Share your love of knitting with others

re: Share your love of knitting with others

nancy Joy freeman — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:28:21 GMT

What a coincidence - I'm teaching my friend to knit and you write a collumn on just that subject. I am a self (and mother) taught 65 year old who has been knitting since childhood. I found an intriguing pattern for a bag using recycled t-shirt yarn. My friend expressed an interest. She has learned to cast-on, knit, use two colors at once and bind-off. Kitty said that if she had know that one could cuss and drink beer while knitting, she woud have taken it up years ago.

Seriously, Kitty has to take chemotherepy four times this month with hours in the chair and more hours of sleeplessness. She has been so thrilled to have something to do during those long hours that it will give me joy forever to know that I helped her in this small way. Nanny-nitsalot in Clarkston, WA

re: Share your love of knitting with others

weaversouth — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:09:30 GMT

I have twice had broken wrists. (I am rather clumsy). I don't know what your friend's cast is like, but my fingers were sticking out and I continued with tapestry-weaving AND knitting. It was tricky, but I worked it out. As long as you have fingers.....

The thing is, when the doctor took the last cast off he expected the usual case of somewhat atrophied lower arm muscles and was astounded that mine weren't, and, in fact, I was able to give him an "ouch" when he asked me to squeeze his hand "as hard as you can." He wondered what I had been doing! My second break was worse than the first one and required one of those "towel racks" (pins withe a kind of "spacer" to keep things in place-looks like you are wearing a towel-rack) to keep the bones aligned....made a great place to hang things!

Oh, yeah, I do not recommend "diving" into concrete....very unforgiving substance!

re: Share your love of knitting with others

hselle — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 10:23:44 GMT

My favorite baby blanket was in basketweave so easy

re: Share your love of knitting with others

rightgadets02 — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 05:21:10 GMT

Blend of classical appeal with the funky and sporty style, that’s the signature feature that a Titan watch flaunts. Not surprisingly, this is the brand that has been the brand for the billions of people since decades. Collections from Titan has been synonymous with the style statement, and that style galore gathers at www.rightgadgets.in/items_subcat.asp?Category=Watches_India_Online&cid=4&brand=Titan for the watch lovers and collectors.

re: Share your love of knitting with others

MarthaH@25 — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 23:04:38 GMT

Vicki;s method is exactly how my mother taught when I was old enough to want to make something (I had other lessons and had made the ususal crooked doll blankets). I went on to use them in an afghan. I used varigated yarn which was cheap and my mom could afford.. When I had made enough she suggested that I make black squares to put between the varied varigated squares, which I did. I asked my Mom sewed it together I was about 14 or 15) but I can remember her telling me she was older and the black yarn was impossible to sew at night. At 68 I sure know what she means.

re: Share your love of knitting with others

Paula@3 — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:38:16 GMT

To arbranson, I will assume you are referring to ciricular needles when you say round needles. It is accomplished exactly the same way as with straight needles. However when the stitches leave the needle area and are held on the flexible part of the circulars (the cable) they will look a bit limp and strange. Do not let this worry you. Once they are moved into the working area of the needle they will once again appear like "proper" stitches. There are a multitude of very good videos on youtube that will show you how to do this. Food luck and happy knitting.

re: Share your love of knitting with others

NicoleF — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 16:20:59 GMT

For the last several summers I have been teaching courses on knitting to adults at the local Waldorf teacher training center. I find that using some simple rhymes for the knit stitch (which we use in the classroom with the first graders) really helps to give a mnemonic device on which to hang the motions of the knit stitch. My students then usually take their square (yes, the square is the best place to begin!) and make a small animal-usually a bunny or cat, although my last class had a number of turtles-out of the square. These adults then go home with a sweet gift for their kids and are so proud of their achievement. It is a pleasure to teach anyone to knit, but adults get a certain glow when acquiring a seemingly mysterious skill, such as knitting.

re: Share your love of knitting with others

katskards — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:30:06 GMT

Love, love, love this idea!

Back in the day, (several decades ago), the simplest thing to teach a beginner was a scarf. I had one student knit dozens and give them away for Christmas. She was lucky to be blessed with a huge family, all of whom appreciated her imperfectly, but beautifully crafted presents.

Not everyone wants dozens of scarves, though. What a wonderful thing, putting knitting together with yet another craft - felting! I will definitely use this idea. In fact, I already have someone who wants to learn both knitting and felting. She just thinks they're separate. Wait 'till she sees we can put them together in yet another beautiful piece!

Thanks for the idea!!!

re: Share your love of knitting with others

dustbunny — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:25:38 GMT

I can relate to the twinge of panic when I was asked to teach a beginning knitter's class! Could I teach effectively without causing too much frustration?! Reading this article confirmed that I was on the right track with the methods and projects I chose, right down to the shorter sz 8 bamboo needles! Like DonnaS@28 commented, I started with simple cotton dishrags (yes, I would have prefered wool too!). The excitement of creating more knitting junkies is great!!

re: Share your love of knitting with others

arbranson — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:23:23 GMT

Can someone tell me how to cast on stitches for a project using round needles???????????????? Thanks. arb

re: Share your love of knitting with others

DonnaS@28 — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 12:26:59 GMT

When I teach someone else to knit, especially kids, I have them make a dishrag ... absolutely YES to the size 8 bamboo needles in the shorter length. We use 100% cotton yarn (I know, I know, I love wool best, too) because it works for this project, and my goodness, just how good does a dishrag have to look? Their moms are always thrilled to have a new dishrag.