The Beginning

There have been many stories and experiences in my life that led to the creation of 490 knits. In this post, I explore just how knit-involved my life was from an early age to the creation of 490 Knits. 

The early days

Some of my earliest memories of knitting is just watching mom knit. She would knit everything - toques, sweaters, ponchos, socks, mittens, scarves, etc. She mostly made things for myself or my younger brother to wear. What's most impressive is the quality of her items. The love that is knit in every stitch is a practiced art that she has cultivated since her days in university.  Watching mom knit with curious eyes was my launch into the fibre arts without even knowing it. I remember her telling us that she was going knitting Tuesday knits, and that my grandma was going too (she weaves). I wasn't allowed to go then but I would soon find out what it was about. 

“I'm going to knitting.”

 

When I was a little older my mom and grandma invited me to their fibre art group when I was about 10. A group of lovely ladies would sit around a table on Tuesday nights and do their hand craft, be it knitting, crocheting, spinning yarn, weaving etc. It led to fun conversation about their lives, the people they cared for, and the projects they worked on. The group no longer exists, but the ladies still stay in touch with each other. 

At a Canada Day event, the group sold their items at a shared table at an outside market. This day was particularly important as I learned about needle felting. I watched with intrigue as I learned about a new fibre art. Mom tells me that I held a piece of wool in my sweaty little hand and as I played with it, it literally felted into a ball - that's how excited I was to learn about working with wool. From there I branched into needle felting a bit and it is a tool that I have used in the construction of garments. That day I was also given a pair of felted pink slippers. They remind me of that day and my appreciation for those that taught me the way of the fibre artist.

Here is a picture of flat needle felting from this link. 

“Mom, can you finish this for me?”

It was at this time that I started to learn how to knit - and boy has it been a bumpy road. I loved looking at all the patterns in mom’s many knitting magazines and books. The choices were simply endless, as was the selection of yarn available in mom’s stash. But after I planned the project and started knitting, I would lose interest. As it turns out, I love planning the project and the final product itself, but not the middle portion of creating the actual item and doing the work. The process is inherently long and time consuming. I think mom has finished almost every project that I have started. I'm currently in the middle of a cowl (a small scarf) that is the first one mom hasn’t finished for me. 

My mom finds my distaste for handknitting absurd because she’s a knitter who loves the meditative feeling of just knitting and she doesn't mind how it can take a while to finish a project. She doesn’t like the planning or decisions that come before she hunkers down to “just knit” as she says. As it turns out, we make a terrific team. 

Machine knitting for the Win

My distaste for handknitting would serve me well as I discovered machine knitting. At the beginning of the summer of 2020, I found myself with time to learn how to use a knitting machine. They look like this. My grandma had them in her basement and after digging them out and playing with them to learn, I had truly fallen in love. Not only was the machine rather simple to use, it was RIDICULOUSLY fast to knit. Pieces that would take hours to knit were done in 5 minutes. After realizing that, I was absolutely hooked. Mom and dad were astonished. 

I would spend hours at the knitting machine learning all that I could. I scoured the internet for Youtube videos, articles, patterns to consume all the content that I could. I have made all sorts of pieces including sweaters, a jacket using felted wool that is a work in progress (aka WIP), and a dog bed. 

Upon realizing that the flat bed machine could not make hats efficiently, I discovered the Addi King Size knitting machine and the 490 Knit toque was born. It's on the Addi that I crank out my hats. This is how it works. With a little bit of hand sewing to finish the toque hot off the machine, a fully assembled toque is made! I then attach the pompom, and tag and it is ready to wear! Something about the process is sooooooooo soothing and satisfying. I absolutely adore making them but nothing brings me more joy than seeing someone’s face lit up when they see these toques and choose one for themselves. Their smile is what makes my heart shine. 

 

The Future of 490 Knits

A third kind of knitting machine finally found its way to me. My family had an antique sock knitting machine (CSM) that got me interested in making the comfiest winter socks. As it is an antique, our machine needs refurbishing to make it run smoothly (maybe we will get it fixed some day) so I soon ordered a sock knitting machine from the beloved Dean and Bean Sock Machine Company. I have yet to sit down with it and pump out socks but I am extraordinarily excited to experiment with patterns and yarns to make the best possible sock for those of us that love them. Our own 490 Knit Socks will be the next big unveiling on the website and I look forward to sharing our socks with you!

Interested in reading more about 490 Knits? Check out our About Us page for more information. 

 

Until next time,
Jensen