Pete has seen the size of my knitting "works in progress" stash.
He knows that I am currently working on a baby sweater, a stuffed mouse, two pairs of socks and one vest – and that I'm about to cast on some long-overdue gloves for my dad.
He also knows that the sweater I cast on for him in North Carolina (yes, that was in 2010) is off the needles but still not wearable. (There will be sharp scissors, a nervous expression, and a huge leap of faith by me before that day comes.)
And in his words he didn't want his new hat to get lost in my que.
So he knit it himself.
Pete has been knitting as much as me in the past few weeks. Perhaps more. And unlike my slow, methodical progress over many years from hat (to hat, to hat) to mittens (to mittens, to mittens) and up in complexity, he chose a moderately complicated pattern for a beginner and dug right in. (The pattern is here.)
He's fearless I tell you.
I didn't even know how to do the cast on the pattern suggested, so we learned it together. (Old Norwegian in case you were wondering. Thank you, YouTube.)
Pete has his own knitting personality.
He doesn't make a gauge swatch. he makes a "Montessori swatch". (Yes, he made it up.) Basically he knits his gauge in the round, expecting that maybe it will become something functional in its own right. (Get it, education geeks? Montessori swatch? Heh.)
He swears and fake swears at his yarn. A lot.
And he's a wicked fast learner.
After his cowl and hat were off the needles he moved on to fingerless gloves and is talking about how he would like to make them again but modify the pattern so that the fit is customized. I'm guessing he will.
As for me, I'm just stoked to have such a bad-ass knitting partner. We have a guy friend who calls texting or otherwise messing around on his phone "man-knitting".
But this version of "man knitting" – oh, yes – I so much prefer.
P.S. Here is a post I wrote about Pete a few years ago. He's so much more than a knitter, you see.
Love you, babe. x
Super impressive! I’m going to show my husband this post to inspire him to take up knitting again and advance beyond the garter stitch!
You are one lucky girl to have such an awesome husband. Unfortunately, my husband is a cell phone man knitter. Drives me crazy!
I really like that hat! And I really like seeing that man of yours knitting. That is so cool!
Pete is such a girly bad-ass! I mean that in the best possible way!! That hat is beyond awesome, way to go! I just sent this link over to TJ — guessing that he’ll be making a joke here and there, but I bet deep down he’s a little bit envious. : ) Maybe Pete could make TJ a hat?!!
So special that you can share something as fun as knitting! The last male I taught to knit never made it past ball-winding. Seems like he has a real knack; that’s a very cool hat!
So cool! My guy tried knitting once, but it kept going into triangles because he knit very tightly, and he gave up. Good for Pete!
He is putting Jonny to shame–bit time. I did get a nice photo of Jonny modeling my new shawl today though….
(big time)
I just have to say that I love that you used the word “wicked!” I grew up in Maine and everyone said that, but since moving out west it has sort of fallen out of use in my everyday speech. I miss it though! What a fantastic adjective:) And Pete’s hat IS wicked cool:)
Wow. Wistful sigh.
haha- last night a friend and i were knitting and my husband was messing around on his phone- man-knitting- that’s funny. i told him about your husband knitting and how cool i think it is. he’s not quite ready- maybe someday.
Wow, good work Pete! Very nice hat. I am thinking I should try that, just jumping in to more complicated projects, assuming that of course I can figure it out!
Hi there, i’m a new follower from France. What a wonderful set of photos, you must be very proud. Knitting is getting a better profile in the uk now and i, have seen men knitting. I taught art in the uk and t he boys had no worries about knitting component parts to collages, but France……..now that’s a different story!
Nice colourway that yarn/hat. Man-knitting is so special, so wonderfully different. Thanks for sharing!
Pete proposes a friendly man-knitting competition with Johnny. 😉
Do you know the picture book “The Long Red Scarf”? Check it out. It fits perfectly with this story. Our kids get it out of the library every winter.
That is one awesome first project! He did amazing.
Awesome Pete!! I am super impressed and a bit jealous at your ability to just jump right in there. I guess I should jump too and then maybe I’d have an awesome hat.