How Did You Learn To Knit?

My knitting week hasn’t really improved. The wind blew so hard here that it whipped the car door right out of my hand and broke a nail way back. Then I stabbed myself in the tip of that very same finger that night. Perhaps someone somewhere is trying to tell me to do something else…

just a hint

Since I couldn’t knit with great comfort, I decided to concentrate on something else. Ever since I got my spindle (and maybe before) I’ve been wanting to make my own handspun yarn and sell it. My spinning isn’t coming along that well, so I decided maybe I should make something different that I currently have more talent for. For the past few days I have been working on some patterns for things I could make and sell in my very own etsy shop. And now that I have said something here, I can’t take it back and I’d be embarrassed if I didn’t do it.

I can’t knit, so I am going to talk about knitting. I learned to knit when I was nearly 21 from an old how-to book that my mother had bought many years before. I picked a pattern out of her collection and a bag of her old yarn and made myself a sweater. It didn’t fit and I really don’t know what ever happened to the thing. I didn’t know what gauge was. I was knitting a sport weight yarn into a sweater that was supposed to be made with bulky weight. When I talk about the first sweater I ever made, I am really talking about the 2nd sweater I made. It was a fair isle yoke sweater and I still wear it. I’ve always thought of that first sweater as a learning how to knit experience. Not as an actual finished object. How did you guys learn to knit? Speak up now, no one will bite…

Comments

Rebecca said…
My aunt taught me (several times) when I was younger. But, she always wanted me to make those really ugly slippers, and my stitches were so loose and it was a mess - I was quickly discouraged. I have always admired her knitting, though, and decided to pick it up again. And then I realized what incredible yarns are out there. And now I'm addicted. Although really I think I just use the knitting as an excuse to support a yarn habit. I still think of myself as a newbie - one day I will get that gauge thing figured out. But until then, I can always collect yarn. And I still don't want to knit those slippers. ☺
5:07 PM
Anonymous said…
It's funny that you ask this question because I was just thinking this week about when I learned to knit. The fact is I do not remember who taught me or exactly when I was taught. I do remember knitting small projects when I was in the 10-12 yr age range. Then for some reason I convinced myself that knitting was really too much of a challenge and that I liked crocheting much better because I could spend more time with the grandmother who taught me to crochet (she's basically love wrapped up in a smock style apron). In the last year (I'm almost 42), I've really made an effort to knit and have found that I absolutely love it. I've made socks for everybody in the house, sweater vests for my two small children, felted bags, and a few baby hats. I've got a sweater for myself that I work on here and there. I try not to push myself to hard and keep the projects enjoyable. I can't see myself giving up the habit anytime soon.
4:49 PM
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