To celebrate, I'm going to have a contest for this lovely prize:
It's a skein of Sock Ease by Lion Brand Yarns, 438 yards, which I purchased at the newly opened Mountain Bear Craft store in Livingston Manor, NY! It's lovely yarn and will knit up a beautiful pair of socks for a lucky person who leaves me a comment on this post.
If you've been a reader here for any amount of time, you'll know that it won't be just any old comment. Please leave me a comment telling about your first knitting, or crocheting, memory whether it's sitting at your grandmother's knee at age five or learning to knit at thirty five watching YouTube videos. I'm always fascinated by the stories of how people learned to knit and I'm gonna make you work to earn this prize! I'll pick a winner next Thursday, September 10th.
I can't wait to read all the entries! Good luck!
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Happy Anniversary! My wedding anniversary is tomorrow, btw!
My first memory was with crochet. I was about 6 or 7 years old, and I remember being in Brownies. Our troop was working towards whatever the merit badge was for that moment. Our troop leader decided we would all crochet pot holders.
So my aunt (a righty) sat me down (a lefty) and attempted to teach me how to do it. I was so disappointed and demoralized that I could not figure it out, that I eventually dropped out of Brownies.
Fifteen years later, I discovered two books (now out of print, I believe) by Susan Bates. "Learn to Knit," and "Learn to Crochet." I snapped up both.
I tucked away the crochet one to deal with later; and picked up the knitting one and did well enough with it.
15 years later, I tried crochet again. A friend at the time taught me how to do a half double, and showed me if I went through the back loop, it makes a ridge. I eventually took a one hour class to be shown how to work in the round and do a basic granny square. I eventually took a class at the CGOA Chain Link a few years back and learned entrelac.
In the end, though I consider myself, modestly, an intermediate level (in some ways novice; in some ways expert)crochet has become one of my favorite past times. In short, I made it my bitch:)
I always considered myself waaay too much of a tomboy to take home ec in 8th grade.. ROTC for me!
That never stopped me from gleaning whatever I could from my friends who were taking the class. I think I actually crocheted my first afghan before theirs were even due! Helps that mine was a simple square worked in a round with simple DCs all the way through.. but it hooked me for life!
I first began to knit when I was a child growing up in a small town in Missouri through the 4-H program. I was fascinated by all the beautiful stitches that were possible, but other interests got in the way and the knitting got put away. Fast forward and I'm 54 and re-learning from one of my bestest friends. She is so patient...all I have to do is call and say HELP and she's there. She very patiently shows me the stitches, helps me rip out my flubs and tells me that it's okay to find a mistake much too late...that's what will make the piece uniquely mine!!! I just finished my first sock; yes, I know I need two to complete the project, but I am so proud of the first, I considered having it framed!!! Knitting has become a wonderful way of relaxing and after a hectic day in the music office, I look forward to time for knitting as the dogs cuddle around me. I have to confess...if I win the yarn, I will give it to my friend, Carolyn, who is the the best knitting friend ever!!
My first memories are of watching my Grandmother knint dishcloths, and barn hats, and work socks for herself. I always wanted to knit, but she said that both of us didn't have the patience for two needles, so we would learn with one. I crocheted a lot of little chains and necklaces before I got bored and decided that this wasn't for me. I rediscovered knitting about 2 years ago and I taught myself from diagrams and it has been a blur ever since, and I call and talk to my Grandmother about all my projects.
I'd LOVE to win this!!! :) My first knitting memory is of Christmas 2 years ago. I'd decided I wanted to learn to knit so my mother in law bought me a learn to knit package for Christmas. I started Christmas day...and after frogging it a couple times, I had a finished scarf by the time we finished our 4 hour ride home. Yay for chunky yarn and big needles! :)
Thanks for the contest! I am loving reading your blog.
