"The Life of Art." An accordion, a tattered chair, and the colors of a revolution. Will you celebrate Bastille Day? Where and how? Click here to share your plans. Photo taken last week in Burgundy.
Note: the next post goes out on Monday.
Paris apartment for rent. St Sulpice.
215 euros per night (min. 3-nights rental)
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tricoter (tree koh tay) verb
: to knit
tricotée à la main = hand-knitted
tricoter des jambes = to run like mad
tricoteur (tricoteuse) = a knitter
Reverse dictionary
to knit one's brows = froncer les sourcils
knit one purl two = une maille à l'endroit, deux mailles à l'envers
a close-knitted friendship = liés d'une étroite amitié
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A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
A Newbie Knitter
On the way back from horse camp, where I left our daughter for the week, I drove through the town of Buis-les-Baronnies. It is one of those grips-you-as-you-go-through places, in which the art of French life reaches down from the open windows, with their flowering sills, and whispers: pull aside!
I had not been out to take photos in ages and, though I was eager to get home and prepare for the student winetasting, I decided to go with the moment instead.
The village of Buis-les-Baronnies seems to attract hippies, or les baba cool. I noticed a lot of art, and there was a shop selling hookah pipes in which to smoke shisha, or flavored tobacco. I remembered a recent talk with my daughter:
Me: Please don't ever smoke, Jackie.
Jackie: OK. But I want to try shisha….
Me: What's shisha?
Jackie: (some sort of French explanation…)
Me: But that's smoking!
I had never heard of the term "shisha" before, though it seemed to be a Moroccan thing. Apparently it was a baba cool thing, too. In addition to artists and baba cools, I added "shisha smokers" to my preliminary impressions list.
At a quiet outdoor café, I sipped une noisette, enjoying the bucolic scene a few tables ahead of me: a mother bottle-feeding her baby, the family dog looking on in concern — as if it were the family nurse.
I asked the waiter for l'addition before setting off for my photo périple. Right away I experienced a few feel-good "photographer endorphins", which coursed through my body as my camera's shutter began to click.
At the end of the main drag, I saw him. The last peasant, or le dernier paysan, as he would introduce himself when I walked up to ask for his photo. After taking a few shots of "Valentin", I sat down on the bench beside the man in the béret. It would have felt like thievery to rush off with his image in my camera. What about the soul behind this photo?
Read about Valentin and see a close-up photo, here.
Chatting with Valentin I noticed a shopkeeper, farther on, keeping her eye on me…. I decided hers was a protective glance. After all, what must it look like?: a stranger with a camera interrogating the elderly villager. I said Au revoir and Merci to the last peasant (more about him later…) and walked over to the poterie–tissage shop.
"Bonjour," I said, introducing myself. I wanted the shopkeeper (Valentin's accidental guardian angel) to know that I was no threat. I was simply a homemaker with a hobby and… by chance… might I take a photo of her shopfront?
Permission granted, I snapped a picture. Next, I listened to Intuition, which whispered: You might return the favor… why don't you step into her shop and see what she is selling?
Wandering into the tiny boutique I saw poterie and many examples of handloom weaving. I thought about buying a small "tidy" tray, or un vide–poches… when it occurred to me to ask the shopkeeper-artisan whether she herself had made these things. That is when I learned that Vanessa, as she is called, is the weaver (her partner is the potter). My eyes travelled next to a wall of yarn.
"Vous tricotez?" I asked. With Vanessa's positive response I knew what I had to buy: a pair of knitting needles–my first! But where to begin? There were so many different sizes!
Apparently yarn came in sizes, too! "Depending on the thickness of the yarn… we'll pick out a corresponding pair of aiguilles." As for color, we ruled out dark tones, especially le noir: "Difficult to learn to knit with black yarn… too hard to see the loops," Vanessa explained.
I decided to go for a bright color…. Turquoise? Lavender? Orange! I'd make something for Jean-Marc, who loves his orange T-shirts! Yes, Chief Grape seemed like a fair victim for a beginning knitter!
But what would I make him? Were socks the easiest project for a beginner? No, they were not, Vanessa enlightened me. "Why not make a headband?" she suggested. Yes! I had seen Chief Grape wear a bandeau while working in the field–the headband helped to keep his hair out of his eyes. But would he wear a sloppily knitted version? We'd worry about that later….
Next, I stood before a small display of bamboo aiguilles, each with a colorful balled tip. Here again, color was a priority (anything to arouse the sensual pleasure of a newbie knitter–brightness counted!) … I chose the bamboo needles with the bright turquoise-blue tips.
