I think of the countless times when I've heard...
"I tried to knit but I just couldn't get the hang of it..."
"I'm not coordinated enough to learn..."
"I use to know how a long time ago but doubt I could do it now..."
"I'm not coordinated enough to learn..."
"I use to know how a long time ago but doubt I could do it now..."
I'm pretty sure I've heard it all and I'm calling you out and I'm telling you that you CAN do it... that is if you want it bad enough.
I can give you at least 3 reasons why you should learn how to knit.
1.) You get to create and awaken that brain of yours in a whole new way.
I can give you at least 3 reasons why you should learn how to knit.
1.) You get to create and awaken that brain of yours in a whole new way.
2.) Can lower blood pressure, relax you, and ease stress and anxiety.
3.) Can help you quit those bad habits by working as a nice distraction.
So hopefully I have convinced you to go out on a limb and give knitting a try....errrr.. another try, maybe.
So there are a few things to keep in mind while you learn that may ease the stress or anxiety of learning this new art form.
-Everyone is different-
I think it is human nature to compare ourselves to the stranger next to us, a friend, a family member...
But truth be told that everyone is different and learns at different paces and in different ways.
If you don't catch it right away you're not broken, dumb, pathetic, or incapable.
You are human and you are training your brain and your hands to do something new.
Or maybe you are retraining your brain and hands to do something that they once knew how to do.
This isn't a race or a competition either sooooo...
Chill out.
-You will in fact mess up-
You may find that you have some wonky stitches, missing stitches, added stitches, holes, yarn splits and whatever else you can think of.
This is normal.
The best way to remedy this is to rip it out and start over because the best practice you can get is by repeating what you've learned.
It seems the most commonly forgotten thing when you learn how to knit is how to actually cast on stitches onto your needle because that is the first thing that you learned and are so focused on actually knitting your first project, that you have no reason to revisit it.
Messing up is ok and even the most experienced knitters do it and have to start over from time to time.
-Do your best to relax-
Your best results in knitting will come if you are relaxed and breathing.
If you're sitting there all hunched over in your chair, breathing heavily, white knuckling it the entire time, not only is it going to be a stressful experience but you'll more than likely pull your yarn too tight, which will make it more difficult to actually knit your stitches.
That in itself will stress you out and more than likely discourage you.
The best thing you can do at this point is to set your knitting down, grab something to drink, go for a little walk around, maybe do a few hand stretches, and then give it another go.
-Stick to solid color yarn-
If you are anything like me then you will be drawn to the multicolored yarn and want to make your first project out of the coolest yarn you can find!
This may be possible but to be on the safe side I would suggest going with a bright, solid colored yarn to make your stitches better viewable for knitting.
Something so simple can make your first knitting experience a lot more enjoyable, which is what we want. :)
-Learn on wood or bamboo needles-
I understand that you inherited metal needles, found them at a garage sale, or picked them out because they were affordable... but if you don't HAVE to use them to learn how to knit, DON'T.
When knitting on metal needles you will find them to be much heavier and may find that your stitches are slipping all over the place.
Not to mention they are insanely long and may be hard to maneuver and work around.
Wood and bamboo needles tend to be much easier to learn with due to their lightness, grip on your stitches causing a fewer chances of your stitches actually slipping off your needle, and their reasonable length making it easier to knit.
These are just a handful of things that may actually make your first knitting experience a successful one.
Plus it helps to have a good teacher that is patient and willing to show you how to do something however many times you need.
I'm total game for hand holding so if you ever get me as a teacher, you're in good hands.
SO PAY ATTENTION...
I'd like to teach you and for a local reader I'd like to do that for free.
So if you are wanting to learn how to knit and complete your first project with my assistance, here is what you need to do:
1) Live in Casper, WY
2) Like my facebook page, which you can find the button/link for that to the right.
3) Share my blog.
3) Comment why you want to learn how to knit.
I will provide you with a set of knitting needles and a skein of yarn to complete your very first project!
I will announce who on Sunday, April 28th at 5:00pm.
I hope this blog posting has been good motivation to get you started and I am willing to help do just that...
Get your creative knitting juices flowing with confidence...
-C
So hopefully I have convinced you to go out on a limb and give knitting a try....errrr.. another try, maybe.
So there are a few things to keep in mind while you learn that may ease the stress or anxiety of learning this new art form.
-Everyone is different-
I think it is human nature to compare ourselves to the stranger next to us, a friend, a family member...
But truth be told that everyone is different and learns at different paces and in different ways.
If you don't catch it right away you're not broken, dumb, pathetic, or incapable.
You are human and you are training your brain and your hands to do something new.
Or maybe you are retraining your brain and hands to do something that they once knew how to do.
This isn't a race or a competition either sooooo...
Chill out.
-You will in fact mess up-
You may find that you have some wonky stitches, missing stitches, added stitches, holes, yarn splits and whatever else you can think of.
This is normal.
The best way to remedy this is to rip it out and start over because the best practice you can get is by repeating what you've learned.
It seems the most commonly forgotten thing when you learn how to knit is how to actually cast on stitches onto your needle because that is the first thing that you learned and are so focused on actually knitting your first project, that you have no reason to revisit it.
Messing up is ok and even the most experienced knitters do it and have to start over from time to time.
-Do your best to relax-
Your best results in knitting will come if you are relaxed and breathing.
If you're sitting there all hunched over in your chair, breathing heavily, white knuckling it the entire time, not only is it going to be a stressful experience but you'll more than likely pull your yarn too tight, which will make it more difficult to actually knit your stitches.
That in itself will stress you out and more than likely discourage you.
The best thing you can do at this point is to set your knitting down, grab something to drink, go for a little walk around, maybe do a few hand stretches, and then give it another go.
-Stick to solid color yarn-
If you are anything like me then you will be drawn to the multicolored yarn and want to make your first project out of the coolest yarn you can find!
This may be possible but to be on the safe side I would suggest going with a bright, solid colored yarn to make your stitches better viewable for knitting.
Something so simple can make your first knitting experience a lot more enjoyable, which is what we want. :)
-Learn on wood or bamboo needles-
I understand that you inherited metal needles, found them at a garage sale, or picked them out because they were affordable... but if you don't HAVE to use them to learn how to knit, DON'T.
When knitting on metal needles you will find them to be much heavier and may find that your stitches are slipping all over the place.
Not to mention they are insanely long and may be hard to maneuver and work around.
Wood and bamboo needles tend to be much easier to learn with due to their lightness, grip on your stitches causing a fewer chances of your stitches actually slipping off your needle, and their reasonable length making it easier to knit.
These are just a handful of things that may actually make your first knitting experience a successful one.
Plus it helps to have a good teacher that is patient and willing to show you how to do something however many times you need.
I'm total game for hand holding so if you ever get me as a teacher, you're in good hands.
SO PAY ATTENTION...
I'd like to teach you and for a local reader I'd like to do that for free.
So if you are wanting to learn how to knit and complete your first project with my assistance, here is what you need to do:
1) Live in Casper, WY
2) Like my facebook page, which you can find the button/link for that to the right.
3) Share my blog.
3) Comment why you want to learn how to knit.
I will provide you with a set of knitting needles and a skein of yarn to complete your very first project!
I will announce who on Sunday, April 28th at 5:00pm.
I hope this blog posting has been good motivation to get you started and I am willing to help do just that...
Get your creative knitting juices flowing with confidence...
-C
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