Blogiversary Questions - Knitting

I'm still pluggin away on the blogiversary questions. They're perfect blog fodder for a Monday where all I have to show for weekend knitting is one-third of a Frode sleeve.

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Shelly who blogs at Knitting and Praying asked . . .

Marguerite, I'd like to know when and how you learned to knit.

Crazy For Yarn in Alabama who blogs at Yarn Collectors Anonymous asked . . .

When did you learn to knit and who taught you?

Julie who blogs at Noolie Knits asked . . .

My question is when did you learn to knit and who taught you. Also, do you crochet?

I learned to knit from a little green Coats and Clark book I bought at the dimestore about 1960. I knit several sweaters out of acrylic yarn from that same dimestore, but they didn't fit right and I don't recall ever actually wearing one of them.

Throughout my life I had knitting spasms where I would pick up the needles and knit something that turned out to be unwearable for one reason or another, usually related to poor yarn choice and/or gauge. There were long periods of time - years - when I didn't knit at all because I was too busy doing other things like going to college, raising children, and working fulltime.

About ten years ago I got internet access at work and found knitting lists, knitting books, knitting friends, and eventually knitting blogs. What an encouragement, inspiration, and wealth of information.

Now it's a rare day when I don't knit at least a few rows, and never a day goes by that I don't think about what I'd like to knit in the future.

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Angie asked . . .

Do you knit "english" or "continental", you seem to get things done so quickly.

I knit continental - pick the stitches - no throwing.

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Lora J. who blogs at Krazi Knitter's Place asked . . .

OMG- how do you knit SO much? I am lucky to crank out 3 or 4 big items a year and I have been knitting for about 7 years now!

I'm retired and knitting is my entertainment.

In the evening I snuggle down on the sofa in the back room, put an audio book in the CD player, and knit. On doggy school nights, I usually work in some afternoon knitting time.

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Twig who blogs at Twig's (mis)Adventures in Knitting asked . . .

Do you ever let mistakes stay in your knitting or do they drive you nuts until you fix them? (This is, of course, assuming you make mistakes.)

I make plenty of mistakes and they offend me. I almost always fix them.

I try to remember to check my knitting often so I don't have to frog more than a few rows. But if it has to be done, I do it.

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Michelle who blogs at Lighthouse Designs by Soap Fiber Gal asked . . .

Wondering in-between all in your life do you knit for everyone in your family including yourself and what percentage of your knitting goes to family/friends and how much to charity? How do you juggle all your time between family & knitting?

I'm having a difficult time with this question because I don't quantify my knitting. There are no annual lists of what I've completed. So, let me tell you what I do know about my knitting habits.

Six family and friends get birthday socks. They are scattered throughout the year. Occasionally and rarely I knit something else for family/friend.

At the start of a CIC_Knit List challenge (charity), I set a goal for myself to help keep my charity knitting in perspective. I'm more likely to think I should never knit for myself while children are going cold than to fail to knit a reasonable amount for each challenge.

For the January, February, March CIC_Knit List big kid's challenge my goal is:

1. Cozy in Cables pattern published in big kid sizes (done)
   
2. 3 big kid sweaters (1.5 sweaters done)
   
3. 5 pair big kid socks (1 done)

In January, most of my knitting time has been for charity. In February, I will be knitting two pair of birthday socks and finishing up my CIC goals. In March, I'll probably be back to knitting for myself.

At this time in my life, I don't need to juggle family time and knitting time. It's no problem to find knitting time and I'm very thankful for that.