I learned to knit a little over five years ago. My friend I talked about learning, and she got me a book and some yarn for my birthday. I learned out of a book called "learn to knit in just one day." It took me about a week to figure out how to purl. :)
I started knitting as a way to escape my daily grind. I took a class at my local LYS. I had NO idea I would allow it to completely change my life!
Let me be the first to wish you happy anniversaries all around!
My first knitting memory:
I learned to knit in grade school at school. A friend brought yarn to school and knitting needles. I didn't have knitting needles, a lot of us at school didn't have knitting needles so we learned to knit with pencils.#2 yellow pencils. I didn't have yarn at home,but my Mom did have this ball of string. And that's what i knit with. I would get almost to the end of the ball, pull it all apart and start over again.
For Christmas that same year, my sister handed me this big box and in it was red, black and white yarn and a pair of knitting needles. There was a pattern in a Good Housekeeping magazine about knitting squares with a club, diamond, spade and heart. I tried to follow it but no one could read it for me. I ended up making a horrid looking scarf which I was rather proud of. Though it would have helped if someone told me to change color on the same side each time. I noticed that little line that comes with the color change, but for the life of me couldn't figure out that I should change colors on the same side.
I put down my needles in high school and did not pick them up again until a few years ago. They've rarely left my hands since!
Happy Anniversary! Both for the blog and you marriage! 22 years is amazing!
I found your blog just about a month ago by Googling "knitting blogs, NYC" and it was great to find another New York blogger/knitter! :)
I first learn to knit at a yarn store in the French Quarter and I fell in love with this hobby! I knit my first scarf on that vacation in New Orleans. Of course I had to buy the "Kniting for Dummies" to learn how to purl and cast off! It worked! LOL! Now I finally have time to take a class at the Lion Brand store. I started with Knitting 1 to learn all the basics but my goal is to take all their knitting classes and make hats, mittens and sweaters! I just fell in love with their yarn!
I can also crochet...sort of...things that are round only! LOL! My grandmother taught me when she lives with us for a few months. That will have to be my next class! :)
Congratulations on both your 22years married & your 1 year old blog - great job... I'm a crocheter not a knitter. Don't remember when I learnt to knit but remember having to knit a jumper at high school - year 9... liked the jumper, wore it to death but never knitted another thing but crochet well that's a different story... My Aunt first taught me then Mum refined it & the first full project I made[at 15] was a pink & white flower mod hat for my 6 year old neice [who is 48 now) & I haven't stopped crocheting since... B
Like so many, my grandmother taught me to knit & crochet when I was around 8 years old. It was mostly during one summer when she had just moved in with our family, so we were getting reacquainted too, because I hadn't seen her since I was 5.
She started with crochet thread and a steel hook, and I made borders around every wash cloth I could con out of my mother. Later I remember we did a few handkerchiefs as well. She carried one of those hanky's with her for years.
Then we started on knitting, and I didn't do nearly as well with that. But I did manage to make a winter scarf for her and a matching one for me, and we both wore it every time we went out that winter in Rhode Island.
The time spent with her that summer is one of my best memories of her. Not long after, we went to Iceland and she stayed stateside, so it was another 2 years before I saw her again. By that time, her arthritis wouldn't let her crochet or knit, and we never picked it up again.
I didn't pick up the skill again for another 20 years, but what she taught me helped me get comfortable again very quickly.
I had to learn to crochet and knit in 2nd grade in German school. We all did, boys and girls. I don't remember a whole lot about the whole thing except being able to knit and crochet still this day LOL. But I do remember making this cute little bear in class. I didn't crochet or knit for many years after but I never forgot and dabbled in it here and there but took it up seriously again about 5 years ago.
I don't remember learning to knit. Although I do remember walking around with a little piece of knitting trying to decide what to make it. (Several years after my mother died, I discovered she had saved it -- a brown scarf in moss stitch with fringe. Yep, I instantly remembered the yarn. Memory can be a very creepy creature.)
ParkBenchKnitter
(I tried to sign in, but apparently blogger didn't want me to. So blame Blogger, please!)
