Friday, August 8, 2008

From the blogger formerly known as the Mad Crocheter

Today is 8.8.08, a very auspicious day according to Chinese tradition and also the beginning of the Beijing Olympics. I thought about joining the Ravelympics, really I did. Even thought of a few possible projects. But in the end I realized, I'm just too lazy. But I figured the least I could do for the occasion was reboot my blog. Maybe the lucky day will rub off on it.

So what happened, Mad Crocheter?

Um... [looks around guiltily] ...I learned to knit.

I started Adventures of the Mad Crocheter with grand visions of making crochet just as respected and popular as knitting. For a while I even refused to learn to knit, I was so convinced that I could do anything with crochet that other people did with knitting.

Um... oops.

I finally gave in and asked StringTheory2.0 to teach me to knit after I practically ruined some divine yarn by trying to crochet it into wristwarmers. And then a funny thing happened: I started really enjoying knitting. It makes a denser, more flexible fabric than crochet. It's far better for tubular shapes like socks and wristwarmers. Which isn't to say it's superior to crochet: crochet has three-dimensional properties that knitting can only dream of.

Over the past few months I've been knitting almost exclusively. I'm not sure that it's really because I like knitting better; it's probably more that knitting is new to me, and I'm fascinated with the possibilities. I'm sure the new will wear off eventually. The best way I can describe it right now is that crochet is easier to learn, but knitting is easier to do.

And dyeing! I've gotten to play with dye and it's fun too! I'm not so sure about spinning but give me time, I may reconsider!

So what I'm trying to say is, I'm not pro- or anti- crochet or knitting. I'm pro-yarn.

A note about the title: Natalia immediately assumed that I was thinking of Patrick Henry when I came up with the new blog name. I'd like to pass myself off as that cultured, but I was more thinking of this Eddie Izzard routine. (Also available with Lego visuals!)

4 comments:

Debbie D said...

It just might be that your surrounded by knitters of bad influence.

Sonia said...

i've had a very similar experience with crochet --> knitting myself. though these days i just can't crochet much at all- it hurts my wrist too much :/

PlazaJen said...

I thought of Eddie Izzard as well.... "Death! WAIT NO! I've changed my mind!"
Welcome to the world of knitting - now you can just taunt all the rest of us with your ability to make Babette.

Kim said...

Yay! Good to have you back, babe!