Bon, alright now, all that was left to do was to learn how to knit (!!!). Given that the shop was empty, Vanessa offered a lesson….
Holding those ultra-thin needles felt as awkward as writing with the opposite hand (by the way, was there a left-handed method for knitting? I would need one! Never mind, I would learn whichever way that Vanessa was prepared to teach!).
My fingers curled clumsily around the thin bamboo "needles", which looked more like "sticks" to me. Perhaps I needed a thicker pair? No, Vanessa assured, and I realized I was only putting off the next step.
"Je vais monter les mailles,"my teacher explained, taking the needles from me. Monter les mailles? Knitting vocabulary was as foreign as the practice itself, I thought, watching as Vanessa "casted on". But wait — I hadn't seen how she did that? How did she get those first few "mailles" to line up along the needle?
Vanessa explained that she preferred I didn't mimick her cast-on method — a technique she learned from her Russian grandmother. There were, apparently, many techniques for tying on the first knot — meantime, we needed to get going with the first row so that I could practice with the second.
I took the noodle-like needles (as slippery as angel hair!), inserting one of them beneath a loop at the end of the row that Vanessa had just made. But which way to poke the needle: from behind the loop… or just before it? Vanessa pointed to the starting place and, just like threading a needle, I watched as the bamboo stick hit… and missed its target. I tried again… and again. By the time I got the slippery needle through the catchy yarn I had a new dilemma: the needle tips being side by side, which direction to cross the second needle (in front or in back of the first)?
I crossed the needles according to Vanessa's gesturing and faced the next conundrum: looping the ball end of the string around the needle (but which way: across the front or the back?…). In trying to lasso the yarn around the needle I must have loosened my grip. I watched as the aiguilles and the carefully cast first row tumbled to the ground–along with a fountain of orange yarn. "I'm so sorry!" I said, quickly stooping to pick-up the needles and yarn. Maybe I was not cut-out to be a tricoteuse?
Vanessa helped me to find my place and I managed to lasso that needle. It was now necessary to tuck one of the needles through the loop — so as to pull off the first stitch! With that, I felt a little giddy… until a customer strode in and stole my teacher's attention.
I stood, needles in midair, fingers cramped, waiting for instructions, when it eventually dawned on me that I might repeat the process on my own! …I managed another stitch… carefully clamping down on the row lest I lose it!
When another customer filed into the shop I picked up the ball of yarn, carefully wrapping the loose end around it. I pushed the needles, along with the stitches, back into the needle case… and went to pay.
"Will you be able to continue on your own?" Vanessa was concerned. I assured her that I'd find a how-to video on YouTube. With that, she smiled with assurance.
I told Vanessa that I would just take a few more photos of her town, before heading home.
"Be careful," she said, looking at my spur-of-the-moment purchase. This could get expensive!
I did not immediately understand her comment, until I remembered the guardian angel, Vanessa, the one whose store I had wandered into earlier (and in which I was currently shopping!) hoping to return a favor. If I returned the favor, buying something from each shopkeeper each time I photographed a shopfront, then, yes indeed, my photo stops could get pricey! …Then again, perhaps she meant that my new knitting hobby could get pricey? Either way, I had just had a priceless experience!
Le Coin Commentaires
Talk about the shopkeeper characters that you have met, or tell us about your own knitting adventures! Any knitting terms you would like to share here? Which is the best knitting project to begin with: a scarf, mittens? Feel free to share your favorite knitting blogs… Click here to leave a comment.
Related Stories: "The Last Peasant" (read more about Valentin, the Frenchman sitting on the bench…). Click here.
French Vocabulary
une noisette = espresso with a drop or "tear" of milk
un paysan (une paysanne) = peasant
l'addition (f) = bill, check
les aiguilles (f) = knitting needles
le vide-poches = a tidy: a shallow bowl or vase designed to receive the contents of one's poche, or pocket
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I can’t believe the number of posts today! Knitting is more popular than I thought. I re-learned how to knit about 6 or 7 months ago (after initially learning 25 years ago)from a knitting store in Carefree, AZ. I’m lucky enough to have a Master Knitter who works there and has become a good friend. I can go to the store and sit all day and knit and talk and eat lunch and improve my knitting skills. After the initial frustration and clumsiness one feels while learning to knit has passed it can turn into an extremely relaxing and rewarding hobby. My husband and I will be visiting Normandy and Paris in the fall and it will be a great way to pass time on the long flights. My beginning projects were dishcloths made from very inexpensive cotton yarns and an easy scarf. One suggestion: knitting anything takes time and effort so why make scarves, sweaters, hats, etc. out of inexpensive yarn? Buy the best you can afford. Wool-silk blends and baby alpaca are just a few of the wonderful yarns on the market. Learn on inexpensive yarn, then use really great quality yarn for your projects. I agree with an earlier post about circular needles. That is all we use at my knitting store. Also, most of us have multiple projects going at the same time so when you get bored with one you can pick up another. Stick with it and I’m sure you will get much happiness from knitting.
