Okay, so here I am really getting into knitting, and I know there are a ton of knitters here. So where's the knitting board? Huh? Huh?

Alaska HSM (Who has to do something when its snowing)

A homeschool board might be a good idea too!
Another homeschool mom

There is a homeschooling board.
http://www.atlasquest.com/boards/messages.html?gBoardId=337
here it is.

Alaska HSM

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A homeschool board might be a good idea too!

Like this one? :)

http://www.atlasquest.com/boards/messages.html?gBoardId=337

TG

Thanks must have missed that one. LOL

I agree. Hey, Ryan... We've got a scrapbooking board. Could we get a knitting board too?

I'm there if it happens and I can think of several others who might be as well.

Knit Wit

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I'm there if it happens

Me, too! I'll be there!

(This is not, as it appears, a "me too" post! It's really a vote for the new board. <g>)

DebBee

Perhaps a fiber arts board would be more all-encompassing. or do the knitters cringe when considering sharing a board with the crochet crowd, spinners and tatters? And, let's not even think what would happen if we included the quilters!

Guilty of some of the above,
Lisascenic

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a fiber arts board would be more all-encompassing

That sounds fair. Some of my best friends practice the Dark Arts. ;-)

Knit Wit

Welcome to your new board! Enjoy!

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So where's the knitting board? Huh? Huh?

Hobby Box. Second door on your left. ;o)

-- Ryan

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Perhaps a fiber arts board would be more all-encompassing.

I'm calling it the Knitting board for now, but it's really for all that stuff. Crochet, cross-stitching, quilters, and what the heck is a spinner and tatter? Nevermind, I don't really want to know. =)

If there's a generic term for all of those hobbies, though, I'll be happy to rename the board appropriately.

-- Ryan

"Fiber Arts" pretty much sums it up.

Lisa

I'm loving the "fiber arts" name as being more all-encompassing and apPREciate that suggestion!

preboxed

oh AND that a new board already exists - name to be determined...

Thanks Ryan!

pre
Who has been sewing more than letterboxing lately, but has worked fabric "stuff" into several of her boxes.

Yay! besides the green one, I am the first to post here. Does anyone's fingers get soer from sabbing them with the knitting needles?

Alaska HSM (Who's having problems typing because of her sore fingers)

yes, mine do, if I knit a lot all at once...but I assumed that if I would knit more they would stop being sore, kind of like the sore muscles when you start exercising thing. perhaps I think this in error?

I crochet more than I knit, mostly because I'm so ADD that if I don't see results come quickly, I tend to unravel the entire thing and do something else. I do like to use a machine to knit though, again, it's the quick results thing... is using a knitting machine cheating? no sore fingers there, but the arms get ired after a while.

For anyone who wants to know, I also embroider and sew, which, when all four disciplines are combined, tends to bring down the cost of acquiring a renaissance gown for my annual performances here in Phoenix...which reminds me, I only have two weeks to make new corsets for this year's fair...

night writer

"I do like to use a machine to knit though, again, it's the quick results thing... "

Where does one get a knitting machine? I too have ADD when knitting, and I have a bunch of potholders instead of scarves.... :)


Best, Dog Lover (Who still has a naked Dachshund that has been wanting a sweater for 2 years!)

Ryan,

Spinners - are those who spin wool into yarn!!
Tatters- they make lace

Just for FYI!!!

LtW

Howdy!

I'm mostly a knitter, and mostly for charity, because I live in Florida, so I don't need much in the way of knitted goods.

I also crochet from time to time. I used to do cross stitch and crewel embroidery, but not so much anymore.

I can sew, but I don't, much, except to make "cool ties" for the troops during the summer, when they don't need the knitted hats I spend most of my knitting time on during the winter!

I'm thinking of taking some knitting correspondence courses, because I'm almost totally self-taught, so I'm not really sure if I'm doing everything "right," or not.

DebBee

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has worked fabric "stuff" into several of her boxes

OHHHH do tell!

Hi!

My troop is going to be learning how to knit next month in order to complete a badge task. I have a good friend nearby (that used to be a Girl Scout) that has volunteered to teach everyone how to do it. I ordered scarf knitting kits from a website that was selling them for a buy one/get one free deal around the end of the year.

My friend is coming by my house this week to teach me and my co-leader how to knit (I've never done it!) so that we can assist her when we are with the twelve girls.

