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So who is learning to knit soakers? - Page 6

post #101 of 134
8/30/03 at 12:29am
Okay, I got some knitting stuff in a trade, and here I am. I learned to cast on(I think I'm doing it right) last night, but hubby had to show me from the directions. I have a hard time making what's in my hand look the same as the picture for some reason...
I just joined the yahoo group, and can't wait to get going!!

Do you think 4 and 5 are way too young to learn to knit? My kiddos are begging me, but i don't want them to be discouraged if it really is too young, dexterity wise or something. Whatcha think?
debi

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post #102 of 134
8/30/03 at 12:34am
Good luck knitting Debi. I think four is too young. My four-year-old was with me at the yarn shop for my knitting lesson and wanted to learn but the lady there (an 82-year-old experienced knitter) said dd was too young, but I could teach her when she's older and when I have learned it.

My mom suggested a knitting spool...where the kids just move the loops. I am going to look into one of those...but I think they'd have to be about 6 to use it.
post #103 of 134
8/30/03 at 1:27pm
Quote:
Originally posted by mamamoo

Do you think 4 and 5 are way too young to learn to knit? My kiddos are begging me, but i don't want them to be discouraged if it really is too young, dexterity wise or something. Whatcha think?
debi
I learned to knit when I was 5 (actually a little BEFORE). My mom was a stay at home mom and would go to my sisters school (a convent) and teach the girls to knit - I'd go along, and I ended up with my own line of girls to help when they dropped stitches and what nots....
post #104 of 134
8/30/03 at 2:01pm
Wow- Chelly- that's amazing! I might try with my dd when she's five then. I know I tried to learn to knit when I was 8 and got frustrated with it- my Grandma was a great knitter- she knitted beautiful cable knit cardigans, but my knitting kept getting thicker instead of longer so I quit. I am just picking it up at age 39...

My 4-year-old tried to cast on and could not get it and was frustrated and just wrapped yarn around a needle to play.
post #105 of 134
8/30/03 at 7:34pm
I just finished the LTK waistband and now I'm about to get tech support for the next part. I've never heard of Ktog. I know it means knit together, but what does that mean? I guess I'll find out. My ribbing looks alright though and that was a first for me too. It really didn't take very long either as soon as I figured out what I was doing. I'll let you know how the rest goes.
post #106 of 134
8/30/03 at 8:11pm
For K2together, insert your needle into two loops instead of one. Then knit those 2 loops as if they were one.
post #107 of 134
8/30/03 at 11:05pm
and on kt2tog, put the needle through the front of both stitches (just learned that myself)
post #108 of 134
8/30/03 at 11:43pm
Quote:
Originally posted by MamaMonica

My 4-year-old tried to cast on and could not get it and was frustrated and just wrapped yarn around a needle to play.
Try casting on for her and perhaps knit a row or two, it becomes easier once there is a little bit knitted already - its those first few rows that are kinda tough.
Keep the needles FAT and the yarn smooth (no fancy yarns) although some cool colors will help keep it interesting.
Perhaps the first project can be a blanket for a Barbi doll or something small.

GOOD LUCK
Chelly
post #109 of 134
8/30/03 at 11:52pm
Thank you Chelly! That is so inspiring. I'll look for some fat needles and cast on for her. She was really disappointed when the lady at the store said she was too young.
post #110 of 134
8/31/03 at 12:03am
Good Luck, it sounds like she really wants to learn and that will be enough for her to get going.
My son is 4, and although his attention span is pretty short, you can teach them things at this age, but it requires some stops and starts, and something relativly quick so they can see the results of their efforts.
I never think its a good idea to say NO to a child when they want to learn something (well I'd say NO to Paragliding!)
post #111 of 134
8/31/03 at 12:15am
"and on kt2tog, put the needle through the front of both stitches (just learned that myself)"

Do you mean as if to purl or just a knit with the needle in front? I'm confused again. I guess I could experiment with my practice swatch. Thanks.
post #112 of 134
8/31/03 at 12:22am
When I did it, I did it just as if to knit (not in front or anything) only I used two stitches instead of one and it worked.

FYI, the row of K2togYO is to create eyelets for the drawstring to run through and you really don't need them (my wooly wonder doesn't have them). I didn't realize that as I knitted it and I wasn't happy with the eyelets . Next time I intend to leave them out and just work the drawstring through the stockinette stitches at the bottom of the ribbing.
post #113 of 134
8/31/03 at 2:03am
I'm not knitting the soaker yet, but the LT bucket hat, and have been doing the k2 tog by sliding as if to knit through the front of the stitches- not like purl- just as if to knit, same angle but through the front. There aren't any yarn overs in the hat so far, so I don't know if you need to knit through the front with a yarn over or can just knit 2 together through the back- like usual.
post #114 of 134
8/31/03 at 2:49am
Oh, good!! Thanks for the reassurence about helping my little ones to knit. I hate saying no when they show such an interest!!