Okay, back to the quiz question: I do know that I knew how to knit before first grade. I'm guessing I was 4 when I learned. Perchance you may ask: "why four?" And if you did I would reply: "Because my mother always knit for each new baby in the family, and my cousin had a daughter when I was 4. So, I suspect I saw my mother knitting for Rhanda and then just bugged the shit out of her until she taught me. My mom was NOT the teaching type." And while I don't remember the actual learning of crochet, I think that was first grade. Perchance you may again ask "but why?" And I would reply: "Because we were friendly with Margaret, who was a wonderful elderly neighbor (elderly to a first grader that is -- she had grandchildren after all!) Anyhow, Margaret, decided that for Christmas she would knit all her grandneices a poncho. And unlike my mother, she was the teaching type. So I helped her and knit a few ponchos in variegated purple. Yes, it twas the 70s. And to my great surprise I got one too! We made 9 including mine. I probably made 3 of them."
Happy Anniversaries! :D
I learned to knit from my aunt, who taught me a basic knit stitch many years ago. She never really taught me to count stitches or anything, so my first piece (through TWO different colors of yarn, no less) is all slanted and curved and a complete mess! I am much better at it now, but not nearly as perfect as I'd like to be.
Sadly, I never did show my aunt how much I improved at the basic stitch. She passed away in March, so I would love to be able to knit something in her memory for this coming fall. And so, there you have it. Nothing overly exciting, but I have tried to pick up my knitting again over the spring months. It's kind of hard because it's so d@ng hot down here! Thanks for the chance to win!
Cool idea! A memoir contest! I like it!
No memory can be earlier than actually learning to knit!
I learned to knit on my own from a book when I was in high school. I don't remember when exactly, but I do remember I frogged and frogged and frogged (before I knew what frog meant!) It was the ugliest scratchiest most unflattering orange anyone had or has or will ever see!
I gave up that first time after creating a practice swatch that would make anyone gag and forgot about it for a couple years.
Later on it was time for me to move on to college and my mother was cleaning out some of the crafty storage areas and found my ugly first effort. I laughed so hard at it's uneven curling and bubbling. She asked if she could throw it away, but I said no. It was too funny and inspired me to try again.
Now I'm the yarnaholic of the whole family and mom still has that piece of ugly in her storage areas somewhere. I'm sure she'll find it again someday and I'll laugh again!
My dad's mother taught me to knit at age 10. I used to spend Friday nights at her house, watching Jeopardy, playing Scrabble, using up her teaching supplies, etc. She had me make a white handbag out of rug yarn in seed stitch. Boy did I hate knitting!
Many years later, when I was pregnant with my first daughter, I had to be on bedrest for more than 4 months. DH took me out in a wheelchair, to a local craft store, where I bought a "Teach Yourself Knitting" book, some needles, and yarn. My first project was a lace blanket with a different, ruffled-lace border. We still have that blanket!
I have now taught 3 of my daughters and 2 of my sons to knit. Guess I got over not liking it!
My aunt taught me to knit when I was 16; I was spending the summer with her and her family. I just found the baby blue Brunswick Germantown worsted leftovers this evening! I made a cabled pullover; it was too big but I was pleased with the cables and the fact that we converted the pattern to knit it in the round!
Congrats! One year is a great achievement and it's a lovely blog you've got!
My earliest memory is watching my fingers go around the needles. I can remember slowly, carefully trying to get it right. That image is really burned on my brain.
My earliest crochet memory is me and my cousin sitting and she teaching me to crochet. At the time I was 8 and she was 6. I was horrible at it and just couldn't remember what to do. For months I would have to call her and say "I do what now??" It was so frustrating that I eventually gave up trying. Years later, and after a long time of not talking to my cousin, I called her one day and said teach me again...and I've been doing it ever since!
