Thursday, September 26, 2013

Never say never

I spent my sophomore year in college as an exchange student in Sweden. I learned a lot of things, like Swedish, and how to folk dance, and what marzipan is. Most of these things I've forgotten, like Swedish, or never tried again, like folk dancing, or didn't really care for anyway, like marzipan. One of the things that DID stick with me though was knitting and an undying love of fiber.

This was back in the 80s. Remember the 80s? In the States, nobody knit. At least, not college kids. But in Sweden, everybody knit. Even the men knit. So, the Swedish college students taught the American college students how to knit. It was a little like the folk dancing. We thought it was quaint. I made one complete sweater while there. As I recall, I wasn't crazy about the sweater so I gave it to a friend.

Little did I know, that unlike the folk-dancing, the knitting would stick with me forever.  I loved being able to knit. Once back home I knit and knit and knit. By the time I finished college I'd made sweaters for everybody I knew. And I'd discovered yarn stores. Oh, be still my heart.

By the time I got to graduate school I was ready to branch out. I tried a few other crafts. I learned to throw (pottery). I spent hours and hours in the studio instead of the lab. My studies suffered, not surprisingly. By the time I hit upon the idea of weaving, I'd already dropped out of school, tried out two other career paths and somewhat reluctantly gone back to where I'd left off in school. My mother heard my weaving ideas with her usual tolerance, then suggested I get my life in order and my career secured before I tried to learn. I agreed to try.

That was 1991. If I'd realized how long it would take to get my life in order I never would have agreed.

All of which is the long way of saying, I am finally learning to weave. I went to my third class today and I have an actual project started on the loom.

Can you see me now Mom?





9 comments:

  1. Yay for not giving up...no matter how long it takes.

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  2. I was OLD by many standards when I learned to weave....had been putting it off all my life....now I have 16 looms or so, and a weaving business.
    Never too late.......get weavin'.

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  3. As I get older and older (like they say, is there a better alternative?), I realize that if you wait for the "right" time to do something, you'll never do it. Hope you have years and years of happy weaving even though you waited until now to start.

    P.S. I learned to knit in college, too. But about twenty years before you!

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  4. Good for you! One day....after I learn to spin. That's on my list.

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  5. Hi, Just noticed that you have signed on to follow my blog - (thank you!) and so I have found yours and am delighted! Congrats on learning to weave - I weave too but not on a loom - all the best,
    Cynthia

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  6. You GO girl!! :)
    Can't wait to see some of your work!

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  7. I just found your blog today, and boy oh boy did I need to hear what you said. Not one person in my life thinks I need to learn to weave. Why would I give anyone that power? I need to learn. I am going to learn. I will not wait until my ducks are in order because I have no ducks! Thanks!

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  8. Yay :-D You will LOVE weaving! Good to see you back blogging. Your new place is bee-a-u-tiful!

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  9. Synnöve from FinlandApril 27, 2016 at 10:10 PM

    Firstly I love your blog! I have backtracked from April 2016 and read those nights when I can't sleep (full moon etc).
    Lucky you who learned knitting in Sweden - so much faster to knit the continental way as opposed to the way it is done in the States,

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