I love to crochet – I’m sure you can tell that by now 🙂  But I decided that I was going to teach myself to knit – after all how hard could it be?
I keep browsing through Pinterest and keep seeing all of these beautiful lacy shawls, only to discover that they are knitted – that’s what’s prompted this adventure. Â Don’t get me wrong, crocheted shawls are beautiful – but knitted shawls are just gorgeous!
So, Christmas Eve when I discovered that all my crochet projects were finished, I broke out a pair of aluminum knitting needles that I’ve had since I was a teenager and a skein of yarn and said to myself “ok, there is no time like the present to teach myself to knit”. Â Now I had been preparing myself for this day since earlier in 2015 when I got the Kindle edition of the Knitting: Box Set: The Complete Comprehensive Guide on Knitting as a freebie from Amazon but was totally unprepared (mentally) for just how different knitting would be. Â For example, there are two different methods of knitting – the English and the Continental. Â I found that I was more comfortable using the English method as I’m right handed – but I think I’ve developed a third method – English Slang – because I have done quite a lot of swearing!
Here are some knitting tips from a crocheter:
- My favorite chair seems small – knitting needles are much longer than my crochet hook.
- I feel like I have too much STUFF in my hands.
- Knitting feels AWKWARD!
- I do not like knitting with cotton yarn.
- If you are right handed, the index finger of your left hand is going to get sore at first.
- If you wear long sleeved, button cuffed shirts be prepared to get the end of your knitting needle caught in the opening of the cuff!
- Aluminum knitting needles are SLIPPERY – I thought I was gently sliding my fabric toward the top of the needle when ZOOM, off came about a dozen stitches!
- Crocheting is much easier to FROG!
- Keep a crochet hook handy to pick up dropped stitches!
- DO NOT attempt to knit when you are tired!
- Knitting (especially lace knitting) requires a LOT of counting so pay attention!
- Have a glass (NOT a bottle) of wine to help you relax 🙂
- Congratulate yourself each time you get to the end of a row and have the correct number of stitches on your needle.
- Be prepared to learn a whole new language!
- Seriously do more test swatches and little projects than I did.
Previously, when I’ve attempted to knit my tension was absolutely horrible! Â One row would be fine, the next too tight – this time was different. Â My tension was good as I did my first test swatch.
After a couple of very simple test swatches, I knitted a small Basket Weave Dishcloth. Â It ended up being small because I soon found out that I didn’t like knitting with cotton yarn – the index finger of my left hand soon became very sore.
Once the swatches and the dishcloth were done – in typical “me” fashion, I decided to dive right into making a lace scarf!  I chose the Brooke’s Column of Leaves Scarf as my first project using a skein of Bernat Softee Baby yarn in a colorway called Flannel and a pair of size 6 needles.  Overall, I’m pretty happy with it so far – I know there are some boo-boo’s in it – but that’s ok.  I know as time goes on I’ll become more proficient and learn how to purl 2 together through the back loops (p2tog tbl) correctly.
There is a hat and fingerless gloves that has this same pattern, if this turns out well I just may be brave and try them. Â Perhaps they will become a Christmas present for my daughter this year…..
How was your first experience in knitting or crocheting?
Hi! I’m first a crocheter, and recently taught myself to knit too. Look into the bamboo knitting needles by Clover, they’re not nearly as slippery as aluminum. Also, circular needles are great and dont get stuck in shirt sleeves! My mom is a bookkeeper (too) and sent me to your site. It’s great!
Hello Courtney and welcome! Oh, I love my clover crochet hooks so I’ll have too look into their bamboo knitting needles! LOL, my sister-in-law (who taught herself to knit last year) mentioned the circular needles and OMG did she laugh when she asked how my knitting adventure was coming along and I sent her the picture of the end of the needle stuck in my shirt sleeve! I’ll have to make a visit to my local yarn shop and see what there is.
I am determined to finish this scarf – but good grief the progress is so slow. I could have a finished Fantirumi by now!
I second that thought for bamboo. Then you can graduate to Rosewood and be happy happy!! I always use circular needles to keep things “safe”. I’d say you’re doing great!!!
Oh, Oh…”rosewood”! I like the thought of safe, too!
Great blog thanks. I’ve just taken up knitting again – love it but I have to practice more before attempting lace. Like you, lace was my first attempt. However, unlike you, my ‘lace’ was more boo-boo than lace so I have accepted I need more practice at basic knitting and purling first! Well done.
Hi gracewife, thanks for stopping by! Glad to hear that you’ve picked up the knitting needles again. I’ll admit, lace is beautiful but it is also a difficult first “real” project! I think I just lucked out, or maybe it was all of the earlier failed attempts! Just be persistent and you’ll master it 🙂
Great post! You had me laughing. I am a knitter and refused for over 35 years to crochet, but finally last year I caved and had a coworker show me how. My experiences were parallel to yours (although no needle stuck in my sleeve!). I had a dishcloth of varying width, but I was proud :). Now I’ve managed to crochet several blankets in a shell pattern and some edging around my knitted work. You started out with a bang with your knitting, so good job! Great site, by the way.
Hi Jenny
I’m so glad it made you laugh, I chuckled all the while I was writing this post! And I have to admit, during my swatches I alternately laughed like a fool and cursed like a sailor 🙂 The two crafts are so totally opposite of one another in their methods and it is hard to learn one after having done the other for a long time. And I will confess, my crocheted dishclothes sometimes do not have square edges – even after all these years! Glad you’ve mastered the art of crochet as much as you have!