I tried to teach myself how to knit this weekend and.....

[LynneSin]

is anyone interested in some yarn and knitting needles - I'll ship it to them

:grr:

[bicentennial_baby]

1. Is it good yarn?

What kind of needles?

Signed,

A knitter :D

[LynneSin]

3. Well one skein of cheap Red Heart yarn (to learn to knit)

and one skein of Green Chenelle (I was going to make myself a scarf with it).

The 'Learn to Knit' kit had 2 sets of needles and a whole bunch of helper stuff including a stitch counter you can attach to your needle.

I think I remember 5 and 6 associated with the needles.

[madinmaryland]

8. My wife knits, but she has a brazilian needles.

All shapes and sizes. She spent most of the weekend knitting herself a sweater, while we watched movies.

[MissMillie]

2. what kind of yarn?

I crochet....

which of course means I have no need of the needles

[LynneSin]

5. See above

I'll stick with counted cross-stich

:woohoo:

[Parche]

4. That Is Knot What I wanted...

Try making me some socks......:rofl: :rofl: :hi:

[LynneSin]

6. Not my problem if you don't have socks

:rofl:

[Adsos Letter]

7. So...

...ended up hanging upside-down wrapped in yarn like a cocoon did you? Well...you're just learning...these things happen to the best of 'em.

:D

[WolverineDG]

9. What size needles?

Are they metal or wood? Plastic? :) Did you look up knitting videos on the net? There are websites out there with instructional videos. I found them very helpful when I was learning to purl & later, to bind off. If you have metal or plastic needles, try the wooden ones. They make it harder for the yarn to misbehave. ;)

Simple scarf pattern: Cast on 15-18 stitches. Knit each row (aka garter stitch) until almost out of yarn. Bind off & weave in ends. Voila, scarf.

dg

[LynneSin]

10. I'll stick with cross-stich

perhaps if someone claims my knitting supplies they'll make me a scarf out of what I sent them.

The needles were metal and there is no way I could use wooden needles - I get the creeps using anything with wooden handles. Not kidding you - this include wooden utensils like spatulas and even eating a popsicle on a wooden stick.

I now have goosebumps just talking about this

:scared:

[WolverineDG]

11. okay, like I need another hole in the head

go ahead & send 'em my way. Next time we meet up, I'll teach ya to knit on metal or plastic. :)

dg

[bicentennial_baby]

28. Needles come in all materials...

Metal (bad for a beginner, b/c the yarn slips off too easy), plastic, wood, milk protein (i'm not kidding), bone, abalone...The choices are endless. Me, I like bamboo, or the fine German engineering of the Addi Turbo:

[Shakespeare]

12. You should try my teach yourself approach: Fisher Price knitting needles & Knitting for Dummies

Actually, I think mine is "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Knitting and Crocheting."

I took that, and a Lion's brand pattern for an afghan that uses absurdly big, plastic needles (a size 35, I think--which is why I jokingly call them my Fisher Price knitting needles). You double-strand your knitting using their Homespun yarn, and it's the easiest afghan pattern on earth. Nothing but a knit stitch, and once you get through with that, you'll probably be comfortable enough to move on to other stitches and patterns.

About five years ago, I decided I was going to knit everybody an afghan for Christmas. And I had not yet learned how to knit. But I cranked out six of those puppies in two months, and really enjoyed it (and I've branched out a lot since then).

[redqueen]

15. Do you knit or crochet?

I'm interested in learning to crochet.

[Shakespeare]

16. I knit, but have played with the idea of crocheting, too.

One of my aunts crochets, and I've got the basic instructions in that book, so one of these days I may give it a shot.

[redqueen]

18. I'm wondering which is easier...

my mom & grandma crocheted... so that's why I want to try it. But if knitting is easier, well... to hell with tradition, then! :P

[bicentennial_baby]

21. I'd say knitting, hands down

Yep.

Stitch and Bitch is a great beginner's book :)

[redqueen]

22. Heh... thanks.

I figured as much, cause the name's not all fancy and French. :P

[trof]

23. Then you can move on to tatting.

[China_cat]

34. I teach tatting.

As well as just 'doing' knit, crochet, etc. (got socks on one set of needles, a lace shawl on others)

[bicentennial_baby]

20. I hate Homespun....grrrr

Splitty f'n yarn.... :mad:

But yes, it's not bad for beginners :)

[Shakespeare]

25. Yeah, but it's SOOOO soft!

If you can make it behave, it's awesome. My favorite yarn for afghans.

[bicentennial_baby]

26. Does it pill when you wash it?

I've always wondered about that....

[Shakespeare]

30. No (not yet, anyway), because I put it in a bag like I would lingerie...

...and wash on "delicate" cycle. So far, so good.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. I'll make you a scarf!

I've been learning for almost 2 years, and can manage really easy stuff pretty well now.

If you want to keep trying, you might find YouTube knitting basics videos very helpful. It also helps to use big needles to start (8 or bigger) and have a patient friend to show you how to get started. I don't think I could have taught myself...

[BrotherBuzz]

14. I knitted a scarf about fifty years ago...

I still have it somewhere, unfinished. Person who gave me the knit and purl hints neglected to tell me how to finish it off. I used to show it off occasionally, but people insisted on ribbing me about the unfinished state it was in.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

19. Very easy to finish...

Knit 2 stitches, and pull the 1st over the second, off the needle. Knit another stitch, pull the second over the third, off the needle. Continue this way until there's only one stitch left. Cut your yarn, leaving 5-6" at the end. Pull this end through the remaining stitch on the needle, and pull taut. I use a crochet hook for this, but some prefer to use the knitting needle.

Once you've cast off, weave the loose ends into the finished work using a crochet hook or tapestry needle

Here's a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEGsf99ep1k&feature=related

:hi:

[trof]

17. I got the 'knit' part, but I can't perl.

durn

[GoddessOfGuinness]

24. American or Continental?

Check out YouTube...You can find demos galore!

[trof]

29. Continental:

It's something daring, The Continental,
A way of dancing that's really 'entre nous'.
It's very subtle, The Continental,
Because it does what you want it to do.

It has a passion, The Continental,
An invitation to moonlight and romance.
It's quite the fashion, The Continental,
Because you tell of your love while you dance.

Your lips whisper so tenderly.
Her eyes answer your song.

Two bodies swaying, The Continental,
And you are saying just what you're dreaming of.
So keep on dancing, The Continental,
For it's a song of romance and of love.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

31. Continental IS faster...

:rofl:

[hisownpetard]

27. The only thing i know how to knit is my brow.

[susanna]

32. LOL! I did that a couple months ago.

That hobby just doesn't work for me. I used to crochet and thought "Hey! I'll pick up knitting." No problem, right? They're both yarn crafts. Well, I think I'm certifiably a non-knitter after that little ill-founded experiment. Ack.

[la la]

33. I bought my adult daughter

a knitting kit and made the mistake of trying to teach her when she was drunk. Should have had a video of that!

Were you drunk? ;>)

[LynneSin]

35. No but I had a ton of cold meds in me

:shrug:

[Perry Logan]

36. At least you tried. I can tell just by looking I could never do it.

[Midlodemocrat]

37. LOL. I'm in that process, myself.

Learned how many years ago, but forgot most of it. Figured it was a good way to keep myself busy while I waited up for teenagers.

[LynneSin]

38. Well I can needlepoint and I can crochet

so I figured I could teach myself knitting.

The needles are on the same pile with the Violin that I swore I could teach myself how to play that (btw, taught myself piano)