When talk comes up about knitting I love to add this story. I tell my friends I’m still knitting my son a dress. After many puzzled looks I explain that I began knitting a dress while I was pregnant 38 years and to this day haven’t finished it. Happy birthday son, 14th July.
Margo
Hi Kristin
Good luck with the knitting. I suggest knitting small practice squares in different colours – this you can do in small bites and not get discouraged. I suspect your colourist’s eye would enjoy laying out the squares until you found pleasing combinations/locations for your little flags before you stitch them together to make a bag to store your yarn/needles/current pieces or for larger projects a throw to cover a sofa or chair – a bit like a patchwork quilt. xx
A friend and are heading to my fave French bistro, Bouchon, in Beverly Hills to celebrate with authentic French music and food. Viva la France! And my husband just bought me a new bottle of red Lillet to enjoy too. Yum!
Love your posts – merci beacoup!
I love how you allow escapade and spontaneity to shape your day. Also, love your thought process in what item, what color, to knit for whom…brought a big smile!
In winter, when my good friend seeks to escape the dreariness of cabin fever and drops in for a visit she always brings along her knitting bag. We sip tea together in my sunlight kitchen and talk while I watch her knit. I think one day I’d like to learn how. Oh, how I wish I could go back and have my grandmother teach me how to crochet. She made the prettiest blankets.
In the heat of summer here, I just ordered a pear-green, wool shawl at etsy. This way I’ll have something lovely to chase away the chill of fall when she makes her return…for me, she always brings a hint of melancholy with her.
Some of the best people I have met in France have been the ladies who knit.
Go and explore Ravelry.com. Lot’s of help and inspiration available for anyone who knits, spins, crochets, weaves…..
Re-bonjour, Kristin,
You asked for a Vocab List…
FRENCH VOCAB
-> la noisette = hazelnut, but, when the word is used for coffee, it is an expresso + a few drops of cream.
-> a bucolic scene doesn’t mean a ‘crowded scene’ (as suggested)
– a bucolic scene = une scène champêtre, rurale, rustique, pastorale, bucolique.
-> demander l’addition = to ask for the bill
-> le paysan / campagnard = peasant, small farmer
-> le périple = journey, voyage (if travelling by boat)
– here, it’s a tour
-> l’homme au béret = the man in the beret
-> au revoir et merci! = Bye and Thank you!
-> la poterie = pottery
-> le tissage = weaving
-> le vide-poche(s) = tidy tray
– in a car, it’s the glove-box
-> Vous tricotez? = Do you knit?
-> une aiguille = a needle
-> une paire d’aiguilles (à tricoter) = a pair of knitting needles
-> la maille = (knitting) a stitch
-> monter 50 mailles = to cast on 50 stitches
-> rabattre les mailles = to cast off/to bind off
-> une maille à l’endroit = a knit stitch
-> une maille à l’envers = a purl stitch
*********
– to do “le point mousse” (= ‘garter stitch’),
you knit “mailles à l’endroit” on each row.
– to do “le point jersey” (= ‘stocking stitch’),
you do one row of “mailles à l’endroit”, followed by one row of “mailles à l’envers”.
Happy knitting!
Bonjour d’une autre francophone – une ancienne habitante de Bourg-en-Bresse! I picked up knitting two and a half years ago. It’s definitely a lot to learn at first. I don’t know any of the knitting terms in French as I picked up the craft a full 6 years after moving back to the States.
I learned from a book one boring Thanksgiving and have barely put the needles down since. I started with an easy garter stitch (knit every row) scarf for my dad, then with each project, I added another technique. Now my favorite thing to knit are socks, but I’ve done a couple sweaters, a ton of hats and some baby blankets for friends.
Youtube is a WEALTH of information about knitting how-to’s. If you’re really getting into it, I suggest joining Ravelry – a social networking and project organization site for knitters and crocheters. There are tons of free and for-purchase patterns, you can find other knitters “au coin,” find out about meet-ups, get advice, etc. There are members from all over the world and they’re all really nice, especially to beginners. Because, hey, we were all beginners at some point! If you do join “Rav,” find me! My “ravatar” is eetnyy1103 🙂
I missed checking in yesterday–in every sense of the word “missed.”
