Posted: 3/28/2007 7:06:00 AM EDT
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I picked up a new skill set.. Knitting Okay stop laughing.. I am not working in Pinks or Purples.. My Grandmother taught me to knit when I was a little kid. As an imigrant from Denmark, and flat broke.. she pretty much clothed her 3 sons (my Dad) until they were out of the house and her husband until his death. Sweaters, socks, hats, scarves, shirts, bags, toys, she did just about everything. Meeting the test of time, I still have a bunch of sweaters and socks that she made for my grandfather. Most probably before I was even a twinkle in my Daddy's eye. I never really thought about it as a skill set but.... I was thinking about her in depth a few weeks ago and stopped by my Mom's for a refresher and picked up a set of needles. I have worked up a couple of hats and am now moving to socks. All colors have been OD greens, browns, and blacks. I have to justify that it is manly. Although my wife has asked me to do some "Girlie stuff" for her. While it is pretty useful to have hats and socks and such for warmth, the connection I get back to my Grandmother while I am working is second to none. A wool cap cost me about $2 to make and about 4 hours of time. What new skill set have you learned or regained? |
No one who has thought this out is laughing. Skills like these, while not high speed and low drag, will be extremely valuable if SHTF for any period of time. I grew up in a house where my mother knitted, hand quilted, spun wool, and owns a fully restored, foot pedal driven Singer. Long-term breakdown and between my wife and mom, I'll be voted best dressed.
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I needed a new suit ASAP for a business function. I got one literally the night before, but the pants needed alterations. No tailor in town would do an all-nighter and even if they did I didn't want to pay top dollar. But thanks to the Boy Scouts and sewing on innumberable merit badges as boy, I'm not afraid of a needle and thread. Took me 5 minutes to make a couple of stitches to hike up the pant cuffs to the right length and viola! Suit good to go for the event. When I brought it to the tailor later he saw the tiny stitches, grimaced, looked at me and muttered something in a foreign language  but got to work doing the professional job right. I still keep a needle and thread kit with me when I travel (buttons pop off) and have one in my BOB. (stitch in time really DOES save 9) 
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Would be a great skill to have. Price of good quality yarn is very pricey; esp. wool blends. I can't stand to wear slippers; however I did have a g/f that knit/crochet (?) me a pair of "cowboy boot" slippers. Those things were actually very comfortable and non-irritating. Wouldn't have a pattern for anything like that would you? My mother knits, tats, and crochets. Don't see too many of the 'modern' women picking up on it much anymore. |
+1 Of the HUNDREDS of serious GF's I've had over the years, not one could cook worth a damn. Forget about anything useful like knitting. All were more of a liability than an asset. God knows what a PITA they'd be post SHTF. And they all wondered why men didn't stick around...  No wonder for me why I'm still single.
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No patterns here. |
While I am limited in the small engine stuff. I have tore a couple down and rebuilt them, it was little stuff. True diagnostics would be my problem. Unless it was something simple like a bent crank or a blown seal. I would be so up creek.. I do weld though.. Oxy/Ace and mig.. |