Dillydally Dreams!

Dillydally dreams and a knitting back story!  Don't want to bore you with a novel here … so will try to keep this brief!  In 1978 I spent some time in Norway … I left there with a dream.  A dream to design and knit nordic sweaters.

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After spending the summer of 1980 in Greenland and Iceland, I was inspired to make that dream a reality.  Yep…33 years ago, I knit Mr. DillyDally an Icelandic sweater.  I was so proud of myself … until he put it on!  It was shaped to fit a gorilla … one that had arms of different lengths!  He wore it proudly and I would cringe … I finally had to hide it from him!  The second sweater was for me … not much improvement!  That was when a friend lent me a copy of Elizabeth Zimmerman's book, Knitting without Tears … and my knitting was forever changed!

Fast forward to 1990 … yep, it took 10 years of trial and error … no internet and youtube to assist with my evolution as a knitter!  These are the first two sweaters I designed successfully!  I always made my children's sweaters a couple of sizes too large … so they would last for a while.  My children wore them year round!  They are stained and worn … I've kept them … I think the holes, snags and memories make them beautiful!

Many sweaters have been designed and knit since.

My knitting journey moved on to Nordic mittens … again years of trial and error …

… resulting in a process that allows me to design and knit mittens in any yarn, design and size!  That freedom in knitting really is empowering!  My knitting dillydally dreams had come true!

Many of you already know that in my "real" life I am a public school teacher.  One of my favorite quotes comes from the book, The Education of Little Tree by Forrest Carter. "Grandma says … that when you come on something that is good, first thing to do is to share it with whoever you can find; that way, the good spreads out to where no telling it will go."  This quote reflects the heart of a teacher … we want to pass on all the good we have found.

Here in my remote corner of the world … we have the best yarn shop!  Believe me … I visit yarn shops everywhere I travel and have yet to find one that can compare to The Net Loft!  Shop owner, Dotty and I have been friends for nearly 30 years.  She is a dear friend in multiple ways … and has been such an encouragement to me on my knitting journey!  I have been teaching knitting classes in her shop for too many years to count!  She has allowed me the opportunity to share all the good that I have discovered during my knitting pilgrimage!

Dotty has organized and is hosting an amazing event this summer … to be held right here in our remote corner of the planet!  Global Knitting Rock Stars are coming to teach!  Seriously … this event is off the charts!  Registration began this week and the response has been wonderful!  If you are a knitter, spinner or weaver and have wanted to visit this remote corner of the planet … do come!  Check out the itinerary and teaching staff … then you'll understand why we locals are over the moon with excitement!

I am very humbled, honored and overwhelmed that Dotty has asked me to teach a mitten design and steeks class!  I'm not convinced that I should be scheduled in alongside the Knitting Rock Stars! ;-)  I had to provide her with a portrait to use in her publications!  With an over abundance of giggles and shenanigans … this is what Mr. DillyDally and I came up with!  Do you think we captured the dillydally spirit?

Dillydally dreams do come true!  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally