Can anyone recomend a good book for someone who doesn't even own ANY yarn or needles but has this romantic fascination with knitting and real desire to learn how to knit!

dreaming of pearling or whatever . . .
becca

Hi, Becca--

I would recommend not to buy a book, but to ask someone to teach you. It's a very hands-on thing. Unless you have a feel for yarn, drawn diagrams and printed instructions can be confusing and it's frustrating when you have to unlearn bad self-taught habits.

Knitters are a very gregarious bunch. It should be easy to find someone who will be delighted to show you the way.

Good luck,
--lynda

I totally agree with Lynda - if you know someone else who can knit of course! I hardly know anyone apart from me and my lovely stepnanna. Basic knitting is dead easy once you've got started (I tried crochet once and got nowhere!) I got taught to knit years ago by an old lady my family was friends with - she cast on 8 stitches for me, and sent me off with a ball of yarn, just to knit straight rows - I went back the next week with 40 stitches and lots of holes! But somehow I manage to become a bit less...em...dysfunctional, and I get the bug for it about once a year.

I've no patience though, so I've never knitted any item of clothing - hours and hours in the same colour?! I've just knitted loads of dolls and other toys for presents - I've changed given colours and hairstyles etc so that they look like the friend they're intended for. A lot of patterns can be quite confusing, but I have to praise the Jean Greenhowe range of toy patterns - complete with patterns for all manner of weird and wonderful props - ice cream cones, cameras, paintpots, champagne bottles, watering cans (with a water droplet hanging from the spout!)...the best thing is each piece is dead easy, takes a few minutes and is in a different colour!! The company is Scottish, but I would think you could get the patterns in the US too, if that's where you are. I just buy lots of bright budget-priced 'double knitting' (that's the thickness) yarn and go for it!

Kris

PS: I found a site with Jean's stuff on - http://www.dnt-inc.com/greenhowe/jg.html

Dude, go to a craft store like Michaels or somewhere like that (depending on what is around you) and go to the back (generally) where the yarn is. Buy yourself some yarn and some needles that don't look too intimidating but don't look too small either. Somewhere in that area will be a section with books that have pictures of sweater looking things on the front. Some will have names like "Learning to Knit in One Day or Less." Buy that. Better still, there are sites on the internet that will give you that 4 page information for free. One site is called learntoknit.com, or something like that. Try a search engine. Knitting is easy. You can learn how to knit in 10 minutes. I taught a guy who was all thumbs to knit when he was drunk. True story. Good luck.

I tried posting this once, so sorry if this is a re-post.

If you don't know anyone who knits, a good place to start is with books aimed at teaching kids to knit. That's how I learned. At the library, I found a book called "Kids Knitting", and it helped a lot. It had neat projects, like these funky animal shaped bath mitts, and the directions are really easy to follow. I think it was published in either 1999 or 2000, and it has a bright cover. Yep. It was a lot easier to understand than the other books I looked at, which were written for adults..

Hope this helped.

xxKitxx

I know a good site! www.learntoknit.com
It's free, and there are lessons on how to knit and crochet. They've also got patterns.

I still don't knit. <sigh> Too much else to do at the moment, but I expect to teach myself after I move a final time.

A friend of mine, a tall slender fellow from Ethiopia, taught himself to knit twenty years ago. I was there. This was for real. He had no idea that you couldn't do this.

He asked around our lunch table if anyone could help him with his knitting and one of the women said, yeah bring whatever it is in.

He brought in an ivory Irish wool shawl collar buttonholed cardigan with a variety of cables and designs in it. He was all done but for the pockets. They were done, just not attached. He didn't understand one thing. Blocking. He needed help to block the damn pockets, then he could sew on the buttons and wear it.

All of us women just gaped at him. Amazing guy, and he never even gave it a thought about not being able to do it.

Beth

i disagree. do NOT go to Michaels. nothing is more discouraging than trying to learn to knit with cheap acrylic yarn that ends up feeling like a pot scrubber anyways. go to a nice yarn store, and buy a ball of decent yarn. just ask the yarn-store ladies (or rarely, man) what the best yarn is for beginners, and they will be happy to help you. usually a simple, smooth, fairly thick yarn in a color you like is easiest to start with. most yarn stores even hold inexpensive classes for beginning knitters. some people reccomend huge knitting needles, like size 12 or 14, but i think those are very akward to work with. go with useful, manageable size 8 needles. you'll want the kind that come in a set of two needles, not four or circular needles for now. it's very possible to teach yourself to knit from a book (i did), but it's nice to have someone to answer your beginner's questions and steer you on your way. dont take a class with a grim, uptight knitting nazi though. find someone relaxed and happy.

knitting is easy to start, and if you want it to, it can become very complex and challenging. it's a very rewarding art.

stella

i learned to crochet from a stupid pamplet i bought at a store like michaels, with acrylic yarn, and while i'm sometimes still dumbfounded by complicated printed patterns, i made a few blankets and innumerable hats and scarves within the first year.

however, when i tried to learn to knit from a book, i nearly lost my mind.

so, get the book, any book, and try it out. then you can ask around for help if you ned it!

heather

I'm a big fan of learning how to knit on crappy yarn. My first project came out all grubby and holey and nasty, and I think if I had used the nice yarn, I would have cried and never done it again (I was 8).

