I have been knitting and crocheting almost as long as I can remember, having been taught by my mother. In those days it was 4 ply wool with small needles - not so easy for little fingers!
Over the years, I knitted all sorts - aran jerseys, lace jerseys with matching stockings - well it was the 60's. Once married I knitted for my husband too - complicated patterns in many colours. I recently found one of these 40 year old jerseys in my elder daughter's house as she had sneaked it away!
Once the children arrived I obviously knitted for them and also created a range of children's jerseys which I sold at craft fairs. Ideal occupation for a mum, knit while the kids play and then have a day out at a craft fair while husband looked after the children! I didn't make much money but I enjoyed it.
Then I went back to work and when the children were in their teens I completed only a few projects, crochet handbag, colourful cardies but little else until now. Suddenly just before I retired the bug came back and I made a couple of baby blankets for a friend as well as a couple of de-stashing blankets.
And then my mother died and I inherited her yarn - not the colours I would have chosen but so what! I am currently using 40/50 year old yarn knitting a jersey for my husband - he deserves it!
So last year, when my daughter mentioned there was a knit club at the Shortlands Tavern, I jumped at the chance of going to a pub every couple of weeks for a drink and a knit and a chat. such an esoteric collection of people who drop in and out. You would never believe that this week a Mexican granny who spoke no English turned up and was so delighted to see us all knitting that she took pictures of us!
