I'm a Beginner!

I think it's good for people to be beginners at something from time to time. I don't mean just "trying it out", though that's fine, too, but to begin learning something with the intent to become skilled at it. Cooking, origami, knife-throwing, whatever. It keeps one's mind open and spirit humble to be a student at the feet of an expert. I think it's good for the ego to mess up the perfect attempt.

Six years ago I began knitting in earnest. Apart from learning the basic knit and purl stitch, learning to be a Knitter involves a lot of beginnings. Fair Isle, sweaters, socks, short rows, lace, cables--you name it, there is always a new aspect to explore and new places to 'begin'. To develop a skill you always need to start from the beginning.

This weekend, however, I became a true beginner again and started from square one in a whole new area. At the same time, I kept a promise to myself that I would learn this new skill before I grow old. This weekend I learned to spin. On a spindle.

I remembered what it is like to be an absolute beginner at something. All of one's movements are awkward, pre-planned, and inept. It is a truly humbling experience to start down the road towards one day, hopefully, knowing something. I know that there is going to be a lot of mangled merino between here and my future skeins of glory. Luckily, after so many years of knitted patience, I know my own determination and I know how to learn.

It doesn't look great. I know it looks like something one might pull out of the bathtub drain. But it's a beginning!

Now, what do you guys know about spinning on a wheel vs spinning on a spindle? Because when I get some money together, that could be the next step!

Of course, when one is in the weak, clumsy stages of learning something new, it helps to be reminded of something you're good at.

Pattern: Lyalya Hoodie
Yarn: A bit of this, a bit of that. Mostly Knit Picks, Wool of the Andes in assorted Rainbow Colors

If you're looking for me over on Ravelry, my user name is sarahgraceknits. I'd love to see you over there! I waste waaaaay too much time on that website. Luckily I'm afraid of Facebook so Ravelry gets to be my only big time-suck.

Book List

So, read any good books lately?

When you have little more than time on your hands you find that you are suddenly able to read all of those books that you always meant to read. So, what have I been reading? Not much. At least, I haven't been reading much compared to the quantity of books I used to devour when I was in peak reading condition.

So far I've read two more books in the Amelia Peabody series: The Snake, The Crocodile, and the Dog by Elizabeth Peters and The Last Camel Died at Noon by the same author. If you like murder mysteries and interesting characters, I really recommend this series. They aren't gory or frightening, but they are a fun, light read and they're very well written. The author really pulls you into the story.

A friend gave me a copy of Kabul Beauty School after she found out I was on bed rest for a few weeks. I don't know if I can say much for the author's writing ability, but she has an absolutely unique story to tell. An American hair stylist travels to Afghanistan to open a beauty school. She hopes that by teaching young women a skill and how to run a business that she can help these women become more independent and less at the mercy of the often abusive patriarchal families and society that they live in. I read this book in a day. If you can find a copy used, it's worth your time to read. Other books I've read in the same vein are Reading Lolita in Tehran and Nine Parts of Desire: The Hidden World of Islamic Women. I find the lives of women in these societies to be very interesting and often frightening. I've always been a "good girl" and in the Middle East it seems very difficult to walk the line. Even when women are "behaving" themselves, they are still at the whim of the men in their lives and their society.

The next book I have in line is The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century by Thomas Friedman. This author is one of my favorite columnists for the New York Times and I heard part of an interview he gave on NPR (or was it MPR?) after this book was released. He has a lot to say and he articulates it very well.

Up next: Stuff I Have Knit. You'll be wanting to know what's been flying off my needles lately as well as what's lined up next. At least I know the other knitters out there will be interested! And I need a break from thinking about my uterus.