I know it's summer over here in Australia, but yes, I'm picking up knitting again! I have decided one of my resolutions for this year is to learn how to knit again. I actually learnt knitting from this lady in China 5 years ago. Back then, I was spending a month in a small village for an exchange study trip. The village was kind of not hip at all. My friends and I just ate roadside snacks all day long and camped out in our hostel watching dvds. Yes, it was that boring. I remember stumbling upon Macdonalds and that was like the hippest place in the entire city. No, I'm serious! Haha. Anyway, to kill our boredom, the girls in our group ended up picking knitting ( everyone knits there ) from an internet cafe shop lady. She taught us for free and we became friends. I knitted my first scarf and it was horribly tiny.
Fast forward 5 years on, I've knitted possibly just three times. But every time I either lose my patience, or I drop a stitch and give up. Well, I decided this time round to give it another go and get back to knitting. I had some needles and a ball of oatmeal coloured yarn lying around at home so I started knitting again yesterday. So far so good. I dropped a stitch last night and decided to wing it and just continue. But this morning to my horror, the area I dropped a stitch at became obvious. And my tension was so uneven as well. So I started all over again. Well, they say practice makes perfect right?
I'm still quite excited about knitting ( for once ) and I popped by Morris and sons today. It was my first time there and it's pretty much like yarn heaven I tell you. The shop ladies were really friendly and gave me lots of advice too. I left with 2 bundles of beautiful deep red merino yarn and a size 4 needle.
I aim to finish knitting 2 scarves by winter this year.
Let's see if I can do it. Any knitters out there with tips to share?
They are such pretty pictures Dawn! I wish I could afford the Nikon D90 already! arghhhhh! And that wool looks so soft - I want to touch it! I once made Mr Y a scarf (my first knitting ever - I had to learn from the lady who sold me the wool) and then he lost it because he was drunk in Tokyo. And then I knitted him another one - a grey one this time. And he still wears it every day. I used fancy expensive wool that's so nice and soft.
ReplyDeleteOh instead of crocheting I should take up knitting again shouldn't I? It's FREEZING here now so perfect for cosy knitting.
Your nail polish is so pretty too miss Dawn! I want to buy a nice colour exactly like that!
Sorry for this long comment! I should just email you ne!
xoxo
Advice? Knit stuff you really want to wear.
ReplyDeleteThat's the trick I think.
I started knitting last July and haven't looked back.
LOVE the look of that merino.
I am an -on-again-off-again knitter - and what turned me on at the moment is Noro wool! Check it out and fall in love! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, that's so great. I love to knit. and I have those same spotty kneedles! I know pen at cottage industry has them but I got mine in Tasmania. I'm a pretty experienced knitter and am always around if you need some help or anything. We should start a knitting group! being old ladies is always fun. x
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kate about knitting something you will want to wear otherwise you will loose interest in it. Other than that I suggest joining Ravelry (an online knitting community) because they have a mountain of free patterns and also they will be able to help you with any problems you have. YouTube is also a great resource if you need help with a technique (like picking up a dropped stitch).
ReplyDeleteMost of all enjoy it :)
lovely yarn! i have just learned to knit after years of wanting to and i love it. i have learned everything so far from this lady on youtube, very easy to follow videos, watch them a few times and you'll have it! http://www.youtube.com/user/knittingtipsbyjudy
ReplyDeleteyes definitely use youtube for help! learning how to fix your own mistakes is good too - it takes some persistence but one day i was trying to fix a dropped stitch and experienced an *enlightenment moment*
ReplyDeleteso great that you've started knitting again :-) btw i finally finished my cushion cover that i was knitting at markit!
can't wait to see what your finished scarves look like!
I just learnt how to knit on Christmas day just gone and I can't stop now. I've knitted a scarf, 2 headbands, purse and working on another scarf right now.
ReplyDeleteSo if you want to get awesome at knitting just keep one ball of yarn for practice, if you fuck up keep going so then you can look back at your mistakes and see where you went wrong maybe. Practice does make perfect! Start knitting everywhere too. Good luck with your knitting.
Your needles are so cute! I tried knitting once but never finished the scarf...
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I only ever knitted once in my life. It's just too unforgiving for me. Crochet, on the other hand, is my new favorite hobby :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the scarves! I hope to finish crocheting my blanket soon.
I knit those little skinny "fashion" type scarves on large needles with pretty yarns. They go fast--so you feel like you are accomplishing something quickly and make great gifts.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun, Dawn! Knitting in the summer is a great idea... this way you've loads of time to finish any projects before the cold weather arrives!
ReplyDeleteA great tip I'd suggest is knitting a circular scarf (aka cowl) on circular needles. If you use large needles and chunky yarn it goes really fast and is so easy--using one stitch you can get something warm and cozy. Here's my first attempt; It's been keeping me warm in this miserable NY winter weather:
http://gemmifer-jennifer.blogspot.com/2010/01/knit-one.html
Funny... its almost my first knitting project: same color same object :-)
ReplyDeletehttp://oraber.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-creative-space-give-it-try.html
learning to knit is one of my new years goals as well!
ReplyDeleteHi everyone!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all the tips, help and great advice! I'm done with my first scarf! YAY : ) I was SO slow at knitting a straight scarf.. But I taught myself how to knit stripes yesterday and decided instead of sticking to one colour, I'll try making it stripey so it makes it seem like I've done more knitting.. Hahaha..
I've joined Ravelry as well. Really helpful with lots of forum topics to read about.
For those beginner knitters, I'll upload links of the videos, sites I learnt from soon.. So you can all join in the fun of knitting!
i've recently picked up knitting again after a long break, and i've found that the thing that has sucked me back in is actually following a pattern: forcing myself to learn a new technique or new stitch or something has made it exciting again...that buzz from learing something new, i suppose!
ReplyDeleteoh; and use the prettiest yarns you can find - you'll definitely want to work on it and wear it that way!