My Grandma was a very crafty lady.
My Grandma was a huge influence in my life.. she eventually lost 90% of her sight but she still crocheted and knitted! A wonderful mum, grandma, great grandma and even a great great grandma at age 102 when she left us.
I'm not sure if it was her English heritage or a need to be resourceful in war years and depression, maybe my Grandmother simply loved to create beautiful things.
There was a lot of talent in Mary Alice Gilbert. She baked and cooked beautifully. I remember being enthralled as I watched her skillfully pipe trays of lace icing to carefully place on the multi tiered wedding cakes she created. She hand crafted icing flowers to cascade on tiers of pure white fondant covered fruitcakes. Alice, as she was known, also darned socks, crocheted rugs and knitted. My mum said that Grandma even knitted herself a Dressing Gown... I would love to have seen that!
My Grandma taught me to knit; and when I returned home from visits and had forgotten how to cast on or off, my Mum showed me again. I don't remember ever finishing a project as a child but I loved the idea and the shared moments of knitting. Knitting for the sake of knitting.
It was many years later when my daughter was about 7 that I stumbled across knitting again. I even joined in a Saturday morning knitting group. This time I actually completed the items I started. My sister was pregnant with her first baby Sam - he was the lucky recipient of a number of baby beanies and a very sweet cardigan.
Since then knitting has stuck with me. I still love learning new knitting skills and I have even taught knitting to children at my daughters primary school in a small lunch time group, which was very rewarding.
Weekly knitting classes were held outside at lunchtime (weather permitting). Introducing students to knitting and creating a friendly social group across different year levels.
So now I have created a way to share the love I have for knitting and creativity by designing What Jane Knits.
I hope that the simple instructions, quality yarns and practical projects will be just the inspiration for non knitters. Of course it can be slightly frustrating initially, but most people get the hang of it pretty quickly.
If you need any help look on my YouTube and there are handy tutorials, but if you are lucky enough to have a Grandma who knits, ask her to help. Who could think of a better way to spend an afternoon.