In America learning knitting, sewing and cooking is done in a Home Economics class in high school. When I went to school girls took home ec. and boys took wood working. I know, where was the equality? But that was the way it was. In high school in America you were able to put together the classes you took depending on your preferences. Of course there was a framework you had to follow. Your choices of classes reflected what you wanted to do later in life.
It was interesting that home ec and wood working were interchangeable with band and orchestra. I played the viola, not very well mind you, but nonetheless, so naturally I signed up for orchestra. Because of that I never took a class in knitting, sewing or cooking. But that, by no means, meant I couldn’t do those things. My mom always said if you could read, you could cook. I believed her. Hey, I’m still alive after so many years so my cooking can’t be that bad! I am also able to do basic sewing without getting my fingers sewn together. That’s not nothing! My biggest feat was probably learning to knit.
A Strange Way to Learn to Knit
Growing up we watched a lot of TV. A lot. Most of what I watched was the brainless, stupid sitcoms. You know the kind: I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched, The Munsters and Addams Family. At some point I was no longer paying attention to the content of what I was watching. In the Addams Family there must have been so many scenes with Morticia knitting that I decided to try. And it worked! I actually learned how to knit by watching TV. I never really took it much further than that. After all, if you watch the included clip you will see Morticia is knitting what looks like a long scarf.
Don’t feel obligated to watch the whole 7 minutes, you get the idea pretty quickly.
Knitting in Switzerland
When I came to Switzerland I saw what knitting really was. My sister in law was knitting socks like crazy. It was fascinating just watching her. Her speed and creativity was mind boggling and she was doing this without any printed instructions. Impressive.
I showed interest in knitting and she asked me if I knew how to knit. “Well, sort of.” Both Ben’s sister and his mother wanted to see how I knitted. They both told me that you can tell if someone is from Italy or not by the way they knit. I assume they know this because one of Ben’s aunts was from Italy. It seems the Italian women secure one knitting needle under their arm. That arm manipulates the yarn around the needle.
I didn’t even try that method. Having someone speak Italian to me because of the way I was knitting was the last thing I needed.
Learning to Knit Swiss
So I showed them what I knew. That was pretty much akin to saying I spoke Spanish because I could say “hello” and “goodbye” in that language. My sister in law filled in all the empty blanks for me. Soon I was knitting like a pro or so I thought, albeit not as quickly. I was producing socks, scarves and wrist warmers. At some point I realized there were books with patterns out there to be had, too. Time to expand my horizon.
One of the most complicated sweaters I knitted had little dogs knitted into it. Little Westies and Scotties. I knitted a sweater for Ben and a buttoned vest for me. As far as I know Ben has no knowledge of knitting. Somewhere along the line he picked up the information that the more colors used the harder it is. He also knew the proof was on the underside of the garment. It was so sweet, when someone complimented him on his sweater he proudly said “Lisa made it”. He would immediately lift the garment to show the underside. That way they could see the dogs were knitted into and not embroidered onto the sweater.
Alas, I no longer knit. I just don’t seem to have the time. But it is something I wouldn’t have wanted to miss, for sure.
-
-