to Chuck Bass.
I got this from Selina on either my 15th birthday or my 17th. I'm pretty certain it wasn't my 16th because I think I had a lot of people over for that one. I have the worst memory.
I like this peace sign though. It was a really thoughtful gift.
It goes like... Dun da da da dunnn da da da dun da da da weeeeeeeeeeeeOHHHweeeeeeeeee dundun dadun dundun dadun
By Lisa Akers, fiber arts instructor and owner of be still & knit.
Rule 1: There is no right way to knit.
This is absolutely true. Any instructor worth his or her salt will be able to help you find a knitting style that fits your needs. Some of us have particularly nimble fingers. Others of us feel like we’re trying to knit with tree stumps. It doesn’t matter. If your knitting holds together, and you like the way it looks, then it is right. Unless you plan to enter your knitting into a competition, who cares if there’s a twisted stitch or one that’s a little looser? What difference does it make how you hold your hands and the yarn? There’s some basic fundamentals in creating textbook knitting that you should understand. After that, I say knit as you wish. Nevermind the yarn store fanatic or grandma that says you can’t do it.
Now, as a corrolary to Rule 1, keep in mind that if you knit in some funky manner, you won’t always be able to ask for help from your knitting friends and well meaning yarn shop employees. They will look at you as if you have three heads. Find a good teacher who understands what you are doing and can guide you if you need it.
Rule 2: Knitting can be relaxing. Learning to knit is not.
Remember when you first picked up your sticks and string? It made your shoulders tense. It made your thighs tighten. Your throat hurt from sticking out your tongue. Not very relaxing, was it? Learning any new skill is hard. It takes total concentration. You don’t want to drop a stitch, but you need three or four hands to manage all the yarn, needles, and patterns that seem to be circling around your head. It’s not relaxing at first. In fact, it can take a month or more to find your rhythm and start to enjoy knitting. Remember that this is only a phase. It does pass, and soon you really will be making all kinds of beautiful things to share with your family and friends.
Rule 3: Never evaluate the quality of your knitting in the middle of a row.
This rule is one of the most important rules for learning to knit. All new students want to knit their first stitch and see some magical piece of knitting appear. It doesn’t. When you first start knitting, you’re really bad at it. Really bad. Your first stitch, and perhaps first thousand stitches aren’t even. They don’t resemble your favorite fair isle sweater. They are just there. I always find students who look at their stitches in the middle of the row and see a huge mess of yarn dangling between the needles. It’s supposed to look that way. Yes. Really. Do yourself a favor and work to the end of the row. Give the bottom of your knitting a tug and see how the stitches line up on the needle. It will look a lot better and you’ll feel more successful. The middle of the row is a scary place. You’ll learn to feel comfortable there with time.
Rule 4: Mistakes are your friend.
I promise, that all those mistakes you make are helping you to learn. They are far more friendly than you give them credit for. When you make a mistake and then figure out what happened, then you are able to avoid that mistake in the future. If you treat a mistake as just a random occurance, then you run the risk of making it again. When something happens that doesn’t look or feel right, try to figure it out. Knitters are among the smartest people on the planet. Once you get over that initial fear of making a mistake, you’re pretty good at figuring things out. Take a search on the web. There’s lots of videos that show how to do a technique. There’s lots of tutorials and photos that can help you diagnose. If nothing on the web works, then find a good teacher who can evaluate what you did and help you understand. It’s worth your time.
Rule 5: Regular practice makes knitting easier.
That old saying, “practice makes perfect” applies to knitting, too. You know what the best thing about practicing knitting is? When you practice, you actually make something! Unlike practicing a musical instrument or a sport, when you practice knitting, you can make something that you can use. So, it isn’t really like practicing. It’s just doing – often. I’d say to knit at least once a week if you want to improve your skills. More often is better – as long as you are taking breaks to rest your hands and arms. Try to choose projects that include skills you don’t yet have. Learning new skills is a great way to make your knitting more enjoyable. It’s not as fun to knit a garter stitch afghan as it is to make one with a sampler of stitch patterns.
Rule 6: Always knit a gauge swatch.
A gauge swatch is kind of like going on a date with your project before you commit to a long term relationship with it. On a gauge swatch, you can try out your needles, the yarn, and the pattern to see if you like it. I can’t tell you how many projects I’ve abandoned or changed because I didn’t like the swatch. Swatches not only tell you how big your stitches are relative to the pattern author, but it shows you how the finished product will drape, how heavy it is, if the yarn is splitty, or if the color works for your plans. Variegated yarns are difficult to envision as a finished product. So, swatch. It’s not that hard, it doesn’t take that long, and it will pay off with more appealing projects in the end.
I love these knitting tips, except for the fact that she says to swatch. :P
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