# Any Chicago knitters or crocheters out there? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 1, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chicago-knitters-or-crocheters-out-there/435892 "2008-02-01T19:25:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chicago-knitters-or-crocheters-out-there/435892/1 "2008-02-01T19:25:13Z")
**GingerOfTheNorth** very kindly taught me awhile ago the basics of crochet, and I made a friend a baby blanket. That baby is now two years old and has a sibling on the way. My next project was going to be to make two lap blankets, one for my great-grandmother and one for my rather suddenly wheelchair bound grandfather. They died, within a week of each other (unrelated causes), long before I managed to complete even half of one blanket. I was somewhat put off of crochet at this point, and ended up giving **GingerOfTheNorth** all my yarn when I moved to Chicago. I almost kept it, though, because I was considering taking up crochet again, and/or learning to knit. Then I found out A was pregnant again. Not long after that, I found out another friend is pregnant. And now, my sister is pregnant. So, I think it’s time to pick up my hooks again, or possibly some needles. If there’s anyone in the area that’s willing to take some time to remind me of my crochet or teach me to knit, I’d greatly appreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chicago-knitters-or-crocheters-out-there/435892/2 "2008-02-02T00:24:22Z")
Yes, me, but I moved to Seattle . . . ---
**Author:** ![Millit\_the\_Frail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Millit\_the\_Frail](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Millit_the_Frail)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chicago-knitters-or-crocheters-out-there/435892/3 "2008-02-02T01:10:01Z")
Yep! Let’s discuss tomorrow. 🙂 If I can manage to find some free time, I’d be happy to. Of course, free time is getting to be something of a luxury these days… ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chicago-knitters-or-crocheters-out-there/435892/4 "2008-02-02T04:09:52Z")
I guess that would make it a bit more difficult, **lissener**. I do hope the move has gone well for you, though. **Millit the Frail** , sound good! I just figured I’d make a thread in case anyone who’s not coming tomorrow would be into teaching or crafting with me. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chicago-knitters-or-crocheters-out-there/435892/5 "2008-02-02T04:24:08Z")
I’m nearer Chicago than Seattle, but still much too far away to teach you to knit or crochet. Knitting Help.com is tremendously helpful, though, as there are videos of pretty much every knitting technique out there. Enough, at least, to get you through a blanket or baby sweater. Also, looking at [the entries in the knitting community on LJ](http://community.livejournal.com/knitting/tag/) might be helpful, if you don’t have immediate access to your knitting buddy. I’d suggest starting with the beginners or beginner mistakes tags. Just have a look around and you should find some useful information. If you have any questions via internet, I’ll be happy to try to sort them out for you, but there are plenty of knitters and crocheters here. Remember: It’s just sticks and string. It’s OK to mess up; everybody does. ETA: I just wanted to say that if you have more than one baby to knit for, I highly recommend a hat, booties or a sweater rather than a blanket. Even baby blankets take forever, but once you get the basics of knitting sorted, a baby sweater or booties shouldn’t take you more than a couple weeks to finish. ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chicago-knitters-or-crocheters-out-there/435892/6 "2008-02-02T04:26:17Z")
Thanks! I just want to do something nice for at least my sister. If I can also then do something nice for my two friends, that would be great too. And, frankly, a baby blanket is probably a good way to wash away the last of the sadness in the last projects. ---
**Author:** ![Labelless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f19dbf/32.png) [@Labelless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labelless)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-chicago-knitters-or-crocheters-out-there/435892/7 "2008-02-02T04:28:55Z")
Crocheter here. I’m not able to come in person, but you could check out youtube for videos as well, there is a lot of them, helped me with refreshing after putting my hooks down for a decade or so. And [craftster.org](http://craftster.org) is another good place as well. The links **Purl** gave are very helpful too. Good luck!