You know how if you learn something when you’re young you kind of assume that EVERYBODY learned the same stuff? That’s how I assumed it was with knitting - all girls, except weird ones, knew how to knit.
Imagine my surprise when all of my co-workers were amazed that I could knit. So I offered to teach them and now I’m teaching a flock of about 10 women how to knit on our lunch hours. (Why yes, I AM uber cool - why do you ask? )
A couple of other experienced knitters have joined in and now we sit around and stitch and bitch. It’s surprisingly fun.
This year for X-mas everyone got knitted items-at their request! not just 'cus I’m cheap All of the kids got brightly colours sweaters with monkeys on them. My friend’s autistic son sleeps with his and carries it around like a security blanket (when he’s not wearing it).
I’m currently working on something for myself - a nifty ski sweater in red, with hearts around the bottom - not exactly haute couture, but I think it will be pretty when it’s done.
We take field trips sometimes to cool knitting stores and drool over the really fancy yarn.
Does anyone have any suggestions for good second projects for my beginners? Everyone had to start with a scarf (I’m such a mean teacher), but people are starting to finish those and I’m interested in any suggests for beginner level stuff that’s a bit more interesting than just a straight line. One gal is making a sweater vest which is two squares with rectangle straps sewn together – it incorporates pearling and knitting, and she has to cast off and work the straps individually, but there’s no increases or decreases. Does anyone have any other thoughts? Some of the gals are quite keen to take things home with them at night so the projects can’t be too difficult.
Also, does anyone else belong to a stitch and bitch? Any thoughts on fun things we can do? I guess we could make coasters for charity or something.
I’ve been wanting to learn to make socks, and having a group activity like this would be perfect. I’ve been really off my knitting lately, though…not enough time, grumble grumble…
I just learned to knit (again) about three years ago, enabled by Lilith Fair and went through the scarf stage. Then for my second project, I made the Kittyville hat, and I found it surprisingly easy. Sweaters are still on my list, but they just seem to take too long and too expensive (for my budget) right now…I prefer small projects. Felted purses have been a big favorite of mine…in the round, so you can put it down at anytime, minimal shaping, and knit, knit , knit, no purling! My favorite pattern is the free Sophie bag. And this morning I started on gnomes. Alan Darts knitted toys are so cute…we’ll see how easy they are, though.
Okay, sock assassins sounds fun but I’d be dead fast (takes me forever to knit a pair of socks!)
I would’ve assumed most people knew at least how to do garter stitch myself, or if not that how to crochet (they showed us how to crochet in home ec, though I just sort of zipped past that thanks to Grandma).
Oh, if you want to jump into DPNs, if they don’t feel up to socks get them to do fingerless mitts. A good start and not quite as intimidating as socks can seem.
I’ve recently picked up knitting again, after not doing it since I was a kid. Some of the projects in this book would be super fast and easy for beginners, but also attractive and (dare I say it) stylish – she goes into rag knitting, etc.
I hadn’t learned to knit, but I was taught (and mostly forgot) crochet by my grandmother (dad’s side), along with embroidery (which I do remember). I have been taught to knit by my mother (who had to teach herself). For a second project, maybe do something with not new techniques like increasing/decreasing, but something like a big potholder with a pattern of k and p?
I loved doing this! I knitted a long potholder at work so I could take out my microwaved lunches without either burning my fingers or having to use sleeves or paper towel. I did a mini checkerboard pattern (k2,p2 to end for two rows, then reverse) but you could incorporate more challenging ones. And they can get a minor ‘fuzzy green’ happiness at creating a useful re-usable item.
When I used to work in a yarn store, the two projects we usually suggested were hats and purses. There are some great felted purse patterns out there and also really cute hats for adults and kids. I have one that makes a strawberry hat.
We generally held off on socks for a couple of projects because small double points seemed to scare people. I actually just started my first ever sock. Haven’t turned the heel yet and I’m a little nervous.
I am such a constant knitter that I usually have two lunch hour projects packed in my purse (sock and Barbara Walker square) so I can choose. I also have a less portable project for home knitting. I’ve been trying to get a little group going too. Although this is a creative place, not everyone knits at all! I have a few people on scarves, but felted bags are a great second project because they can teach knitting in the round, felting is so forgiving and they can actually uses the bag to carry their knitting in. It can also be a good moment for teaching i-cord.
Meanwhile, guess what? I’ve only just started socks. Those little dpns are tricky!
If you get your group doing hats (a great 2nd project) and want a charity project, many hospitals and cancer support groups appreciate chemo caps. There’s lots of free patterns on the web in a range of easy to complicated - the only requirement is that they be super soft.
This is a good idea. Most of our first round scarfs went to In From the Cold - it’s a local service that helps folks who are having trouble finding housing but they also provide warm clothing, household items, etc.
A couple of the gals are keen to try something for themselves too though. I don’t blame them - I have a few pieces that I knitted and kept for myself - it’s hard to always give your hard work away.
One slightly more experienced member of the group taught herself how to knit out of a book. Her style is completely back-asswords - she’s a lefty so she holds her product in the right hand, but knits into the back of every stitch. She’s keen for me to teach her intarsia, and the other “pro” in the group to teacher her cabling and we’re both a bit flummoxed. I’m going to try to talk her into adapting her technique into either a traditional English style (which is what I do), or a continental style which is what the other gal does so we can help her.
If you’re unsure of where to drop them off there are several places you can drop them who will disburse them where they are needed (Make1Yarns accepts them, and there is a knitting group that does charity knits… I can get the info for you).
That would be great - I’m usually pretty busy with stuff for friend’s kids and b-days and stuff, but it would be cool to knock out a couple of hats or scarves.
I’ll attest to not everyone knowing how to knit. I just learned recently (I’m 29.) and I’ve never learned to crochet. My mother didn’t do anything like that; she didn’t know how either. My grandmother may have known how, but she didn’t do any knitting or crocheting or even any sewing. So I just didn’t have anyone to teach me. And we didn’t learn anything like that in home ec.
I prefer wood but my current socks are worsted weight and I happen to have the right size in metal. Luckily the nature of the yarn is that it stays on the needle. I want to get a whole set of those colorful wood sock needles from Knitpicks. Mmmmm. Knitpicks. These ones! Sexy, no?
BTW, I didn’t learn to knit till I was 40. My mom told me she couldn’t teach me because she was a lefty and I wasn’t. Meanwhile, who finally taught me? My mom. What a friggin’ liar she turned out to be.
)
All of the kids got brightly colours sweaters with monkeys on them. My friend’s autistic son sleeps with his and carries it around like a security blanket (when he’s not wearing it).