When I was little, my mam taught me how to knit. My interest in knitting waned before she could teach me how to cast on or cast off.
In 2013, I decided it would be nice to knit again. Realising I was totally unable to do so any more, I took a beginner’s class at the Sheep Shop in Cambridge. There, the lovely Sarah taught our group to cast on and off, and to do the knit stitch. Row upon row of knit stitch forms the garter stitch. We started off making a pair of fingerless mittens, which we were to finish off at home. I did finish knitting them, and even managed to sew them up. Then I made Colin a pair in the November, which he wore throughout the winter and is wearing again this winter.
In 2014, I wanted to be able to do more, so I signed up for the next class at the Sheep Shop. This time, the group learned to purl, and to increase and decrease the number of stitches. Sarah also taught us how to combine these techniques to create stocking stitch, which is alternating rows of knit stitch and purl stitch, moss stitch and all manner of other stitches. At the end of the class, I bought a book of tea cosy patterns: I thought I might as well try to knit something that would challenge me and that I could learn from.
There are two basic tea cosies at the beginning of the book. One required knitting in the round and one required knitting two pieces and sewing them together. Despite my lack of sewing ability, I plumped for the latter, because I hadn’t the faintest idea of how to knit in the round. Plus, I didn’t have any double-ended knitting needles. I’ll let you know how I get on.