Oriental Knitting

Now I admit that I am one of those known to exaggerate and stretch the truth a teeny weeny bit just to make the story a little better. BUT believe me when I tell you...no exaggeration involved that knitting was EVERYWHERE in China!

It was extremely popular in the smaller villages, where the women spent their days relaxing in the shade of their booths full of fake designer purses, Buddha souvenirs and weird children's toys waiting on the unsuspecting tourist to walk by so they could pounce on you screaming the contents of their booth and how they would give you a good price. You have to pass by them again and again and repeat..."No thank you. No I don't want postcards but thank you. Zai Jian. NO THANK YOU. Quit following me! I said no. RUN!" after you passed they would sit down and continue knitting like crazy. I spoke to a few of them about their knitting, most of whom were doing sweaters for children or hats for themselves, and all of whom were using double pointed needles. I told them about how I preferred to use circulars and they looked at me like I was crazy. I guess those aren't popular over there. Here's some proof below. I was embarrassed to ask these ladies if I could take their picture so I got Tweedy to sneak around and do it while they weren't looking. Hehe!







I also managed to do some knitting of my own while over there and finished my big huge cowl. Pattern courtesy of Knit Lit. I used the same hip hop berrocco yarn as Kate did, but in Justus and I am really happy with how it came out! Too bad it's 80 degrees now. I did most of the knitting on our 15 hour plane ride over, but also fit it in during our 12 hour sleeper train and during the trip home. My question is why the heckoo do people keep taking pictures of me knitting? It happened 3 times over there! Is it because I'm a young adult knitter and they think knitting is only for grandmas? Or maybe I make a funny face while knitting? It's surely not because it's complicated because this cowl was so easy...knit one row and pearl one row! Great for a plane ride.



Jayber wanted to model it too.


I also accidentally walked by a Local Yarn Store while cruising through the streets of Beijing and was so excited that I bought some. I'm not sure now why I picked out this color and style. I think I was too rushed by Tweedy and our two other travel buddies...both boys too. The store owner didn't speak English either so that complicated things when I wanted to chat about the world of knitting. But the yarn is really soft!



Anyway...I thought it was pretty cool that they are obsessed with knitting in China just like we are here! (or maybe it's just me) The difference is that they knit for necessity. They have to do it or winter clothes will be scarce. All of the women know how and learn it from a young age. Maybe I'm just old school but I thought that was awesome and maybe we should take the hint too.....That clothes made by your own hands are special and always made with love.