Last December a friend came over to learn to knit. There were a few problems, one: Not only am I left handed but I knit weird to boot. At the time I didn't know that either (well, I did know I'm left handed *wink* but was unaware of my strange knitting styles). two: She was going to try knitting a scarf on Size Enormous needles (maybe 15's?). Those are awkward enough as it is, but for a beginner, UGH! I had never tried them myself so I didn't know how hard they would be to use (I've never used anything larger than 10.5).
So long story short, she was frustrated, I was frustrated. She gave up and swore off knitting. I was so sad.
Fast forward to yesterday ... we don't get together often lots of kids, lots of activities, just life. So we were talking and I invited her and her kids over to play today. This morning before she got here I ran to the craft store and picked up some size 7 bamboos and a ball of cotton. My local craft store is so cool and always offers a 40% coupon. I love that place!
Anyway, so she got here with her kids and I told her I wanted to try teaching her to knit just one more time. I showed her the needles (bamboo are so much nicer to use than metal!) and yarn plus the very simple dish cloth pattern I printed off of The Dish Cloth Boutique. She agreed to give it another shot. Yay!
The knitting went pretty well. I even pulled out the very first item (a dish cloth of the same pattern) that I had ever knitted (five years ago). That is it up at the top. As you can tell, it wasn't and still isn't beautiful. The yarn has long faded, it used to be pink and white (apparently I'm not very good at laundry). There are some missed YO's and at least one dropped stitch in the middle (not to mention the tension issues!), but you know, it's functional. And it doesn't matter that it isn't lovely. I told her in five years she may just pull out her dish cloth to show someone she is teaching to knit. :)
Today I had time to knit another dish cloth. I'm knitting some to give
away (like at church and such) as Christmas gifts this year. "Washing you a Merry Christmas" or "We wash you a Merry Christmas". ha.
5 comments:
I perfected my knitting skills on dishcloths. I think they are a great first projects. They don't require a huge investment in time or money and will be used no matter how many dropped stitches they contain. Hope your friend will enjoy knitting this time.
I think it is fun that you have an early knitted item that you can pull out and look at and see how far you have come with your skills. I learned to knit in a similar manner - I asked a knitter at work, and she took me over to the local craft shop, and I picked out some soft yarn and needles, and she bought me a book of 100 stitches. I had so much fun that weekend, trying them out!
Knitterly friends are the best friends!
I'm borrowing your Christmas idea :) I hope you don't mind!
The dishclothes I've made that I messed up on, I kept for home use and the girls and I love them much much more than the regular ones :)
Nothing like the unexpected knitting attack! I learned on dishcloths also, they give instant gratification to a beginning knitter and they're simple (and cheap), and look like a 'real' project that you can be proud of. :-D
Don't you just love wash cloths made out of cotton!! Very nice! You did a great job with my gown pattern too!!
Mary Glynn
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