Thursday, October 12, 2006

Knitting for Dummies

So, I have taken up knitting. I took a class in August. I can now do pretty basic stuff. I'm currently working on a basic poncho, a scarf and a throw. I like to move back and forth between projects. To advance any further, I will need to take the next beginner class where they teach you things like increasing and a dropping a stitch. I find it a relaxing thing to do while watching tv. It makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something.

In my class, I discovered I had issues with casting on and knitting too tightly. My teacher asked me, "Are you a pretty intense person?" That kind of embarrassed me. I don't think of myself as an intense person but I guess I am "tightly wound" and "high strung." I just didn't think it would show up in my knitting. Sigh.

5 comments:

Rentman said...

Not High strung, very precise and high standards. Terminology is everything.

Genevieve said...

I think a lot of new knitters actually knit too tightly. It will get better!

dropping a stitch? on purpose? or do you mean decreasing? Try a good book, too. Debbie Stoller's Stich N Bitch is suprisinly helpful. Though sometimes I have troubles understanding what a drawing is telling me to do.

Amy M. said...

Yes, I mean decreasing. See?! I haven't even got the terminology down right yet. I have the Stitch n' Bitch book and it is very helpful. I'll keep plugging along! By the way, your Denise needles sound cool. Think I should invest in some?

Ellen said...

I'm not nearly high strung enough for knitting or sewing or cooking. I'm from the "Good Enough" school of philosophy. Those hobbies require a certain level of preciseness that I do not possess.

Genevieve said...

you'll get it!

I love the Denise needles... it's very handy to have everything all in one place. I think the set runs about $50 (I got it for Christmas last year.) Also, knitpicks has a new set called Options that is similar, but you don't have to buy the whole thing at once, which could be good if you just wanted to try it out first. They are metal needles though not the plastic like the Denises. I've heard they are also quite pointy which could be nice for lace knitting!