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I was walking around Barnes and Noble on a Friday afternoon, with a copy of Bazaar Bizarre under my arm and a scarf around my neck that's made to look like a cat lounging there. [I looked for a pic, but it came from Hallmark and they've taken their pics down. Poo!]
I was stopped by a woman who wanted to see the scarf - a lot of people had been commenting on it, so I was of course amused and obliging - and she asked if I'd knitted it. I replied that I didn't have the knitting skills as of yet to knit something that complicated... and she responded with an excited, "But you do knit?"
Heee. Knitting addicts united!
We discussed how the scarf could be constructed, and I revealed my doubt in my skills, as I've just started knitting a few months ago. I told her that I'd not been able to get purling down yet, and she showed me her technique, which was SO easy. I was thrilled to meet another Continental knitter - it has always made more sense to hold the yarn in my left hand. Seeing the stitch done sealed my understanding of it. Last night, I made my first row of purl stitches! And it was easy!
... Moral of the story? Fellow knitters can be found everywhere, and they might hold great insight if you take the time to chat! [even better if you discover that they're on the same LJ communities as you, heh!]
Big kudos to![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chattybadtz for talking to me and helping me out. :)
I was stopped by a woman who wanted to see the scarf - a lot of people had been commenting on it, so I was of course amused and obliging - and she asked if I'd knitted it. I replied that I didn't have the knitting skills as of yet to knit something that complicated... and she responded with an excited, "But you do knit?"
Heee. Knitting addicts united!
We discussed how the scarf could be constructed, and I revealed my doubt in my skills, as I've just started knitting a few months ago. I told her that I'd not been able to get purling down yet, and she showed me her technique, which was SO easy. I was thrilled to meet another Continental knitter - it has always made more sense to hold the yarn in my left hand. Seeing the stitch done sealed my understanding of it. Last night, I made my first row of purl stitches! And it was easy!
... Moral of the story? Fellow knitters can be found everywhere, and they might hold great insight if you take the time to chat! [even better if you discover that they're on the same LJ communities as you, heh!]
Big kudos to
chattybadtz for talking to me and helping me out. :)Learn how to knit!
4 October 2005 22:43A bunch of people have asked me for info on how I learned to knit [looks at wanderyng1 in particular], so I decided to post all the really helpful links I've found. With this, a ball of yarn, and a pair of knitting needles, you can get started in like two seconds. :D
First place you want to go is here: http://learntoknit.lionbrand.com/
The instructions are really clear and the drawings REALLY helped me. Start with Casting On, and knit yourself a chain of stitches. I started with about 40; you might want to just make a small swatch, so maybe less. The great thing about knitting is if you make mistakes or want to just practice, you can just pull all your stitches out and start over.
After you've cast on enough, move to knit stitch, then purl. If purling confounds you at first, you're in good company. I haven't even made something using purl stitch yet, because I started with the wrong sort of yarn for a beginner.
A note about that: get yourself a SMOOTH yarn to start! Trust me on this one - a homespun looks gorgeous but is a BITCH to work with at first. Also, since one of the wonderful benefits of knitting is the soothing feeling of the needles and yarn sliding through your hands - trust me, it's really relaxing, once you've got it down - I recommend buying the nicest smooth yarn and needles you can. I started on a thick wool-blend and bamboo needles and I really appreciated how they felt in my hands. Remember, if you decide you hate knitting, there are plenty of hipster-types who will want to buy your stuff from you. ;)
Here's another how-to-knit page: http://www.learntoknit.com/instructions_kn.php3
If you're curious, I knit Continental style. That means I hold the yarn with my left hand. If you want to see how this works, here's a picture explanation: http://glampyreknits.tripod.com/glampyrephotos/id49.html
I recommend the ubiquitous scarf as your first project, as SOMEONE you know will need one, and it is a simple project that you can finish quickly, so you can bask in your feeling of accomplishment.
If you want some other places to find patterns, here are some of the links I've amassed:
http://www.learntoknit.com/project_ideas.php3
http://www.knitty.com/ [excellent, cool patterns that you have no hope of doing as a beginner, hehee.]
http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PG=acc&PT=k
http://helloyarn.com/miniskulltote.htm
http://knitting.about.com/blpattern.htm
http://glampyreknits.tripod.com/glampyrephotos/id18.html
http://www.domiknitrix.com/knittingpatterns/index.cfm
http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/free_patterns/
http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/kpatt10.htm
http://www.knittingknonsense.com/skullcrossbones.html
http://wendyknits.net/knit/mousepat.htm
http://freeknittingpatterns.blogspot.com/
http://www.dailyknitter.com/
http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/index.php
http://www.knitkit.com/SpecialCompanion.htm
http://wendyknits.net/wendy/knitting.htm
And finally, an online 'zine for knitters: http://www.spunmag.com/
Questions? Comments? Links to add? Hit me up, baby!
wanderyng1 in particular], so I decided to post all the really helpful links I've found. With this, a ball of yarn, and a pair of knitting needles, you can get started in like two seconds. :DFirst place you want to go is here: http://learntoknit.lionbrand.com/
The instructions are really clear and the drawings REALLY helped me. Start with Casting On, and knit yourself a chain of stitches. I started with about 40; you might want to just make a small swatch, so maybe less. The great thing about knitting is if you make mistakes or want to just practice, you can just pull all your stitches out and start over.
