Learning to Knit

So when I was learning to knit I had a lovely boyfriend who knew the basic knit stitch - roughly. He had been taught it when he was younger and we both wanted to learn.

So we looked somethings up on YouTube and I borrowed a book from a friend and off we went. I wanted to learn so much more, while he was perfectly happy with the knit stitch and Dr. Who inspired wools (think garter stitch scarves galore).

Garter Stitch Fabric 

For me, the best part of knitting is creating a soft even fabric. The Garter Stitch just doesn't do it for me. What I love are the tiny little Vs of the stockinette stitch. This type of stitch does curl back around itself where the garter stitch lies flat, so it's not really nice if you're trying to knit a flat piece like a scarf out of just stockinette. 

Stockinette Stitch Fabric

I even prefer the back of the stockinette. Though it looks like Garter it's not springy and it is a nice even stitch. My one concern for using it in large pieces is that I would always catch stuff on the loops and end up pulling at the fabric. 

Reverse of the Stockinette (ignore my roughly tied in ends there)

Once you get used to the knits and purls you kinda wonder either into what I see as three fields. Cabling, Colourwork or Lace. I personally started with colourwork. I was obsessed with making designs.      Now that I am teaching knitting I like to let the person find a pattern that they really want to own the finished item - no matter how difficult it looks. I usually guide them to Ravelry, explain the basics and ask them to find a free pattern that is something they really want to own. Then we will make it happen. 

My current student and long time friend Veneise has chosen a cabled kindle cover, once we had mastered the knits and purls. Her sample when we first started was a wonderful wedge shape, adding on average of two stitches per row somehow.... 

We went to Romni downtown Toronto and chose a gorgeous Purple for her to use and she started practicing her cabling with some spare yarn. She's a natural!  So last night at knit group we had her start her actual project, learn to knit in the round, learn how to make a ball out of a skein of yarn, start her cables, read a pattern.... it was amazing! It's only been two weeks since we were teaching her to purl! 

I also lent Veneise the book I used when I was learning. If you are learning or want to up your game I highly recommend this book. It goes through Intarsia, lace, colourwork, cables, basic stitches, increases and decreases, tension, gauge, yarn types, notions and hints, and more!.... and Lesley Stanfield and Melody Griffiths put terms and the "how to" into language that really makes sense! I bought this book back in 2010, and now there are so many more used copies for cheaper than I paid for it! (Wow, I've been knitting for three years now! :) )

Own your knits

When I chose a knitting pattern for myself one of the key things needed is you have to really really really want to own/make that item. Watch it come to life, add it to your wardrobe, test your skills... there has to be a drive.

If your knitting project bores you chances are you won't actually want to finish it and it will be one of those things that sit in the bottom of your projects bin/bag/pile.

One of the things I really wanted to own was Cobalt by Kim Hargreaves. I chose burgandy, before the actual autumn fashion lines were out and luckily for me that colour is bang on trend. This of course had nothing to do with my selection and much more to do with the fact I really suit burgandy and couldn't find a cardigan I liked in the shops.

I finished this piece on a train from London to Rugby. Who knew there was an actual place called Rugby! I didn't get to see any of it, but the train got me there. Also, since I finished this on Monday I have worn it three times - today is only Thursday.

Here is my finished piece, worn with the dress that inspired the colour choice and the garment choice.

Gauge

Have you heard about checking your gauge when knitting? It's where you measure how many stitches and rows to get a certain size - usually in most patterns and on balls of yarn they measure it over 10cm (but depends on what country your pattern is from). I have had projects where I'm right on gauge and they don't really work out anyway (muckle mittens) but I seem to have bigger issues within my brain lately. 


I cast on for my Cobalt sweater and knit some of the sleeve to do my swatch. Measurements give me 21 stitches instead of 20, so in my mind I was like "Yea! Bigger!"




Only, if you have done a gauge you might already know that you actually want smaller numbers to make it bigger. So I probably shouldn't continue until I figure out how to increase a few stitches and make it even. Otherwise I will end up with a cardigan that is too small, not loose as I had thought. 


My sweater is more of a rich burgandy than brick red as in this photo, but it was taken late at night with lack of daylight, and on my cell phone!


I also have just received Deborah Newton's book Finishing School. Which obviously is to become my RULES OF KNITTING. And she talks about  seam stitches at the edges that are in stockinette so you can easily seam. I was worried about the seams in this project and think I definitely have to add these in to make my life that much easier!

Little Rays of Sunshine

The sun is finally out! And I'm inside. Knitting with that super fine gold yarn. Its a bit of a nightmare, but I would rather do it on a day that I have good lighting! My little basement flat isn't prone to sharing daylight with me, so I take what I can get!

I have had to look a few things up knittingwise lately, to learn new techniques. Now, I'm a fairly self taught knitter. I had someone show me the knit stitch, and then together we kinda figure out casting on, casting off, colour work, joining in the round, ribbing, etc. I clearly didn't make this stuff up and just figure it out, but I didn't know another knitter close by to teach me.

My first real project was Bird and Vine Mittens. First. With circular, thumbs, ribbing, colourwork. And they are so full of mistakes, but I love them. See the bottom ribbing? And they still aren't cast off properly at the top, as I wanted a stretchy bind off and the one I think I sort of made up just isn't right.

What I did have was Lesley Stanfield's Encyclopedia of Knitting Techniques, (I think she has a brand new one out now as well) with great pictures and great diagrams.

And I had the power of Google/You Tube. There are so many videos on there to show you just about everything to do with knitting. I personally love teaching people how to do things, but sometimes you're in the middle of something and don't know anyone who could help (hello to you 2am knitters!). And some of the accents of the teachers are very deep south USA so its' funny to think that people are doing this worldwide and helping each other!

Today I learned crochet cast on (which I didn't like for my current project and have found ways around actually having to use it) and the other day it was one of the cabling directions in my Aidez cardigan that I looked at and just went Huh?! Enter youtube and problem solved!

Just don't be afraid to try new things! You might be a cable genius or become addicted to colour work the way I did, but unless you try you just won't know! And if you need help, just ask me. If I know I will help you.