I joined the yahoo group, and someone gave me a link to a place that has videos!! It was a lifesaver!! I tried for 3 hours last night to get the knitting stitch down, and could not figure it out from the paper, I watched the video this morning and had it in 2 seconds!! Here's the link in case it hasn't been posted. It shows english and continental knitting and purling, and cast on and off.

http://www.fiberartshop.com/knclbg.htm

I think I will try to show the kiddos tomorrow. I'll let you all know how it goes.
post #115 of 134
9/4/03 at 1:50pm
I need help from some experienced knitters Chelly?

I had a problem knitting on double points for the final rows on the LT bucket hat- that reduces in from a square to make the flat top - the redutions are along 4 diagonal rows that meet in the center when done. It was fine at first- but I knitted the 4 double points in a triangle shape (8 inch double points) and it got so tight as I got fewer stitches on the needles that I stretched out and mangled the cotton just to get the needles moving into the knit stitches as I knit inward and the center got smaller.

Should I have used shorter double points or used 5 double points moving the stitches off the circular needles onto 4 instead of 3 to make that sqaure shape? I want to do another and get it right. Theresa is on vacation so I can't get tech support this week.

thanks!
post #116 of 134
9/4/03 at 6:23pm
Man, I know what you mean about the missing tech support. I can't help you with your problem, but I'm in a similar pinch. I picked a fine time to learn how to knit. I'm to the part of the soaker where you diminish for the leg holes and I'm having a hard time getting the reducing stitches to look right. I've struggled through the project thus far, but with 2yo around it's hard to get the time to disect the pattern. I'll be happy next week when Teresa gets back.
post #117 of 134
9/5/03 at 6:55pm
I did it!!!!! I finished my first wool soaker! It is far from perfect, but it is finished and I'm hooked. I've already started the next one. I'm not sure yet what color I'm going to dye it since I'm not finding out the gender of this baby so I'll leave it natural for now. It really wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. There were some things I had to work on to figure out, but I managed and I've never knitted anything to completion before. I'd never even purled before if that tells you anything. Anyone can do this. The next one will be sooo much better now that I know what I'm doing. I'll post pictures when I figure out how. Thanks to all who helped answer my rookie questions.
post #118 of 134
9/5/03 at 8:29pm
Congratulations! That is wonderful!
post #119 of 134
9/6/03 at 1:53am
Quote:
Originally posted by MamaMonica
I need help from some experienced knitters Chelly?

I had a problem knitting on double points for the final rows on the LT bucket hat- that reduces in from a square to make the flat top - the redutions are along 4 diagonal rows that meet in the center when done. It was fine at first- but I knitted the 4 double points in a triangle shape (8 inch double points) and it got so tight as I got fewer stitches on the needles that I stretched out and mangled the cotton just to get the needles moving into the knit stitches as I knit inward and the center got smaller.

Should I have used shorter double points or used 5 double points moving the stitches off the circular needles onto 4 instead of 3 to make that sqaure shape? I want to do another and get it right. Theresa is on vacation so I can't get tech support this week.

thanks!
I think it would be easier to use 4 needles instead of 3. Its hard to say when I can't see whats going on, or even the pattern..... I don't think you can get shorter needles I think they're pretty standard in length.
post #120 of 134
9/6/03 at 1:25pm
Thanks, Chelly. I knitted another hat yesterday and did the double points on three again- none of the stores had any double points in stock locally. It worked until I dropped a marker and stitches and got everything twisted picking up both and trying to pull stitches from another needle behind the marker to hold it on. I was able to knit to the end on three- it worked except the screwed up section where I twisted it near the end. Both the hats are wearable but imperfect on the top.

Are wooden double points easier to knit with? - I was using a slippery cotton on aluminum needles I borrowed from the yarn shop. I am going to wait for tech support on the pattern before I do a third hat and stick to my sweater... or maybe try to knit some tube socks or something easy until I get my soaker yarn in the mail.

The good thing is that I am learning by doing and the mistakes I make help me learn.
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Mothering › Mothering Discussion Forums › The Kitchen Sink › Arts & Crafts › So who is learning to knit soakers?