Knitting

[fenchurch]

Learning to knit was one of my goals for this year and with only three weeks left, I figured I'd better get a move on.

I've discovered, though, that I'm definitely going to have to find someone locally who can give me some pointers. Because even with pictures, written instructions and a video I can't seem to get the hang of casting on. I've tried it both left- and right-handed, I've tried both English and Continental and I'm still completely flummoxed by the process... although I strongly suspect that it's probably much, much easier than it's appearing to be.

And now I'm really wishing I'd taken the time to pick the brains of either knitress or tomte when I had the chance!

Comments

[tomte.livejournal.com]

Arr, nice icon matey.

There's more than one way of casting on--you might want to try one that's different from whatever method you're using now (the most common one seems to be the long-tailed cast-on, which isn't all that intuitive to learn from a book). If you're up to it, bring some needles and yarn with you at Christmas and I'll show you at least two different ways.

[meyerlemon.livejournal.com]

Has knittinghelp.com been of any use at all?

If you find a yarn store locally, they'll probably either have classes, or, if you buy a ball of yarn and bat your eyes, they'll totally show you how to cast on.

[knitress.livejournal.com]

Some learning tips from here:

Yes, I'm sure it's easier than you're making it out to be. One stumbling block for an absolute beginner is casting on; I usually do the cast on myself and then knit a row or two before showing a newbie the knit stitch. Once they've got that down *then* I teach cast on.

Most of the Local Yarn Stores (not the big chain places like Michaels!) provide both formal scheduled classes and do some low key "drop-in" teaching. I took classes. For just learning the knit stitch, try going in during a non-busy time (eg, during the day during the week). Buy needles and a skein of yarn there and they'll likely show you how to do the basic stitch. You want a plain smooth yarn in a light color, and ideally small (8 or 10") straight needles in bamboo or a smooth wood; I think that short needles are much easier for a beginner. Metal is frequently slippery for a beginner and plastic tends to be sticky.

Check out the "adult learning" options too -- rec centers and the like may sponsor classes.

Sally Melville's book The Knitting Experience: The Knit Stitch has really good diagrams and starts you off with a veryVERY simple cast on (backwards loop). I know several people who pretty much taught themselves from Stitch n Bitch.

And ask at church -- I'd be stunned if someone there doesn't knit!

[paratti.livejournal.com]

There's more than one way to cast on? I thought the way my mum and nan taught me was the only one - as well as really easy. Essentially it's looping the wool round the needle with the right sort of tension.

[ayinhara.livejournal.com]

All the advice given in previous comments is excellent, especially the last bit about finding somebody at church who knits.

There are several different ways of casting on stitches, which are useful for different things. My favorite method, which my mother taught me, is illustrated here:

http://www.theyarnco.com/instruction.php

I recommend getting Knitting for Dummies as a general reference book. It never hurts to have something to read.

This site has short videos that might be useful:

http://www.stitchguide.com/stitches/knitting/index.html

The best video I have found is located at the following site:

http://www.knittinghelp.com/

Try what she calls the double cast on aka long tail cast-on. That is the same method that the yarnco people illustrated in diagrams.

To confuse the issue of knitting there are two main methods for knitting: the continental and the English method. Most Americans seem to use the English method. I learned to knit from my mother, who was born in Russia, so I use the continental method.

I recently returned to knitting after a long, long hiatus. I like to make baby sweaters. I stopped knitting about 15 years ago when the opportunity to make baby sweaters for friends and family decreased to almost nothing. Then last year, when the daughter of one of my closest friends was expecting her first child I returned to knitting. This past summer I knit 4 baby and toddler sweaters. I still have two more on the queue, plus two hats and another sweater for my daughter.

[yav-14.livejournal.com]

I have a good little video I found online that shows casting on. It helped me. Do you want me to send it to you? If so, send me your email address again at Yav14 on aol.

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

I'm not a GOOD knitter, but I always thought the casting on part was actually pretty simple. Lace stitches are tough. :-) It is hard to teach long-distance, though, or I'd offer more advice. I can't remember learning how to knit, but learning to crochet definitely required someone showing me how physically. Pictures were no help at all.