stitchin', not much bitchin'

We're learning to knit. We're going to start by trying to knit little squares to make a patch-work quilt for our sofas upstairs and then move onto scarves and hats for our pets. We'll have lovely pots of tea, knit one, pearl one, eat chocolates and have a good bitch.

That was the plan anyway.

After today, the plan is simply to get one row of stitches down that looks decent. And maybe by the end of term a small patchwork quilt for a doll's house. And eventually free up some cells for bitchin'. Our stichin was so bad, we didn't even get around to that bit.

I'd forgotten just how fiddly knitting is when you first do it. It's so fiddly, we've lost our only boy. But if little old ladies can do it so can we. This time next year we'll be onto jumpers. With designs.

Come back Sam, we need you.

Lisa, The Knitting Teacher. 
(Any ideas on how to teach people to knit or cool projects we can do very welcome.)

A student (Penny) adds:

I was a complete sceptic, put off by the supposed trendy connotations of knitting, but after a bit of harassment I went along, probably more for the chocolates and the bitching if I am entirely honest.

After about 5 minutes I was completely frustrated, it would appear that I had two left hands and as a result was incapable of holding wool, needles and moving them all at the same time.  Ready to chuck down my needles and flounce out, Lisa explained for the 15th time how you were supposed to make a stitch and after moaning at Sophie for a bit who was happily knitting away, I actually managed to get it.  After that, it all changed, I became obsessed. Trying to get my stitches as neat as possible I kept unravelling bits I had all ready done because they were too messy.

I'm still a bit of a sceptic, but I will be there next week (there are chocolates after all), and I think I might even enjoy the knitting a bit too.

 

Comments

[dan at innocent]

Hello Lisa, Penny and everyone else

Why not try knitting some little hats for our Supergran thing? Have a look at www.innocentdrinks.co.uk/supergran - the pattern and stuff are all up there. And you'll be helping older people stay warm this winter, which is definitely a good thing.

Good luck, whatever you decide to knit.

[nancy]

First, you need to get a picture of a logo and make it pixelated. Ya know, isn't that what they call jiggy jaggy stair step graphics. Then you map out the squares and colors you need. Then you knit a square for each pixel. Then you sew them together. Then you frame it with a frame that looks similar to a computer screen frame. Then you have something to hang out the window instead of that awful soccer poster you did. :)

Be sure and slip stitch the first stitch in the beginning of each row. It makes the edges less ripply and easier to sew together.

[nancy]

Help people stay warm or help advance modern science..whichever.

Just an update on those warped stitches taken a bit further:

http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20061223/bob10.asp

Stay at home mom, knitting booties, 25 years of no experince (yea, right) looking forgraphic work.

[jen]

I've been knitting for 5 years now and I've taught people as young as 7 and as old as 40. Here are a few tips:

www.knittinghelp.com has great videos for people who learn well from videos

The Stitch & Bitch series and the Debbie Bliss books are good for people who learn well from books

For people who need to learn from hands-on instruction, check out your local yarn shop. They will be very nice and if they're not they're stupid.

For auditory learners, I'm sure there's at least one podcast out there. I'm considering starting my own one of these days, but for now others will have to tread where I have not yet.

For those who need mnemonic devices, knitting is four steps
1. in (right needle goes in the stitch on the left needle)
2. around (yarn goes around the right needle)
3. out (right needle draws the yarn out of the left stitch)
4. off (right needle pulls the old loop off the left needle)

If it's getting too fiddly, you might try Continental method (holding the yarn in the left hand) or English (holding the yarn in the right hand), whichever is the opposite of what you're doing now.

The yarn harlot (www.yarnharlot.ca) says that if you can get dressed you can knit; if you can accessorize you can knit well. It's just a matter of learning the steps, just like tying your shoes was hard at first but is second nature now (maybe...I don't know if you wear velcro shoes or not).

Hope all that helped!