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Sunday, March 6, 2011

34. Try to learn a craft I've never done before

I couldn't cast on. I spent about 40 minutes of the class trying to cast on. Thus began my knitting class.

Yes, I took only one class and I'm not saying I won't try it again, but my list says "try" something. I did try it, at least once.

I'm not sure I even like it.

There's an awesome young woman who works at my local coffeeshop who hosts a free knitting class at said coffeeshop every Wednesday night. A couple weeks ago, Princess and I went.

We had some needles (big ones since everyone I know says those are easiest to learn on) and some practice yarn.

I also want to say this woman is a great teacher. She was patient and gave good explanations. She used analogies which I need. She showed me several times from different angles how to cast on. (For those of you who don't knit, this means gets some stitches on the needles to actually begin the project.) I want to make it clear this was not a "teacher" issue. It was really the student.

While Princess practically had half a blanket done I had about 6 stitches on my needles. I couldn't get my fingers and the yarn and the needles all coordinated together. I would loop in the wrong spot or drop something and end up with a knot-- somehow. None of us were sure how. I started over about 86 times. For some reason I just couldn't get it. We even tried different sized needles. It just wasn't working for me.

I couldn't even cast on let alone pearl or knit anything. (you know, "knit one, pearl two")

This is the most I managed to get done. Then the next three stitches I did were all wrong and we had to take it all off.

I tried to learn a craft I've never done before. I like the teacher so I'll probably go back at least once, maybe twice. I have hope. I have no knitting project but I have hope.

Thought I may never get a scarf or a blanket out of this craft, there were three positives: I did like drinking coffee, spending time with Princess, and getting to know K, the teacher.

Maggie

6 comments:

Curley said...

I'm proud of you for even trying. Knitting is harder than crocheting so if you ever want to try that, give me a call and we'll see if we can get together.

Jimmie Earl said...

It's not that hard, or so I've been told by Curley, the maven of all thing knit or crocheted. Keep trying and I'm sure you'll get it. Bear in mind that K and Curley have probably been knitting and crocheting since birth, or at least since they were old enough to hold needles and hooks without using them as lethal weapons against their siblings. LOL!

JE

angel81 said...

I have no desire to learn how to knit, but I would LOVE to learn how to crochet!! (Hint, hint, Curley. LOL).

Bragger said...

Forgive me if this comment posts twice...I got some kind of wonky error message...

I'm confused...I thought you already KNEW how to knit. I thought you knitted (knat?) the lovely yellow hat you sent me.

I can't knit either. I finally learned how to cast on (it's ugly) and knit a few stitches (that's uglier), but I cannot for the life of me purl. I think I'll stick to crochet.

Maggie said...

Curly- okay I could try the crocheting for sure. One needle might work better for me.

JE- actually K was self taught a few years ago...

Booknut- I think a trip to Curley's is in order!

Bragger- it only posted once.

And I did knit your hat but I cheated because I knit it using a loom. I did do it all by myself but I loom knit rather than needle knit.

And it strikes me as 'funny' that knitting is something neither one of us can do. Irony...

My knitting was so bad it never got further than the picture and i even had to take that out since it was so terrible.

Tracy F. said...

I started learning to knit in January. I had a hard time with the casting-on part, too. Don't see the point of that "long-tail" cast on!I'm making progress with the knitting and purling, but I can't fix my mistakes. The teacher is getting impatient with me. :-(