Any hints? Tips?
Thanks,
Amyrica

I have been learning to knit as well. Diane (Artemis) showed me how to purl recently at a carving/ knitting/ eating night. I'll just have to say that to me it's kinda like carving. I was confused at first and just kind of struggling through. Then, one day it clicked and I just got it. It's fun though, even though my fingers are saying otherwise :)

Desi

I'm pretty much self taught, but I found a streaming video thing online, where I could watch the chick's hands do the same stitch over and over. I would sit at the computer with needles and yarn and do that stitch (and watch the lady) over and over until I got it.

Another thing to 'think'. A purl stitch is really just a knit stitch in reverse. :-) However, you can make plenty of things with just a knit stitch.

And, one more, then I'll stop. I find it easier to work with needles in the 8 - 10 range (size wise). My hands don't rebel as much from long periods of knitting and I can do more, longer. I find it a good gague to learn/teach with. Just a personal preference.

Happy knitting....it's almost as addictive as boxing!

JPMcD

I have some librarian friends who have teen knitting nights once a month. They recommend a high adult/girl ratio, because the kids are pretty high maintenance. You can't just show it to them once and send them off to a corner to knit.

I just ordered yarn for a more ambitious hat pattern than the ones I crank out to donate. It's using Teflon-treated yarn, much smaller needles than I'm used to, a rather complicated fair isle pattern, plus it's lined and uses a provisional cast-on. Wish me luck!

I'll have to try to post a picture if it turns out at all well.

DebBee

Shoot, two posts in quick succession. Sorry, guys!

But I was thinking about this:

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A purl stitch is really just a knit stitch in reverse

I remember one of the yarn stores in our area said there was a way to actually knit in reverse, rather than purling. I never did see how it was done, but it sounded interesting. They said, "You'll never purl again after you learn this stitch."

DebBee

Woah... You must be one fast knitter if you can't get your fingers out of the way! Either that or you're knitting with piano wire. ;-) Actually my fingers do get a bit tender at the tips if I've been knitting for a long time. They tingle, sort of.

They also get sore because the fibers dry them out and the skin splits. Eeeek! It's not so bad if I'm working with wool or other animal fibers. Cotton is awful and acrylic makes me break out. (I'm serious.)

Knit Wit

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remember one of the yarn stores in our area said there was a way to actually knit in reverse,

Yes, there is. I've tried it and just didn't like it. I've heard some people use this technique to do "entrelac" knitting. Basically you knit tons of tiny connected squares, each in different colors. Knitting backwards keeps you from having to turn your work every 6 stitches.

I'd rather turn my work... :-)

Knit Wit

I agree that you should all be using needles in the 8-10 size range.

Also you should use plain, smooth worsted weight yarn to learn. Yes, I know Fun Fur is all the rage and it's so pretty, but with all the fuzzies you can't see the stitches very well as beginners. I think everyone will be happier and make better progress if they aren't fighting to find where to put the needle to make the next stitch.

Of course, I don't know what yarn came with your kits. If it was fuzzy Fun Fur, then just ignore me. You'll be fine. It's trickier, but I do know a couple of teenagers who did learn to knit with it.

One last tip--count your stitches often. It's amazing how often beginners inadvertently increase in each row. I know I did.

Knit Wit

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"entrelac" knitting. Basically you knit tons of tiny connected squares, each in different colors.

I wanted to learn how to do this, so I got a kit to make a baby blanket. Well, I learned how, but it made me so crazy to do it that I never finished the blanket! I'm not sure I even got it 1/3 of the way done! The incessant turning was part of it. Five stitches, back and forth, back and forth! :::SCREAM!:::

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It's amazing how often beginners inadvertently increase in each row. I know I did.

That's one reason I told myself for years that I couldn't knit. I could crochet, but when I tried to learn to knit as a kid (maybe 8 years old?) stitches kept mysteriously appearing and/or disappearing. Finally, though, when I was MUCH older than 8 (!), I told myself, "This is ridiculous. You're a reasonably intelligent adult human female, and if you can crochet, there's no reason in the world that you can't learn to knit!" So I got myself a "Teach Yourself to Knit kit, and then a Learn to Knit Socks book, and by jingo, I learned to knit! And since no one told me socks are supposed to be intimidating, I learned to do those, too!

Oh, and on the subject of sore fingers, I got those when I was doing socks and my stitches were REALLY tight. I had to practically force the needles through, and wound up getting very sore fingers.

DebBee