Yeah, I totally know you can jump on youtube and have someone, somewhere show you the basics and even the complexes. But I like learning on demand from real live people, plus the chance to chat to humans of the same sex as me in real time! I don’t get to do that enough. Throw in the ability to support a new, Melbourne based creative initiative – the Handmaker’s Factory? I’m there.

I’ve been buying skeins of gorgeously coloured wool every now and again, but they’ve just been shamefully accumulating in a box. Then I keep seeing creations like this:

and then this…

and then I started following Kate Davies Designs (oh, how I love posts seen through the eyes of Bruce! This one is my favourite) and the jealousy just got too much.

This knitting thing was a skill I simply had to acquire – by force, if necessary. And who better to learn from than the very person who inspired my covetous jealousy in the first place? Thankyou, Jorth.

I can now cast on, knit, purl, increase and decrease, decipher the obscure hieroglyphics that make up a knitting pattern and cast off, all without swearing and having to make reference to instructions. Go me.

Having moved down the beginners sewing learning curve already, I am vaguely aware that I’m not going to be able to produce the magnificence shown above straight away.

But just you wait.

In the mean time, I’ve succumbed and signed up to Ravelry. I envisage plenty of cold winter nights comfy on the couch with a cup of tea and some clack-clack-clacking. See you in knitting land!