I passed Level 1

Yesterday I found out that I passed Level I of The Knitting Guild Association Master Hand Knitting Program. It took about a year to complete all the work, I submitted the package at the end of October,  and I got my review back at the end of January. I had to resubmit the pattern, add some details to some questions, and I had to resubmit a small swatch for the hat project to show that I understood how to do a jogless join.  I mailed all my resubmissions in early February and found out that I STILL wasn't doing the jogless join correctly.  Part of the problem was that many of the instructions I found were actually doing it differently that what the Master Hand Committee was expecting.  Once I figured that out, I was set!

After I found out I passed yesterday, I almost immediately ordered the next level.  I'm still waiting for it to show up in my email.  Waiting for it is making me crazy.

Yesterday was a big knitting day.  I finally received my copy of the Principles of Knitting, by June Hemmons Hiatt that I pre-ordered back in June, and I've started reading it.  My favorite quote from the Introduction is:

"Central to the appeal of knitting is that it works like meditation. Everything becomes quiet, still, and peaceful, and all the turmoil of life seems to succumb to the silent rhythm of the needles and the orderly progression of the stitches. There is a simple, sensual pleasure in the colors and textures of the yarns, and for me, inveterate adherent of the work ethic that I am, it provides an excuse to sit still, for after all I am accomplishing something worthwhile."

I'm looking forward to all the meditative pleasure of working on Level II.  I'll keep you updated on my progress.