The public library is the best resource for crafty books, and I am sure that some librarian knows exactly which book is best to learn from.

Check out the kid's books for instructions, I remember there was a series of non-fiction how-to hardcovers that rocked. One was on knitting, one on crocheting, one on macrame (it was the 70s), candles, cooking, all kinds of cool stuff. I wish I could remember the name of the series!

Good luck!
--Jen

Michael's has some good yarn that is still pretty cheap, yet not of the pot-scrubber acrylic variety. Lion Microspun (I think that's what it's called) is very soft and has a great feel. Also, there's worsted-weight cotton yarn--I think it's called Sugar and Cream or something like that--that knits up beautifully.

The good yarn (Berocco, Tahki, Brownsheep, etc) can be pretty expensive. While it's worth every penny to get the good yarn for a specific project, it's not economical to use that stuff for learning.

Personally, I use the cheap pot-scrubber yarn to try out new stitches and techniques, and save the good stuff for when I've mastered them.

--lynda

hmm. i just think acrylic yarn feels awful. it makes my skin crawl... but you're right, not everybody has adverse reactions to synthetics. a lot of people like Lion brand Wool-Ease, so that cant be too bad. Sugar-n-Cream or whatever feels wierd and squeaky, but the "kitchen cotton" that comes in cool colors is okay. i made some potholders out of that.

good yarn (tahki, brownsheep, etc.) IS kind of pricey, but discontinued colors can easily be found in the half-off bin, and you only need one ball to learn. another source for non-fake fiber yarns is thrift stores. you might not find enough for a project, but there's often a ball or two of decent yarn to play with.

i guess i'm kind of picky with yarn and fibers. if something is worth my effort, it's worth yarn i like working with.

stella

I have had oh so many books from the library about knitting, and I still don't get it. I have to see someone do it, and I need to know right then if I am doing it right, books just can't show you that (at least the ones I had). Unfortunetly, I don't know anyone who can knit (I think) and I can't crochet either, though I want to so bad! grr. *runs upstairs to get knitting needles and yarn and goes to lerntoknit.com* oh well, I geuss I'll try again.

I am also wanting to learn to knit. I am a college student with NO money(is there any other variety?) an dI am getting started on x-mas presents. I have figured out what to do for my brother and dad. I still need to figure something out for my 24 yr old sister.For my mom I really want to make a scarf. She is a teacher and in the winter she has to stand outside in the mornings while the kids are arriving. I know she would love a scarf. Of course I know NOTHING about knitting. So where can I get a good pattern(does knitting even use patterns?) ? How much yarn should I buy? Will I have enough time? Should I do a practice one first?
Sorry I was so longwinded.Any advice will be greatly appreciated(and if you want to give any advice about what to do for my sister, that would be great too :)).Thanks !!!!
Katy

katy,
scarves are the BEST project for learning how to knit. Don't even bother with a pattern.

The easiest scarf in my mind is one that's about 35-45 stiches wide (in the worsted weight yarn--that's like the cheapy Red-Heart yarn kind, or Wool Ease--not too thin or thick) and as long as you can before you run out of yarn--maybe 2 or 3 skeins? I reccomend knitting every row to form the garter stich.

Just go to a craft store and get some yarn--Wool Ease is actually pretty good to learn on, it's wooly-ish, but has enough acrylic to be cheap so if you screw up it's not the end of the world. And remember, if you screw up anyway, it's still not the end of the world--everything is fixable. Get some needles, like 7s or 8s (straight needles, not circular or double pointed).

You will totally have enough time. It's easy and quick. Buy like 3 skiens and knit and knit and knit, and try on the scarf as you go. When you get to the lenght you want or run out of yarn stop. And you can always do a cool different color fringe.

Check out learn to knit, or go to the public library. Ask the librarians if they know of any books, and I bet you if you can't learn from a book or a site, the librarians know of some knitter who devours their books who would be thrilled to teach!

Good luck!!
--Jen

Thanks for the great advice. I am going to Hobby Lobby today. YEAH! Let's just hope I don't get sidetracked and come home with a whole cart load in tow. Thanks again
Katy

I just learned to knit 3 weeks ago (using a $5-on-sale booklet from Joann fabrics) and it really isn't that hard...I started with crochet cotton and teeny tiny needles so I could do beaded knitting but I would recommend using cheap worsted-weight yarn and size 9 needles so that you don't lose your mind at first.

