Beginning knitters support thread - Page 2

[Gale Force]

I'm a beginner as well. My first project is a hat -- my mom knitted the first 10 or so rows so that I could see the pattern and then taught me how to knit and purl. However, right now it is sitting in her house (right across the street) waiting for her to repair something I messed up. LOL.

[kerc]

ahhhh

help. i am having problems with trying to knit dh some mittens. pattern calls for 4 double pointed needles. i am a basic kind of gal -- meaning i can knit, i can purl. i can do a little of both even. but I've never made anythign that required a dp needles.

any pointers?

should i give up and go back to flat pieces?

[MamaMonica]

Don't give up on the double points. They look complicated but I was able to finish the tops of the two hats with them from the diagram in a book-- the concept is simple once you start doing it. (I was knitting only a week when I tried them).

The problem was the aluminum double pointed needles kept falling out and stitches/markers kept dropping off the bottom, so I knitted so tight I couldn't move them.

I got great advice to try Brittany Birch double points and divide the stitches on 4, not 3 needles. These are supposed to be less slidey and clanky. I just got my BB double points in the mail last night and am going to cast on for a sock soon and I'll let you know how it goes. Apparently aluminum dps are the hardest to use...

[sm3247]

Yay! I needed a support group. I'm taking a beginning knitting class and just had my first the other night. I had been experimenting but must have taught myself some crazy method of knitting. It looked okay and was pretty easy, but wasn't a traditional way if knitting.

For those of you having trouble, I highly recommend going to your local yarn store and getting some help. There's just no replacement for having someone show you the techniques.

Right now I'm knitting a washcloth and have started (for the third time) on a LTK soaker. I keep messing up and pulling out, but eventually I hope to finish something!

[mamamoo]

Yeah!!A beginer's support group!! Exactly what I needed! I am wondering how you have started on patterns(the mamas who were brand new knitters)when you were only knitting about a week? I am trying to knit a washcloth and can't even decide how many stiches to start with, and I bout the pumpkin hat pattern, but have NO clue where to start, don't know enough of the basics yet, I guess. :LOL
I look forward to learning with the rest of you! I am going to go work on my washcloth while my sweet baby is asleep, and the rest of the family is out of the house. It is sooo quiet right now!
Debi

[MamaMonica]

Good luck, Debi. I find it is so much easier when the house is quiet, like late at night. It really requires concentration to follow a pattern.

I started the pattern when I was knitting a week (the bucket hat) because I knew I would have more of a chance of completeing something if I did it for my 4 yo and if she was asking for it every day. All I could do was knit and purl but looked up terms in my book- it was super slow.

I am almost done with the LT moc booties. Theresa has great email support with the pattern- I asked a number of super-beginner questions like what does "turn" mean and she answered right away and kept me going. Her patterns are not that hard and give you a nice-looking product even if you screw up in a few places, like I did.

Oh- and I started my sock on the BB double points and it is really night and day compared to the aluminum ones. I have short 5 inch ones and spread the stitches on 4 of them and it is going well.

[mamamoo]

Okay, I finished my first "project" it's a washcloth!! :LOL So what do I do with the pieces of yarn left(the begining and ending pieces)? Do I weave them into the washie somehow, do I cut them short? Also, when casting off, what do you do with that very last stitch? I just left it and it is weird looking.
TIA
Debi

[MamaMonica]

Congratulations on finishing your project!

The last cast off stitch- pull the end of the cut yarn through it from the top down and pull and you'll get a nice end, then thread it through your yarn needle and weave it into the edge stitches- do the same with the other tail from casting on.

[mamamoo]

Thanks Monica! One more question(well for today anyway )
Say I'm holding the washie this so that the cast off edge is on top and the cast on edge is on the bottom, do you mean to weave the yarn into the edges, like on the left and right of the washie?

And do I need to knot it or anything? Will it unravel?

_okay that was three, sorry.
Debi

[MamaMonica]

Well, here is my beginners way- so someone correct me if I'm wrong (but this way looks OK when I do it). No knots at all- but you weave into any edge in way that it doesn't show. If it shows, just take it out and reweave it. To keep it from unravelling, you can go back up if you went down- if that makes sense, backtrack at the end.

HTHs

I am getting almost to the edge of my limited knowledge LOL

[pb_and_j]

I'm a beginning knitter now too! Yay! I am currently working on swatches (or whatever you call them in knitting terms... just practicing really). I hope to try the LTK Longies pattern eventually. Although I have a lot of practicing to do first... still need to practice my purls, and then stockinette, and then knitting in the round... oh my! :LOL

This site has great videos and was what finally helped me see how to purl... great video!

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

[MamaMonica]

Yea Julie! Welcome and have fun learning. I keep making really weird mistakes but that's OK.

[AnnR33]

I'm so bummed! My beginner knitting class that was supposed to start tonight was cancelled! I guess knitting isn't the popular hobby here? LOL
I did find another class that won't be quite as comprehensive but that doesn't start until October.
Soooo....was wondering if any of you can reccommend a good very beginner book for me to get started on my own?
Thanks in advance.
Ann

[MamaMonica]

Ann, there'a a book called Kid's Knitting I got from the library that has nice directions in it and inspiring pictures. I'm doing the spiral sock pattern right now. It has big simple pictures in it.

Knitting for Dummies has good directions- its overwhelming as a whole, but I use it to look things up as I come to them in patterns.

[bestjob]

This is such a nice thread. I learned to knit when I was a child, and I come back to it every once in a while. I have recently learned about Aran knitting from a wonderful book called "Aran Knitting" by Alice Starmore (ask for it at your local library) and I am also intrigued by the easy but stylish patterns in "Hip to Knit" (author unknown).

One thing that I have found fun to do is to knit small pieces to teach myself a new technique. I now have a life-time supply of dishcloths, some with really fancy cable stitches from the Alice Starmore book. As a guideline, if you cast on about 40-45 stictches on size 4.5 mm needles, you'll be able to use a ball of Bernat Handicrafter cotton yarn to make a single dishcloth that is about 8 inches by 8 inches. If you get to a square and you aren't out of yarn, consider learning to crochet and making a crochet edging all around the outside.

I echo the suggestion to look in the children's section of the library for instructional books. The pictures are really worth a thousand words. If you want patterns, go to your local library. Ours has shelves of books, and if you can read the pattern,you can knit it. Just make sure the tension is right, and you can use any yarn you choose. I also agree that you can go to your local yarn store for help. Another source for help is the local senior citizens' centre.

[kerc]

i enrolled for a 2 night beginning knitting class. We're supposed to learn to make a felted hat -- I just don't have enough undevoted time to deal with trying to teach myself. I like the dishcloth idea though. Brings to mind an idea for christmas presents for grandma.....

[veganmommy]

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[MamaMonica]

Welcome veganmommy! Good luck making a sweater! I am making one, too and am partway up the arm- but I have lessons on it at the yarn shop. It is their beginner pattern. I was surprised that they wanted me as a fresh beginner to knit a sweater but they said you learn the most if do that.

[UmmSamiyah]

Thats it I'm Dumb!!

Hey everyone!!! I have been offline for a while because of my internet being shut off but I have still attempted to purl. : I just don't get it!!! When taking the stitch off the needle are you supposed to take it off from the back or the front? I didn't think it really matter but no matter what I do the stitches continue to be to tight.!!! I am so frustrated and it makes me want to quit! . Ok thank you for letting me vent a little! I will just keep trying though.

[MamaMonica]

Slide it up the front, Monique and off. Is your yarn strand loose from your ball? Good luck practicing!