nov. knitting mommas.. - Page 2

[DreamsInDigital]

My mom tried again to teach me how to knit. I suck so bad.

[deathbygodiva]

Susan-
I'm knitting the Nutcracker cardigan from Morehouse, too!! That's a kick. I got the yarn from the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. Actually, I'm knitting the booties and hat right now. The yarn is a beautiful turquiose, purple, emerald color.

I want to do one of Morehouse's poncho for me in that lovely merino wool, but I promised myself I had to finish this project first.

My friend, Ruth (she's Warm Heart Woolies, aren't I lucky??) says she'll finish the baby items if I give up. Hmmm, does just casting on count???

Maybe this thread will inspire me to get moving!!

[deathbygodiva]

Here's the adress for the Morehouse Merino.

http://www.morehousefarm.com/Knittin...ms/Nutcracker/

I'd love to do a cashmere set, but I'm so afraid I won't finish the project!

Those of you wanting to learn how to knit... Often craft stores offer inexpensive classes. It's really more practice than anything.

[HoneyTree]

Dreams in Digital, I know you said that learning from books wasn't really your thing, but many people I've talked to respond well to the illustrations either in Stitch 'n Bitch or Knitting for Dummies. (I was a Dummies girl myself -- took me about a month to learn, but kept me from driving myself crazy when I didn't have a job and was living in a new city!) And I second the practice thing -- I know that's the least useful advice, but I think it helps if you're a wee bit obsessive and can pick something up and work and work and work at it without going crazy or cross-eyed.

Another resource, if you're into groups, is a local Stitch 'n Bitch group. Here's the link to find one: www.stitchnbitch.org/snb_groups.htm Several women in my group came with no knowledge whatsoever of knitting, and really improved with so many different eyes and hands on their projects.

DeathbyGodiva, I just bought Ruth's pattern, and love it so far! Lucky lucky lucky you to have such a talented and helpful knitting friend!!

[DreamsInDigital]

BTE, you're awesome. Thanks. There's a SNB group in my area I'm trying to join, hopefully I'll meet them this Sunday. I just got a gift card to Powell's books so maybe I'll pick up the SNB book before I go.

[crsta33]

Originally Posted by DreamsInDigital

My mom tried again to teach me how to knit. I suck so bad.

It's so frustrating to try to learn. And my family has always believed that it's easier to learn from anyone than your mom. My grandmother taught me to crochet, I bought a book to learn knitting.

If you can get the basic idea from your mom and then practice on your own it might be easier. Also, big needles (size 10) and light colored worsted weight yarn are easier to work with in the beginning.

I have one of my first projects still (I'm planning on unraveling it and doing something else with the yarn) and halfway up the back of the sweater every stitch is twisted! It took me that long to figure out how not to do it.

Good luck and keep trying. I'll bet you "get" it.

Christa

[Soos71]

Lori,
How cool that we're both working on The Nutcracker! Those Morehouse people really get around the east coast, don't they? I think I'll buy some matching yarn to make the hat and booties set, as well (it looks like the same pattern I already used to make the Ultrasoft hat and booties). Do you know which buttons you're going to use? I'm very tempted by the Beatrix Potter ones they sell on the Morehouse site--so cute! Years ago, I made the Patchwork Baby Blanket(http://www.morehousefarm.com/Knittin...ems/Patchwork/ ) for a friend's little girl. It took awhile, but was a great project for a novice knitter--and it came out great! I'd love to see how your Nutcracker set comes out, so post a pic if you can, and I will, too. Of course, it might be awhile, as I'm not the fastest knitter. DH says I'm getting better, though--and he should know: both his mom and his sister were/are fantastic knitters. Sadly, his mom passed away, although DH has some lovely sweaters to remember her by. His sis would be happy to pass along her knitting wisdom to me, but she lives in the UK! On the up side, we do have lots of lovely baby knits to look forward to from SIL.

Be the Earth,
Thanks for posting the Stitch-n-Bitch link. If I ever get my act together, I'll join a group near me. In the meantime, I love visiting the Nashville Stitch-n-Bitch web page (www.nashvillesnb.com) and seeing what they have to say/show. Really funny commentary and great projects.

I'm also an advocate of Knitting for Dummies. I usually find it a challenge to learn crafting from diagrams, but the drawings and instructions in the book are very clear. It really is a handy reference tool.

Dreams in Digital,
Don't give up! My mom only taught me the barest basics when I was little (cast on, knit & purl, cast off). The rest, I've learned through books and trial and error. Even having mastered only the basics, you can still have lots of fun and make really cute things. It's just a question of practice and patience, as pps said. Heck, I haven't even learned to knit a cable (yet), and I'm still able to make lots of adorable stuff for baby. Simple projects on big needles (I think the first thing I ever finished was a scarf) will help build your skills and confidence bit by bit.

[MamaFern]

learning can be super frustrating.. it took me a lot of scarves to be a good knitter, and im still what id say a beginner.. ive tried learning to crochet about 5 times and i cant get it. go figure, i always thought it was easier than knitting, but not for me.

so i started another pair of longies with the intention of them being NB size, but the wool i chose is chunky so even with the premie pattern they fit my DS perfectly. so i guess he gets another pair! he doesnt have any ltk longies just the tiny bird ones i made, and thats all the wool he owns, so i dont feel bad. and i started them the night before last and im onto the legs which i know i can finnish today, so its not really a problem. they are pretty nice. its handspun merino that i dyed myself. the top is burgandy and the legs will be green.. i have pics..

www.picturetrail.com/fernknittingprojects

have fun.

ill be doing something NB sized next!

[gonnabeamom]

I haven't knitted for a bit, things have been too busy. I do want to finish the strawberry hat I'm working on, but I haven't done color knitting before, so I've got to get over to the yarn store for some help.

DID, lots of yarn stores also will help get you started even if you don't take a class, many will have a place you can hang out and get info from other knitters.

I'm thinking about trying some longies next, but I tend to react to wool. Has anyone else found they have a problem with wool, but can work the really soft stuff?

Still have to finish two cardigans, and a pair of overalls. They just need buttons. I am hoping third trimester will be a good time for knitting.

[crunchyOkapi]

Gonnabeamom - I've found that people who react to wool, usually are reacting to the stuff it is process with. Try using Organic, Untreated wool, that may help.

I just found out that I'm having a boy, and now I feel much more motivated to start my projects now. I have a crochet soaker pattern that I want to try and turn into longies, we'll see how that goes, otherwise I'll stick with the LTK pattern.