My mom was an avid knitter and taught my little sister and I at a very young age. Back then, they had these kits that had all the makings for knitting Barbie clothes. Yes, tiiiiny Barbie clothes! I remember the needles being about as big around as toothpicks. I can’t quite believe it now.
These days, my knitting time is sporadic. I’ll get on a binge and then let it go for years without picking up a needle. After one such long knitting respite years ago, I wanted something big and challenging. I decided on a man’s sweater. I knew it would take a while. There was no ‘special’ man in my life at the time and i thought it might be a nice way to conjure one up–thinking about the qualities and characteristics that are important to me–what kind of shoes he might wear, etc., as i happily knit away. it took me about a year and i finished it–and there was indeed a ‘special man’! the sweater didn’t quite fit–the arms were much too long and the body too boxy. and as it turned out, the man wasn’t such a good fit for me, either. But now that I’m thinking about it, i just might be ready to try it again! 🙂
I am going to celebrate Le Jour de la Bastille tonight with our Groupe Francais in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, U.S.A. A new couple (French husband) is coming tonight. Can hardly wait to meet them. We always sing La Marseillaise. I wish everyone a beautiful Bastille Day. Lynda Laun
Hello again…
The one and only time I tried to knit was with my aunt Virginia when I was a child. I thought I was doing a great job, then I noticed that my knitting wasn’t getting any larger. I looked down an noticed while I was working away on making a fabulous square (nothing too hard for my first time) 🙂 my aunt’s cat was taking it apart from the bottom!! So, that was the beginning and the end of my life as a knitter. lol
Et pour Le Jour de la Bastille, je célébrais avec trois films: “PARIS”, “My Best Friend” (trés amusant!!!!) et “HeartBreaker”.
I began knitting in my twenties and gave it up as I raised my family but now I have more time and I have once again started knitting. The internet has changed knitting tremendously. I especially love ravelry.com. I have come across many french knitters who make beautiful things. I follow a couple of french knitting blogs that I have found through ravelry. The french blogs are fairly easy to understand (my french needs much improvement) and the photos are lovely.
Reading your blog today brought back happy memories of when my grandmother taught me to knit when I was a little girl. I spent many hours knitting with her. My first knitting project was a pair of bedroom slippers. I have not knitted in many years, but it is something I hope to do again after I retire from teaching. I hope that you will enjoy knitting as much as I did many years ago.
Kristi Darling – thank you for this wonderful story – what a cashe of comments, I love your readers.
My computer is still ‘down”, I am finally at the Çoffee Cup trying to catch up on gmail. Miss you so much.
XOXO
MOM
Just had time to catch up on my reading – how fun that knitting caused a blog explosion for you! I started knitting scarves for my dolls at age 7 and moved up to mittens then sweaters by high school. Yarn “keeps” well so you can pick it up again and again without feeling guilty when it sits awhile in a closet. Enjoy!
yay for learning to knit! That’s wonderful. If you’re ever in Paris and want to join knitting night at my tea house we’d love to have you! We have a great group of knitters that meet every week! I see that you joined Ravelry too! Feel free to join our group there TricoThé at L’OisiveThé. It’s a great group of knitters who like to chat about knitting in English and French.
I think a scarf is a fun project to start with but I have taught many knitters to knit a cowl for a first project and in the round! Don’t be afraid of those circular needles they will soon become your best friends. 🙂
Bon tricot et a tres bientot!!
Good luck on the knitting. Smokey looks very debonaire with his eye patch. Maybe he shoud be renamed Smokey Jack Sparrow?
Lots of parches sewn together make dish clothes, shopping bags, block-style sweaters, baby blankets,and on and on.
I missed your husband’s beautiful French pronunciation on your knitting blog. Is it possible to have him read some of the words for that entry? By the way, your blog is the highlight of my e-mail week; love your entries and the photography is almost as good as a trip to France. Wish I could have been along when you found the knitting shop in the wonderful little village. I have a list of French knitting terms that I downloaded from planetpurl.com.I knit in the simplest possible style–Russian style. There are videos on youtube that explain this well in English.It is a good style for lefties.
I am late in responding to this, but I knit scarves and afghans and then finally a sweater, which ended up beginning about a size XXL and I tried to shrink it by washing it and it shrunk in length but not in width, which made is extremely stange looking, but my father wore it anyways.
Scarfs or afghans are the best bet for the novice.
Another tricoteuse passionnée here, smiling reminiscently over your wonderful post, Kristin. I don’t remember being taught how to knit (too young) but do remember teaching our left-handed daughter to knit. She’s now a much better knitter than I am, so do persevere and bon courage!
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