Knitting Newbie

**Nada.Leona** · 11-03-2004, 08:05 PM

Hello Sisters!

I have finally asked a friend to teach me how to knit.

I was so excited to purchase a beautiful ball of multi-colored, very soft yarn. :multi: My dear friend lent me a pair of knitting needles and she showed me the basic stitch -- the problem is, I'm a lefty and she's a righty, so she had to hold her hands "backwards" to show me how to knit left-handed. My friends laugh at me when I try to knit, but I'll learn!

I'm hoping that I can work up the skill to knit a nice scarf for my dear friend (the one who taught me) for Christmas. I think it would be something she would appreciate.

Bright Blessings!
Rawiya

**Sara Noel** · 11-03-2004, 08:32 PM

I'm new to knitting too. I've casted on and that's all until I finish this crochet afghan I'm working on. lol

You'll have that scarf done in no time.

**SewCrafty** · 11-03-2004, 08:44 PM

WTG Rawiya!

If you need help and your friend isn't available, just holler!

**Missy** · 11-03-2004, 08:49 PM

you'll love i when you get the basic stitches done I bet. I have alot of fun doing socks, although I am slow doing them. I want to do some Christmasy socks this year. Have fun, and i if you run into problems, let us know, and we will do our best to help. Sewcrafty is a great person to ask, she's awesome at explaining stitiches and techniques.

**Nada.Leona** · 11-03-2004, 09:13 PM

Thanks so much! I don't know all the technical terms yet (cast-off?

) but I would definitely appreciate the help when I need it.

Bright Blessings!
Rawiya

**DaisyLady** · 11-04-2004, 07:17 AM

Rawiya, that's great that you are learning to knit.

I am a righty too but when I teach lefties I teach them to hold the wool in their left hand which is called continental knitting. Also known as "picking" (as opposed to American knitting or "throwing")

If your friend doesn't know how to do this you could check out some of the learn to knit sites on the web to see how to hold the yarn and work the stitches.

Holler if you need help!

**Ellise** · 11-04-2004, 12:13 PM

I want to learn as well, but have so much going I'll wait until I've completed some.

**Joan1969** · 11-05-2004, 04:39 PM

Hi SewCrafty,

>> If you need help and your friend isn't available, just holler!

[/B][/QUOTE]

Hope you don't mind giving a bit of advice to another newbie! I've just started knitting and my work looks okay in the center, but my vertical edges look very ratty and amaturish to me; not at all like what I see in books. I am wondering if it could be my yarn, which is a standard acrylic. Or is there something I should be doing to achieve a more finished, attractive look?

Thanks a lot!

Joan

**SewCrafty** · 11-05-2004, 05:28 PM

Originally posted by Joan1969
Hi SewCrafty,

>> If you need help and your friend isn't available, just holler!

Hope you don't mind giving a bit of advice to another newbie! I've just started knitting and my work looks okay in the center, but my vertical edges look very ratty and amaturish to me; not at all like what I see in books. I am wondering if it could be my yarn, which is a standard acrylic. Or is there something I should be doing to achieve a more finished, attractive look?

Thanks a lot!

Joan

[/B][/QUOTE]

Sure Joan anytime!

Sounds like you need to really tighten up the last stitch on your needle. Try that and see if it works, and when you go to work the 1st stitch off on your row, tighten it up again. It is generally the weight of the needle pulling the stitch out so it is loose and stretched out. Just snug it up as you work it on each end and that should take care of it.

**Joan1969** · 11-07-2004, 05:00 PM

Hi Dee,

Thanks for your advice! I have started a new swatch (straight stockinette just to practice my edges) doing a selvedge in garter stitch and it seems to have worked very well. Just thought I'd share that in case any other "newbies" are having any problems. To make the edge, I knit both the first and last stitch on each row, even the purl rows. It seems to me that what helps the most is the yarning over involved. That really seems to tighten things up.

Anyway, I'm still pretty new to knitting, so I hope this problem continues to correct itself with time and learning. Thanks again, Dee!

Joan

**SewCrafty** · 11-07-2004, 05:13 PM

Your welcome Joan! Good idea to knit every end stitch. I didn't think of that as I haven't hand knit in quite a while.

I know when doing the stockinette stitch, a lot of people have problems tightening up the purl stitches, but with practice you will get it!

Glad you are enjoying an age old craft!