Welcome

 

   In this blog I will provide helpful tips, my own knitting designs, links to my YouTube videos, links to knitting tools I use, yarns, and much more. My goal is to show men that knitting isn't just for women and to try to encourage more men to knit.

 Men through history have knitted. Many believe the first knitters were fishermen as early as 200AD they made their own fishing nets. Shepherds also knitted while tending their flocks of sheep in Europe. In the 13th and 14th century knitting guilds were started by and composed of male artisans. In the 17th century many prominent male knitters were renowned in Spain, France and Germany. Historically in Iceland both men and women production knit side by side. In Peru men knit hats denoting their social stature. The start of the Industrial Revolution and textiles made by machines run by men led to women taking over the role of knitting. While more and more men are knitting, many think of it as only for women.  

 I have decided to chronicle my knitting. I am 54 years old, a disabled former United States Marine, a machinist by training, a butcher who worked doing custom cutting, slaughterhouse, and custom game cutting as well a in super markets; a father and I Knit!

 I decided in 2018 to leave the United States and live abroad. I looked at many countries and in the end chose Medellín, Colombia. The average temperature year round is 80°F or 27°C and 4900 feet or 1495 meters above sea level and surround mountains reaching 10,200 feet or 3100 meters. This climate and elevation combination help with my psoriatic arthritis, the pain from compressed discs and other issues I suffer from military service.  

My knitting journey began from a young age. My grandmother taught me to crochet. After my first afghan she taught me to knit and macrame. I knitted until it wasn’t “cool” anymore in junior high. Fast forward to an 8 month recovery in Naval Hospitals Balboa and Camp Pendleton. While recovering, various activities were offered from leather craft, painting, plastic models and I found knitting again. I knitted off and on until for many years and due to life events, kids, work, I had stopped knitting again. I took a position in a fiber mill with me working eventually as a the head spinner. Again knitting came into play. I took up hand spinning with a drop spindle, then spinning wheels as well as running the 24 head spinner and carders making rovings and finished plied yarns. I took naturally to yarn dyeing, learning both natural (plant based) dyeing techniques and chemical dyeing techniques. Since 2012 I have used knitting to help with my hand mobility. Psoriatic arthritis affects the elasticity of tendons and I find that knitting loosens the tendons. The focus put in to knitting counting stitches, reading patterns writing and designing patterns I find distracts from chronic pain suffered from compressed and leaking discs in my spine. Knitting gives the brain a chance to be “distracted” from the pain, thus lowering the overall level of the pain. I find a cathartic relaxation to knitting, by being focused on the movements and stitches it allows one to forget the stresses and problems of life. If you are suffering pain, have daily stress making it impossible to relax or like to see things made either your own hands come to life, then knitting is for you. 

Take a look at this article written by Jane E. Brody in The NY Times about "The Health Benefits of Knitting." There is also a study that was done by author Betsan Corkhill and Carol Davidson of Pain Management, Royal United Hospital in Bath, England about the effects of knitting on chronic pain. an overview is here.  Betsan Corkhill is the author of the book “Knit for Health & Wellness.” you can purchase it here or for Kindle here. With all the health benefits that any man or woman can benefit from why wait to learn knit??

 

Medellín is a beautiful city located in Aburrá Valley located in the Andes Mountains Range in South America. The Aburrá Valley is home to a population of 4 million people who live in the greater metropolitan area in the municipalities of Copacabana, Bello, Medellín, Poblado, Itaguí, Envigado, Sabaneta and La Estrella. The city layout comprises of many green spaces. Parks are abundant in the city giving many shaded pleasant spaces to enjoy the days. Being the second largest city in Colombia it also gives many shopping options, activities, and food options ranging from traditional Colombian to international dishes.

 The one thing Medellin Lacks is a local yarn shop (LYS). The LYS here consist of a thread or sewing shop with a small negligible selection of acrylic or cotton blend yarns blended with nylon and a small Chinese circular needles and crochet hooks. For this reason I purchase yarns online and have them sent to a freight forwarder in Miami Florida who consolidates my purchases and then ships them to my door. English is my first language so I also purchase reference books from Amazon as they offer great prices and free or discounted international shipping, most arriving in 7-10 days. My family and friends also in their travels to Europe buy and send me yarn. Most recently my Parents went to Croatia and my mother purchased me some beautiful yarns including a nice lace to knit bookmarks on size 0000/1.25mm double point needles. 

 I tend to knit for others, socks, scarves, sweaters, shawls, basically anything that catches my eye as a gift for someone. Currently, I am designing a shawl for my mother who is a prolific quilter living in Kalispell, Montana . She often attends quilting retreats or other sewing events with friends and has stated the need of a shawl to help with the chill she sometimes has at these events. My mother suggested something light weight, elegant yet eye catching, maybe with a lace type pattern that will easily fit in her sewing bag. I thought of a nice triangular lace with garter stitch expanding pattern starting with a three stitch cast on with a nice lace floral border. When I asked the color she said blue and I instantly thought about the Madelinetosh line of yarns, settling on Midnight Pass in the merino light light finger weight superwash for the lightness, warmth and non felting qualities. An ideal yarn for the project. Once this shawl pattern is completed I will offer it on Etsy and Ravelry. This is a photo of the work in progress.

 

I keep a notebook for ideas of patterns that are inspired by things I see. I have some Colombian themed patterns that I am planning include a bag, socks, scarf and hat pattern using Colombian themes or naturally incurring patterns found in the local flora and fauna.

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Visit me on social media 

YouTube channel: @medellinknittingco

Ravelry: MedellinKnitting

Instagram: @MedellinKnitting