Knitting Passion

–[Hi guys, Lessa here - Barbara’s daughter and fellow 451 blogger. Barbara is currently in the hospital again - this time with a spot of heart trouble, but she’s doing fine, so don’t worry! In the meantime, some others have stepped up to do a couple guests posts for her, so that she doesn’t have to worry about you all, either. If you’d like to do a guest post, please contact me at lessasdesign [at] gmail [dot] com and let me know! I’d be happy to coordinate the effort with you. I’ll also be stopping by here regularly to scoop out your comments from the spam filter too. Thanks and enjoy the post! ~L]–

The Intimidation of Knitting
Guest post by Winnie from Watching the View

In the past few years, I have really wanted to learn to knit. I have a few blog friends who knit and they post such cute creations. Whenever I see their photos, I say, “I wanna do that!” I would love to be able to make a scarf for my mom or a cute little hat for my forthcoming new nephew.

The idea is not completely ridiculous; I do have a crafty side. I like to paint, make collages, and do other small crafts. I can even sew somewhat. But knitting? It scares me. It may go back to third grade art class. We had to do a little art project for mother’s day that doesn’t even probably qualify as knitting, but there was yarn and some kind of needle. All I remember was that I could not get the yarn to go where it was supposed to in order to make a flower thing on the fabric. I went home and cried and my mom let me stay home the next day we had art class. (Yes, it was that traumatic).

Fast forward to yesterday when I was at Michaels for some other craft needs. I perused the knitting aisle as I do from time to time and saw a “Knitting for Dummies” book which came with some needles and some other weird things. I thought about getting it and even planned to tell the clerk that it was for my niece (I don’t have one), because otherwise I would have to admit my true crafting inadequacy. I ended up not getting it, though, because it did not come with any yarn and didn’t seem to explain what kind I would need.

I imagine that one day I will have to breakdown and take a class, because it seems like it is something that you have to learn by watching someone, sort of like dancing, which, by the way, I can’t do either.

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Have trouble with those pesky holes in the corners of your socks? You know the ones - right where you make the gusset????

Yeah, me, too.

So, while searching for something to write about today I found this little gem. And I find that I am suddenly aching to do a pair of socks!

I know!!! It’s been awhile since I’ve done a pair of socks . . . and I have the gorgeous hank of yarn that Robin sent me - AND - the tofutsies I bought in anchortown.

Hmmmmmm which to do first???

Not for the faint of heart

Okay, all you Grammas out there - or all you Mamas out there - or any of you who have much better eyes than I and hands that don’t fall asleep . . .

. . . try these socks for your favorite little girl’s Barbie dolls.

Remember - Christmas is coming.

So, hubby and I made it back from the big city today - two trips up in (essentially) one week will just about do me in. Traffic - and construction - and anxiety over his surgery (successful cataract surgery, thanks) - and joy over seeing old friends from Ohio who were on their honeymoon. Add to that - staying in a b&b with great folks, but on beds that are not our own.

Well, it just makes for a long week.

But . . .

I did buy yarn while there! This time I did what most of us do - I shopped for the yarn in the big box stores. It is not the high end cost yarn, but sometimes you just have to do what you just have to do - right? Right.

At any rate, I have begun to make the shrug I posted about awhile ago for the oldest granddaughter for school. I bought a really pretty shade of purple yarn - and also a skein of pink. I’m thinking about doing the ribbed edging in the pink. We’ll see if I like it or hate it when I get to that point. I bought enough of the purple to do it all in that color if I hate the pink.

That’s what grammas are for - the spoiling of said grandbabies. I love my job.

At any rate - I wanted to remind myself - and you - of a great page to pick up knitting tips - Annie Modesitt.

Sometimes I just need a refresher course - a do-over of sorts - that will help me from froggy mania. I do so hate to rip it all out. I’d MUCH sooner just keep on knitting. I think we all would.

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I’ve never used a knitting machine - and, while I think this video is fun (the music can be annoying so you might want to turn down your speakers), I think I like the old fashioned way of making my socks. Nevertheless, enjoy:

So - what did you think? Are you ready to rush out and purchase a knitting machine? Or are you content to do up your socks the old fashioned way?

Yeah, me, too.

knitting, knitting machine, socks, you tube, fun

Michael Wang - on how to knit

Michael’s got it going on, hasn’t he? I love the credits at the end - a very self assured little entrepreneur, I’m thinking.

He has several other videos - you can even learn to draw a monkey!

Congratulations, Michael Wang! I look forward to your first feature length film.

As for me and the current projects . . . I have a dishcloth on needles now for a friend’s upcoming birthday. Is that too hokey? Good thing she loves me -

Have to mail off the small mini socks soon. Have 15 or so to send. Have been also making Christmas colors into mini socks for my coworkers. I’ve got 6 or 7 finished. We have 25 employees in our organization. I think I’ll make it by Christmas.

