Emily's Knitting History: Lesson #1

I think my Mom taught me the knitting basics (knit, purl, long-tail cast-on, cast off) when I was very small, but the first thing I remember knitting was a fair-isle ski hat. I think I was probably something like 8 years old.

My babysitter, the wonderful MJP, showed me how to chart a pattern on graph paper. This hat was made of dark-blue worsted wool with a snowflake motif in creamy white. It had a fold-under hem that actually had my initials knitted into it (wow!). I was so proud of my even stitches and the lovely pattern.

But my tension was so tight on the carried over bits of yarn in the charted section, that no one, not even me with my little 8-year-old head, could wear this hat. I can't tell you how disappointed I was. I'm not sure what ever happened to it. I probably threw it away.