“The place to improve the world is
first in one’s own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there”
-Zen and the Art of Motorcycle
Maintenance, Robert M. Pirsig
How to
change your world in three easy steps: listen to your elders, read a good book and start knitting. Is that too broad? For sure, but it was worth a try, nonetheless.
As an advocate of the fine art of knitting, I harbour strong impulses to shout
its worthiness and importance amongst & against its peers. I would stand
behind any art or craft, whether it is gardening, cooking, photography or
reading. Creativity is important, whether its your own or your enjoyment of
someone else’s efforts. Overlapping hobbies is even more fun! Sewing up cakes (Mollie Makes, Issue 14), photographing
books, or landscaping your wool stash. That’s even a new one on me, but I’m
open-minded.
There are
some excellent books available that can help re-ignite your passion for
knitting. Here are some oldies but goodies:
- Zen and the Art of Knitting: Exploring thLinks Between Knitting, Spirituality, Creativity by Bernadette Murphy, which explores the reasons why we knit
- Knitwear in Fashion by Sandy Black, a beautifully photographed book, made for the coffee table depicting high-end fashion knitwear through the ages
- The Art of Knitting: Inspirational Stitches, Textures and Surfaces by Francoise Tellier-Loumagne is a fabulous example of knitted textile designs to wet your appetite.
With regards
to “how to’ Lit., the Internet, bookshops, newsagents are awash with books and
magazines. When starting to knit, its best to find a book with clear images, as
words can be difficult to translate! Aim for simplicity and choose what you
like. One good comprehensive book is invaluable such as The Ultimate Knitting
Bible: A Complete Reference with Step-by-Step Techniques by Sharon Brant
As you
progress, you might find you only like knitting socks, for example, so aim to
narrow your search. A lot of money can be wasted by well meaning family and
friends buying books that have no place on your shelf. Being selective will
make you a better knitter. You Tube has some excellent tutorials. Better still,
find a knitting friend, or knit group and get some real, hands on advice. It’s
more fun than grappling inevitable complications and mistakes, on your own, but
that’s just my opinion!
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| My Zen Moment! A view from The Cottage at Burren Alpacas |
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