I think it's a really nice idea to have this contest. Congrats on both your anniversaries.
my first knitting memory - sitting with my grandma, muzzy we called her and she so patiently taught me to knit and made up my first knitting bag complete w/scissors, needles and yarn. i was 7 i think. great memory.
thanks for the chance.
My first memory is knitting on my grandmothers big old sofa, I was about 6. She had given me some size 3 metal needles (which I still have)and some ugly green yarn and cast on some stitches for me. I would knit and knit, and proudly show them to her. She would look, and say getting better, rip them out and the process would start again.
I was crushed each time she blithly ripped those labor intensive stitches out and gave me the needles back, but that didn't stop me, kept knitting or trying to. I never made anything with that green yarn, but eventually progressed to knitting for my barbie. Although, the poor thing had some fugly pink acrylic outfits, I was proud.
Vicki
I am alarmed to realize that I can't remember the first time I picked up knitting needles or who taught me (though undoubtedly it was my mother) or what I knit first (probably a scarf). I do know that as a young adult I decided I was going to knit a dinasaur sweater for my nephew and so I bought the pattern and the yarn and away I knit. But surely I couldn't have leapt from scarf to sweater, could I?
Happy Anniversaries!! When we were home visiting one time I asked my grandmother to teach me how to crochet. She is a master and she taught me how to pick it up at the age of 27. I, sadly, didn't keep it up.
Last year I started to learn to knit at the age of 31 with a little (a lot) of prodding by my BFF. She lives on the other side of the country and thought it would be something fun that could keep us connected. I bought myself a knitting book for children and picked it up quickly, but alas, I didn't keep that up either. Maybe once all the kids are in school and I have a minute or two to myself I will really get into it. I do LOVE reading my BFFs wonderful knitting blog and wearing all the hand-knit goodies she sends to me and my family though!
Happy Anniversary and blogaversary!
My first memory of knitting, is relatively late in my life, as no one in my family was a part of any fiber crafts.
But, my first memory of knitting was in my first year of college at the University of Kansas (rockchalk jayhawk!). I was living one of the all-girl dorms and fretting over how I was going to make friends since I was so far from home and a bit shy.
Of course, the first month you move in there are posters everywhere for this and that. But one caught my eye, "Learn how to Knit & Crochet!"
The downside was that I needed to buy my own supplies, and I had no car to make it to Walmart. I went anyway, figuring I could maybe borrow or just sit in and watch and ask if some one could teach me when I managed to be able to get supplies.
I ended up not learning while I was at KU, but I made great friends. It wasn't until I was back home in Texas that I taught myself to knit (almost 2-3 years after KU). I remembered how interested I was in learning, and at the time I was tyring to find a good hobby to keep both my hands busy (I suffer from trichotillomania (hair pulling)).
Knitting fit the bill. So I taught myself in 2006, and got super serious about it in 2008...but I always remember that the girls at KU initially got me curious...
Congratulations!
My first memory of knitting was actually being taught by my great-grandmother. I was around 9 years old. I was knitting a scarf out of some horrendous neon multi-colored acrylic yarn. Retrospectively I shudder at the yarn. I actually knit it up to a scarf length, but the width was another question. I probably started with 10 or so stitches, yet somehow ended up with 30 or so. It was super wonky - all sorts of different widths along the way. Yet when I gave the scarf as a gift to her, she couldn't have been happier. I didn't get serious about knitting until about 10 years later. But I still remember sitting in her living room knitting that scarf. Happily I've gotten much better. I always wish I could give her something now, to show that I came back to it.
First memory is when I started crocheting in Girl Scouts. The troop leader didn't really know what she was doing, so I ended up doing a rectangle all in slip stitch. Then I learned the proper way to single crochet and never let anyone else teach me if I didn't have a book there to verify the information. I always learned better from a book anyway. Thats how I taught myself to knit. knitmit on ravelry.
I was taught at 8 how to crochet but no one I knew was knitting. I always wanted to knit but not one single knitter did I know.
