I taught my son’s girlfriend how to knit, the day after Thanksgiving. Just the two of us sitting on the couch with It’s a Wonderful Life on Tv in the background. She now sends me photos of her progress and new acquisitions 😉 One more knitter in the world! Love it!
I’m a brand new knitter. After crocheting for years. I took a class 4 weeks ago. And it’s way harder than I thought it would be. But also I don’t want to stop. I’m hoping it gets a bit easier. It’s a whole new language as well as a whole new set of skills
It is a new language, you are so right about that. I was an avid crocheter before I turned to knitting too. It takes a while, but it definitely gets better. My main learning moment was when a friend showed me how to fix common knitting mistakes. I stopped ripping whole projects and started making progress.
I am 64. I have crocheted since age 10 or so. Last year I moved and a new neighbor is an experienced knitter. She turned me on to VERY PINK videos. Helpful. I find crochet to be a quick high. and knitting to be a long slow high. It doesn't really get easier because as soon as you finish something that is beginner you see an intermediate difficulty pattern. ....and so forth.
Very Pink tutorials are brilliant aren't they. TinCan Knits are another really good resource with lots of free and paid patterns aimed at the newer knitter
Kavitha I love this post! I taught my friend to knit, and she’s almost finished her first project- a cowl. My nephew has also expressed interest. I’ve also taught a few middle school students to knit over the years.
I love the silk kerchief and your cardigan is so pretty!
SO LOVELY to hear you've turned so many people into knitters. Isn't that the best feeling? Thank you for the pattern appreciation. I am loving them too.
I'm a confident beyond my ability knitter. I bought 2 copies of the book, "learn to knit in 50 squares" for me and my daughter so I could teach her to knit. 4 squares in and she's showing me where I'm going wrong which is a bit of a blow to my self esteem but it's a lovely activity to sit and do together.
Oh my that's so beautiful you two share it as a regular activity.
I hear you on the self esteem part though. I recently happened to teach this mom daughter duo. The daughter kept picking up things faster consistently while also critiquing the mom's work without missing a beat. Kids! (:
My daughter is learning to knit. She is an avid crocheter and wanted to learn to knit as she prefers her garments knitted to crocheted. She has just completed her first baby sweater and she learnt from me online! We struggled with phone angles and demonstrating how to knit certain stitches but we persevered and we both picked up a new skill, she knitting and i learning to teach how to knit online. It was a heart warming experience!
My heart goes out to you both, Navneet. For her wanting to learn and you doing everything possible to make it happen. A baby sweater is such a milestone, yay!!. From now on your sessions would only get more interesting.
Over 70 odd years I have rarely worn my knits , except when having knitted for my dad when I was at uni, I rescued the cardi once mum also had died and its now a go to for anything that needs an extra layer that repays but needs no excuses. Mum had repaired the wrist cuff, but later still I found some remaining original yarn and re did that . (she was a seamstress not a knitter) I also am reaccommodating a slip over in thick red yarn which got a bit felted but just fits the tasks I hurl it on for without needing to be shown off or coaxed into a better state. The Shetland wear from 1980s hand + machine does give reason to air the wooly horse once a year in a sunny time, but Im aiming at Lace......
Both of my grandmothers discovered that if my brain was busy my motor mouth was stilled. One taught me to embroider and the other to knit. I mainly knit ankle socks. I have small feet and was sick of having the heel of the sock above the back of my shoe. I haven’t worn store bought socks in 18 years. I’ve knitted baby sweaters, a few adult sweaters and scarves.
I always look forward to your emails. My daughter knits and crochets, I only knit. I would love to teach my DIL and my granddaughter to knit. They are both crafty, and I know that between the 3 of them, they will inherit a huge stash of yarn and needles. I keep telling my daughter to come over and shop my stash.
Wouldn't that make a lovely little group of knitters and crocheters in your family! Shopping mum's stash would be a privilege and I am already extending that to my daughter as well. :)
Thanks for bringing more knitters into the world! The Latha cardigan looks beautiful! What yarn does it use? I’d love to knit it when the pattern is available!
I LOVE teaching people to knit or crochet - or to watch someone's journey and growing fascination with it. I really enjoy when knitting friends send me photos of their work - I cannot even imagine how gratifying it must be to see your daughter knitting. Thank you, Kavitha!
I learned to knit as a teen. My mother didn’t knit, so I learned the basics from a woman from our church, and then learned more from various books and pamphlets. Cables are my favorite thing!
I teach. My days are unpredictable and overstimulating. A while back, I started bringing my knitting to school, and if I can, I squeeze in a few minutes at the end of my lunch. Some of my students (I teach K-4) saw me and asked me to teach them, so I started a knitting club, and so far I've taught nearly 40 people (mostly kids, but also adults). This year, I have a few third graders who come to my room during their "study hall" time and knit with me one day a week. Sometimes we barely talk, we just sit together, making what we're making. It is the best.
