RL tradeskilling , AKA knitting

[Maisie]

I recently decided I was going to learn how to knit, and expand my "knowledge" of crocheting, < My very limited knowledge>

Do any of you knit? have any advice on websites , books or whatnot? What works for you?

[Bebinn]

learning from a book is HARD. At least you have some background with the crocheting. That'll make learning to knit a little bit easier.

There used to be a thread with advice for newbie knitters/crocheters over at the Soapbox -- quick check, i think it was pruned. Want me to post a new one there? Last time there was lots of good advice.

have you checked out about.com's Knitting page ? I think that was one of the sites that was recommended by folks on the soapbox. Google had a ton of hits for knitting.

Have fun.

[Maisie]

I actually bought that book the idiots guide to knitting and crocheting < though I am not to fond of taking it into yarn stores and proclaiming my idiocy to all > , it has helped a bit.
Been browing the about.com page now, there is a LOT of stuff about knitting out there hehe, hard to pare down really.

thanks for reply!

[LadyAnnaAnna]

Ill agree that learning to knit from a book is VERY hard.
All you really need from a living human being is someone who will hang around for a while and show you the stitches once or twice until you figure out how. Beyond that, its just practice, and occasionally calling on a friend to remind you about a stitch

Lady Anna Anna

[Xorithra L`Amante]

I can start and continue a project! Only know two stitches, and don't know how to stop it.

Cross-stitching. Now there's a fun RL tradeskill!

[Maisie]

I have done cross-stitching, made some beautiful bibs for my son during my pregnancy, then never let him wear them LOL.

My mother in law is coming out to visit on Thursday and said she will bring some supplies and help me so we will see how it goes hehe

[Melinia]

I have done cross-stitching, made some beautiful bibs for my son during my pregnancy, then never let him wear them LOL.

Hmm... I dont think mine is that bad.. but close.. Started a wall hanging cross-stitch for my brothers family when his first child was "Still in the oven" ... still working on the finishing touches... My nephew is now 4 yrs old & has a little brother.

[Bebinn]

Hmm... I dont think mine is that bad.. but close.. Started a wall hanging cross-stitch for my brothers family when his first child was "Still in the oven" ... still working on the finishing touches... My nephew is now 4 yrs old & has a little brother.

yeah, cross-stitching can be a bear to finish sometimes. Stick with small projects and it's not so bad. Of course in the stores all you see is how beautiful the picture on the kit looks, you don't notice how big it is or try to calculate how many years it will take to complete it.

[Xorithra L`Amante]

Uh oh, the cross stitching line of thread is still going! Be careful, I might start posting up a project or two!

Shame there's no time any more. I was on a roll a while back, but havent finished the backstitching (only half left) of my last project for the last two years. Darn work and education.

[Chenier]

RL tradeskills! Woot!

I'm a quilter, although less so in the summer because work is really heavy in the summer and it's too hot to hold a blankie in your lap.

But, if you wanna see a few I've made, have a look.

[Maisie]

I would LOVE to quilt but I am on the knitting kick atm hehehe, those are beautiful!!!
must be nice to be so talented
I love crazy quilts, that one is goregous

[Chenier]

Hehe, thanks...I need to get a picture of my latest ones...a small wall quilt and two Christmas stockings (well, one is done, the other is in progress).

My bf has me working on a quilted tea cozy atm! Building up some log cabin blocks that i'll trim down into a cozy (a la instructions from here).

[Melinia]

Cross-stitch: I've done several medium sized ones in relativaly short periods of time. but my last one i could never find the time.
Quilting: i'm still a beginner in that department. still havent finished my first project.. yet. i'm actually putting the cross-stitch i did for my brothers family into a wall quilt. its supposed to look like a baby blanket. maybe i will post a pic when im done. we shall see. I've lost count the number of quilts my mom has done.
Genealogy: would this qualify as a rl tradeskill or rl research? i've been working on it here and there.

Chenier: i like the Edinburgh Dragon the best great job on them all!

[ancarett]

I do a lot of cross-stitch. Right now I'm working on an enormous afghan (Town Square pattern), inherited from my mom's closet of UFOs. She passed on her love of handicrafts to me -- I'm nowhere near her ability or her output, however. Before the girls were born, I began a wonderful project which is sadly unfinished because it is just so fiddly (I liken it to a 350 trivial tailoring combine): Celtic Christmas -- http://www.tiag.com/designs/LL-32.html -- by Marilyn Leavitt-Imblum.

My daughters have both taken up quilting and knitting this summer after visiting my dad's house on vacation. Dad taught them to quilt (I know how, but don't do it often as getting out my sewing machine is a royal pain) and my older sister taught them to knit. That meant I had to teach myself to knit, all over again. Third time's a charm (and now I'm knitting right handed because it's just easier to teach the kids who are both right handed, unlike their parents).

There's a great knitting community over on livejournal: http://www.livejournal.com/community/knitting/

That's where I got my recommendation for good books on knitting for beginners, etc.

[Sandary]

I am a lefty also, but I crochet right handed, it is just easier that way. I was also a bit more clumbsy with knitting.
Have you tried the "mirror" trick teaching your children to knit? It comes in quite handy when teaching little ones to tie there shoes also.