Idle Hands
Can anyone recommend a good "knitting for dummies" book? Seriously, I have never knitted a thing in my life, but I am in need of a hobby and it seems somewhat natural to lean towards the needles. I've already blogged about this cool shrug and this hat that makes small children resemble yummy desserts (both at Knitty), and I really dig the bag that this girl here made with the smart button closure. I must admit that my recent enthusiasm to take up knitting was peaked by this fun breakfast-themed bag (via not martha via creazativity). One day I will aspire to make cool things like those :)
Another question: anyone know if it's better to knit left-handed if one is left-handed, or will interpreting patterns just be easier if I knit like I'm right-handed? No biggie to me either way - lefties are extraordinary adaptive :)
I've looked at a lot of books (Stitch N' Bitch, Knitting for Dummies, & many others), but the pictures showing how & when you wrap the yarn around the needles have always confused me. The clearest instructions on basic techniques (knit, purl, increase, decrease) I've found so far are in "Knitting" by Judy Ann Sadler. (It's a 40 page hardcover book for kids.)
Posted by:Rachel | January 26, 2004 at 09:39 AM
when i was first learning how to knit i checked out a couple of instructional knitting videos from my local library and found them to be much more helpful than any of the books i picked up. it's easier to learn with you see the needles and yarn in action rather than in a drawing or photograph.
Posted by:suzie q | January 26, 2004 at 11:27 AM
As a lefty myself, I must say that it's been easier for me to just follow right handed knitting techniques. Like you said, leftys are pretty adaptable, and it's much easier to interpret directions from books (esp. pictures about how to do a particular stitch) if your hands are going to do what (they presume) everyone else is.
Good luck!
Posted by:Elizabeth Reeves | January 27, 2004 at 08:09 AM
www.stitchguide.com is the site I use whenever something that confuses me comes up in a pattern. They use videos to show how the stitches are done, so you can see what to do much easier than with any drawing. Having someone teach you to knit will get you on the road much faster than learning by book. Most yarn stores offer how-to-knit sessions.
Posted by:Carolyn J. | January 28, 2004 at 11:24 AM
I would love love love to take a class, but the ones at my fave yarn shop here in Calgary (Gina Browns) are all during the day! Bah!
Posted by:laura | January 28, 2004 at 09:53 PM