A Sheep In Wools' Clothing: Just Plain Functional Knitting

I seem to be on a roll for producing FOs this year. I suppose The Knitting Curmudgeon would put me currently in the category of a "FO blog", which makes me react negatively.

At times, my knitting has served me as a lifeline to sanity. At other times, it has served me as an intellectual challenge to master a new technique or knitting style. I've knit just about every style of knitting I've ever read about or encountered. I've even copied sweaters based on putting sweaters on a copying machine as a reference. Right now, I am doing some just plain functional warm knitting. No agendas. Nothing to prove. Just extremely cold weather (around 0 Farenheit) and need to spend prolonged periods in the weather. I have heart disease and find that extremely cold weather worsens my angina. So this year, I am adding caps, mittens and scarves at warmer temps that I ever have before. I can only find one of the mittens I knit for myself when I lived in Montana, and my current cap doesn't fit well. And so, since the mercury is falling into the never never zones, I am suddenly in a spot where I truly NEED warm woolen knits QUICKLY. And so, I am doing simple knitting, in a wonderful yarn, in basic shapes, in order to be able to stay warm. This is the hat I chose to knit: double layered, and the cuff on it makes for four layers on the ears and forehead that actually hurt when it gets very cold. Simple. Functional. Soft and beautiful because of the wonderful Malabrigo yarn I used. I even added a matching scarf, and both of these match the mittens I just finished.

My knitting has been such a lifeline and connection for me over the years that I hate that I am even feeling apologetic for not making these garments an intellectual challenge or a knitting skill challenge or some other challenge. I am beginning to wonder if sometimes we lose sight of the rich history of knitting, in which different techniques evolved as solutions to functional issues. The rich textures of the Arans and the wonderful color combinations of the Scandinavian and Fair Isle garments, and the ingenious process of twined knitting all serve purposes of making the end product warmer and more protective for the wearer.

Knitting is a process, it is a creative design outlet and knitting also has a functional aspect for those of us who live in the northern latitudes. For me, most of the time it is the process that is important, and the challenge of learning. Some of the time, it comes down to pure necessity, like right now in Maine for me. And my next projects are also of need - a simple chemo cap for my co-worker fighting breast cancer, and some extremely simple and dark leg warmers for my daughter who takes riding lessons even in extreme cold conditions. These are for a final layer over her long johns, over the pants, to keep her warm and hide all the dirt and sweat from the horse. I am even committing my own blasphemy in that I am knitting them in superwash wool (something I almost never do) so we can wash off the horse yuck periodically.

In short, knitting to me represents a tranquilizer, a distraction, a connection, a creative outlet, a learning/challenge source and practical products, all wrapped into variations of simple knit and purl stitches. I hope each of you enjoy all of these aspects of our craft at some time or another!