I also practice/teach karate, and the other day, one of our teens asked me to teach her to make socks. Haha, the manly men are gonna love seeing us doing that before and after classes. :)
Aww, this is so beautiful. My daughter would swoon to hear that there is a teacher out there who has a place for knitting in the "study hall" time. Lol! Now I can't stop imagining the look on the manly men faces.
Like many people, I learned to knit in grade school, fell away from it, and returned two decades or so ago. Teaching others to knit has been an informal endeavor, but -- as you say, Kavitha -- very tender. My eldest sister was an expert crocheter who saw the different textures I could get with knitting and decided she wanted to learn; she was an independent, teach-herself soul, bless her, but I was honored to be a consultant and cheerleader. And several times, while I was still working, I organized "community knitting" projects, creating baby blankets for colleagues who were going to have a child or grandchild. My coworkers joined in at all levels of experience and comfort, and welcoming them into the project -- while also tactfully "knitting around" them, so it would get done! -- did my heart good. A few of the co-workers who learned garter stitch from me continued to knit, at least for a while!
Oh, this is such a heartwarming story, Elizabeth. Thank you for sharing it with us. I LOVE your community knitting project idea. You must have so many precious memories from that time. 😍
I have a very process driven brain and have always loved string. A childhood friend gifted me a knitting kit in high school and I've never put it down. I never thought I would love knitting before trying it but it has shaped so much of my life. I love it as much as breathing. I love making new knitters and clearing out a stash, I love making patterns, solving problems, making yarn. We absolutely need more knitters. Knitting needs to take over the world.
Oh Nia, thank you for sharing your knitting truth here. You've listed every single thing I love about knitting. I almost wrote the same as your last sentence in this essay. :)
I taught my son’s girlfriend how to knit, the day after Thanksgiving. Just the two of us sitting on the couch with It’s a Wonderful Life on Tv in the background. She now sends me photos of her progress and new acquisitions 😉 One more knitter in the world! Love it!
What a beautiful gesture, Angela. Wishing you two many more shared knitting moments. 😍
I’m a brand new knitter. After crocheting for years. I took a class 4 weeks ago. And it’s way harder than I thought it would be. But also I don’t want to stop. I’m hoping it gets a bit easier. It’s a whole new language as well as a whole new set of skills
It is a new language, you are so right about that. I was an avid crocheter before I turned to knitting too. It takes a while, but it definitely gets better. My main learning moment was when a friend showed me how to fix common knitting mistakes. I stopped ripping whole projects and started making progress.
I am 64. I have crocheted since age 10 or so. Last year I moved and a new neighbor is an experienced knitter. She turned me on to VERY PINK videos. Helpful. I find crochet to be a quick high. and knitting to be a long slow high. It doesn't really get easier because as soon as you finish something that is beginner you see an intermediate difficulty pattern. ....and so forth.
Very Pink videos are such solid help for quickly referencing any knitting technique. I LOVE your definition of quick and slow highs.
Very Pink tutorials are brilliant aren't they. TinCan Knits are another really good resource with lots of free and paid patterns aimed at the newer knitter
I will definitely check out Very pink! And that’s a great definition of the two crafts. Many many thanks.
It’s gets easier! But also there’s always more to learn if you want to. Keep at it and your skills and confidence will grow.
Crocheting translates really well to Norwegian style knitting, but with a lot less tension. Arne & Carlos taught me how easy it is!
Also, start with wood or bamboo needles, so they can help hold on to the yarn
Kavitha I love this post! I taught my friend to knit, and she’s almost finished her first project- a cowl. My nephew has also expressed interest. I’ve also taught a few middle school students to knit over the years.
I love the silk kerchief and your cardigan is so pretty!
SO LOVELY to hear you've turned so many people into knitters. Isn't that the best feeling? Thank you for the pattern appreciation. I am loving them too.
i love teaching kids to knit!! Great math and hand eye cordination skills, on top of confidence boosting!
That sounds wonderful, Nia. It is also delightful to watch how they grasp the concepts so quickly.
I'm a confident beyond my ability knitter. I bought 2 copies of the book, "learn to knit in 50 squares" for me and my daughter so I could teach her to knit. 4 squares in and she's showing me where I'm going wrong which is a bit of a blow to my self esteem but it's a lovely activity to sit and do together.
Oh my that's so beautiful you two share it as a regular activity.
I hear you on the self esteem part though. I recently happened to teach this mom daughter duo. The daughter kept picking up things faster consistently while also critiquing the mom's work without missing a beat. Kids! (:
My daughter is learning to knit. She is an avid crocheter and wanted to learn to knit as she prefers her garments knitted to crocheted. She has just completed her first baby sweater and she learnt from me online! We struggled with phone angles and demonstrating how to knit certain stitches but we persevered and we both picked up a new skill, she knitting and i learning to teach how to knit online. It was a heart warming experience!
