I can't knit. Well, I can make a piece of a trapezoid/trapezium, because my tension gets tighter as I go along. And I never thought I'd have to learn because I never, ever, imagined my mother not knitting, nor my sister giving it up because her boy is asthmatic.
Knitting never went out in Japan; there were always women who knitted like there was no tomorrow, but with knitting coming back in the West, there have been books on knitting for total novices (and the very young) with more illustrations and photos than before. Which could help me.
I've no big ambitions, like sweaters or mittens or socks. Maybe a wrist warmer - that's a tube, yes? But I've always had a secret ambition of filling my living room with cable-knit cushions; they're square, or rectangles, and even if they're trapezoidal, I don't think it'll matter too much after you stuff the cushions in the covers. If I keep reminding myself to relax while I knit, and not watch high school baseball tournament, of which there is none in New Zealand, nor in Japan in the winter.
I might get Mom to teach me a few stitches and get myself a book while I'm there. Goodness knows I grew up watching; that has got to help.
11 comments:
If you can weave, you can learn to knit!!! (And fear not the tube!!)
Sue
This is why I took to weaving like a duck to the pond - I can control the tension better on the loom. But I would love to have those cushion covers, Sue.
There are so many styles of knitting, maybe you just need to learn a new way. For example you could learn to knit holding the yarn in your left hand instead of the right one. My tension is very different depending on what style I use. I am trying to learn as many styles as possible, some styles are harder on my hands than others. You can do a youtube search, and find a million of them. One of my favorite to watch is the yarn harlot. She really knits fast and furious!
Tina, thanks! I didn't know this. I only thought there was the English method and the continental - and I like the continental better - that's what Mom does, as do everybody I know in Japan. But I never know there were even other ways!!
I knit continental style. It's a great idea to get your Mum to show you, it will get you off to a good start if she teaches you the basics - knit, purl, cast-on and -off, and how to spot and pick up dropped stitches.
I like your idea for the knitted cushions.
I thought the same thing when I started, and three year down the road I'm knitting lace,sweaters and socks! This book really helped, you can try to get it at the library and you can also look at videos from knittinghelp.com and youtube.
http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Yourself-Visually-Knitting/dp/0764596403/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263219177&sr=1-12
Dot, to tell the truth I know all that except cast off, but it's fun to watch her. I hope she still has her knitting needles - she used to have TONS! I know she does pick up with some of them.
Deep End, don't scare me!!!
Do you have thrift stores in your neck of the woods? If so, you can buy cable sweaters at your local thrift storw and sew them into pillows. Even tho I'm a serious knitter, for pillows, I'd buy the sweaters.
Holly, Holly, Holly, of course we do, and I can just cut, serve and sew! Gee, why didn't I think of THAT!!
I like that thrift store sweater idea. Speaking of tubes, I've been spending the last couple of days knitting one on a circular hat-knitting peg loom. Sampling different kinds of stitches at different tensions. I used to think these looms were lame (okay I still do), but all I wanted is to make a couple of hats and the loom cost almost nothing. It's been a good reminder of why needle knitting and I have never been a match--too many 3-D spatial variables, and S-L-O-W. The circular loom makes everything hold still where you can see what's going on.
I read your post about getting a knitting loom. I was wondering why. So if push comes to shove, this is where I'll go? I think the thrift shop idea is more space-saving. :-D
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