I have always wanted to learn to knit. It seemed too hard and I always put it off saying I’ll get to it later. Well, later is here.
I have since torn out all of this work because it wasn’t like I wanted it. It is all about practice, practice, practice. This was my third attempt but I think the next one will be good enough to actually become a scarf for my son.
Yesterday, I was searching for a scarf for my son at the only clothing store in our village. The owner had not even one scarf for boys. So, she suggested I knit one. I thought about it for about two seconds and decided why not? If I couldn’t knit one I could always crochet one.
My mother taught me to crochet when I was seven. I have never complete even one thing I started but I do know how to do it.
I left the store with a roll of gray yarn for Boy Blue and a roll of pink yarn for one of the girls. Today, I went back and bought another roll of grey because I am going to knit two balls of yarn at once to make the scarf heavier for my son. I, also, bought a lovely pink roll along with a roll of off-white yarn for Angel. I will either send it to her for her birthday in a few weeks or have it ready for Christmas. It all depends on how well I catch on to knitting.
I can see why there are so many knitting blogs out there.
It is addictive.
I found out that Swiss schools teach children (I am not totally sure about if boys are included) to knit. I wish I had learned how to do it in school.
So, how did I do learn to knit? Online. In less than thirty minutes.
I did a search on Google and found some sites with descriptions and photos on how to cast on and knit. However, I was still having some trouble. I am a visual person and decided I needed to see someone else doing it. Another search on Google took me to videojug (Life explained. On film.) which is a website that shows people through video how to do things like how to tie a tie, put on a condom, yoga and knitting. It is a great resource and I would recommend it to anyone who like me needs a visual aid when learning.
Here is a link to the video on videojug for learning to cast on from there you can find the other knitting videos in the related films box on the right side of the video.
Pumpkin, there is a lady here where I live who is from Germany. She learned to knit in school when she was a girl (this was many years ago). I think it’s great if the Swiss schools are still teaching this.
I learned some basic knitting from her, but I haven’t been able to pick up the needles in a couple of years since Sarah has been born, else she was all over me, trying to get into what I was doing. Now that she is a bit older, I might try it again.
Are you doing a simple garter stitch for your scarves? That would be the easiest and quickest, I think. Garter stitch is where you do the knit stitch down each side of the work, until you are done. This makes a nice scarf. If you do the stitch where you knit down one side and then purl down the back side, it will roll up on the edges. I’m embarassed to say, but I can’t remember what that stitch is called (it will come to me later). I actually saw a scarf pattern in that stitch, but it wasn’t a good pattern. It won’t lie flat.
Hope you have fun!
P.S. I also meant to say I admire your bravery in trying to learn online. I am also a visual person, and have to see someone doing it. In fact, I think I’d still be intimidated to try even with a video, and not a real person. I admire you for trying!
Cathy, It was really easy once I saw it online. I am happy that others take the time to do that for people that need to see it being done.
It is the garter stitch. It is better now that I am using to rolls of yarn at once for the stitching. I ended up having to pull it out AGAIN because it was getting longer which is good but it was getting wider too which is not good. :)
I think I need to do it at night when the kids are asleep because they keep playing with it while I am knitting just like Sarah did you.
I really enjoy knitting and that surprises me. I usually can’t sit still that long.
How great!! - you’re becoming One Of Us *said in a wheezy kind of cult-voice*. I know there is a lot of knit-a-holics out there, and I have to confess, I’m one of them. I started when Miss Beans was on her way, three years ago, and now I get totally restless if I have to just sit and watch tv without knitting. It sounds impressive to be able to do it without watching but you learn that really quickly.
I just finished a sweater for my husband’s birthday, (which happens to be on Halloween), and I’ll post a pic on my blog. It’s such a nice gift.
Knitting is a great thing to calm down with after the kids have gone to bed. For me it’s like meditation.