Hi there! Nice to see you!!

I’m off on a new adventure. A blogging adventure about knitting. I’ve tried blogging a time or two before, but just lacked the dedication and voice (I think) to really make it something worthwhile. This time, it will be different.

Let’s start at the beginning. My name is Jenna and I’m maybe a little lost. When I got married this past summer and moved my life to Louisville, Kentucky, I was grateful for a change in name, location, scenery, career, and marital status. This change gave me the opportunity to try something new. I was teaching middle school math prior to the move and living the single life in Memphis, Tennessee with my two adoring kitties.

Here is Brother

Here is Sister

And the two of them staring wistfully out the window at my old place.

Finding a new teaching job in the market here was next to impossible, but I did find a volleyball coaching position and some part-time work at a national coffee chain. It’s been a fun way to try something new and a reflective experience on my prior career choice. This brings me to the blog.

After about a year here in Kentucky and another move on the horizon, my husband, Jordan and I have been talking extensively about career choices for both of us. I’m not completely sure I want to get back into teaching. I have truly enjoyed my time after work not having to do “homework.” My dream job would be to own a yarn store, but without a good chunk of some financial start-up, that’s not happening anytime soon. Next best thing, spend time posting my thoughts about all things knitting here. Jordan actually thought this would be a great project for me. He claims I have something to say and others might want to listen. The best part about this is that he named the blog. I love a good pun and the other day when I was complaining about so many projects, not enough time, he made the joke that I had a hard knit life.

I think the best way to start this thing off on a good foot is to talk about knitting and why I love it so. I started knitting as a creative outlet. I’ve always tried to express my ideas through some outlet, but really struggled to get my thoughts across clearly. I felt like since I couldn’t really draw, my ideas were lost in my brain. I tried sewing in middle school and enjoyed it. The equipment was too bulky to really be practical and I struggled with the discipline of really sitting down and cutting straight lines. I also tried painting pottery in college. That turned out pretty good, but there are only so many coffee mugs, bowls, and plates you can really have. I think it also helped that I stuck to bright colors and simple patterns.

This is my owl kitchen utensil holder before it was fired.

Here is is after it was glazed, fired, and put to good use.

My mom introduced me to knitting right after I finished my undergrad degree. She had just started knitting after taking a class at McNeedles because she wanted to learn how to make fun baby hats for when she (eventually) had grandchildren. I would stare at her hands for hours while she knit away, but I resisted learning for about 6 months until I had a break from graduate school. During Christmas break in 2009, my mom took me to McNeedles and I was hooked.

I love my LYS so much that I asked if I could get ready for my wedding day there. The wonderful owner agreed let us take over the shop as we all dressed and took pictures.

I even knit a little on my big day. That’s my Color Affection I’m working on (rav link here).

Can you remember the first time you walked into a yarn store? Shelves 8-feet-tall and brimming with yarn of all colors and composition just waiting to be touched and made into something.

Oh! The possibilities are endless! I was immediately lost among the fiber and emerged a few hours later at my mom’s urging with enough brown worsted weight and some size 9 needles to make my first scarf.

Ironically, my first scarf is still unfinished, (here’s my ravelry link) but that has not stopped me from stockpiling a stash for the end of the world and tackling projects for myself and people I love.

Have you stopped to ask yourself why you knit? Think about it, what drew you in? How did you get started? I’d love to know!!

V’s & Bump’s

Jenna