The Adventures of Captain Picot

In our previous episode, I decided to push the envelope with my knitting and make a sweater for the first time. Having chosen the pattern and design, it was now time to choose the yarn. A dirty little secret the knitting community never seems to talk about is that this hobby can be seriously expensive. Authors and bloggers nostalgically recall their parents and grandparents knitting to save money on clothes, but these days,  at least to me, knitting doesn’t seem to be the money-saver it used to be. Exhibit A: I searched Etsy for some handmade sweaters. They run anywhere from …

For many of us apprentice knitters, the idea of making an entire sweater looms large and terrifying. Row after row of knits and purls falling from bored and tired fingers. Tricky stitching and seamwork. And wondering whether the damn thing will even fit us at the end! Not to mention that the world at large doesn’t seem to appreciate our efforts. Ugly sweater parties anyone? And so I swore never to attempt a sweater  – or any fitted clothing, really. I’d save myself the potential shame and embarrassment and stick with projects where the stakes were low – scarves, hats, …