Friday, March 13, 2015

Not as daft as I look it seems........

Had my first knitting lesson yesterday and it went okay.  Am I an expert, absolutely not but I seemed to pick it up fine.

Here I am with all my stuff at the ready.

Then she showed me where to find the start of the yarn, which in turn turned out to be all tangled up:
Once I unraveled that I made a start.  However she decided I would find it easier using circular needles, and I did.
She got me doing bits and bobs and this is what I ended up with:
Now my homework is I had to make up a pattern and practice it until I feel confident.

I have the knits down pat, but the pearls are still a struggle.  I have cast on 50 stitches and am doing a piece with the checkerboard pattern as it alternates between knit and pearl and gets me more familiar with the pearl stitches.

Once I am comfortable with that I then will make a baby blanket, probably for the little man.  My practice piece can be a dolls blanket!!

All in all very happy with how it went.  I can pop down to the store any time I want if I get frustrated or confused.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, hours of enjoyment in perspective ! I love wool and you're spurring me on to finish projects I have on the boil. I am a total beginner like you but it must be great to have someone explain it all ! xx

Out My window said...

I wish I had time to knit. I really hated it as a child and was required to do it, but now I would find it comforting, just like playing the piano. I am proud of you learning a new skill at you r daft :) old age.

The Cranky said...

You are craftier, far, than I!

Lindsay said...

Well done Gill - I never did very well with knitting. I am left handed and dropped the wool after each stitch and the knitting became tighter and tighter until I could not move it off the needles!

Anna of Mutton Style and Years said...

I think it's very exciting that you're trying knitting. Can you so that fast as a blur knit. I haven't seen anyone do that since my grandmother died. I was a slow knitter as a child. I cannot fathom how that fast as lightening knitting is done

PJ said...

Looking good!

Belinda said...

That looks great, Gill. This is definitely something I want to do sometime.

Sabrina - Frugal Italian Family said...

I am sure that you will be able to make a baby blanket in a very short term!

Joolz said...

Once you've got your purls and plains down pat, have a got at some dishcloths. Buy some nice cotton yarn and you'll be hooked!

http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/dishcloths.php

Cheers - Joolz xx

Evelyn said...

I still find purling confusing, looks like you had a good lesson!

Rustic Pumpkin said...

Well done! See, when you told us about this before I did say 'never say never' you are on a roll!
~~~Deb in Wales

angela said...

How cool is that! You will be an expert in no time. Once you past the frustration of learning. You will find its quite relaxing. Yeahhh go you xx

Anonymous said...

Bravo, Gill!

Linda said...

Good to hear it was a success. Your first piece looks good. Stay with it and you will have that blanket in no time at all.

slugmama said...

Well done.
I could never get the hang of purling.

Plowing Through Life (Martha) said...

Very well done! You are on your way.

Paula said...

Looks great! Purling just takes practice. It is so much more comfortable knitting with circulars. I use them almost exclusively these days. They are also easier on your wrists as large projects sit on your lap instead of hanging off the end of long straight needles.

Veronica Roth said...

Well done you! I'm hopeless at it, but my mother used to knit entire skating dresses for me, patterns and colours included. I kept thinking that before I'm a grandmother...lol...my eldest granddaughter is four years old now, so too late for that idea.

ChrisJ said...

I used to knit a lot in my teens and early twenties. I've made jackets and sweaters, all wearable. Can't do it anymore. It makes my fingers and hands ache

Pom Pom said...

Look at you go, Gill! Well done, Smarty!

Mylittlepieceofengland said...

I love to knit and crochet. Your knitting is very neat, how exciting xx

Maggie said...

Yayyyy, well done, you will have that baby blanket knitted up in no time :-)

Rose said...

I am glad you are happier with the class than you thought you would be. It looks like you are doing wonderful. I am so afraid I would be all thumbs...

One Family said...

Very nice! Can't wait to see the baby blanket :)

William Kendall said...

Lovely work! I would be out of my depth trying that.

Linda said...

Gill, I tried to learn knitting as a little girl and never picked it up...then I tried again as an adult and was not at all good at it, so you are indeed way ahead of me, and I applaud you. I do enjoy looking at the creativity of others as far as art and crafts go, but art and crafts have never been a talent of mine.

I am very proud of you as well as happy for you. :)

Country Gal said...

WOOHOO ! I knew you could do it ! Raining here this Saturday would be a good day to get down and knitting for you . Thanks for sharing , Have a good weekend !

Jane said...

Looking good Gill! I have never had the patience for knitting or crocheting although many of my family members are quite talented at both.

Mum said...

Well done. I must say that I prefer purling to knitting. Perhaps we could share?:)
xx

Scrappy quilter said...

There is nothing quite like sitting by a fireplace, with gentle music in the background, knitting up a storm. So glad you picked it up easily. You will soon be a master at it!

Stella Jones said...

Welcome to the knitting club Gill. You will have hours of fun and not so much time to read!

Unknown said...

I see lots of "wooley" posts in your future. Never doubted that'd you'd be like a duck to water. I have visions of you starting a knitting group involving lots of chatter. Happy Knitting.

April's Homemaking said...

Knitting sounds like fun, my daughter taught herself, but I think I would definitely need someone to show me, love the idea of a class. :)

Janet said...

We'll done ! You'll be hooked in no time 😊

Unknown said...

This is great Gill! Your gauge is far better than mine was starting out! You will be knitting sweaters next!

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