After you've cast on enough, move to knit stitch, then purl. If purling confounds you at first, you're in good company. I haven't even made something using purl stitch yet, because I started with the wrong sort of yarn for a beginner.
A note about that: get yourself a SMOOTH yarn to start! Trust me on this one - a homespun looks gorgeous but is a BITCH to work with at first. Also, since one of the wonderful benefits of knitting is the soothing feeling of the needles and yarn sliding through your hands - trust me, it's really relaxing, once you've got it down - I recommend buying the nicest smooth yarn and needles you can. I started on a thick wool-blend and bamboo needles and I really appreciated how they felt in my hands. Remember, if you decide you hate knitting, there are plenty of hipster-types who will want to buy your stuff from you. ;)
Here's another how-to-knit page: http://www.learntoknit.com/instructions_kn.php3
If you're curious, I knit Continental style. That means I hold the yarn with my left hand. If you want to see how this works, here's a picture explanation: http://glampyreknits.tripod.com/glampyrephotos/id49.html
I recommend the ubiquitous scarf as your first project, as SOMEONE you know will need one, and it is a simple project that you can finish quickly, so you can bask in your feeling of accomplishment.
If you want some other places to find patterns, here are some of the links I've amassed:
http://www.learntoknit.com/project_ideas.php3
http://www.knitty.com/ [excellent, cool patterns that you have no hope of doing as a beginner, hehee.]
http://www.bernat.com/pattern.php?PG=acc&PT=k
http://helloyarn.com/miniskulltote.htm
http://knitting.about.com/blpattern.htm
http://glampyreknits.tripod.com/glampyrephotos/id18.html
http://www.domiknitrix.com/knittingpatterns/index.cfm
http://www.knittinghelp.com/knitting/free_patterns/
http://www.headhuggers.org/patterns/kpatt10.htm
http://www.knittingknonsense.com/skullcrossbones.html
http://wendyknits.net/knit/mousepat.htm
http://freeknittingpatterns.blogspot.com/
http://www.dailyknitter.com/
http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/index.php
http://www.knitkit.com/SpecialCompanion.htm
http://wendyknits.net/wendy/knitting.htm
And finally, an online 'zine for knitters: http://www.spunmag.com/
Questions? Comments? Links to add? Hit me up, baby!
 |
Joy at finishing! WOO! |
It has a lacy edge that was created making a simple yarn over. I really like it, but would NOT recommend starting one's first knitting project with a nubbly "homespun" like that. It was really difficult to knit neatly sometimes.
( Close-ups here! )
DC Area Knit-Out!
12 September 2005 04:49From http://www.craftyarncouncil.com/knitoutbrochure.html:
Washington, DC, Sunday, October
23rd
Fourth Annual Knit-Out &
Crochet
Noon to 5 p.m., National Mall (Near Mall entrance of Natural History
Museum-Smithsonian Metro)
RAIN OR SHINE
Dream & Share
Fashion Shows -- The latest fashions from yarn companies, local
yarn shops and guild members
Show & Share - Applaud fellow yarn lovers as they wear or
bring their favorite projects
Learn
Learn to knit and crochet-Free for the entire family
The Doctor Is In - Experienced (and friendly) crocheters and
knitters help with pattern and project questions
Give
Warm Up America - Help assemble afghans for people in need
Charity Corner - Learn about more programs
Browse
Latest yarns - Local retailers share the latest yarns and
patterns
Learn about area guilds and clubs
... if you were looking to learn how to knit, this might be a fun event to attend. I am thinking about going.
Washington, DC, Sunday, October
23rd
Fourth Annual Knit-Out &
Crochet
Noon to 5 p.m., National Mall (Near Mall entrance of Natural History
Museum-Smithsonian Metro)
RAIN OR SHINE
Dream & Share
yarn shops and guild members
bring their favorite projects
Learn
knitters help with pattern and project questions
Give
Browse
patterns
... if you were looking to learn how to knit, this might be a fun event to attend. I am thinking about going.