My heart goes out to you both, Navneet. For her wanting to learn and you doing everything possible to make it happen. A baby sweater is such a milestone, yay!!. From now on your sessions would only get more interesting.
Over 70 odd years I have rarely worn my knits , except when having knitted for my dad when I was at uni, I rescued the cardi once mum also had died and its now a go to for anything that needs an extra layer that repays but needs no excuses. Mum had repaired the wrist cuff, but later still I found some remaining original yarn and re did that . (she was a seamstress not a knitter) I also am reaccommodating a slip over in thick red yarn which got a bit felted but just fits the tasks I hurl it on for without needing to be shown off or coaxed into a better state. The Shetland wear from 1980s hand + machine does give reason to air the wooly horse once a year in a sunny time, but Im aiming at Lace......
It is wonderful to know you keep the handknit going repairing as needed and it keeps serving you. Thanks for sharing that!
Both of my grandmothers discovered that if my brain was busy my motor mouth was stilled. One taught me to embroider and the other to knit. I mainly knit ankle socks. I have small feet and was sick of having the heel of the sock above the back of my shoe. I haven’t worn store bought socks in 18 years. I’ve knitted baby sweaters, a few adult sweaters and scarves.
No store bought socks in 18 years! Now that's something I would love to be able to boast some day. :) Thank you for sharing your knitting story.
I didn’t realize it was boast-able. They are short, just a few inches above my ankle. I live in Arizona so nothing longer is necessary.
I always look forward to your emails. My daughter knits and crochets, I only knit. I would love to teach my DIL and my granddaughter to knit. They are both crafty, and I know that between the 3 of them, they will inherit a huge stash of yarn and needles. I keep telling my daughter to come over and shop my stash.
Wouldn't that make a lovely little group of knitters and crocheters in your family! Shopping mum's stash would be a privilege and I am already extending that to my daughter as well. :)
Thanks for bringing more knitters into the world! The Latha cardigan looks beautiful! What yarn does it use? I’d love to knit it when the pattern is available!
Thank you for your kind words. I've used Fjord Tweed fingering weight yarn from Sara of Seachange fibers.
I LOVE teaching people to knit or crochet - or to watch someone's journey and growing fascination with it. I really enjoy when knitting friends send me photos of their work - I cannot even imagine how gratifying it must be to see your daughter knitting. Thank you, Kavitha!
Aw, thank you so much for such kind words Kiersten. I am still over the moon about it.
You are so right about watching someone's knitting journey. There's so much satisfaction in that too.
I learned to knit as a teen. My mother didn’t knit, so I learned the basics from a woman from our church, and then learned more from various books and pamphlets. Cables are my favorite thing!
Thank you for sharing about your knitting journey. I too was taught by a neighbor to crochet in my teen years. :)
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on time, knitting, and teaching.
I teach. My days are unpredictable and overstimulating. A while back, I started bringing my knitting to school, and if I can, I squeeze in a few minutes at the end of my lunch. Some of my students (I teach K-4) saw me and asked me to teach them, so I started a knitting club, and so far I've taught nearly 40 people (mostly kids, but also adults). This year, I have a few third graders who come to my room during their "study hall" time and knit with me one day a week. Sometimes we barely talk, we just sit together, making what we're making. It is the best.
I also practice/teach karate, and the other day, one of our teens asked me to teach her to make socks. Haha, the manly men are gonna love seeing us doing that before and after classes. :)
Aww, this is so beautiful. My daughter would swoon to hear that there is a teacher out there who has a place for knitting in the "study hall" time. Lol! Now I can't stop imagining the look on the manly men faces.
Like many people, I learned to knit in grade school, fell away from it, and returned two decades or so ago. Teaching others to knit has been an informal endeavor, but -- as you say, Kavitha -- very tender. My eldest sister was an expert crocheter who saw the different textures I could get with knitting and decided she wanted to learn; she was an independent, teach-herself soul, bless her, but I was honored to be a consultant and cheerleader. And several times, while I was still working, I organized "community knitting" projects, creating baby blankets for colleagues who were going to have a child or grandchild. My coworkers joined in at all levels of experience and comfort, and welcoming them into the project -- while also tactfully "knitting around" them, so it would get done! -- did my heart good. A few of the co-workers who learned garter stitch from me continued to knit, at least for a while!
Oh, this is such a heartwarming story, Elizabeth. Thank you for sharing it with us. I LOVE your community knitting project idea. You must have so many precious memories from that time. 😍
I have a very process driven brain and have always loved string. A childhood friend gifted me a knitting kit in high school and I've never put it down. I never thought I would love knitting before trying it but it has shaped so much of my life. I love it as much as breathing. I love making new knitters and clearing out a stash, I love making patterns, solving problems, making yarn. We absolutely need more knitters. Knitting needs to take over the world.
Oh Nia, thank you for sharing your knitting truth here. You've listed every single thing I love about knitting. I almost wrote the same as your last sentence in this essay. :)
Yes to more knitters —and crocheters!
Right! 😍🥰