When I was 15 in Hs I got so angry because nobody would teach me how to knit SO I started just staring and watching almost stalking the knitters. Creepy I know but I didn't have much choice since they didn't have any knitting books in the library there.
Finally a littl leaflet came in to the library and was about to be tossed in the trash. I recued it and from that littel booklet taught myself to knit. Been at it ever since and loving every minute of it.
Happy Blogiversary and Happy Anniversary too! ANd many many more
I learned to knit as a teenager more than 45 years ago. Early in the summer the local yarn shop offered free knitting tutorials for teens. Since the family was planning a 3 week vacation car trip I decided that knitting in the car would be a way to keep the peace with my little sister (avoidance) and keep my parents from telling me to get my nose out of a book & look at the scenery.
After a couple of hours of instruction, I was sent off with some red wool yarn, a basic cardigan pattern & a general idea of what to do. I knit the back of the sweater but had to go to another knitting shop along the way to learn how to bind off for the arms eye. There I got a little booklet of how-tos that helped me for many more years. I fiished that sweater before school started in Sept but didn't start another until the next summer. That one was my first cable project with a cable on each side of the front placket.
Ahh, what good memories. I never knew there might be hard patterns & easy patterns, just start knitting and go for it.
Oh that is actually a kinda funny story.
I found a crochet hook that had once belonged to my grandmother when I was about 4 or 5. It was in some yarn my mom had in the house, so I started playing with it and the yarn. I don't know for how long but when my mom found me I started a scarf or something like. It was double crochet. I think I still have it somewhere too. I is funny because I thought I had made it up! Yep, me, preschooler invent crochet! who would have thunk!
My first knitting adventure began at age 8, at school. We had to knit with cotton, garter stitch squares which later would be pulled around round pieces of cartboard. These pieces were lateron sewn on a piece of cloth in the form of a giraffe.
My mom told me in that time that I had to do my best. I was clumsy and dropped too many stitches. She corrected my work and the teacher noticed it. For me it was stimulating to try my best. And now I have reason to be proud as my sock pattern was published.
Last week was my wedding anniversary, too (Aug 27th). You can read about our celebratory trip on my blog. :)
I tried to teach myself using a book, but it just wasn't clicking. I found a local SnB and those nice women taught me. My husband went with me and learned, too, but it was the one and only time he ever picked up the needles. That was 2001 and I can't imagine my life without yarn!
Thanks for such a fun contest! :)
Happy Anniversary! Mine is on Tuesday. (And my birthday is Monday, and my daughter's is Sunday).
September is a very good month, indeed. :)
Congratulations on your 22nd wedding anniversary and 1 year blog. My sister and her husband celebrated their 29th anniversary on Aug 30. My parents were married 53 years before my dad passed away in 2005. My mother taught us how to knit one summer when I was about 9 or 10. I can't remember knitting any project really but my older sister by 1 year knitted me a sweater and several pairs of slippers. I started re-knitting in October, 2007. I think I have knitted every day since then and have made many projects this time.
Knittingdancer on Ravelry
happy anniversary to you both!
I learnt to knit when I was about 8 & hated every minute of it. We were knitting garter stitch squares at school to join into blankets, the teacher had acquired fabric sample books and she was sewing the samples together to make a patchwork to go on the back of the blanket, so one side was knitted squares and the other was bright fabric squares. My knitting was so bad the treahcer had to re do it for me. I think these might have been for refugees fleeing from Cambodia. (1969-70?)
I toyed with knitting for the next 30 odd years knowing how to do it, but not enjoying it. Then 2 years ago I suddenly had the urge to knit and now make socks, sweaters, and am willing to try anything & everything.
I'm also kntting a blanket for refugees in Burundi. It will be so much better this time, I promise.
Hey! I congrats on both!
I could crochet for as long as I could remember, PK taught me that first thinking it would help me to learn to knit. But I just couldn't get the hang of knitting.
