I've been knitting off and on for a few years, since taking a beginner's knitting class at Skein Lane on Fairmont Avenue.

My knitting projects have been limited to scarves and hats. My first hat was completed on the day of my employer's holiday party this last December. I had invited my sister and her husband to the gala event, and after the party, when the sun was down, and the cold and darkness had settled over the Berkeley public parking lot where our cars were parked, I reached for the just finished hat and asked if my Sis wanted to see it.

I sincerely wish I had taken a photograph of the unveiling. She took the hat and pulled it over her head. It easily, and very loosely dropped down to her shoulder blades. We all began to laugh uncontrollably, and our laughter continued for quite a few minutes.

This first hat was knitted in the round using superwash wool yarn, and therefore it was exempt from the "felting solution". I next showed it publicly on Super Bowl Sunday at K2TOG's exhibition of Great American Afghans. I was enjoying the conversations with the students of the yearlong class, and working on my second knit hat, when I suddenly had the urge to show my first hat. After much examination and discussion with my new friends, it was suggested, with much good humor, and "tongue in cheek" ribbing, that my first hat should be converted into a grocery shopping bag. Yes! It is THAT BIG!

Before I knew of my expansion into the grocery bag business, I had discussed with Ellen Graves about the possible uses of the first hat. I thought it was truly unique, and we explored the idea of her using it for a Mystery Project. This Mystery Project would be a challenge of sorts … the question being, "Is it possible to duplicate this unique sample with its creative Knit one, Purl one base design - (gone astray)."

Ellen also had another possible use for the first hat. She thought she could use it as a wonderful example of how to relax and learn to knit without experiencing the negative emotions of Perfectionism. (I have suffered greatly from this disease in the past, and that is one reason I ended up in the field of accounting. In accounting, the numbers either balance or they don't.)

This personal desire to avoid my perfectionist leanings was the driving force in my knitting strategy for newly learned skills. Basically, I told myself to, "Learn the basics, and don't obsess on mistakes … damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead."

Of course this strategy had its obvious drawbacks. At our Men's Knitting Group, on the second Wednesday of each month, Ellen, our group instructor, patiently watched "the hat" expand and create new, never before seen, forever changing patterns of Knit One, Purl One stitches. She patiently tried to have me understand where I was going off course. She tried to show me how to "read the stitches" and how to "fix the mistakes" and when to "count stitches". Her advice and guidance would end up paying off … on my second hat.

I haven't told my sister yet that she is getting a knitted grocery shopping bag for her birthday on May 1st. It still needs to be converted from "the hat". At this Wednesday's Men's Knitting Group, I'll talk with Ellen about how to make some handles for the bag. Luckily, I have an excess of the same yarn to use.