Any knitters here at B&B?

[JVasky]

Ok, I know I'm in the minority here but I'll say it... I am a man, and I am a knitter... I got it off my chest.

My girlfriend taught me about a year and a half ago, and I really enjoy it. It calls my nerves and it's cool to create something with my hands (one reason I want to learn to wood work). Here's a scarf I'm working on now.

So I ask you guys and gals, do you throw the yarn?

 

[August West]

I am not but I saw an avatar here that said 'real men knit'. I think it is pretty cool.

 

[MartialArtist]

I knit but prefer to crochet actually.

 

[JVasky]

I knit but prefer to crochet actually.

I tried crochet but actually had a hard time with it.

 

[dpm802]

My father was a merchant seaman and passed the time at sea by knitting. When he'd come home after a trip, he'd have dozens of pairs of mittens and scarves and ski caps to give away to all the relatives and neighbors.

I tried knitting myself and enjoyed it for a year or so, but didn't stick with it. Your post has made me think about taking it back up again.

 

[Pattorashu]

Knitters have a hard time with crochet, and vice versa is the majority I've come across.

I knit, and unfortunately my projects are in storage as I'm in a temporary residence.

Only photos I have on my newer computer:

 

[Mr5x5]

One of those things I wish I had learned from my mother so that I could pass it on. She learned from hers, who learned from hers, who knit on the boat coming over from Sweden, etc. SWMBO tried to learn from mom when we first got married but it didn't go real well and then we moved. Mom said that what she learned was somehow backwards from what most people do so the books won't help. We live to far away from my parents now so my daughter will never learn the "family" patterns.

 

[T.Orso]

Count me in.

I am getting a fever, so in the house this evening I was wearing the one sweater I have knit for myself, in of all things a possum/merino yarn, which is wonderfully soft and warm. And the matching neckwarmer, which I knit up as a test for the sweater project. And a cable knit hat in pure yak wool that I knit for my father when he was on chemo and had no hair. (The cancer got him, and my mother returned the hat to me.) I also had on a lovely dark grey tweed cardigan that the girlfriend knit for me, worn over the other sweater. She is the main knitter here, and I benefit greatly from her knowledge, expertise, and yarn stash (not to mention finished knits).

I must have completed about twenty projects in all.

I am working now on a little dress in baby alpaca for my little girl, with the problem that she may be growing faster than I am knitting. I just hope to finish while she can still fit into it.

The sweater I made for myself is the nicest thing I have ever done for myself. Knitting is wearable love.

I will see if I can dredge up some pics.

 

[JVasky]

Wow it's great to see so many knitters out there. I was thinking maybe one or two bites out there but once again I'm pleasantly surprised by this community. I'm loving the stories!

 

[T.Orso]

Here's my first sweater project, for my first daughter. She wasn't born yet, so I had to find another model.

 

[JVasky]

That's a great little sweater! I'm sure she'll be really cozy. I've never tried anything like a sweater but I'm tempted to. Maybe when my schedule calms down.

 

[T.Orso]

Thanks Jim! Actually, that girl is seven now, and her little sister long ago grew out of the sweater too.

The great thing about these baby knits is that they are so fast. After four sweaters for my girl I had built the confidence to do one for myself. If there is someone really small in your life that you can knit for, I do recommend it.

Have you discovered Ravelry? It's a social networking site where people post their knitting and crochet projects. It is huge. Pretty amazing if you have a project in mind and want to find out how others have done with it.

 

[JVasky]

One of those things I wish I had learned from my mother so that I could pass it on. She learned from hers, who learned from hers, who knit on the boat coming over from Sweden, etc. SWMBO tried to learn from mom when we first got married but it didn't go real well and then we moved. Mom said that what she learned was somehow backwards from what most people do so the books won't help. We live to far away from my parents now so my daughter will never learn the "family" patterns.

Hmm I wish I could offer , some kind of insight but I don't know too much. I do know there are lesser known alternative methods such as Portuguese style. There's a couple good tutorials on that on YouTube and I'm sure there are plenty of other alternative methods. I'm going to keep that in mind and see if I can dig something up if I have free time.

Another thing you could do, I don't know how possible it is for you outr your parents but you could try setting up a Skype connection or something similar.

 

[JVasky]

Thanks Jim! Actually, that girl is seven now, and her little sister long ago grew out of the sweater too.

The great thing about these baby knits is that they are so fast. After four sweaters for my girl I had built the confidence to do one for myself. If there is someone really small in your life that you can knit for, I do recommend it.

Have you discovered Ravelry? It's a social networking site where people post their knitting and crochet projects. It is huge. Pretty amazing if you have a project in mind and want to find out how others have done with it.

Ravelry is great. My girlfriend turned me on to that and it's been extremely useful. I'm not active in the community there but my girlfriend is and I get great help and tons of patterns from there.

I'll have to think about trying a little sweater for a small niece I have.

 

[martym]

I crotchet!
I made receiving blankets for all three of my children.
I made a blanket for my oldest when she left for boarding school 6 years ago. She has it at college with her now.
i crocheted the blanket on my bed
i did throws for my nieces and nephews and my parents.
I am a man!

 

[Mr5x5]

Hmm I wish I could offer , some kind of insight but I don't know too much. I do know there are lesser known alternative methods such as Portuguese style. There's a couple good tutorials on that on YouTube and I'm sure there are plenty of other alternative methods. I'm going to keep that in mind and see if I can dig something up if I have free time.

Another thing you could do, I don't know how possible it is for you outr your parents but you could try setting up a Skype connection or something similar.

Thanks for the suggestions. I think Grandma called it continental style or such. Mom and I do Skype but unfortunately the internet service in this region is so poor it is only useful for verbal communication and no visuals. As much as I don't want my daughter to grow too quickly it would be nice if she was older and could spend some time with the various grandparents before they get too old.

 

[JVasky]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think Grandma called it continental style or such. Mom and I do Skype but unfortunately the internet service in this region is so poor it is only useful for verbal communication and no visuals. As much as I don't want my daughter to grow too quickly it would be nice if she was older and could spend some time with the various grandparents before they get too old.

Oh if it is indeed continental style you may be in luck. That's a very popular style that's becoming more and more popular here in the states. I am actually trying to learn myself. There are tons of tutorials on that online. The main difference is the hands you use.

Throwers like me wrap yarn around needles with the right hand, continental style knitters hold the yarn with their left and kind of pick it with the right hand. They feel different and continental is faster for most and a bit looser, but other than that the stitches are the same and the patterns are the same, the actually method to get the stitch may vary but the results are the same.

This video is a good overview for someone who knows how to knit in the traditional or American style but wants to learn continental. Notice how she interchanged styles and gets the same results, just the way she approaches setting up the stitches varies.

Also you're right to not want your daughter to grow up too fast. The hours too quickly slip away.

 

[MartialArtist]

Yes, continental and English strike both produce the same outcome. It's just what's most comfortable for you.

 

[whtwolf]

I crochet myself. Back when I was quitting smoking I was looking for something to do to keep my hands busy and crochet was the answer. I tend to like working with thread rather than yarn. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to do it as much as I'd like, but I do still pick up the hook at times.

 

[T.Orso]

Here's a spur of the moment knitting project that I started and completed after lunch today. Mmmm. It's based on a story I once heard Michael Ondaatje tell about the strange objects that librarians find left in books. The favourite was a strip of bacon.

The excellent girlfriend provided the materials, and I improvised the design after looking at ravelry a bit. She also coached me through the felting process, which is quick enough.

Can't you just smell it?