This is my favorite ice-breaker question for other knitters.
Some people (e.g. Harrison), stagger me with the response "I taught myself". I just haven't got that kind of patience or comprehension. Hat's off.
For most people it was Mum/grandma/some other older female relative. I was taught by Sr. Canice, at National School in Callan, Co. Kilkenny, when I was in 1st class (3rd grade or so). All us little girls learned how to cast on, plain (knit) and purl stitches, and cast off. We knit cats. Rather abstract cats, given that they were, simply, two haphazardly shaped rectangles stuffed with Mammy's ripped tights and sewn together, button eyes, ribbon tied round the "neck". Boy was I proud of that cat.
My next project was a tie for my Dad. Pattern: Cast on 4 stitches in Kelly Green yarn. Knit one row. Repeat till Dad gets home from work. Cast off. Present hopefully, receive praise modestly. Observe said tie hanging in wardrobe till you move house some years later, when movers steal it.
So what's your story?
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6 comments:
My mother taught me to knit when I was in elementary school. The basics of knitting, purling, and then casting off. I knitted rectangular pieces with little balls of wool my mom let me have and used them for little bibs on dolls or a mini blanket for them. They had to be bibs or blankets because I tired of knitting quickly - I didn't knit enough to make them really into anything.
Later in life I wanted to knit something practical, something besides a doll blanket or straight scarf. I picked up a book for basic socks, brought it home and was floored. Imagine my surprise when directions called to cast on 72 and divide over four needles - I had no idea that there were even such things as DPNs.
From there I used books, and the internet to expand my world of knitting and purling learning there was more than one way to cast on, how DPNs work, there were circular needles, how to read patterns, etc. That a little over two years ago and I haven't put my needles down since.
I've only been knitting for about five years, but let me tell you, the whole learning from a book thing is VERY frustrating in the beginning. W kept looking at me brandishing the needles menacingly asking "isn't this supposed to be fun? or relaxing?" and I'm replying through gritted teeth that it's loads of fun. Thankfully, I've progressed beyond that point. The first thing I ever made--a horrible color-block garter stitch scarf. Actually, the knitting wasn't so bad, but I did a HORRID job weaving in the ends. Learned from that one! - Harrison
I have a friend who's looking for patterns for her daughter, who's about as far along as your niece. Any ideas?
Good for you - having a blog! I don't think I'd have enough to say. I'mlooking forward to reading yours, though! And now you've introduced me to Harrison's.
I had to take a class to learn to knit. I tried to teach myself, but no luck. Even in the class, I was definitely the slowest learner. But once it clicked, I progressed faster than I had at anything else I'd tried, and of course, the yarn has taken over...
Lyn
When my DH and I lived at Yokota AB, Japan, I was fascinated by the Japanese girls who were knitting on the trains. I found a shop with yarn and needles and tried to teach myself with not much luck. When we returned to the US, just by chance there was a LYS in the shopping center next to our apartment building. I asked for lessons for Christmas, and spent 6 Wednesday evenings learning! My first project was a white cardigan sweater in a seed stitch, knit from a fuzzy white acrylic yarn! Anazingly I did finish - and wear - it! In the 22 years since then I had knit off and on until about 3 years ago when I discovered blogs about knitters and sock knitting! Now I'm hooked!
I learned from Mrs Mahon in about Junior Infants, I think. Memories of stubby casein needles and about to give off a spark acrylic abound - plus I'm famous in my family for complaining that I wanted it to 'grow down' as it wasn't going quickly enough for me. Then I gave up for about 23 years.
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