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How To Get Started?

MasonM's picture
Mon, 2006-12-25 22:14 — MasonM

Ok, I know next to nothing about knitting but wish to learn. How do I get started? Good books? Supplies? Just wing it and see what happens?

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Wed, 2006-12-27 23:20 — Lary

Mason, I started knitting

Mason, I started knitting last summer. I tried years ago by watching a video and ended up frustrated. A few years later I bought a book...and ended up frustrated. Finally, this summer I found a beginning class at a local yarn store (lys). It not only provided all the basic information I needed including recommendations for supplies, it gave me the confidence (and just enough knowledge) to use the books, dvds, knittinghelp.com and other resources intelligently and with a better level of understanding. I must admit that although I'm pretty sure I wear a sign on my back that says sissy, I was still intimidated walking into the yarn store and taking the class as the only man. Everyone was wonderful, supportive and loved having a guy in the class.

Wed, 2006-12-27 23:44 — MasonM
MasonM's picture

Thanks for the input

Thanks for the input Larry.

I'd love to take a class if that would work out for me, but as a trucker I'm just not home enough for that.

As for as the sign on your back that says "sissy", in my experience guys who walk around with that sign put it there themselves. Be proud and confident with who you are. To hell with what anyone else thinks.

I am a truck driver who is rough, tough, manly, and likes to cook, enjoys classical music, is learning knitting, and will pound the crap out of anyone who gets in my face. I am who I am and so are you. Forget the bullcrap stereotypes and be confident in who you are. No-one can label you but yourself.

Mason

Linux: because a PC is a terrible thing to waste

Thu, 2006-12-28 00:55 — kiwiknitter
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Well said, Mason! Thank

Well said, Mason! Thank you.

My knitting is totally tubular!

Thu, 2006-12-28 01:19 — MasonM
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Ummm, ok, You're welcome? Is

Ummm, ok, You're welcome?

Is just how I feel.

Mason

Linux: because a PC is a terrible thing to waste

Wed, 2006-12-27 14:52 — MasonM
MasonM's picture

Thanks MMario. I'm

Thanks MMario.

I'm definitely not afraid to ask dumb questions LOL

At the moment I don't even know if we have a LYS or if so where it's located. That's one item I need to check into at some point. As a trucker I spend most of my time out on the road and so rely heavily on the internet both for information and shopping.

Mason

Linux: because a PC is a terrible thing to waste

Wed, 2006-12-27 14:57 — MMario
MMario's picture

Ain't no such thing as a

Ain't no such thing as a 'dumb question'. Now occasionally you'll meet up with someone too stubborn to believe an answer; or the confusion of multiple "correct" answers to a question, or even someone who asks the same question a gazillion and a half times because they don't bother to listen to the answer.

but that don't make the question dumb.

hmmmm---wouldn't it be nice if we could "swatch" life?

Wed, 2006-12-27 15:34 — MasonM
MasonM's picture

Oh, I don't know. I could

Oh, I don't know. I could probably come up with a few dumb questions LOL

Mason

Linux: because a PC is a terrible thing to waste

Wed, 2006-12-27 14:15 — MMario
MMario's picture

Mason - above all - don't be

Mason - above all - don't be afraid to ask questions; at your LYS if you have one convenient; *HERE*, etc.

As in any field of endevour knitters tend to forget not everyone knows the 'lingo' and abreviations, or words that means something else to non-knitters can confuse - but a simple question can clear the mud.

MMario - I don't live in the 21st Century - but I sometimes play a character who does.

Wed, 2006-12-27 14:06 — MasonM
MasonM's picture

Thanks Cheryl; I've been

Thanks Cheryl;

I've been watching Amy's videos on knittinghelp.com. They've helped a lot.

I'll look for that DVD the next time I'm in Wally World.

Mason

Linux: because a PC is a terrible thing to waste

Wed, 2006-12-27 14:03 — chylve

http://knittinghelp.com/ is

http://knittinghelp.com/ is a good resource for videos. Also, there's a CD Rom called Knitting Made Easy that was probably purchased at Walmart (it was a Christmas gift a couple of years ago and I don't think my family in small town Texas shops anywhere else)that has pretty good videos and explanations of some of the terminology... the patterns are, imho, for crap, but as an inexpensive learning aid, it's not too shabby. http://www.amazon.com/Knitting-Made-Easy-PC/dp/B000BVV6M4

Tue, 2006-12-26 23:36 — MasonM
MasonM's picture

Thanks Jeff; Long time

Thanks Jeff;

Long time straight, first time knitter LOL

I bought something similar today, but sadly no DVD (that would be handy). I did find some short online videos which help a lot.

I'm currently working on my first practice project, just a simple garter stitch scarf. I'm currently quite frustrated and giving it up for the night. I've started, taken apart, and restarted this stupid thing a few dozen times in the past 11 or 12 hours and it's currently only about 1.5 inches long (but reasonably even without any dropped stitches so far).

So much for giving my mother a nice hand made scarf for her birthday tomorrow. At this rate maybe it'll be finished by her next birthday. LOL

Mason

Linux: because a PC is a terrible thing to waste

Tue, 2006-12-26 20:38 — Jeff1201PA
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I'd like to chime in on this

I'd like to chime in on this topic. I only learned to knit in May of this year and I really enjoy it. I learned with the "Knit This" kit from Target (I'd imagine other retailers sell it too, but that's where I got mine). They had various kits to choose from, each included the tools and supplies you need to make a basic project, I chose the cat toy kit.

The best part of the kit is the DVD which takes you through each step slowly and carefully.

Longtime faggot, first time knitter.

Tue, 2006-12-26 19:13 — MasonM
MasonM's picture

LOL Thanks Mason Linux:

LOL
Thanks

Mason

Linux: because a PC is a terrible thing to waste

Tue, 2006-12-26 09:25 — MasonM
MasonM's picture

Thanks Jonathan, I'll look

Thanks Jonathan, I'll look for it.

BTW, who is Kevin? :D

Mason

Linux: because a PC is a terrible thing to waste

Tue, 2006-12-26 16:15 — potterdc
potterdc's picture

Good God - who knows!?! I

Good God - who knows!?! I guess Kevin is what Mason looks like before my morning coffee!

What I meant to say is - WELCOME MASON!

J.

Tue, 2006-12-26 09:10 — potterdc
potterdc's picture

Kevin, Welcome to the list.

Kevin,

Welcome to the list. I gave a male friend Monste Stanley's book The Reader's Digest Knitter's Handbook - it's a very well illustrated guide to knitting. I found out about it listening to David Reidy's podcast Sticks and Strings at http://www.sticksandstring.com.au/ which you might enjoy listening to.

There are good on line resources, but I don't know them! Others on this list will, though.

Good luck!

Jonathan in DC