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Pragmatist
Pragmatist

Clumsy!
Mon Dec 05 2005

When I was somewhere around 10 years old, I learned to knit.  Left handed.  However, when my teacher left town, I couldn't find another left-handed knitter, so had to learn all over again, right handed. Does that make me ambidextrous? 

As time passed, I found other interests and stopped knitting.  Some years ago I was working with a woman who crocheted.  All she cared to do was the granny square, but she taught me that.  From the granny square, I figured out how to do other things, and learned to read instructions.  This is not an exercise for the dyslexics. 

The whole point of the previous two paragraphs is to say that I'm learning to knit again.   I don't think I was that clumsy when I was 10.      My fingers just don't want to do what they're supposed to do.  But, as I recall, the crochet hook took some getting used to, too.

There's a scarf that I want to make, but it needs to be knitted.  On BIG needles.  So I bought some #19 (15mm) knitting needles.  So I went to a friend's house today to get lesson #1 on how to knit.  With my BIG needles and 4-ply yarn.  That didn't work very well, so friend has lent me some smaller needles compatible with the 4-ply yarn while I re-learning how to knit.

When I'm feeling more or less competent, I'll get out my BIG needles and the BIG yarn I intend to use, and start on the scarf.  But right now, I'm all fumble-fingered and wondering if maybe I should stick with the crochet hook. 

Decisions, decisions.

*****
I got a forwarded piece of junk today that I want to warn y'all about.  There's an email going around, a variation of one that's being going around for I don't know how long.  Basically, what it's saying is that Microsoft and AOL will pay you for forwarding "this email" to all your friends.  It mentions a certain amount of money various people have gotten from Microsoft for forwarding this piece of junk.

Microsoft has no way of tracking forwarded email!!!!  Yes, they're using beta trackers, but those people are being hired by Microsoft, from Microsoft's known users.  There is absolutely NO truth to the email that's being passed around.  

Go to http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/nothing/microsoft-aol.asp for full information on this foolishness.  And, please, don't fill your friends' email boxes with "too good to be true" mailings.  Always check www.snopes.com if you get a piece of mail that sounds iffy.  And some of it is plain outrageous. 

OK, I guess I'll go practice some knitting.

Shalom

6 Comments
  • From:
    Yetzirah (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Dec 06 2005
    Keep practicing, it will come back to you!!!

  • From:
    Dananarama (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Dec 06 2005
    Having learnt, left and right handed, and you've got a bit of crochet thrown in there too, I'm not surprised you're having difficulty picking knitting back up again. I was taught several years ago, and I'm not even sure I could still knit if I had to.
    And I've tried to learn crochet, but that's harder than knitting for me....so you're doing well! Keep it up! :o)
  • From:
    Dustbunny3 (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Dec 06 2005
    Don't worry be Happy!! There are many things I use to do with ease and still do but it is harder.I think that any craft you ever did is not lost but you have the will to do it better than before . Boy I admire your love of life.
  • From:
    Sezrah (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Dec 06 2005
    by golly, i knitted a whole jumper (sweater in your language) when i was 13-14 and boy, it put me off for life. i take my hat off to you picking up the knitting needles and trying again

    sez
  • From:
    Allimom (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Dec 07 2005
    Yep, Civil Air Patrol. I think these folks are down in your area:
    http://sq14.cawg.cap.gov/
    You might drop them a line to see if they can come pick the uniform up from you. If they are anything like our unit is here, uniforms are ALWAYS welcome!
    Alli
  • From:
    CovertOps (Legacy)
    On:
    Wed Dec 07 2005
    Dearest Chaya,

    Thank you so much for your kind birthday wishes. It is not the presents or cake that I miss. I miss my brothers and I don't feel like celebrating without my twin.

    I have never taken up knitting because no one wears knitwear here so it is not a practical hobby, unless you want to limit yourself to knitting potholders.

    All the same, I am amazed by the patience and determination of people who take up hobbies like knitting and cross-stitch and actually manage to complete a project.

    I am not sure if being able to knit with both hands makes you ambidextrous. If you have to learn to use your right hand because you have no other choice, then you couldn't be classified as a naturally ambidextrous person.

    Oh I hate those types of junk mail. I also hate the type that goes 'forward this to 12 other peopl or something bad will happen to you." What sort of friend would send you something that will bring you bad luck, just to avoid bad luck of her own if she doesn't forward it to everyone and his monkey?!?!? I delete all junk.

    I highly recommend the trip to the elephant sanctuary to all my friends who intend to visit Malaysia. I promise to take all of you there if you ever come to visit me. We will spend the whole day with the elephants.

    Love,
    E.L.