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Let’s face it - if we’re not learning, we are stagnant. If we’re stagnant, we begin to smell. So, it’s a GOOD thing to look for new (old) ways to do thing - how-to’s - better ways. Or maybe just refresh our minds with something we once knew and forgot because we didn’t practice.

See yourself in any of those things? Yeah, me, too.

So . . . off to visit Annie at annie modesitt dot com where you can find easy to understand instructions on everything from how to increase, to decrease, to making invisible seams. And, there are graphics!!

This is a really good find. I have been wanting to “make” stitches in a better way than I had been taught (which is to knit in the front and then the back of the next stitch - which is fine, but it leaves an annoying bar like a purl in the middle of a knit row) and, sure enough - there it is.

Never too late to learn something - and I am one in the line to prove the point, I guess.

Hope you have a lovely Thursday. Hello to Jummy! Thanks for stopping by and thanks for joining me in knitting in public this weekend. (by the way - do your pronounce your screen name “Yummy” that’s how I have been saying it in my mind - but just wondering.)

Yours is a great find for Moms whose kids are already getting bored with school being out! Lots of neat things to do and try. Very cool!

knitting, knitting lessons, make a stitch, Jummy, crafts

In honor of Take our Daughter to Work Day, 451 Press has asked bloggers to invite special writers to their blog. So, with no further ado, I introduce you to Miss Mairiah, my oldest granddaughter:

My gramma is an expert knitter, so about two weeks ago she took me and my best friend and taught us how to knit. I’m working on a scarf. Well, actually it’s a practice scarf. When Gramma says I am ready, I can start on the actual scarf. But on the practice one, I have only restarted 4 times and as of today I have about six inches. As for my friend, she is not doing so well. She has restarted 18 times. She started to give up, but amazingly my gramma got her back into it. Well - at least we know she’s getting better at casting on! But after that, she gets lost.

My gramma just bought both of us some funky yarn, and when we are ready, that’s what the scarves will be made of. My friend’s has every color under the rainbow, and mine has mostly blue and purple with some other colors. The yarn I am working with right now got boring, so she bought us cool yarn. She also let us borrow her knitting needles, so that’s what I am working with right now.

Mairiah M.
Age 12

Thanks, Mairiah! I’m enjoying your eagerness to learn to knit. (click photo for larger view)

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pull up your favorite knitted blanky . . . all comfy now? Great!

Here are some videos I thought you might find interesting. Learn how to knit differently.

Now, I’m a “thrower” or American style knitter - my right hand does a LOT of work. But, here’s a pretty easy video on how to knit Continental or European style.

And, if that’s not enough fun for ya, how about Portugese knitting? I honestly have NO clue what this person is doing - it almost looks like she is using crochet hooks for needles - and, well, you watch and see if you can figure it out. Come back here and let me know what you think, okay?

The reason for this last one - or the only reason I can figure - is that someone does NOT like to purl - so they knit across one way (just surmising here) and then knit backwards. Really! Go and see for yourself!

So - all set? Know what to do for a change in style? Great . . . now . . .

If you like what you see - or if you just like to vote - won’t you click on the above and cast your vote for Knitting Passion?

and, while you’re at it - toss a vote Lessa’s way, too.

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click for larger photo

My nearly teen aged granddaughter has asked me to teach her how to knit. So, Saturday she and her friend and I spent most of the morning together. First they came to my house and I got needles out for them and let them choose a practice ball of yarn from my stash.

Then we began to learn to cast on and from there to knit. There were sighs, giggles, and many exclamations of “Gramma! help!” followed by more giggles and sighs.

At 10 we went to the library where we joined the Gathering of Knitters for a bit over an hour. We did much giggling there as well as “frogging” (a term I had yet to hear - but it fits) good naturedly.

When we left the group I took the girls to a local sewing shop which also has yarns - we went, as far as they knew, to purchase ribbon for the baby bonnet (pics of it tomorrow). However, after we picked out the ribbon I told them to follow me.

I led my little parade (no, we didn’t have a permit for our parade, but we paraded anyway ) to the back of the store and watched as their eyes grew bigger as they saw just how many yarn varieties there are. Then I let them each pick a skein of worsted to use once they felt comfortable with the practice yarn. Oh, the angst and decision making that went on - this color, no this color, no, that one . . .

It was lovely to watch. Thanks, girls, for asking me to work play with you.

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Each day can be a learning experience - I almost said should be, but I can’t say what should or shouldn’t be for you - only for me, right? But it is wonderful when we have that AHA moment - when we finally get IT - whatever IT might be.

