Is knitting for you?
How do you decide this without trying it first? I dunno… I just had a feeling.
How KnitsKnacks got started
I saw my grandma do it and wanted to too. Unfortunately, my mom only knew how to crochet and I tried that too but I didn’t like how chunky it felt and the holes.. just wasn’t for me. I had that gut feeling that knitting would some how be better. However, my interests changed frequently so when I asked if I could learn how I was shot down.. there was the guitar I never played, the this, the that, the other thing, and homework and college to focus on.
So maybe it was also out of teen rebellion, but I saved my allowance and when we were at Michaels or JoAnn’s (I don’t even remember now! lol ) I bought a pair of US 8 Clover straight needles some yarn, probably Red Heart, and a book because back in my day, YouTube was only for music videos really. It wasn’t the collection of tutorials and information that it is today. The struggle was real, easier than reading Ikea furniture assembly instructions, but still you had a comic strip of the steps you were supposed to take to get a stitch. Nothing to guide you on how to hold the needle, how to prevent slipping and dropping of stitches while you fuss with trying to balance weight of the needles and yarn..
Yeah I know, I’m not doing a good job selling this. I’m not a sales person ;) If I have to sell you on it, then maybe knitting isn’t for you. However, if you are willing to work through the pains, then maybe this is a hobby for you!
Why KnitsKnacks Keeps Knitting
In my younger days knitting when it was new and exciting provided a puzzle to solve. How come my project is not the right shape? How come I started with 30 stitches and suddenly have 25? F, what the?
To give you perspective, I’ve been knitting off and on since 2007. I stopped during college but toward the end I picked it back up and found the San Diego Central Knitters on Meetup.com and if it weren’t for learning how to advance my skills and the community I have found through my group, I don’t think I’d be knitting today! Through this group, I have learned so much from feeding off other knitters, helping new and returning knitters, and the general chit chat about goings on in current events. It’s because of this group I am the knitter I am today! Sometime around my college graduation, I graduated from knitting coasters and scarves thanks to the group leader suggesting the $5 in Paris pattern on Ravelry, which you can create an account for free and find free and paid patterns for knit and crochet. It’s been all fun and games since! I’ve made everything head to toe and adjusted patterns to make them do what I want them to do. Such as this Bat Cape pattern, written for super bulky (very thick) yarn that I converted to sock/fingering weight (much thinner yarn).
Feel free to check out my Getting Started with Knitting: What You Need post!
What?! You don’t like chunky and holes? Lol. You didn’t say how she only made chicks and filled it with plastic easter eggs. Lol. Fun to read.