Yesterday, Ann gave me my second lesson on how to knit socks. She knitted the first few rows for me and I took it home and continued. Socks are knitted in the round on three needles. A fourth needle connects the rounds to each other. I can't state it any plainer than that.
So, I'm sitting on the sofa with my cool knitting project and I decide to watch Puccini's Turandot while I'm knitting. This is a performance at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC that Zeffirelli designed. Gorgeous, expensive and the music is Puccini's best.
I turn it on. Knit 2, purl 2. Knit 2, purl 2. I look up to make sure I know what's going on in Turandot, but the subtitles are in Chinese, not English, and I don't have a remote control for the DVD player, which makes it impossible to change.
Knit 2 purl 2.
I try to discern the plot. There's a slave girl and an old man. There's Placido Domingo looking
princely and there's a powerful princess, but I don't get the relationships.
Knit2, purl 2.
I think the slave girl is going to die. Princess and Prince are extremely attracted to one another. Three guys with fans hold some importance, but I don't know what it is.
Knit 2, purl 2.
The slave kills herself with a dagger. Everyone, but especially the old man, is upset.
Knit 2, purl 2.
Prince and Princess have a long drawn out kiss. She can no longer deny that she loves him.
I look down at my knitting. Instead of the socks being on three needles, they are on two needles. It looks like they've been like that for about an inch worth of knitting. I count the stitches. Instead of 48 stitches, which is how I began, there are now 56 stitches.
I pull it out and begin again.
I cannot look up the plot of Turandot, because the internet is off. Tom is down fighting with the Comcast people in Sugar House. He will not be a happy camper when he gets home.
Even though I think I can get the stitches onto the needles properly, I don't seem to connect them. I may be really stupid.
I go to watercolor class. I paint. I say, "I'm learning to knit socks."
Three people say, "Why?"
I start laughing, because I realize that they must think that the only reason to knit socks is because you can't afford to buy any. I knit socks for the same reason I watercolor. It's an art form. Knit socks are warm and colorful. My fellow watercolorists remain doubtful about knitting socks for fun.
Still I will eventually knit socks and be satisfied with the result. I will knit 2, purl 2. And I will read the synopsis to Turandot and watch another version tonight.
Oh Louise you do so many interesting things. Knit socks are the best. And the yarn stores are exquisite. I'm taking a quilt course in the spring because I can't resist all those art expressive fabrics! They may never turn into actual blankets but I am going to have fun choosing and piecing and creating. I'm going to Moby Dick the opera tomorrow night. I hope Ahab meets all my expectations.
ReplyDeleteSince Comcast just laid off my husband, we rather hate them, too.
ReplyDeleteI had great fun knitting Fair Isle Christmas stockings for my niece's family, but have never knit socks to wear. Knitting is a soothing and creative endeavor---and I would like listening to/watching Puccini while I am at it.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever been to New York's Purl Soho? I haven't, but I hear it has the best knitting supplies, and they have an online store, I think.
ReplyDeleteI loved the repetition in this story:)
Were I any number of things, I would take up synchronized swimming. Of course I wouldn't be able to enjoy Turandot quite the same way. I'll have to give that a go, preferably in English.
ReplyDeleteSmiling, smiling, smiling. Bring your needles and yarn to church on Sunday.
ReplyDeleteI love your description of Turandot! Very succinct. I listen to the Metropolitan Opera's Saturday matinee broadcasts (because there's not much opera going on in rural Kansas.) Last Saturday was Puccini's Tosca. Very dark.
ReplyDeleteOur older daughter knitted mittens for the other four of us this Christmas. Beautiful gifts! I hope you post a photo of your finished artwork - socks AND watercolors.
I used to cross-stitch when I was watching tv but decided it was too hard to multitask, I either ended up miscounting and having to pick out stitches or I missed what was going on in the program I was watching. Good luck with the knitting! I envy those who have mastered the skill. It's one I've struggled to master and I think of myself as a pretty crafty girl. I'm also with twebster - I love to see what others have accomplished, so please do a show and tell!
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