What Do You Need To Be A Truly Fearless Knitter?

Ripping Back Without Ripping Your Hair Out

Knitting Daily — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 10:45:41 GMT

Every knitter has his or her own way of resolving the inevitable knitting mistakes. We shall skip over

New (and gorgeous!) Free Pattern: White Witch Mitts

Knitting Daily — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 20:44:14 GMT

TODAY'S POST IS BY LAURA RINTALA , managing editor of Interweave Knits, and designer of the White

re: What Do You Need To Be A Truly Fearless Knitter?

Yarnboy — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:00:39 GMT

Fearless or not, like in life, one step at a time, take care of yourself, being patient, I knit but not sure if I am good or not, or how to be one. Be open mind & be observational, don't need to learn all these from knitting, U can learn them from many others way. Good things will happen when the person willing to wait.

re: What Do You Need To Be A Truly Fearless Knitter?

StephanieP — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 22:00:22 GMT

I know this topic is "old", but I want to to tell everyone that I AM A FEARLESS KNITTER!! I am knitting my VERY FIRST SOCK. Really. Me. A sock. On DPN's. Yes!! Me!!! I don't know why I was afraid. I LOVE dpn's. Yes. Me. Well, it wasn't love at first cast on - but now I think I've got the hang of it. yes!! me!!!! (hehehe - I'm almost guidy - I don't know what I'll do when I finish it!) Oh, and I've finished my CPHoodie - and it looks beautiful.

re: What Do You Need To Be A Truly Fearless Knitter?

DebbieP@3 — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 18:25:45 GMT

To me there really hasn't been anything to fear in knitting. My first project (after practicing on a couple swatches) was a garter stitch sweater for myself. It fit and I wore it a lot. My second project was a sweater for my soon-to-be hubby. It was three colors of tan & brown and had a fair isle pattern across the chest. It fit him fine and he wore it a lot until he finally told me that wool made him way to hot! By the way, I tought myself to knit with a book over 20 years ago. I guess I was too ignorant to have fear. So maybe a fearless knitter just doesn't know she/he has anything to fear! In the past year I have tackled beaded knitting, cables and socks. All new to me. I did take a class for the beaded bag and to learn cables and found that I probably could have figured it out myself. I am going to be teaching some friends how to make socks soon. I just think knitting is fun and anything new to learn just increases the enjoyment. I don't stress about new or challenging stuff becuase what's the worse that can happen? All knitting is good, right? So, I guess I don't know any better to have the fear and have always been a fearless knitter.

re: What Do You Need To Be A Truly Fearless Knitter?

MelanieA — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:13:59 GMT

What would make me a fearless knitter? I'm willing to try anything but it drives me crazy to frog...especially if it's a really nice yarn that cost a bundle. Now if the yarn were free..... :-)

re: What Do You Need To Be A Truly Fearless Knitter?

LaurieR — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:38:46 GMT

I think the thing I need to become a fearless knitter is more time so I can try new things. I also need a bigger stash.
Technique wise, I need to learn more about how to adjust a pattern so it fits over my curves. I still haven't figured that part out very well. Even when I do careful measuring and a gauge swatch, I still seem to have trouble!

re: What Do You Need To Be A Truly Fearless Knitter?

Albaymom1 — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 13:18:29 GMT

I am a fearless knitter (and crocheter) I will try anything once. I did socks as the second project after I learned to knit! All it takes to be fearless is not being a afraid to rip it out! And lifelines are wonderful! Also just because a pattern says it for experienced knitters doesn't mean that it really is, a lot of times that is because of wording the patterns or charts..try it worst that can happen is that you have to rip!

re: What Do You Need To Be A Truly Fearless Knitter?

MarciaC — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 04:14:19 GMT

To me being a fearless knitter means not being afraid to try patterns and stitches that look difficult. Unfortunately I am always afraid I'll mess up and there is nothing I hate more than having to tear out the knitting I have already done to correct the mistake. That really scares me. I am retired from the work force now so I have more time to play (yes, knitting is fun) with new stitches and patterns at the more difficult level. Illustrated instruction sheets are very valuable to me as are clearly written instructions. I would love to see more of tnem. Articles about solving various problems when knitting are especially helpful. I'm ready for the challenge now.

re: What Do You Need To Be A Truly Fearless Knitter?

ChrisanneG — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 00:25:39 GMT

I tell my students that no one ever died because they made a mistake in their knitting--and that frequently mistakes actually do become 'design elements'. Don't let the yarn or the needles boss you around, but work with them. And most of all, enjoy--because otherwise, you might as well be cleaning the oven!
Chrisanne G.

re: What Do You Need To Be A Truly Fearless Knitter?

NadiaT — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 05:45:09 GMT

I think being a fearless knitter is about being outside of your comfort zone. I'm forever choosing patterns that look great, but are well and truely beyond my skill level. I know that I'm in for hours of frustration and countless episodes of ripping and reknitting. But guess what, I'm getting to be pretty good! A year ago I was struggling to read patterns, while now I'm working with lace, small needles and pattern alterations... way outside my comfort zone. I love the challenges.

re: What Do You Need To Be A Truly Fearless Knitter?

MichelleP@2 — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:01:21 GMT

Hi Sandy, I became a fearless knitter just before christmas. I'm 27 and have been wanting to knit and have watched enviously as others do it with ease. Well I finally decided to pick up a pair of knitting needles and a couple of skeins of red heart yarn and I'm working on my first scarf. I can't wait to tackle my next project I'm still deciding on whether its going to be socks or a sweater!

re: What Do You Need To Be A Truly Fearless Knitter?

CarolM@3 — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:34:25 GMT

My greatest fear is knitting something to fit me. I am not a size 2 or even a size 18. I wear a size 32. So most patterns do not come in my size or even close to my size. I would like to learn how to adjust a pattern to fit me. Also the same is true with socks. I do not have skinny little ankles or legs. So how do you know how many stitches to cast on for socks that will fit me?

re: What Do You Need To Be A Truly Fearless Knitter?

poiyatama — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:58:21 GMT

What are your knitting fears?
That I'll invest my time (and money) in a project that won't fit (because I got the gauge wrong or because I used a different yarn other than what was specified), won't match (ex. dye lot), or otherwise won't be useful.
What would it take for you to become a truly fearless knitter?
Knowing how to read the freakin' pattern language! I'm sooo tired of hearing, "Well, you're just supposed to KNOW that!" Are people BORN just knowing stuff??? I must have been standing behind a tree when that knowledge was passed out . . . .
How can Knitting Daily help you to build the skills and the confidence to become a Fearless Knitter?
You do it every day. I get better every time I visit the site. Thanks for a job well done! And keep doing it -- it might take ME forever!

re: What Do You Need To Be A Truly Fearless Knitter?

SueA@2 — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:51:32 GMT

I guess I haven't been knitting long enough to understand what there is to fear, except maybe inadvertently impaling myself on a needle....