Friday, January 21, 2011

The Birth of a Knitter

This past week I had the honor of introducing a muggle to the magical world of Knitting.  And not just any muggle, but my boyfriend the muggle (henceforth referred to as "The Composer").

He had previously accompanied me to a yarn shop and experienced first-hand the wonders of an LYS.  Hearing exclamations such as, "I just want to knit SO BADLY!" and listening to an entire store full of customers putting in their two cents about the February Lady Sweater in the commemorative edition of Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac (I was explaining to him the importance of Elizabeth Zimmermann in our world), he seemed entirely enthralled.  There was also the wonder and awe that only a ball winder can bring to a muggle.  (What is it about guys and their fascination with those?  It must just be a gadget thing.)

He then asked me to teach him how to knit.  (!!!!!!!!!!)

I even let him use my ball winder.


The picture is blurry because he was having too much fun.

I taught him how to cast on and how to do the knit stitch.


I knew that he was hooked, but I don't think he realized it yet.


And yes, I do have a floral couch decorated with knitted and crocheted blankets.  You all knew I was an old lady at 23, right?


And look, progress!  I should tell you - that night he stayed up until 2am knitting on that swatch and I very distinctly heard him say "Just one more row..." several times.  We all know what that means, right?

The next day, I found this sitting on the table at school:


Yep, he already brings his knitting with him everywhere and takes great pride in showing it to everyone who happens to walk by.  He's doing a good job, isn't he?!  He (well, I) bound off that swatch and called it a potholder only to cast on for his first scarf during class this past Tuesday.

Yep, knitting in class.  He's hooked.

And that's how yet another cute male knitter was born.

27 comments:

  1. Oooh, and he's cute, too!

    Well done, my friend, well done.

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  2. he's too adorable.
    yay more knitters!

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  3. Hooray for you and hooray for the muggle, er composer! (and he IS a cutie!)

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  4. *all* of my guy friends are completely awed at my ball winder and swift, the gadgetry is amazing hehe :)

    congrats on converting another!

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  5. My daughter taught her boyfriend how to knit just this last week. She called me to tell me she may have just one regret in her life..teaching him. I asked "why?" and she said, "I asked him for a kiss, and he said, ok I just have two more stitches!" Yep, I guess that's another way you know when you have a convert! The Composer is doing an excellent job, Peter :=) How wonderful of you to teach him, and yes, I'd say he's a keeper!!

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  6. One of us.

    One of us.

    One of us!

    And wow! I thought I was an old at 41 but even I don't have a floral sofa. ;^)

    xo

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  7. Adorable! Both the story and "The Composer". That blue yarn is close to the color of my first knitted project. Way to go on hooking another one into our world. :D

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  8. Heh, muggle. That's an awesome way to refer to those non-knitters. Welcome to the darkside, Mr. Composer. :)

    I'm glad he can share your love for knitting.

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  9. Nice work! Glad I finally got to see a pic of The Composer. Is it just me or does he look a bit like Jake Gyllenhaal?

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  10. He DOES look like Jake Gyllenhaal!

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  11. Yippee, congrats on both the conversion and the cutie!!

    You will eventually ditch the couch, though; right? :-)

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  12. What a cutie. I love the blurred photo...like trying to photograph a puppy. This has been a happy day.

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  13. Peter, I'm so glad that you have a sweet guy in your life! He's adorable and it's great that he wants to learn the "craft." I'm sure he will learn and you are a patient teacher. Be well and happy knitting!

    Ray Flanary

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  14. Agree with everyone else that he's super cute, but I have to wonder if teaching an SO to knit is a wise decision... First: more competition at LYS sales. Second: he might be using your size 7s when you need them (why is it always 7s?). Third: (and scariest of all) he might want you to share your stash! I hope you considered these things carefully. If he's worth all that trouble, then you have truly found a good man.

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  15. Muggle-no-more, I'm thinking. Just remember the boyfriend sweater rule. You are, however, allowed to gift him with needles so he doesn't make off with yours.

    Oh yeah, he's quite adorable, too. :-)

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  16. You are a lovely couple. A pity my partner is not interested in learning knitting.

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  17. teh cute, it BURNS USSSSSSSSS, precious.
    (does he really look that much like Jake Gyllenhaal in person?)

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  18. I think that's my grandmother's old sofa.
    Let me know when The Composer is ready for his own supply of cashmere.
    xo

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  19. Yay!! I hope you let him fondle your malabrigo. He's cute. Total keeper. :)

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  20. Yup my boyfriend was also very intrigued by the swift and ball winder when I first took him to a yarn shop. He did learn to knit, but it didn't have any staying power for him. But that's fine...more yarn for me!

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  21. love how excited he looks with the ball winder. so cute.

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  22. You had him at the ball winder.

    Congrats on converting yet another muggle. Sniff sniff....I'm so proud of you.

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  23. So adorable! If he likes mechanical yarn-related things, I bet he would love playing with a niddy-noddy.

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  24. Peter, I am so happy for you! Nothing like sharing a passion with a loved one. :)

    And may I say, your honey is six shades of cute! Handsome AND talented? You've hit the jackpot.

    Lastly... if HE can knit in public, I don't want to hear it from you anymore about how you don't feel comfortable KIP. You don't want to leave him knitting alone, do you? :P

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  25. Je vous souhaite de belles réalisations à vous deux ! C'est trop chou !
    biz

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