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Elizabeth Zimmermann

Elizabeth Zimmermann Biography

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“Knitting is formed by a series of loops pulled through loops to the end of time or to 'desired length'. By picking up loops and working in the opposite direction you are really picking up the concavities between the loops, and it is sheer unexpected witchcraft that stocking stitch and garter stitch will permit such an anomaly. Be grateful for this and don't expect anymore.”

EndsOppositesGratefulSeriesUnexpectedLengthPermitSheerBe GratefulEnd TimesWitchcraftLoopsKnittingStitchesStockingsAnomaliesGarters
Author:Elizabeth Zimmermann
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“Pass by the synthetic yarn department, then, with your nose in the air. Should a clerk come out with the remark that All Young Mothers In This Day and Age (why can't they save their breath and say "now"?) insist on a yarn which can be machine-washed and machine-dried, come back at her with the reply that one day, you suppose, they will develop a baby that can be machine-washed and -dried.”

ShouldAgeYoungMotherAirBabyOne DayMachinesBreathsNosesDepartmentThis DayRemarksClerksKnittingSyntheticYarnYoung Mother
Book:Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac: The Commemorative Edition
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“(knitting while on a motorcycle) "For several years she knitted in secret (my father would not approve; she was to concentrate on motorcycling and LEAN into the curves, etc), and used a small circular needle (socks and mittens) in order to keep the knitting in her pocket until they were under way; then she leaned back slightly so Gaffer couldn't feel the movement of her hands. On the interstate one day, they were slowly passing a semi and my father happened to see the truck driver laugh and point out my mother's knitting to his passenger. Whoops-”

WayFeelsYearsHandsUsedMotherOrderFatherSecretLaughingHappenedMovementOne DayPassingPassingsEtcPocketsDriversCurvesTruckNeedlesSockMotorcyclePassengersKnittingInterstateTruck DriverMittens
Author:Elizabeth Zimmermann
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“There is no right way to knit; there is no wrong way to knit. So if anybody kindly tells you that what you are doing is "wrong," don't take umbrage; they mean well. Smile submissively, and listen, keeping your disagreement on an entirely mental level. They may be right, in this particular case, and even if not, they may drop off pieces of information which will come in very handy if you file them away carefully in your brain for future reference.”

IfsWayWellsMayMeanLevelsBrainCasesPiecesInformationParticularRight WayFilesDisagreementWrong WayHandyNeedlework
Author:Elizabeth Zimmermann
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