knitting..ot

[LilMamiBella]

I do not know how to knit but I'd love to learn how. How can I get started? I'd love to make my dd a wool soaker! If you have any links or ideas please let me know!

[jessikate]

I did a quick search for yarn shops in your city, and here's the one I came up with:

American Fibers & Yarn Co. 4810 Frontage Rd.
Greenville, SC
[phone]

I'd give them a call about classes. Or if you're more of a teach-yourself type of person, look for a book at your library or I'm sure the yarn shop will have something.

Be careful, though... it's addictive!

[LilMamiBella]

I'd give them a call about classes. Or if you're more of a teach-yourself type of person, look for a book at your library or I'm sure the yarn shop will have something.

Be careful, though... it's addictive! [/B][/QUOTE]






great thanks! I'll probably need a class though.

[allformyboys]

You might not

need a class, I got a $3 pamphlet from walmart and taught myself. It was so much easier than I thought it would be! Knitting is in my opinion a LOT simpler to learn than crocheting. Crochet is something that has a TON of different stitches and knitting has two, knit and perl. Perl is the opposite of knit, but they are basically the same thing.

Anyway you can search online and find the same kind of instructions I got from the pamphlet, it took a few times of trying, but after a few days I had my first soaker, and I just took off from there! Good luck! ~Marnie

[mommy2boys]

I got a kit from walmart that came with needles and a bunch of other stuff, I used to know how to knit but haven't done it in years. The book was really thourough and taught me stuff i had never learned.

[Artisan]

Definitely take a class. I disagree with Marnie -- knitting is quite a bit more difficult than crochet. You have to manage two needles while simultaneously controlling the yarn at an even tension, and then you have to learn how to increase, decrease, cast on, cast off, etc. -- it's more complicated than crocheting.

Knitting is VERY addictive -- you will love it once you learn, though!

[LilMamiBella]

Originally posted by sharonal
Definitely take a class. I disagree with Marnie -- knitting is quite a bit more difficult than crochet. You have to manage two needles while simultaneously controlling the yarn at an even tension, and then you have to learn how to increase, decrease, cast on, cast off, etc. -- it's more complicated than crocheting.

Knitting is VERY addictive -- you will love it once you learn, though!

I think I will see if Walmart has any kits or books on the subject..but I know I'll need a class. I remember my Grandma tried to teach me when I was younger.

[Artisan]

One other thing: try going to Barnes and Noble or the library and getting a book on Kid's knitting. The directions are usually SUPER simple!

[LilMamiBella]

Originally posted by sharonal
One other thing: try going to Barnes and Noble or the library and getting a book on Kid's knitting. The directions are usually SUPER simple!

Duh! I should've thought about that! Thanks Sharon for reminding me!

[Benjismom]

I would not recommend trying to learn from a book, since knitting is done in three dimensions. Even really good books don't tell the whole story, and I often find myself going to a yarn store to have a complicated stitch shown to me. I used to work at a yarn store and the owner always had time to teach new people how to knit--better than a book but not as much commitment as a class! She taught me the two basic stitches in one sitting (about an hour or two) and then helped me select and read my first pattern. (This is something you can get most of from a book, I think).

Knitting is the greatest! Very habit forming and relaxing and once you're proficient you can do it while you're doing other things. (I and a bunch of other women used to knit during college seminars back in the day.)

Good luck--Beth
Mom to Benji 3/23/00 and Maggie 1/24/03

[allformyboys]

Originally posted by sharonal
I disagree with Marnie

And just WHO said you could do that!? :P just kidding of course, I have been told by a LOT of people that knitting is harder than crochet, but honestly these are people that crochet and don't really knit, no one that does both much. Now me personally I feel like knitting is easier because I have been trying for months to figure out how to crochet and I still don't have it totally down (some stuff I do have but there are like a million variations). And knitting I had down in like 24 hours, seriously, casting on, increasing, decreasing, all the stuff seemed so simple to me. I will chalk it up to pure raw talent right? Now I need to find a crochet class so I can be one of those people that KNOWS how easy it is.....LOL ~

[lestouffer]

I can knit like a madwoman, but still cannot learn to crochet. I think its frustrating since I can turn out something much more beautiful with knitting than a frist attempt at crochet.
I re-picked it up from a book, my grandmother taught me almost 30 years ago but I never got very good and from then until the birth of my latest dd, I knit about 2 projects (both easy sweaters), after I quit working, it was all I seemed to do.

I have bought my 7 year old dd Melanie Falick's kids knitting book, seems to be pretty good and basic. Saw her on Martha Stewart (no comments please) and was impressed.

With my basic knowledge that was extremely rusty, I re-taught myself using the Readers Digest handicrafts book. This is a great book (and its still in print in some version or other) which covers all sorts of needle crafts, knitting, crochet, tatting, needlepoint, etc. I see it at Michael's every now and again. its a great basic book with lots of easy (at least I think) directions, and I am left handed, so most of this stuff is backwards to me.

There is also a great book with prtty good directions (but it may be a better 2nd book on knitting, as the projects are a little harder, but cooler) and its covers lots including color knitting and beads (looking for a project to do with those now). It is called The Ulitmate Knitter's Guide by Kate Buller. Its split pages with the tops being the patterns and the bottoms being the instructions, so you can flip between the instructions without losing th epattern, a cool book and great idea. Also has patterns by some pretty famous knitware designers.

Sorry so long,...

[LilMamiBella]

Last night I went to Walmart and bought a How to Knit Kit. It took me forever to figure out how to make a knot like they did in the picture! It took my dh only 5-10 minutes and he was knitting! I just sat there looking at him amazed,lol. He said that when he was younger his sister used to knit for hours and hours every day. So, I may see if dh can show me a little bit or will find a class.

[jessikate]

that's awesome that your DH picked up the knitting and gave it a try. Mine won't even consider it, though he finds it really interesting. I think he'd really appreciate the mathematical parts of knitting, too, so it's a shame.

The easiest way I know of to make a slipknot (and it's not an easy thing for a lot of people) is to take the yarn, wrap it around my fingertip, and pull a loop through. Maybe that direction will help a little more?

I taught myself to knit & crochet from a Coats & Clark handbook that covered knitting, crochet, and tatting. I've seen it around, and it looks like it'd still be a good resource. You might prefer something with really detailed photos, though. In that case, I'd suggest The Knit Stitch by Sally Melville, or Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book. The Knit Stitch just covers the knit stitch, though, not a word about purling. There are lots of great projects in it, and from what I remember, the patterns are written for many different sizes and to be used with your choice of yarn (instead of their choice, which could easily run $7-8/skein and you'd need 10+ for a sweater). The Vogue Knitting book is really a great reference (and one I need to have on my shelf, I think) so I think it'd be a good one to get, despite the somewhat high price.

Feel free to PM/email me if you have questions... I worked in a yarn shop during my pregnancy and helped a lot of people get started.

[LilMamiBella]

Feel free to PM/email me if you have questions... I worked in a yarn shop during my pregnancy and helped a lot of people get started. [/B][/QUOTE]



I'm going to go to the library today and see what I can find on knitting books. I will probably get a kids knitting book too.