I am taking the time to do this thing because I have no one to discuss my new obcession with.  No one in my family knits.  None of my friends knit.  My mom can make a pretty mean granny square afghan.  But that’s it.  I hover in knit sites, reading postings and pouring over others FO’s, leaving the occasional shy comment.  But that’s all.  I need to talk about my new passion.  So- Here goes:

            Hi, my name is Jackie and I am a knit-a-holic.  It started out as recreational—you Know?  Just to pass the time.  I went from working a full time job, to being a full time student, to now being a part time student.  I found myself with loads of free time.  So I thought- “I’ll just try it this one time, just to see what its like.”  And that was the end of it.  Now I cant get enough.  I have to knit everyday.  I spend all my free money on the stuff.  Every where I go, I take it with me.  When I cant knit my fingers move, as if I am.  I count stitches in my sleep.  I see knitting everywhere.  I want to inspect the seams on peoples sweaters.  Everywhere I see knitting patterns, and new colorways. 

            I learned from a book, and online.  So far I have bag after bag of projects that I have started, and set aside because some other pattern caught my eye.  I have finished some things though.  I took a sock class last September.  I spent what was for me a small fortune, but worth every penny.  I love to knit socks.  I did however suffer from dreaded second sock syndrome.  My first pair took 2 months to finish.  Sock one was done in a week.  It was sock two that got me.  I love the actual making of sock one, and when I ran across a pattern in a magazine for a sock puppet, I was able to knit as many 1^st socks as I wanted.  The monotiny was broken by the many different types of animal sock puppets I could make.  I have made several hats, scarves and mittens.  I tried colorwork after recieveing EZ’s Workshop in the mail.   So far I haven’t got past the initial hat, but I think I am almost ready to start the sweater.

            About materials:  I have never experienced a place so in need of good woolies as Cedar Rapids Iowa.  I am from Kansas City, and really extremely cold days can be numbered on one hand, maybe two in a bad winter.  But here- just a few hundred miles away, wool can be worn comfortably for nine- maybe ten months out of the year.  Acryllic yarn is no substitute for wool.  This really pains me to admit thsis because- I am a poor knitter.  I was shocked at the price of wool in my LYS.  How could one ever justify 6 or 7 skiens at 12 dollars a piece to knit a sweater?  After knitting some nice wool socks, and that EZ hat, I am ready to accept that the body should be clothed in wool.  I now watch for sales, and I keep an eye on ebay. 

            As far as needles go, I haven’t succumbed to snobbery.  I like my Boye and susan bates needles as much as the expensive bamboos and the super sleek addis.  This may change as I become experienced, but so far I have been able to acquire a decent collection of needles for a relatively small amount of money.  I do however plan to drive by promising garage sales- you know the ones at the homes of grannys and great aunts.  If they have a porch swing, a well groomed garden and cats in the yard, I’m stopping. 

            I am collecting books, through Amazon and Ebay, as I have exhausted my local librarys collection.  I think I may be forming an interest, no a passion for vintage knits. 

            So, that’s it.  That is my story.  I am at the point where I am ready for a sweater.  I haven’t knit for myself yet, and I am ready.  I think I can do it up right!