Stir Crazy Crafts

A great-grandad is proving that knitting isn’t just for girls with his classes at a primary school. Ken Platt, 74, started knitting almost 50 years ago and now he’s passing his skills on to boys and girls at his local school. Three times a week, retired engineer Ken heads to Tintwistle primary school in Glossop where he teaches children a skill that will last a life time.

Ken says: “I’m a man in a woman’s world so I have to get it right! You’ve got to prove yourself and that’s why I think the men who do knit are often very good. I think it’s a bit like why men are often better cooks. The ones who do it look on it as a vocation whereas a lot of women see it as a chore.”

Unlike the children he teaches, Ken’s passion for the craft only began in adulthood after watching his late wife, Sylvia, at work with her knitting needles. He says: “It was 1964 and my wife was knitting. I could see the needles moving but I couldn’t see what she was doing so I asked her and she showed me. I found it quite easy and the second thing I ever made, in 1966, was an Arran jumper which I still wear.”

By Kate Weir for The Manchester Evening News, 2012.

Another stashbusting project that's getting finished up soon. I'm also working on my final round of sock commissions before putting everything on pause in late June. It's a tossup whether my current headspace is due more to babysitting every piece of prepping for top surgery, or not getting the silence I need regardless.

Part of my prep includes wanting to clear out some ready-made items from my inventory, to help with travel expenses. Anyone who favorites my Etsy shop before May 22nd (2020) has a chance to get coupon codes, full details here

Hat pattern here on Ravelry

Dropped-stitch knitting club marathon, 27-28 April 1923

They’re finally here – made to order pride socks, straight from my Etsy shop! Link in bio; if you have any questions feel free to comment or message me 🤟

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Check my blog header for a link