Meeting knitters in odd places; or Fairy Knitmothers?

[xiane]

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 chattybadtz for talking to me and helping me out. :)

Comments

[alannakitty.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind learning to knit but I don't know if I would be good at it. :/

[xiane.livejournal.com]

Aw, if I can do it, you can. Wanna do coffee sometime and I'll bring everything to teach you how?
Maybe some other people will want to come along, too. We could have a knitting circle for the night!

[alannakitty.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan. What do I need to get? I mean, does the yarn have to be all special? What kind of knitting needles? I know absolutely nothing. Virgin territory here!

[nocturnaleye.livejournal.com]

Count me in for a knitting night I think I've got everything I need to get started. I just need to practice so that I remember how to do it.

[hecatemacbeth.livejournal.com]

::giggles::

I knit in Perl.

::giggles at her knitting pseudo geek comment::

[megdalyn.livejournal.com]

have you tried finding a stitch n bitch group?

[xiane.livejournal.com]

Not here - since I'm moving soon, it's probably for the best - but that's a great hope for me for the Shelby area... it could be a great way to meet some like-minded people who could be hiding somewhere ;)

I am so loving this craft.

[megdalyn.livejournal.com]

have you tried finding a stitch n bitch group?

when they meet there are tons of people of different skill levels and they are always very willing to lend a hand

also i have a book of 16 different dish cloths that have a good variety of stitches. my resolve is/was to knit each one so that by the end i would a) have more than enough dish cloths and b) have it all down pact.

I can copy the book and mail it to you if you are interested.

[megdalyn.livejournal.com]

even still it's not like it's something that you have to pay money to join. you just show up whenever you want to. even if it's just once to get help. one monday i was in desperate need for help and didn't want to wait for the group on tuesday and so i just showed up, hung out for a while, got help and never went back...

[megdalyn.livejournal.com]

and my computer is on crack

[xiane.livejournal.com]

I haven't even thought about it as a "help desk" of sorts! I was just thinking "place to hang out and knit." Hmmm. Shows you how short-minded I can be sometimes ;)

I should probably do that... also I was pretty shy about showing my work to seasoned knitters, but now that I know how to purl and it looks right, I feel more confident! Hee.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

heheee. I figured it was LJ being stupid.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

dishcloths = the awesome. I'd *love* that. Thank you!

[megdalyn.livejournal.com]

don't be every one starts out as a novice.

i thought i was such a crappy knitter. when someone asked if i could purl. yes, i taught myself at the same time... i figured if i have to learn one learn both. i still do it my own way. i hold the needles apparently, but i could do it... i didn't realize it was a big step.

so go out and get coffee (most of them are at coffee shops) and just get help and when you move you'll be more apt to get out there and make friends

also, you could find a yarn shop. though this is very dangerous since you'll want to buy, buy, buy... most of them have knit nights just like stitch n bitch

[megdalyn.livejournal.com]

i don't know where i put you address so just email it to me

meghanfsmith@gmail.com

[xiane.livejournal.com]

I keep trying to remind myself that everyone starts off at the same place, but you know me. I'm my own worst critic! I think, after looking at my work, that I'm actually pretty competent - now that I can really see how I'm stitching [because stockinette reveals so much more than just garter], I feel pretty good about myself. It was SO helpful to have someone else who knits Continental show me the purl stitch! Once I *saw* it, it made perfect sense.

Oh, man. I'm already a sick yarn addict. I bought my first hand-dyed yarn last month, a black alpaca with beads woven through it. I knit it up in a loose garter stitch and I feel like a pro when I look at it, hehee.
I know that as soon as I find a REAL yarn shop around here, I'm doomed. I already have a big bag of yarn. O_O

[megdalyn.livejournal.com]

http://www.bust.com/knithappens/

that's the stitch n bitch site...

yeah tell me about it. i have this 3 drawer chest full of yarn. i'm always bidding on needles on ebay and i can't stop buying books at goodwill...

i'm even starting to get "knitter's elbow."

[megdalyn.livejournal.com]

i'll copy it and send it to you tomorrow.

[xiane.livejournal.com]

You are awesome. :)

[parkas-4-kids.livejournal.com]

my girlfriend knits, too. at least when she's not drowning in her studies and school work....