I have wanted to learn to knit for a long time. I have vague memories of my grandmother (I think) teaching me how to knit when I was a kid. I never kept at it, though. Well, my mom knits (but refuses to follow a pattern or do anything other than straight kniting) and I knew when I visited her last week I was going to have her teach me how to knit. Well, she tried, but I wasn't gettin' it :(. My friend Jaana (pronounced Yawna) came to visit 2 days before I came home and gave me more detailed lessons! By the time I got off the plane in LA, I had knit this:
Yes. That's right, after a 5hr flight I had only knit this small section. In all fairness, I'm not very speedy as this was my first project, and I was trying to entertain my adorable 3 yr old who refused to sleep during that 5hr flight and of course, I was using size 6 needles. While I like the look of tightly knitted projects, it was going a little too slow for me. I needed to feel like I was accomplishing more in my new crafty endeavour. So, I got some Patons Melody Yarn, and used my size 17 needles that I confiscated from my mom, and whipped up this "blanket" for Taylor's baby (one of Taylor's many babies).
The reason I call it a "blanket" is because it's much more like a scarf. See, given I didn't have any guidance on this project, I had no idea how much it would stretch out and I intended to make a large square. Um. No. That's not what I ended up with at all. I ended up knitting a long rectangle measuring about 6"x40". The 40" side is what was on my needles! Ah, well. Taylor still says it's a "blanket" and it actually works out quite well for swaddling her baby, Sally.
After sitting with Mommy for a few hrs and watching me knit, Taylor was eager to give it a try, herself. I had guided her in doing a couple of stitches in the blanket. So, when I was all done, I gave her some scrap yarn and the needles. Still a little young, but the interest is there :) .
Special thanks to my mom and Jaana for teaching me another craft to add to my addictions!
Apologies for the grainy pics. I dont' know what's wrong with my camera!
Anyone have any favorite tips, sites, blogs for a new knitter? I know at least 2 of my followers knit!
5 comments:
Hi there! I am so happy for you that you are taking on a new challenge - I wish I could see the pictures, but my computer was not having it . . . My aunt just passed and my uncle told me that one of her only regrets (she knew she was leaving) was that she was unable to finish a blanket she was making for Kendra. I'm going to get what she started and (gulp) try to finish it in her honor. Never have knitted a thing. We'll see what happens . . . See you soon, Kristin :)
Kristin, what a great way to honor your aunt! It really is an easy craft! Good Luck. Let me know how it turns out! :)
No tips from me, just encouragement! My Grandmother's, Mother, and Sister all knit (or at least can knit). I was taught so many years ago....It's something I am wanting to take back up again. I just bought a pattern for an adorable hat for my daughter, and for these pumpkins my Mom always made! My girls have been learning from my Mom and it's so sweet to have that being passed on!
Rebecca
ravelry.com is a MUST for anyone who knits or crochets - free patterns, TONS of inspiration, pics of every kind of yarn you can imagine, pics of every kind of project you can imagine, forums to ask questions of other knitters, etc etc; knittinghelp.com has great video tutorials that always help me when i get stuck on something; and the Lion Brand website has some good help too - definitions, etc. enjoy!!! OH - and definitely get some Malabrigo yarn - it's the absolute BEST!!!!!
I'm so impressed! I want to learn but I am too impatient and can't count very well ;) Can't wait to see what else you make!
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