Patrisha

April 12, 2005

Tuesday Knitting Class

Yesterday Dangnabbit {of OD} learned to knit. I know this because I taught her!

She sent me excellent directions. In my book, excellent directions include Interstate roads {but she did include a back road in case I wanted to come that way} exit numbers and , most important of all for me, landmarks! I am very happy with directions that tell me what big building on the right I will pass and what will be directly in front of me when I stop at a four way stop. I had no problem finding her building and her office. The only disappointment was that there was no sign saying “Dorm Goddess!”

The knitting lessons went well. One interesting thing about teaching an adult —and I have noticed this with Robin, too—is that an adult is much more likely to understand when he or she has made a misstep and say something at that point. In contrast, a child will push past the tricky point and often get more and more confused and muddled. The other interesting thing was that a couple of times she asked me about something and I didn’t know what I had done unless I had the needles in my hands and recreated the moves! I have been knitting since I was a child. Although my father taught me the tricky bits, the basics were taught to me in school. So, for me knitting is an activity that mostly requires no thought. I don’t think about how I hold the needles–I just hold them. So, as soon as I got the needles in my hand, I could recreate the move and show it to her, but without the actual hands-on, my mind was a total bank. It is odd to have someone say, “How did you do the last part of that?” and to have absolutely no idea how I did it because I just did it!

So, she can now cast on, do the knit stitch, do the purl stitch and cast off. I gave her a quick run-down on how to do a rib {K2 P2 and the only tricky part is moving the strand you are working with from the back to the front} } and how to read a pattern and now all she has to do is practice, practice, practice! She and I are alike in that we both find pictures of how to knit very confusing, but once we have been shown and done a little practice, the illustrations are an excellent memory-jogger because now we know. When she told me she had tried but couldn’t learn from a book, I knew exactly what she meant since I am that way also.

Until later…

gray tabby

April 13, 2005

sounds like the two of you had a good time. take care,

Wonderful! I know just what you mean about having to have the needles in your hand and show someone, rather than tell them. I find it interesting that your father showed you the tricky parts of knitting. Apparently my father knit during the First World War, making socks for the soldiers. That is what the children did for their recess. I never saw him knit, however.

This sounds like great fun. I too get confused by the pictures, but find the actual photos easier to read than the drawings. Like you, they are great memory joggers later.

bleeding*star

Ahh, I love to knit. My mom and grandma have taught me. I usually knit and watch my favorite TV shows, so I don’t feel like such a lush. I haven’t tried K2P2 yet, only one or the other. My brain isn’t quite sure about mixing them yet! ~rory

TheWoodsprite

Gee, I wish you were closer, so you could teach me to knit. Ma tried to teach me once, but by the time I got back home from her place in Maine, I’d forgotten what she showed me. Funny, as I was cleaning out the closet yesterday, though, I found an old needlepoint picture I had been working on AGES ago. I had completely forgotten I ever did that! Here’s wishing you a beautiful day. hugs, Weesprite

Wow! You look so fantastic on your cover page, sweetie! You are one skinny, beautiful babe. I have been so out of touch, and I apologize for that. I am so proud of you. Much love,

Newsnut

so if I give you directions will you come teach me lol?

Shi

How lovely of you to take the time to teach her. 🙂

ChinaBaby

Telling someone how to knit is like trying to describe driving. Good thing you were there for the visuals!

Flyte

I taught my daughter how to knit and I was like you when she asked how I did something. I had to show her. Now she is far advanced in knitting and does some awesome work. She even has a blog and a bunch of online knitting friends. Seems knitting is coming back into style with the 20 and 30 year olds.

Ginger Rogers

How wonderful that you were able to get together with another ODER.

Happy Trails

LOL When I first began reading I thought you had taught her to knit by email. That would be a trick!! Knitting is a wonderful form of relaxation. I know how, but haven’t in years.

Claudine a l'ecole

Finding some of my Favorites here and just finding your name through -Just Catherine-, I have added you to my Favorites. Just read back how you met your partner after having read Catherine’s own story. All very inspiring. I truly hope you might ‘visit’ me as well – I am much further than Vermont or Mississipi 🙂

ryn: I like your sister’s comment too, especially since so often people say they take cold baths or showers, to squelch the drive! 🙂 Nowadays I far prefer a good book, a good meal…. a good walk, a good talk…. all things get into such a different perspective! hugs, Weesprite

'Rella

Awesome! Be well,

Redsirens

Hands on is much easier for me to learn something rather than from a pic. I have never knitted but could crochet years ago. She’s lucky to have you to teach her.

Telynor

That is wonderful about the knitting. I’m still learning the very basic, very baby stitches myself, but enjoying it. And crochet — I’m figuring out how to make string bags — so useful when shopping!

greeneyes&sunflowers

: ) you made me smile! *huggs* I can send the the “back road” way to the bay area and I can teach you how to make a porcelain doll, all from the very begining. I buy porcelain in it’s liquid state…. *huggs*

Sunshine Wolf

Yay! I knitted one row once………..

Kathleen

How heartening to hear that someone learned to knit (at least the basics) in an afternoon! I never attempted to knit, and only learned (and forgot) one crochet stitch, long ago. I admire anyone who can do these arts.

Issued Puppet

April 14, 2005

How exciting! I have always been able to knit…just knit, not purl. I just taught myself to purl, surprisingly from a book, and I am working on a scarf. I have about 4 inches done and feel quite pleased with myself! Once I complete it, I am going to work on learning to read a pattern.