007-02-15T22:40:00.000-08:00Not like you need another comment but AMEN.Not like you need another comment but AMEN.PamKittyMorninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03700213212597420809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-49058185711755619552007-02-03T00:32:00.000-08:002007-02-03T00:32:00.000-08:00My first-ever project in a Learn To Knit class was...My first-ever project in a Learn To Knit class was a scarf. However, it was NOT a bulky, large-needle garter stitch monstrosity. OK, it <i>was</i> garter stitch. But it was a clever pattern that taught increasing, decreasing, and even had us divide and put half the stitches on a stitch holder so as to knit a "tube" for the other end of the scarf to pass through. It started with three cast-on stitches. It was really cool.<br /><br />So, I hear ya. I hear what you're saying. And I totally agree. Grandmothers are/were people too, with brains and creativity. Remember, they were hip in their day. Rock on, Grannies!Jeannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01052659387592324948noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-58473812162954594632007-02-02T21:36:00.000-08:002007-02-02T21:36:00.000-08:00AaaaaaaMEN! Add "chunky" and "funky" to the list ...AaaaaaaMEN! Add "chunky" and "funky" to the list of words in book titles I won't buy (I didn't see them).<br /><br />I learned to cable when I was nine. I picked up knitting last year and within 2 months was doing a full-on cabled sweater featured in IK. <br /><br />It ain't rocket science, folks. <br /><br />And it can look sophisticated, too (no more of this funky chunky nonsense, please and thank you).Jawshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17243166244690136114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-58512322117210941952007-02-01T13:35:00.000-08:002007-02-01T13:35:00.000-08:00Elizabeth Zimmerman teaches hats first - knit and ...Elizabeth Zimmerman teaches hats first - knit and purl edge, knit band, then on to two colors, and knit two together - then on to sweaters for lesson 2 - how hard is this - I started as an 8 yr old, Waldorf starts children at 6 and 7. Easy stuff, yea for about the first hour - then just go on to the fun stuff.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-48732813956389189692007-01-30T14:15:00.000-08:002007-01-30T14:15:00.000-08:00Go girls!
I've been knitting compulsively since 1...Go girls!<br /><br />I've been knitting compulsively since 1974, hip or unhip, whatever.<br /><br />I also despise the "for Dummies" books and will not buy them. Honestly.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08081696975112970993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-15988772594960760202007-01-28T14:48:00.000-08:002007-01-28T14:48:00.000-08:00Thank you for writing this!
There is such a lack ...Thank you for writing this!<br /><br />There is such a lack of more advanced knitting books serving as inspiration and teaching one to go below size 10 needles. Books that teach and inspire you to think yourself, books like Sharon Miller's Heirloom Knitting, Marianne Isager's Africa, Starmore's books, and the like. <br /><br />I am sooo tired of *hip young VIP writes about using big, bulky, expensive novelty yarn*<br />AND the various knitting magazines giving them rave reviews, just because they publish them.strikkeforskerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14387717627283822614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-1169849396514015342007-01-26T14:09:00.000-08:002007-01-26T14:09:00.000-08:00Eve Plotnick made some fabulous stuff. Her newest ...Eve Plotnick made some fabulous stuff. Her newest great grandchild is now enjoying a blanket that she made many years ago. I've enjoyed wearing sweaters that she made for me. Her work was timeless. It lives on. Knitters like Eve Plotnick have been an inspiration to many people. Her work was not only gorgeous, it was a warm expression of warmth and love. Some of us were fortunate... we knew Eve Plotnick. Don't knock her. RobertaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-1169825338579839152007-01-26T07:28:00.000-08:002007-01-26T07:28:00.000-08:00If "not your grandma's" meant "wow, it's fantastic...If "not your grandma's" meant "wow, it's fantastic how many more options we have for soft, good quality, easy-care yarns--whether wool or synthetic", I'd be right there. But I don't think it does.<BR/><BR/>As for dove knits' question about why there are so many of these books: blame it on the unprecedented success of "Stitch 'n' Bitch." Every publisher wants a piece of that pie. (That's one of the ironies of the capitalist system: in theory, someone will come along to exploit every economic niche, by producing a different product to appeal to every potential consumer. But in practice, most people try to make lots of money by producing something that's going to be wildly popular--often, by imitating something that's already been successful in the market.)<BR/><BR/>If we're in a charitable mood, we might say that publishers are hoping to sell lots of SnB clones in order to subsidize the publication of the less faddish books that we'll find interesting.Lisa M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17503541878029508476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-1169775887080100942007-01-25T17:44:00.000-08:002007-01-25T17:44:00.000-08:00Here, here! I'm late to the party, but so glad to ...Here, here! I'm late to the party, but so glad to see the intelligent life in the universe!<BR/><BR/>My first project was two cotton placemats with seedstitch borders and garter middles. My second was a lace shawl with a border knitted on perpendicularly.<BR/><BR/>I have a beef with novelty yarn, too, but that's a rant for another day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-1169704615464081422007-01-24T21:56:00.000-08:002007-01-24T21:56:00.000-08:00Hi Susan! Yeah, but you have to admit that Interwe...Hi Susan! Yeah, but you have to admit that Interweave on a bad day is better than most of these jump-on-the-bandwagon knit publishers on a good one...Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12102992658554826888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-1169695799870687462007-01-24T19:29:00.001-08:002007-01-24T19:29:00.001-08:00Okay - I am more of a lace-work knitter so I agree...Okay - I am more of a lace-work knitter so I agree with the points, but am I the ony one whose granny's (knitting and crochet )- from the 1960s was ugly? She wasn't exactly making beautiful Irish sweaters - she was making ugly pink acrylic afghans and kitchen stuff. I hope I am not doing her knitting (actually I see the chunk-o-knit people as her direct descendants!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-1169695767565933612007-01-24T19:29:00.000-08:002007-01-24T19:29:00.000-08:00Okay - I am more of a lace-work knitter so I agree...Okay - I am more of a lace-work knitter so I agree with the points, but am I the ony one whose granny's (knitting and crochet )- from the 1960s was ugly? She wasn't exactly making beautiful Irish sweaters - she was making ugly pink acrylic afghans and kitchen stuff. I hope I am not doing her knitting (actually I see the chunk-o-knit people as her direct descendants!)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12462914.post-1169676861521299722007-01-24T14:14:00.000-08:002007-01-24T14:14:00.000-08:00Hear, hear. And, unlike Shannon, I'm not letting ...Hear, hear. And, unlike Shannon, I'm not letting Interweave off the hook. Some of their recent books are nothing to write home about.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com