I taught myself how to knit yesterday. Weirdest part?

[Bouncy Ball]

My husband saw me sitting in bed knitting and found it strangely....compelling.

That's all I'll say about that.

I am halfway finished with a multi-colored scarf for my daughter. I can cast on, knit and finish off. I feel like a damn genius, as doing crafty things with my hands has always eluded me.

(The scarf gets a bit wider in the middle. I started off with ten cast-on stitches and somehow it became twelve. How the hell did that happen? And there's a little hole at one point. But my daughter requested more holes so that "it'll be punk.")

Who knew knitting would get me the attention of my husband and adoration of my daughter (she thought I was making it "punk" on purpose)?

[Democrat 4 Ever]

1. Good for you. If you have increased stitches

it is probably a beginner's mistake of splitting yard and creating two stitches where one once existed. Easiest way to get back on track - just knit two stitches together. If you are using large needles and bulky yarn you won't even be able to pick out the boo boo. If you have done it several times just space out the corrections so you won't have one big lump where all the stitches are grouped together.

It is a good idea to stop and check you stitch count ever so often to keep yourself on track. Enjoy.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

6. One more quick idea -

Use a size 17 needle, two strands of yarn - I use a chenille and a funky Lion Brand yarn fancy fur in coordinating color. Cast on 15 stitches and knit one row, purl the next until you get the desired length. Loose, funky and fun. You can easily knit a scarf in one evening using the large needles. My grandkids love these things. I, also, knitted cuffs out of the same yarn and stitched them to a cheap store bought sweater for a matching set. Fast, cheap, and really cute.

[Bouncy Ball]

9. Great ideas.

Oh and I'm using ginormous needles. I think they are size 17. The knit is really big and funky and I'm using that yarn that has all kinds of different colors as you go along. Rainbow colors.

[izzie]

2. I used to love to knit. Still love all that yarn and colors etc.

I turned it over to my daughter when it was the paint brush or knitting. I took up some other craft so I could play with the yarn and the repeated actions of knitting would not hurt my hands. I could not believe knitting would do that to my hands. The cure was not to knit.

[Patiod]

3. I retaught myself crochet recently, and the scarf is widening, too

I'm never quite sure what to do at the end of a row. Counting would probably go a long way to remedying this.

[Modem Butterfly]

4. I've knitted since I was a kid...

It's a very satisfying hobby. My latest thing is making child-sized mittens for this group:

http://www.afghansforafghans.com

My partner doesn't find it sexy at all. But he does enjoy ripping out stuff I've screwed up.

[Bouncy Ball]

7. My partner is JUST weird.

Really. Weirder than hell. Knitting. He took one look at me and looked like he wanted to tear my clothes off.

I think it's the whole domestic thing. As evolved as he is, he still goes crazy if I make a pot roast or mop the floor or something.

On edit I am going to check out that link, that looks cool.

[Modem Butterfly]

10. My partner says he gets a happy when I'm doing chores...

...he says it's sexy, but I think he really enjoys watching me do tasks he won't later have to do himself.

;)

I like making mittens because they're quick, satisfying, easily transportable, less measurement-dependant than socks, and so practical. These people have less than nothing, and a nice, warm pair of mittens can make a difference.

[DulceDecorum]

5. I know what got you started on that knitting

but I am going to be nice
and refrain from mentioning
PURSES.
:evilgrin:

[Bouncy Ball]

8. Well, you lost me.

[DulceDecorum]

12. Allow me to refresh your memory

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=105&topic_id=2536531

[Bouncy Ball]

13. ROFL!!!

No, I shall not be knitting a uterus, or a vibrator cozy, or anything else we found that night.


(God, that was hilarious.)

[democrat in Tallahassee]

11. If your thread got in front of the needle while you were knitting

instead of behind it, that will increase a stitch and also cause a hole. A lot of beginners make that mistake.

[Shakespeare]

14. I've made the same mistake (picking up unwanted stitches).

And when I notice, I very nobly remind myself that the Navajo intentionally weave flaws into their textiles to represent mankind's infallibility. It makes me feel less like an idiot. ;-)

Uh, yeah--I did that on purpose! Now I'll knit two together, and we'll all celebrate the ad-libbed hole in the great tradition of the Navajo!