Knitting, schmitting.

There's a certain talent to this knitting thing.  I don't have it, but that doesn't mean I can't keep working on it!  Last week, I bought my first knitting needles at the Estes Park Wool Market.  I wanted to find some needles with character, and I did.  There are little owls perched on the ends of my needles, hopefully, to provide me wisdom and guidance through this not so easy craft.  At first, they had no names, but I've now spent some time with them and decided to name them Huck and Molly.

If there are any West Wing fans out there, this combination sounds familiar.  Otherwise, just know this... twins Huck and Molly get a nice welcome to the world chat on their birth day from their father Toby.  He's surprised that babies come with hats.  He says, "I didn't realize babies come with hats.  You guys crack me up.  You don't have jobs.  You can't walk or speak the language.  You don't have dollars in your pockets but you've got yourself a hat so every thing's fine."  It's one my favorite moments in the West Wing.  And I loved the names Huck and Molly.  So, with any luck, my Huck and Molly will be there when I knit a hat of my own!  And maybe if I'm good, I'll knit baby hats!

I started my knitting adventure by searching YouTube.  I found some crappy videos and some great videos, but this video I found the most useful and watched it about 25 times.  It taught me how to cast on, knit, and cast off.  After my first go at it, I had something the size of a bookmark after four hours or so.  I kept at it though and tried again over this past weekend.  I added to the bookmark and before too long I had something that looked like a coaster.  I was just practicing, with no intention of making anything, and then right before my very eyes - a coaster!!  I re-watched the end of the video a half dozen times and casted-off.  I'm pretty sure I got the basics right but I struggled with the last slip knot tie-off part.  I'll have to keep practicing that.

Anywho, here ya have it...my first coaster in all its iPhone photo glory!  Isn't it beautiful??!!

I'm not sure where I expect my new knitting skills to take me.  I always thought it would be a great skill to know.  I don't intend on being an expert sweater maker, but think it would be excellent if I could make scarves, gloves, hats, wash clothes...simple things with very useful and practical purposes!!  Everyone I know will get matching scarves, coasters, and wash clothes for Christmas.  I have to practice, right?