So when I was 27 and pregnant with Pig 2 I decided I needed to suck it up and try to learn from someone other than my Mom and took a class. The rest has been full of Pigs and snotty knitting!
My grandmother taught me to knit around the age of 8. I made a little scarf for my American Girl doll and never picked up the needles again until a year and a half ago when I asked my mom for knitting supplies for Christmas. I haven't stopped since!
lesjoujou AT gmail DOT com
I am a knitter, but my early yarn memories are all about crocheting. My mother crocheted, but (as she tells it), I fought tooth and nail whenever she tried to get me to sit still long enough to learn to crochet, embroider, etc.
When I was in fourth or fifth grade, my babysitter taught me how to crochet. Since she wasn't my mother but was instead a cool teenager, I was excited to learn to crochet from her. She taught me using some dark green yarn that I assume was cheap acrylic. I crocheted a square, but I find crocheting very difficult.
Every few years after that I'd ask someone to teach me to crochet because I really love the results of yarn crafts. It wasn't until someone suggested that I try knitting that I actually began to enjoy creating things with yarn. I didn't know any knitters when I learned to knit, and the store that suggested I try knitting wanted to charge me a rather large sum to show me how to do it (I worked in a very ritsy/expensive part of town), so I learned how to knit using learntoknit.com and an awesome children's pamphlet about knitting (I always keep two copies of it on hand, now, so that I can share it with anyone who wants to learn to knit!).
I have been knitting for several years now, and I still can't crochet (and yes, I still re-learn every few years with limited to no success). It's such a shame, too, because I prefer crocheted blankets and potholders to knit ones.
Congrats on your anniversaries! I only started knitting about three years ago, so my first knitting memory is fairly recent. A friend that I met at work was a very skilled knitter and agreed to teach me. On a cold snowy day, she taught me how to cast on and do the knit stitch. I went home and knit the same length of yarn over and over again until I got it. Luckily, the next day, which was supposed to be a work day, turned out to be a snow day. I was able to head over to my friend's house again and learn purl and bind off. After that, I was a loose cannon. I've been knitting obsessively ever since.
Happy Anniversary (squared) !!! Okay, my first knitting experience, how do I begin. First off, when I was young (early teens), my friends and I were all crocheters and didn't know how to knit. Even our moms were crocheters. I was always adventurous and set out to learn knitting. Well, not only could I hardly find anyone that knitted; the few people I did find were right handed and could not/would not teach a left handed person. The cast on was the problem, the the actual knitting. Well, I created my own cast on method which I still do some almost 40 years later and this is how I learned to knit.
Congratulations on your Anniversaries!
I don't have a great knitting story... it's just something I taught myself from the 1952 version of "Children's Encyclopedia of Knowledge" one summer when I had pnuemonia... but I really didn't have much support or knowledge of books, classes... so the skill went away.
I met someone in 2003 who said s
he would teach me in exchange for some with things she needed... Let's just say that SHE got what SHE needed...I did not.
Fast forward to October 2007 and former co-worker helped me remember the knit stitch and I discovered the purl online. I've had a few false starts since 2007. The DH had to hide my knitting things for a few months because I go so discouraged that I was about to sell it. After being laid off earlier this year and having a GrandChild on the way, I've gotten a bit more serious this year and have had a few minor successes, so I'm happy!
My next goal is to be more consistant with blogging, but I have to take one thing at a time! LOL
Again, congratulations on your milestones!
I learned to knit when I was young. However, my first knitting memory is of buying the yarn to make a lovely textured ski sweater with a sort-of Fair Isle yoke. I made the sweater black and since there was black in the yoke color it made one less color in the yoke pattern. I still have the sweater although it's too warm to wear in Southern California.
Congratulations on twenty-two years, and may you have many more together in health and happiness.
