Rara avis

I flew back to Cochin from Hyderabad last week, and while I was waiting in the security lounge at Hyderabad airport (for the last time probably, as a new one is scheduled to open next month), I saw a lady walk past, wearing a silk blouse and pale green trousers, with matching shoes. Through my mind ran the thought…I wonder how she keeps those clean, and if one ought to have shoes that match different clothing. I’m lazy myself, and generally buy brown or black ones (in handbags also) so that they match everything! I’m always in awe of anyone who can perfectly accessorise. And my lighter coloured clothes are sure to get stained very shortly after being worn.

I’d scarcely finished the thought when she sat down, and took out her knitting! Yes, I finally met a knitter in public (not in someone’s house). She kindly allowed me to bust in rudely and spoil her peace sit with her and chat until my flight was called. I’d packed away my hook and thread because I’m not very sure about passing them through security. Jennifer, if you’re reading this, thank you! It was so exciting!

As you can see, she’s knitting the continental way with the yarn being fed by the left hand. I watched her, and it’s the middle finger that does the feeding. The yarn is wrapped around her forefinger for tension. I told her I doubted my middle finger has enough control to do that work. My forefinger is of course used to controlling tension for crochet, but with a single wrap only.

So far when I’ve tried the picking method, I assumed that the end of the right needle should pick up the yarn from my left hand, but obviously, without a hook on the end, this is an iffy business at best. All I end up doing is poking a hole in my left forefinger, and getting back to throwing the yarn. Perhaps that’s why I’m a slow knitter. What I need is someone to sit with me and show me how. I don’t think I could learn from videos.

Jennifer also sent me a picture of a baby set she made for a friend, very cute! Almost convinces me I need to try colourwork.

Isn’t that cute? I wish I could have talked more with her. It is a rare bird, a public knitter in the circles I move in.