How I learned to knit

Left-Handed knitting
My third grade teacher had all the students in class knit squares for a blanket to send to The Red Cross. She showed us the basics of casting on and garter stitch. When all the squares were done (I think I knitted like ten squares) she sewed them into a blanket and we shipped it from school. I remember really enjoying making those squares. However, squares knitted in garter stitch are not very interesting and being left-handed was a challenge of it's own.

My mother only crocheted and could never get the hang of knitting to teach me anything new. So, I made a lot of pot holders - ha ha squares. I lost interest in knitting being only eight years old.

As the years went by, I eventually got the urge to teach myself to knit again. I asked for a knitting machine for my graduation present from high school. I know most kids want cars, but I wanted to make sweaters. The knitting machine is not a quick fix to knowing how to knit. Sure you slide the carriage across the bed and it knits stitches (stockinette stitch) but you still have to know how to knit to actually knit anything other than scarves. I managed to make a couple of sweaters, one for my sister and mother. However, I have never seen them wear them so who knows if they still have them. I'll have to find out if they do to get pics posted. (probably given to the goodwill after all these years)

So, I put aside the knitting machine to actually learn on needles. I bought a few books of stitch patterns and in one long, arduous weekend, I finally figured out how to purl left handed. I think the hardest part in purling was where to place the needle and after that everything just clicked. My first project was to be a blanket for my sister as a wedding present. Needless to say, I didn't finish it in time (who knew it would take a year to finish). After the blanket was done I decided to give it to my brother instead. It was kinda manly chevron pattern in bold colors - he loved it and I think still uses it, although it's a little threadbare now.