Knitterly Observations

• Normally I'm a very level-headed person. Sure I have a touch of OCD, but typically I'm pretty restrained. However, get me around yarn (my current kryptonite is Wollmeise) and all bets are off.
  
• I HATE purling. Whenever possible I knit backwards. It can't be faster than purling, but damn I hate purling.
  
• I used to be a project monogamist. I'd knit large afghans and nothing else. Now? It's like I have knitter's ADD. Right now I have 4 or 5 projects on the needles.
  
• I have no knitterly logic. Oooo you're having a baby? I'm going to knit a BLANKET. Never mind that I could knit a cute little baby sweater or a hat and booties in a fraction of the time ... let's do a BIG project!
  
• When knitters say they don't have the yarn they need (despite having trunkfuls stashed at home) it's not at all like looking at your full closet and saying "I haven't a thing to wear!" What they mean is that they don't have the right fiber, color or enough of anything to complete the project. Shopping trips are a necessity. After all, you wouldn't wear pants that are 6 inches too short to an interview. And I can't knit a sweater if I'm 400 yards too short or at the wrong gauge.
  
• Knitters (and crocheters!) are the nicest people! They are constantly sending each other care packages. A knitter will rescue you if you run out of yarn and can't find the same dye lot. They will tell you where the best knitting stores are so that you are never without a fiber fix, no matter whether you're travelling or at home. They will adopt you when you move new places and welcome you to their folds. They will help you if you're having trouble mastering a stitch, or need help choosing a color palette.
  
• Knitters are EVERYWHERE. You find them where you work, standing in line at the post office, in airports, libraries, parks, restaurants...
  
• If your yarn does not want to be a certain pattern it won't be. For instance, I have been trying to make socks for a friend of mine out of a beautiful skein of Trekking. A few pattern (and frogs!) in, the skein has told me it WILL not be socks. Apparently it is much happier as a scarf.
  
• Sometimes knitting is naughty (knotty?) and needs to be put in a time out. You, as the "parent", need to take a deep breath and control your anger before you deal with that rascally rapscallion.