Knitting

[AllenG]

SWMBO, will not knit me a sweater.
I want to learn just to show her up.
I have no idea why but I'm self conscious about picking up a sew of needles and giving it a go. Not too worried about it being feminine. But the amount of grief I'm going to get setting on the couch with a knitting basket in my lap gives me pause.

Anyone here have the guts to knit?

 

[joamo]

I don't knit but have done weaving and sewing. My grandfather crochetedThey are productive skills and one shouldn't be ashamed of learning them.

 

[galopede]

My uncle was Chief Petty Officer on submarines that ran the Malta Blockade in WWII. Most of the subs taking supplies to Malta were sunk. He stayed in the Royal Navy for many more years. He was a crocheter (is there such a word) Probably the most masculine man I knew.

Go for it!

Gareth

 

[Matt555]

SWMBO, will not knit me a sweater.

This sentence alone takes the cake.....lol

Probably because we are not living in the 1800's

 

[AllenG]

This sentence alone takes the cake.....lol

Probably because we are not living in the 1800's

Yeah, I've been paying for that.

She used to knit a lot though. Still does whenever one of her friends has a baby shower.

 

[oc_in_fw]

This sentence alone takes the cake.....lol

Probably because we are not living in the 1800's

Mine won't churn the butter.

 

[AllenG]

Mine won't churn the butter.

Mine will do that.
Wait. You mean actually make butter. No mine won't do that either.

 

[Matt555]

I just voted this thread "5 Star Excellent". This is too funny. Strangest, random post I have seen in some time......hahahaha

 

[Jim]

While I have no desire to knit, if the urge overcame me suddenly, you would be advised to not get in my way.

 

[Captain Pre-Capsize]

Arghhh

The Captain says knitting is not allowed among the crew or ye walk the plank!

 

[Jim]

Never underestimate a skill, this guy turned an oppressive empire on its ear with a spinning wheel.

 

[JCinPA]

Arghhh

The Captain says knitting is not allowed among the crew or ye walk the plank!

No disrespect to the Captain intended, but knitting has been common among sailors for centuries.

ollowing trade routes. Sailors were big fans of knitting, since it was small, portable, and gave them something to do on long voyages. Back in Europe, the peasants gradually began adding knitting to their folk costumes, giving us all those lovely ethnic sweaters we (okay, I) love to knit.

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring06/FEAThistory101.html

I was stuck in the hospital when I was in my early 20's for about 4 days, and my girlfriend loaned me some gear and I actually knitted something like this in gray.

I've never done it since, but if you are laid up it passes the time. I have other mindless hobbies to pass the time, like reloading ammo, but I get the appeal for knitting. No worries about it being a girlie thing.

Plenty of web resources on it now. Other styles ...

YouTube instrction on knitting a crossed cable.

A couple tips ... use really FAT kneedles for a guys sweater, and even use a double strand of yarn for a bulkier look. Also I liked needles that are connected rather than separate. Like these.

So, I'm no expert, I only made one sweater in my life and that about 35 years ago. But it was easy! I had it for years. May still be in my closet somewhere back home. So have at it! Post pics of the results.

Sorry Cap'n! Ain't walkin the plank today! :lol;

 

[Commander Quan]

I haven't started a new hobby yet this month. Knitting may have to be it.

 

[oc_in_fw]

The only problem I would have with knitting is finding the time. I don't see anything unmanly about it, unless you are knitting pink mini-skirts to flit around in while singing "I feel pretty". That might be suspect

 

[JCinPA]

The only problem I would have with knitting is finding the time. I don't see anything unmanly about it, unless you are knitting pink mini-skirts to flit around in while singing "I feel pretty". That might be suspect

That's hilarious!

Yeah, time is the issue. And for mindless busywork, I prefer pulling the handle on a reloading press. But, if you're stuck in a hospital for a few days, or on board a sailing vessel in the doldrums ...

 

[iankh]

I was stuck in the hospital when I was in my early 20's for about 4 days, and my girlfriend loaned me some gear and I actually knitted something like this in gray.

Same thing happened to me. I got pretty sick in my junior year and was in bed for about 12 weeks. I couldn't do much of anything since most everything seemed to make me sick.

To cope with the boredom, my mother taught me how to knit. She was a phenomenal knitter, incredibly skilled. I started with a simple scarf and went on to sweaters.

I haven't done it in years and have thought of trying to pick it up again. As I recall, the hardest part was casting on the needles, from there it was all patience and if working from a pattern, counting.

This happened back in the early '70's before knitting became "fashionable" and was not as pricey as it is now. Patterns and pattern books were plentiful and cheap. Yarn was cheap.

Funny, shaving stuff was comparatively way cheaper then too.

You got me thinking, that maybe I ought to get some needles and pick up the skill again. Winter's coming, seems like a pretty good thing to do.

 

[AllenG]

My neighbor is an alpaca rancher. I'm going to get some yarn from him. He also has bamboo needles.

 

[Legion]

When I was a little kid my grandmother taught me how to knit. Nothing fancy, just how to go in a straight line. Anyway, years later I was looking in a box of her old stuff and I found some knitting needles with about six inches of knitting already started on them. Wondering if I still knew how, I gave it a try, and then decided, heck, why not make a scarf? (I didn't know how to do anything more complicated than that.)

So once I started it, everybody thought the sight of me knitting was so funny that they kept giving me balls of wool to keep it going. And I had to keep going, because I had no idea how to do the final row to finish it off. By the time I found someone who knew how to knit who could finish it for me the scarf was around 20' long. I still have it in a box somewhere. It's ridiculous.

 

[Jawaburger]

I can't help but think of the movie Demolition Man with Sylvester Stallone. He keeps finding himself knitting because they implanted the skills in him while he was in a cryogenic sleep, if I remember correctly.

 

[oc_in_fw]

The only problem I would have with knitting is finding the time. I don't see anything unmanly about it, unless you are knitting pink mini-skirts to flit around in while singing "I feel pretty". That might be suspect

DIdnt think hat one would come back to bite me