Learning to Knit
My attempts at knitting are laughable. I am horribly, painfully slow. I have managed to cast on, knit one row, and then try to purl, knit, purl, knit, etc across one row numerous times.
This, my friends, took hours.
I keep pulling it all out and starting again. The cast on seemed too tight to get a needle through. I kept trying to make it looser, but succeed in making it looser and uneven. I eventually settled for tight, though not as much, even loops. The knitted row was okay, just maddeningly slow.
Then I tried to actually knit and purl, which was a horrible disaster. I kept dropping stitches, adding stitches, and losing my place. I must have spent an hours on only a few stitches.
Then I met up with Aunt D and her knitting group. Everyone was really nice and helpful. I thought I was distracted by the entertaining conversation, because my knitting became even worse. When I got home, I realized everything the lady next to me did looked confusing and different because I had been following a Continental Knitting video at home. And she was doing the English style knitting.
And so, I begin again.
I will eventually figure it out or give up and donate the knitting needles to somebody who knows how to use them properly. Or maybe someone who is just more coordinated.
I bought a knitting book today. This seems mundane. But two weeks ago I tried to buy a knitting book, got sensory overload on the choices, and didn’t buy anything at all. So actually, this is an improvement.
Also, it’s a knitting an crocheting book, which makes me feel like slightly less a dumbass. I can do a bit of crocheting. Not enough to make a sweater. But I’ve made simple afghans before. And they came out fine. This encourages me to try the knitting, since crocheting does require the use of yarn.
Blah, blah, blah.
Christmas was lovely here. We had a nice family Christmas Eve and morning. And then we visited with family in the afternoon. I have more calls to family to make and more people to visit. But all is well.
Merry Late Christmas, and a Happy New Year.
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I understand being a perfectionist, but good Lord Christine.
Just knit. Don’t try purling. Get comfortable with just knitting. Don’t try and make anything, don’t worry about it being uneven, just try and knit loosely and it will come. Oh, and try bigger straight needles and that’s a difficult yarn, maybe try something that’s more like ribbon. That’s what I did for my first scarf. It holds up better and you can’t split it. Get to where you can just see it, then worry about counting and purling.
I used to get my yarn all twisted and my knitting teacher couldn’t tell why it was happening, but it didn’t really hurt anything and it quit eventually.
Don’t give up! Keep going to knitting group, cause it’s fun. Eventually, you will get it. It’s just a matter of building the muscle memory so that it comes natural to you. The tension issues will also resolve themselves in time, I promise!
The picture looks like you’re doing well!
I often cast on over two needles, instead of just one, so that your first row won’t be so tight.
.-= Marne´s last undefined ..(Enjoy 10 returned posts for Christmas) =-.
I know, I am ridiculous. Great advise. I’ve done much better since I decided to focus on just the knit stitch for right now.
I try to casting on over two needles. But I haven’t figured it out yet. I keep getting the yarn looped between the two needles, which is no good.