My first knitting memory is asking my mom to teach me how to knit when I was 8 or 9. It's a special memory because I didn't see my mom a lot because she worked so much. She didn't knit then, I just saw something knitted and decided that I was going to do that and I still am. I've taught my little sister how to knit and I hope she passes it along too.
congrats on both anniversaries!! My first knitting experience. I started hard, with a full on lopi sweater. Of course my friend had to help me step by step. I moved just as i was getting to the sleeve part (started bottom up) and until a few months back it sat unfinished in my moms attic. I now have it and do plan to finish it, it actually looks pretty good!
My husband nagged me for months to learn to knit just after we got married so that I could knit him a sweater. I got tired of hearing about it all the time, so I told him to learn how himself, if he was so bent on a hand-knit sweater. He asked me, if he learned how to knit would I too? I said yes, so we signed up for knitting lessons together!
We each picked a pattern (a sweater for ourselves), and learned to knit while working away on our projects. Once we set the needles down and admired our work, I realized I was hooked! Then he said, "See? I knew you'd love it. Now will you knit me a sweater?" And I did, of course!
We're completing our family with our second baby at the end of this month, and are 3 months away from celebrating our 5th anniversary. I've become addicted to knitting, making sweaters for our daughter (& soon-to-be son), all our nieces/nephews, and our mothers; socks for nieces/nephews, booties for new babies, hats for fun, and am now working on wool diaper soakers for the new baby.
Thank goodness for my wonderful, determined husband...really saw the potential for this passion!
Congratulations on your anniversaries, and what a wonderful contest to celebrate!
::happy anniversary!:: ((singing and dancig)) 22 years! Congrats! What's your favorite thing that you've knit for your husband?
Just found your blog love it!
I asked my SIL to teach me when my oldest was a baby I was 18. Well it so didn't work I never picked up on it.Then a few years later I was watching Knitty Gritty and started tape them. And they had a a beginner show. I grabbed my needles and started and got it. And I've been knititng ever since almost 4 years.
I first learned to knit on pencils that had tape on the end. My twin sister had determined to learn how to knit, and was researching how to do it on the internet. I got her to teach me what she'd learned at this point (which consisted of the knit stitch) though we were adding stitches everywhere because our yarn would split and we'd knit a stitch into both pieces and other ways newbies add stitches. I think I made about four trapezoidal things before determining to make a 7 foot scarf with fuzzy thick and thin novelty yarn of some kind. To say it wasn't rectangular would be an understatement.
My first foray into knitting came courtesy of my left handed father teaching his right handed daughter to knit a scarf, which was the longest, most hole-iest, most width varying, most loved scarf ever! And as a bonus, my next favourite ever knitting story is when my super cool 15 year old nephew asked me to teach him how to knit so he could knit a pouch for his magic cards. His 1st knitting project is a mere 4 rows away from being completed AND he chose 100% wool so that he could felt it afterwards and shakes his head every time he holds up one of his cards against it. I don't think he actually believes me as to how much it is going to shrink. The felting process is going to be super fun to go through with him.
Happy anniversaries!
My first experience with knitting was seeing a knitting kit in a Buffalo Exchange... then painstakingly trying to follow the directions at home and only learning how to thread the yarn between my fingers.
I later learned in an adult ed class from a lovely woman.
(sicilianbuttercup on Ravelry)
I learned to crochet when I was 8 years old with my Tucson Grandmother. She wanted me to practice the chain stitch, so she gave me a basket of her odd and ends yarn. My chain ended up being 35 feet long, so she then gave me a larger hook and had me chain stitch the chain stitch so it wouldn't be so long. It was a wonderful stay with her that summer, both of us talking and being crafty together. I treasure that memory.
My first memory is of my mother's needles clicking away as I fell asleep. She taught me to knit when I was about 8, and I've never stopped. It even prompted me to learn to spin and dye my own yarn.
My first knitting memory was when a friend of mine decided that she wanted to learn to knit. She bought one of those kits that gives you the instruction book and the needles. There were two sets of needles in the kit, so she asked me if I wanted to learn too. I never say no to a challenge ;) I picked up the needles and looked at the book and I tried to knit... I failed miserably LOL I didn't quit though. I kept trying and after a while I got the hang of it. Now I can't stop knitting!