My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was four years old. I sat on the porch and used a big wooden hook that her brother (or uncle, I can’t remember) had whittled. I’d say it was probably a size K at least. She and my Mom would tear strips of cloth and tie them together and then roll them into a ball - I was set to the task of crocheting a rag rug.

It made an impression on me as I recall it quite well lo these 53 years later.

My best friend in high school taught me the basics of knitting - I at least learned to cast on - but had a tough time casting off when I was finished. Thankfully, those early pieces of mine are long gone.

When my girls were young I did more crocheting than knitting - my youngest daughter’s Christening gown won a blue ribbon at the Frankling County Fair in Ohio the summer of 1975. I still have the ribbon. Two of her children wore the gown for their own welcoming ceremony into the Body of Believers.

After my girls were grown I began to knit from time to time - not on a regular basis - just as I had time or had someone to knit something for. Many projects were stuck away in a closet, never to see the light of day. I did several pairs of socks and last year knitted some hats because a friend was undergoing a battle with the ugly C.

And, then one of my friends asked me to join a Knit-along last winter, with the end result being the sweater in one of my first posts. Now I have three projects on needles in various stages of completion. I wish I could be as fast as I used to be - but a car accident nearly two years ago causes my left arm and hand to go numb with aggravating regularity. So, it is knit awhile, rest awhile, knit awhile . . . You notice that quit is not in the equation at all.

How about you? Who taught you to knit or crochet?

Yarn is, of course, the most important part of knitting. (Unless you’re knitting with spaghetti that is.) Yarn can be used with any type of needles, (chopsticks, pencils, etc.)and with the popularity of knitting taking off like so many bottle rockets, the choices in yarn have become plentiful, varied, and a bit overwhelming.

For the beginning knitter, I usually would recommend starting with a worsted weight yarn. This is the general middle-of-the-road yarn, and is easy to work with on most needle sizes.

I can hear you say, “But wait! I want to use this fuzzy frilly feathery yarn I just got at Wal-Mart for 4 bucks! You mean I can’t use that?”

Now, I didn’t say that. But if you try to start out with a novelty yarn on needles any smaller than a US 13 (9 mm), you’re asking for trouble. Novelty yarn is a bit tricky to work with if you’re not used to it, so if you insist on using it, might I suggest using large needles, or my favorite method of teaching kids with fun yarns, on your fingers! (That will be lesson #3!) Finger knitting is a way easy, way fast, and way fun *way* to knit a scarf or belt, while at the same time learning the basic knitting theory of pulling loops through other loops to create fabric.

As far as color goes, that’s entirely up to you. Although when you’re comfortable with knitting with one strand of yarn, I recommend using 2 strands at the same time for really neat effects and textures.

All yarn images are from gotyarn.com.

yarn, knitting

So last week I finally got to teach my knitting class to the Beehives. For those of you that don’t know, the Beehives are the girls aged 12-13 in the LDS (or Mormon) Church. For more info go here.

It was so much fun! There were 10-12 girls there, plus their leader, Leslie, who also wanted to learn. I taught them how to make a slip knot, the provisional cast-on, and the knit stitch. Probably half got it right away. There were 2 girls that really amazed me. I won’t mention their names, but I will say that they are twins, and both are really neat.

The one girl taught herself to knit backwards, and actually had a 2 inch swatch in stockinette going. I was so dang impressed! I told her at the time to switch hands and keep going, in order to make garter stitch, right? Well she mis-understood and just knittted back the other way, instead! Her sister, meanwhile, did switch hands, and ended up with a 3 inch long by 3 inch wide swatch of almost perfect garter stitch. It was so awesome!

But the best thing of all was at Church that Sunday when several girls told me how much fun knitting was, and that they couldn’t stop doing it! My heart swelled, I tell you! I hope to teach them again, sometime soon, and maybe we’ll all make scarves together. Or maybe wristbands. Or scruchies! Oooh fun!

Knitting is not a hobby that requires a specific set of tools. Yarn and needles are standard, yes, but not absolutely necessary.

I have knit with toilet paper instead of yarn. I have also knit with two pens instead of needles.

You can knit with spaghetti. Or shoelaces. Or fabric cut into strips. (I’ve done this.)
You can knit with crayons. Or pick up sticks. Or twigs. (I’ve done this too.)

Knitting with wire is very popular for making jewelry.

The point I’m trying to make is this: there is no correct way to knit. Knitting is making loops inside of loops, and the rest is relative. The tools and materials used really don’t make a difference when you get down to it.

Knitting is imagination plus determination to equal creation. (I just came up with that, how awesome am I?)

Imagination + Determination = Creation

The Knitting Equation.

That’s lesson number one.

Knitting Lessons