This post is by necessity short–I’m even too tired to knit and that’s really tired! I finally got to see the Today Show segment on aarp.org and the articles posted there. I smiled as I read about teaching my daughter to knit. She loves knitting, too, and here I once thought it might skip a generation!
The comments, e-mails and feedback from the AARP segment and blog strongly reinforced what I already believed. We are not alone, and we are more alike than we are different. And those of us who are knitters really love knitting!! It keeps us sane. It floats our boat. It is our yoga.
Before going to bed, I picked up the sock, still unfinished, that I’d been knitting during the interview with Jane. Someone asked if I’d made any mistakes knitting while being filmed. The answer is a murky yes; however, I didn’t make any of the usual knitting mistakes. I knew better than to knit something requiring thought or close attention and chose to work on a plain, stockinette sock foot. Not surprisingly, because I am a pretty fast knitter, I knit way beyond where the toe shaping should have started as the interview stretched out into 90 minutes. I realized this was happening but continued on anyway. Does that count as a mistake or not? It doesn’t really matter because whatever it was, it required the same unknitting afterwards to get back on track. More about the sock soon, including a picture and information about the wonderful new yarn I used to make it .
Betsy McCarthy knits 
Hi Betsy,
I saw your interview, congratulations!
And also congratulations on your blog. I am very much looking forward to all of your future posts!
We met at the yarnshop Closeknit on Alberta Street ( I am the asian lady from Amsterdam).
I recently quit my job at Closeknit so won’t be seeing you anymore over there…
Good luck with everything, Betsy!!! I wish you all the best and see what you are up to on your blog.
Nancy
Nancy, I remember you and look forward to having our paths cross again. I’m going to check out your blog, too.
I read your story on aarp.org/jane and just loved it. I too am a knitter – not surprisingly why i read the story! Anyway, I’m just learning to knit socks and really enjoy it, although my first pair is so big i could probably put both feet into one sock. I was just so happy to read a story about a woman who loved knitting so much (when it’s kind of gone out of style) that she wanted to quit her day job and be a full time knitter…way to go…knit on!
Keep on knitting those socks. There is some trial and error involved at first to understand how to get a good fit. Maybe your gauge needs to be tighter, and if so, using smaller sized needles will help. Or maybe you like the way the socks look but needed to have fewer stitches cast on so that they’ll fit. Glad you enjoyed the story, and by the way, there were years when knitting was not as popular as it is now. I can’t tell you how many people knit now—-but you would be amazed!
Betsy,
What a treat to view your interview and read your remarks.
I’m especially appreciating your comments about being open to something new, as I’m newly retired.
You are without question, my favorite mentor and first supervisor in the Pacific Northwest. I’m so happy you are able to enjoy your gifts – knitting, teaching, speaking and writting!!
Pam, what a treat to hear from you and congratulations on your retirement. How new is this? One thing I learned in going through the process is that it’s important to be patient with yourself, to let it be ok if it takes a bit to feel at home in the next chapter. Take care!
Betsy,
I have written you on Ravelry ( I am AKA Tedmom) and just wanted to comment here, too. I love your blog and will be following your entries. Thanks for sharing your adventures with all of us. My husband and I spent 2 years at Ft Lewis and love that part of the country. Right about now, the baskets of flowers should be coming out on porches there. It is so lovely in the spring! Do you ever make it to Wisconsin? I wonder if our local yarn stores might bring you in? How does that work?
Keep going–you’ve got great sole!
I have lots of relatives in Wisconsin and actually plan to go there this summer to a family reunion in July. You can contact me for more details by writing me at betsy@betsymccarthyknits.com . I love teaching workshops and meeting new people.
Hi Judy, I teach at local yarn shops, regional and national events, etc. If a local yarn shop or guild is interested in having me come to teach (and I could do that in conjunction with a book signing when it comes out in the fall, too), we negotiate what the terms will be. I prefer to teach 6-hour workshops since teaching something like 3- 2 hour classes over three weeks isn’t realistic when it’s far away from where I live. If your local yarn shop or guild is interested, we can discuss this by e-mail or phone. Right now, it looks like I’ll be in the Northern IL/WI area in late June/ early July.
Thanks. Hope our paths cross someday. Betsy
Hi Betsy,
When I saw your interview on the Today Show the first thing I thought was I bet she is on Ravelry. Then this morning I signed in and saw your replies there!
I was widowed in 1996, moved to NC in 1997 and I retired earlier then I thought in 2006 in a downsizing. I had worked hard and saved and planned but was hoping for two more years. Thank goodness I did all that planning! We are examples of “it can be done with planning and lots of belt tightening”
I was also helping my elderly Mom so I took the plunge. Mom and Dad had had recently relocated to be near me and Dad past shortly after.Retiring has given me the best of gifts having loads of time to be with my Mom who will soon be 93! and now finding a new love for knitting.
Every time I go to my LYS the owner keeps telling me I have to try socks. Now that I have read your story my next purchase will be your book and yarn! 🙂
I’m so glad you are as happy as I am. It’s a wonderful thing after years of stress!
Kathy
Kathy,
It sounds like you, too, are in a good time of life. I bet you’ll like socks once you try them. There’s something wonderful about their portability, how there’s always something going on while making the sock and also how they can be started and finished much quicker than a large project like a sweater. Also, although good sock yarn is not cheap, it certainly costs less to make them than some other things.
Was it only 5 years ago? I had knit a few socks but didn’t understand how it worked at all and was very intimidated. I got your book and it had all kinds of gauges which was wonderful as I’m a spinner. You held my hand through it all and now I wear hand knit socks every day, half of them from handspun. I’m just finishing a pair inspired by one of yours and I long to make more from your book but I must finish what I have on the needles. Thanks so much.
Thank you, Anna. My heart absolutely sings when I hear stories like yours. Clearly, it now seems like you’ve knit socks forever. Take care.
Betsy