STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Meow · Coach

question for those of you who knit

nunzi182 · Kate Spade

I first started with knitting and picked it up pretty easily. I then tried crocheting and was really bad at it, so I stuck with knitting. If you start simple, I really don't think you'll have a problem. I may not be one to talk though because I am part of a knitting group at my church and if I come across a problem one of them always helps!

laken1 · Hermes

I'm probably a bad one to ask because I am still knitting scarves! But I didn't take a class, I found a local "knitting circle" like a stitch & bitch group & they are slowly teaching me. I also bought that stitch & bitch nation book, but that's not particularly helping me with the actual knitting part because I obviously don't learn well that way. I have never crocheted, btw, so i don't know how to compare it, although lots of projects include both. That sweater on the cover of Vogue Knitting is supposedly not too hard because it is a circle with arms - but I don't know the definition of "not too hard" yet. I think knitting in general it's pretty easy - i have gotten much faster, but like I said, i'm still knitting rectangles. I am taking a class next month to make this sweater without the pocket in this aqua color.

It's supposed to be easy because it's just rectangles that you sew together. But I must admit, it's not cheap. The yarn to do that sweater is about $90 - but of course it's really cool yarn - but would I want any other kind? Nope.

here is where I found the group I've been hanging out with. It's been good for me too to meet new people in my area - just searching knitting

www.meetup.com

LittleSinner · BCBG

I would say the same thing....I'm good at knitting, terrible at crocheting.

I never took a class (my friend taught me) and I caught on pretty fast. What I have found helpful are the knitting step by step shows on DIY network. You can download all the instructions from each show on their website as a supplement but I have found it is just easier to watch the shows (there are two different ones but the names escape me). Also if you are just starting, I would suggest buying a cheaper yarn (from like Michael's or JoAnn's type places-they also offer cheap classes) size 8 (14") needles, and begin with knitting a scarf. This is what I did and now I am knitting hats, purses, booties, etc. HTH!