For all of you who are learning to knit (or crochet or sew), please consider making blankets for animal shelters! You can practice all you want (with cheap acrylic or cotton yarn), you don't need to worry about mistakes, and you will be helping a homeless animal stay warm and cozy. You can find out more (and get a list of participating shelters) at www.h4ha.org/snuggles/

-kale

Great idea! Thanks, Kale!

--lynda

No problem, I just had to share what I think is a fantastic project!
And for all you knitters who are low on cash, let people know that you are learning to knit and you may be surprised at how many have yarn stashed away in the attic or basement. Also, check out garage sales and thrift stores for dirt cheap yarn. It may not be the nicest, prettiest yarn but if you use it to make a shelter blanket you will be able to practice new stitches for practically nothing AND you will be keeping that yarn out of the land fill AND you will make some homeless dog or cat very, very happy.
kale

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unravelling sweaters is great, but as an old hand, i have a few hints:

the sweaters must be constructed of shaped pieces, or in the round (like a set of tubes), or you'll end up with a lot of short pieces of yarn. a good way to tell if they're useable is to look at the side seams. if they're overcast with machine serger-type stitches, invariably the pieces were cut out of knit yardage. on the other hand, if the edges are just seamed together and look like the edges of a piece of knitting, you can carefully pick out the seam, find an end of yarn, and unravel. if the sweater is a tube, you're in luck. just find an end and unravel away.

trying to unravel a hairy mohair or angora sweater, one with holes, or one that's slightly felted, is really annoying and rarely worth the time.

to get the kinks out, DO wash in hot water, but DONT agitate the wool or subject it to quick temperature changes. that's what will create shrinkage and felting. fill a big bowl or bucket with hot tap water, stir in a little shampoo or dishsoap, and set the wool on top. if it sinks into the water on it's own, great, and if not, gently poke it under with a spoon. walk away. after 20 minutes or so, gently lift the wool out of the water and let it drain (or even better, spin it in a salad spinner). fill the bowl back up with hot water, and let the wool settle in and soak a while. repeat until there's no soap in the yarn. you can add a drop of essential oil to the final rinse. spin or drain again, then roll the yarn up in a towel and jump on it to squish out most of the water. shake the skeins out and let them dry, then wind into balls and knit.

god, i'm so opinionated, but wool and knitting are my one area of expertise, so i just have to give my two (or twenty) cents.

stella

there's been so much talk of knitting on the boards lately that i decided i must, once and for all, learn to knit.

but now that i've increased my yarh usage, i'm running low on the good stuff i got before i moved. i don't know any good stores around here that seel anything but acrylic yarn (i've even seen that at a local grocery store!). are there any good places online to buy nice yarn? or any in the bay area if anyone's familiar?

thanks,
heather

ps--does it get easier to hold the needles? and are there any other tricks for a smooth learning process or does it just take practice? learning to crochet seemed so much easier...

Heather, get yourself to Straw Into Gold! They are at the corner of San Pablo Ave. and Ashby in Berkeley -- for more info, check out their website (they have weird hours)
www.straw.com/sig/
Online, try www.elann.com for their closeouts and oddballs (haven't ordered from Elann yet, but it's a fun place to browse and the prices are great).
Lucky you, going yarn shopping!
kale
p.s. I think the needle thing gets easier with practice...It's funny, I thought crochet was harder to learn. Maybe because I was learning from 2 books (both from the 70's) and one used British terminology while the other used American. All that double-single-treble stuff really made me nuts!

ah, kale, thank you so much! i'll definitely be checking out the store in berkeley soon--after all, i have to actually buy the yarn if i'm ever gonna crochet all those christmas presents. ugh, i may be too late already!

you what i've decided about how hard i'm finding it to knit versus crochet? i think that whichever one you learn first you learn best. the other one will only seem awkward. (and that british/american terminology stuff is still around in current books, too!)

thanks again,
heather

I learned to knit very young, and had the damndest time learning to crochet. Overall it took me 15 years (8 to 23) off and on attempting to learn, then ditching when I was about to scream my frustration. I have no idea why all of a sudden it just clicked one afternoon--but BAM potholder, done.

I knit in the continental style (I think, I always get them confused.) I hold my yarn in my left hand and do a pick and swoop with the right needle. I get pretty good speed that way, and it's a hell of a lot easier for us lefties than trying to knit american and throwing the yarn with the right hand.

as for mail order/online yarn stores, check out interweave.com, wool-works.org (they have listings of stores across the world), there's also gotyarn.com, knittinguniverse.com, fibergypsy.com, brownsheep.com, ramwools.com, webs clearinghouse at yarns.com

I get a couple of catalogs, including patternworks which you can request at their website, patternworks.com. I love it. If I had a more local local yarn store I would def. support it cause nothing beats feeling the yarn and seeing the colors, but ain't nothing good near my house.

What I need to do is find a really good store close to work, and then I could drop even more of my paycheck on knitting stuff.

mmmm knitting stuff.

Jen