I remember wanting to knit something for my teddy bear; I must have been very small, maybe 6 years old. I remember using straight needles and trying to do garter stitch but for some reason the piece kept getting bigger and bigger so I ended up with a triangular diaper-style bear garment.
elizabethspinnerAThotmailDOTcom
Congrats on both your anniversaries!
My mother tried to teach me to knit as a child - I remember making a small doll blanket in garter stitch. I wasn't interested and never did it again.
She visited me about 6 years ago, and brought needles and yarn to teach my daughter. My daughter wasn't interested, and I felt bad, so I asked my mother to teach me. And that was it - I fell in love with it, and haven't stopped since!
Happy Anniversary and blogaversary!
My first crochet memory was of a fellow intern/actor making a hat out of this pretty maroon chenille and her teaching me backstage
then a few years later, my brother and SIL gave me some well-intentioned knitting supplies (not realizing I only knew how to crochet) and I had moved to a new city and didn't have a job yet, so I sat with my old coats-n-clark book of my mother's and the very few video's on knittinghelp.com they had at the time, and made the most hideous scarf for my brother teaching myself how to knit!
Thanks for the chance to reminisce!
Congratulations on your anniversaries! My grandmother taught me to knit, but I promptly forgot and didn't learn again until 2003 from a girlfriend. For some reason I had a terrible time learning how to cast on, but I've been hooked ever since!
My first project was in the 1970's when I was a teenager and I decided that I needed a granny square afghan. I taught myself how to do it and made about 3 squares before I decided that it was going to Barbie blankets for my little sister. I never did finish the afghan, but it was the start to a lifelong hobby of crochet and knitting. Debbie
My first memory of crochet is of a crocheted vest that my granny made for my uncle when he was a kid.
20 years later, I find myself enrolled in a knitting class and learn cast on, knit and purl from the instructor. I quit the class soon after and learnt binding off on my own through youtube videos and Knitter's Handbook by Montse Stanley.
Two years into knitting, I decided to learn crochet and was RAKed by fellow Raveler Swapna with a book on beginner instructions on crochet. I picked it up easily and here I am, an intermediate knitter and crocheter!
My maternal grandmother taught me to knit when I was about 7. In the following years, I picked up the sticks every once in awhile to complete a simple project doing nothing more than knitting and purling.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I started seriously knitting year round about 5 years ago when I first discovered Bernat Boa Yarn scarves at a craft show. I added my own touch on my Boa Scarves by attaching beads to the ends. Every woman I know received a Boa Scarf from me.
Since then, I've become a serious knitter having just completed the Cap Shawl found in Victorian Lace Today for my niece to wear in her upcoming Christmas season wedding.
I'm so happy to have rediscovered knitting. I don't foresee putting the needles down ever again!
Ravelry: cksknitter
Chrissy at knittoday(at)hotmail(dot)com
I don't actually remember learning how to crochet ( my mother must have taught me!) but I do remember in 5th grade having enough knowledge to bring yarn and a hook to school on the last day and having Sister Angela Francis teach me how to do granny squares! I had made crocheted flower pincushions out of an Aunt Lydia's yarn booklet that I had bought in Grants to donate to the school Christmas bazaar that year.
Flash forward about 30 years and that is when I took knitting lessons at the LYS. Even though I grew up with a mother who knitted and lived a few years with my dear MIL who knits constantly. I have done some crocheting since then but there really is no looking back once you have some knitting skills!
It's 6 minutes before the 11th is here in VA. My great-aunt Sister taught me how to knit with her steel knitting needles when I was about 5. They were hard--she knitted socks with them--white cotton socks, and I can tell you--I really messed them up. But the memories of sitting with her, hearing her tell me she loved me, and that I would get better made me feel so safe!! And I did get better!
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