Glenn and I went to Coney Island to knit and metal detect at the crack of dawn today. It was too cold for me so I went into the car and listened to WonderMike’s Fiber Beat Podcast. He interviewed Meg Swansen and it was a delightful interview and piqued my interest in Elizabeth Zimmermann. When I got home, I picked up Opinionated Knitter to actually read it. I know a bit more about knitting now than I did when I purchased the book so I wanted to give it a good going through and read her newsletters.
The pictures of her sweaters, hats and gloves were lovely and, I have to admit, I’m still a bit baffled by her patterns but I loved reading it. I felt like I was a dear friend she was writing to in her newsletters and her writing about her camping with The Old Man. I really enjoyed just getting to know her through her writing. The pictures of her reminded me of my Granny who came from Scotland and passed away when I was only twelve. She really touched me. When I read the end, where Meg writes about her passing away, which I had already known about, I cried. I felt like I was getting to know a new friend and then she was suddenly taken from me.
I’m sure there have been hundreds or even thousands of blog posts written about Elizabeth but I bet very few of them have nothing to do with knitting. I’m going to read more and learn more about Elizabeth and her way of knitting. Not because she’s so popular and everyone does it but because I really like her. She makes me feel that even I, a novice knitter, can make the beautiful sweaters she’s designed. And one day, I will.
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5 Talk to me:
EZ's patterns are all about ownership--OWN your knitting.
she gives recipes but often not stitch by stitch patterns (work in ribbing, (1 X 1, or 2 X 2) and PRESUMES you know how to do that!
same with sleeves (knit till they are long enough.. (how long? till they fit your arms!)
It's like home cooking. you DO.. and learn the details as you do..
what works best for any pattern is what works best for you..
I don't make her socks with replaceable soles.. I know me, i am just not going to do it.. but it is a good pattern for kids (since you can extend the foot as replace the sole. and the way kids feet grow!)
every time you read (and reread) EZ, you realize, her style of knitting is simpler and simpler!
I agree with Helen about EZ's simplicity of instruction. The blessing of that trust in you, that you can follow her abbreviated instructions & customise for yourself is heady stuff! I discovered her when I first started knitting, and am continually amazed at how much I like to reread her books. Her fondness for real shetland made afraid to try the patterns as I was alpaca obsessed when I first started out, and I felt that alpaca's weight & drape wouldn't translate well to EZ's shetlandy designs.
Opinionated knitter was a tough read. You're right - Meg's bit at the end is very touching.
excellent post!
That is so nice. Sounds like a wonderful read, knitter or (k)not.
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