Thursday, June 12, 2014

Knitlist 1997 History

Best Quote I Heard All Day

The innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the ravelled sleave of care...--Shakespeare

Dreaming of knitting? Nah! A long time ago, back in 1997, my first sock design was given to my friends on Knitlist's Christmas gift exchange.

Lately, I've been thinking about my online knitting beginning, when I was using AOL, like everyone did to get onto the internet. The Knitlist was an e-mail knitting group, with a pile of wonderful knitters. Back in 1997, pictures and graphics could not be added to your e-mail. So when I donated my sock design that I called Leaves of Grass, there was no picture of it. Everyone on Knitlist loved using the free patterns, although they had to trust the directions because there were no pictures of the designs. I put it up on Ravelry, when I redesigned it using Black Bunny Fibers Merino Silk sock yarn, owned by my friend Carol Sulcoski, who wasn't on the Knitlist, along with the rest of my current knitting friends, other than Chris Erickson. Chris became my good pal on Knit List.

Here's a picture of my first sock design, Leaves of Grass. It's free on Ravelry. If you want it, click HERE!

Now below is what I wrote on my first sock design directions. And at the bottom was The Knitting Curmudgeon AOL Member site that I designed...and that's the origin of The Knitting Curmudgeon. Obviously, that site doesn't exist anymore. But lots of my site readers showed up here when I began blogging as The Knitting Curmudgeon back in July 2002.


Date: Sun, 5 Oct 1997 14:03:36 -0400 (EDT)
From: MarRoberts@aol.com
To: Knit@bolis.com
Subject: KNIT: Leaves of Grass gift socks
Hi knittistes :-)
I figured it was time I contributed to the 1997 Knit List Christmas Gift
The color choice here directly influenced the sock design--it's a pale green
BW's Second Treasury produced the stitch pattern that I wanted--overlapping
I love a lacy eyelet stitch that looks a lot more complex than it actually
Marilyn in NJ

patterns, so I thought I'd donate my latest sock pattern. It's a light and
airy little anklet with a lacy double overlapping leaves instep panel. I used
Socka Cotton Color, 53% cotton, 32% wool and 15% "polyamide", which I've
always assumed to be the European way of saying "rayon."
with subtle aqua and purple flecks in it. I immediately thought of leaves
shimmering in the sunlight, and I would suggest using the same yarn for the
same results. Or, at least use a pleasing shade of green.
leaves with the stems outlined in yo's. And with an 8-round repeat, it was
quickly memorized and easily executed. I altered BW's pattern a bit so that
the original flat WS rows would work in the round and I adjusted the pattern
to fit into my 32-stitch instep requirement.
is. You need to do about 3 pattern repeats before you see the overlapping
leaves develop. But once you start, it's like eating peanuts. Have fun making
these socks--I'm giving a pair to my sister for Christmas, so maybe now
she'll shut up for once.
marroberts@aol.com
THE KNITTING CURMUDGEON: http:/members.aol.com/marroberts/index.html

Miss the Knitlist. If you were on it, leave me a comment here. On Facebook, I am a member of a knitting group.

So I'll be posting again this weekend. Back to writing constantly now. Take care, my Tonstant Weaders. Ain't a pissed-off curmudgeon much anymore. :-)

11 comments:

Debbi said...

I was a member of the Knitlist and u have a printed copy of your Leaves of Grass sock pattern in a binder full of Knitlist gifts. Thank you, again, for the pattern and for the entertainment and knowledge you've provided over the years.

Debbi said...

Should say "I" instead of "u." Damned swipe keyboard.

Diane in Chico said...

Marilyn, I remember you from the KnitList, when Amy was the administrator. I miss the arguments, good times, discussions, etc., in the email format. Forums aren't quite the same. Back then I was Diane from Aptos, CA. Now I'm Diane in Chico, CA.

Keep on keeping on.

Diane

Anonymous said...

I came to Knitlist at the tail end. I loved the free patterns that were shared, and half the fun was knitting blind! Thanks for updating the pattern- it's lovely.
Kimmen

Kathy said...

I think the knitlist was the first listserv I ever joined! I loved it and learned a lot. I was more of a lurker. I loved how opinionated people were and also how generous.

Mary Pat said...

Knitlist where I witnessed your birth and the public birth of The Yarn Harolot, Queer Joe, and Wendy Johnson. So glad that you are all still a part of my life.

Anonymous said...

I think that I was on that list too, but hell that was a long time ago and I don't remember too much these days.

Diann Lippman said...

I was on that list too! And I have a printed copy of the pattern, and the yarn I bought just for it.

Don't remember how I arrived at the KnitList, but I "met" many of the same wonderful knitters that I first met on CompuServe in the Good Earth forum, which spun off the Crafts forum,from which the Knitting forum grew.

It's been such great fun!

Jennifer said...

Honestly, it seems a million years and a thousand miles away, probably because it is! Glad to know there are some other KL "oldtimers" still out there too.

Unknown said...

Thanks gals! Glad you remember me and the KnitList.

Teri said...

I was on it back in 1995. And that sock pattern was SO popular! I was doing a search for the "Toe Up Socks that Seem to Fit Well Enough" pattern and stumbled across your post. Still haven't managed to find that pattern, so I may try the wayback machine.