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Scorpiomoon
Member
06-06-2002
| Friday, March 12, 2004 - 3:42 pm
A few weeks ago I was watching an E! True Hollywood Story about Justine Bateman. (You know, "Mallory" from "Family Ties".) In the last few years, she's created a successful business selling clothing she has designed and knitted herself. My interest was piqued, but I never explored knitting. But last night, I was on Amazon, and happened to come across "Knitting For Dummies". Suddenly, I have this intense desire to learn how to knit! I remembered Justine's endeavors and went to her Web site. Some of her designs are really quite beautiful. I would love to learn how to knit unique-looking, stylish clothing as she has. And, I'm thinking, I spend so much time watching TV, why not knit while I'm doing it? My questions: How did you get into knitting? Was it hard to learn? What kinds of things do you make? Is knitting as relaxing and rewarding as I keep reading it is? When I think of things people knit, what comes to mind are the big, bulky sweaters that itch when you were them or tea cozies or baby blankets. Do anyone of you get really creative and knit items that might be considered untraditional?
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Schoolmarm
Member
02-18-2001
| Friday, March 12, 2004 - 3:51 pm
I love to knit, but haven't done much for years. I started knitting with grandma and mom when I was a child, but nowadays, there are 'knitting' clubs at coffee shops and such to make knitting a social outlet. Wasn't hard to learn at all. I pick up patterns quickly I am currently wearing a funky scarf made from HUGE yarn with fluffy black fringy strings in the yarn. It was made on HUGE needles and only took an hour. I like to make scarves, as they are fairly simple....I never do seem to finish sweaters. It's that sewing them together bit! I've made hats, sweaters, scarves, baby clothes, afghans, etc. I need to make the funky hat that goes with my scarf! You make it big and put it in the washing machine to 'felt' it. Mine will be in the colors of my funky scarf and SHOULD look like it cost a pretty penny! I find it relaxing. It keeps you from eating or smoking because your hands are busy. Now, I'm on the computer when I watch TV. One of my colleagues would always knit or crochet at the NUMEROUS meetings we college folks are required to go to. I have a college student who is making an afghan right now. I can't remember if she is knitting or crocheting. Maybe I should get out the needles again!
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Justavice
Member
07-12-2003
| Friday, March 12, 2004 - 8:11 pm
I started knitting when I was 11 years old and the first thing I made was a grey and white "cat" full of dried lima beans and her name was "Irene". My mom still has this cat on a bannister in her house. I taught myself how to knit because as a young child, I had ulcers and my dr. said I needed a hobby to calm myself. I still knit to this day, have never used patters or instructions, and love to make scarves and hats. The circular needles are so much fun. You just knit and knit, and before you know it, you have a hat, or pair of socks, or whatever you want to do. I learned from a pamphlet at JoAnn fabrics and just picked it up trial and error. I have never tried to follow a pattern, or anything terribly complicated. I just like to feeling of going through the motions of knitting without thinking about it.
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 10:37 pm
I used to LOVE to knit. There are TWO ways to knit. The American way and the European way...it depends on which hand you hold the yarn, LOL My grandma taught me the European way and you can just fly the stitches off the end of the needle (like a machine LOL) However, something to consider. Do you have head, neck or back pain? Any arthritis? The position of knitting and the active use of hands/ arms will aggravate any preexisting condition you have. I can no longer KNIT by hand :-( but am looking for one of those cool knitting machines.
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Sunshyne4u
Member
06-17-2003
| Sunday, March 14, 2004 - 10:48 pm
OH ....I just did a search. It is called "The Continental version" on About.com/knitting LOL There are even pics on how to do it if you are interested. :-))
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Sia
Member
03-11-2002
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 12:25 am
An older cousin taught me to knit when I was a child, but I didn't pick up the habit again until adulthood. In 1984 I was taught to knit by a left-handed woman. I'm right-handed, but the left-handed knitter taught me to hold my yarn in the fingers of my left hand. I find this much faster than the way I see other people knitting. I've designed and knitted a couple of sweater vests (wore them in the late 80s!) and have done numerous afghans, scarves, etc. One of my most recent new crafts has been cro-knitting, which is a combination of crochet and knitting, worked off a double-ended crochet hook. It makes a pretty pattern using two colors of yarn. I love the new loopy yarns and want to make one of the fringe-y scarves. They're beautiful!

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Lumbele
Member
07-12-2002
| Monday, March 15, 2004 - 7:14 am
When DS was little I used to knit all the time (European style). He went through about 10 pairs of mittens per play session alone.LOL Now I have tennis elbow problems (never played a game of tennis in my life) and can't go at it as I used to, but I'd like to pick it up again.
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Sia
Member
03-11-2002
| Monday, March 29, 2004 - 7:10 am
Here's the scarf I made for my daughter from the new "Eye Lash" yarn made by Bernat. The yarn is tricky to work with, but the project only took a few hours to complete. Very cute, and DD loves it!

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Kappy
Member
06-29-2002
| Saturday, April 17, 2004 - 5:35 pm
Hi everyone. I had 3 New Year resolutions this year . . lose weight (so far so good), end the clutter (not so good but still working on it), and learn to knit. I took a class at the beginning of the year and it has become my new passion. I love the new yarns out there and have finished two scarves so far and three dishcloths. I thought a friend was crazy when she suggested dishcloths but they're small, quick, useful and good practice to get my knitting skills down. But I have found that using the smaller needles to make the dish cloths makes my hands cramp or maybe it's because I'm just more tense from work on some days. Either way, heed what Sunshyne says above. I find it tremendously relaxing and do it while I'm watching tv as well as at work during lunch if I have time.
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