9.29.2007

What Color Is Your Belt?



Mr. Criquette is one funny guy, which is one of the reasons I married him. So recently, we were out running errands and I had to stop by the lys to pick up some goodies for SP11. Mr. C is one of those people who just settles in and makes himself at home wherever he is, including yarn shops. He sat down at the knitters' table, where several ladies were making various items. He proceeded to ask each one about their project and was intrigued by the variety of needles that were being used. He gets it, because like he says, "You don't use the same lure to catch different kinds of fish." He should know; he stashes lures.

He finally gets to the woman who was knitting socks with 5 dpn's. He was quite impressed by the coordination involved in juggling all these needles, and wanted to know more. So the knitters (who were loving every minute of this) explained all about needles, and told him that knitting can be done on 2 straights, one or two circ's, or on 4 -5 dpn's.

Mr. C then says, with perfect comedic timing,"So is knitting like karate where you earn different color belts for the number of needles you can use at one time? If you can knit with 5 of them, does that make you a black belt?" Such a cute guy. (And he didn't even say anything about the rather large amount of stash that was coming home with us. He's such a keeper. And did I mention that he cooks?)

I thought a little about this conversation and came to the conclusion that Mr. C is onto something. Of course, it is too simplistic to think that everyone who has knitted with 5 dpn's automatically gets to be a black belt. No, to achieve knitting black belt status, one must consistently demonstrate excellence with the evil little Kninja needles. For example, check out these knitting black belts:


It's a little known fact that porcupines are at the highest level of kninja knitting...

... they can use this many dpn's at the same time!


Also, anyone who can do this and make an identifiable, wearable garment

And then there are those who are definitely not black belts of knitting:



The original Ms. Criquette

Zombie Cat

Me (the newest baby hat)

Fooled you, didn't I? I am not worthy to lick the needles of the black belt sensei. This new little baby hat is really being knitted flat - I hid the circ's and the opening for this picture and threaded in the dpn's. I have to be honest and admit it - for now, I am just a yellow-belted knitter. Which is still better than not being a knitter at all.

What color is your belt?

8 comments:

Dianne said...

I just got home from a couple of loooong days at work, (and tomorrow is going to be another one) and laughed out loud at this post. Thanks for the chuckle - I needed that!

P.S. Does Mr. C have a brother? Preferably on the east coast - southern NJ area? Anywhere between 35 and 55. It wouldn't hurt if he was the spitting image of Colin Firth or George Clooney. Hugh Grant, even. Ooooh or Alan Rickman. But Alan Rickman when he was playing Col. Brandon in Sense and Sensibility, not when he was playing Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies. I have my standards...

Faren said...

Loved the story about Mr. C! He certainly does sound like a keeper!

SissySees said...

Neat concept! Clever man you have there...

Thanks too for your kind words about Fred. All of the support is truly helping.

Anonymous said...

Very cute post. I would have to say I can knit with 5 dpn's but still don't think I've earned a black belt. I think black belt status should be for the individuals who have completed the master knitters program.

wildflower38 said...

Can I sit beside you in the yellow belt knitting section?

Virtuous said...

Freakin funny!

Violiknit said...

Mr. C sounds totally cool! What a great story! That Zombie Cat pic had me laughing so hard-! I have no idea what belt I am...all I know is I'm still afraid of lace.

Life's a Stitch said...

LOL - clever post,
Li