*HOW* did you learn to knit?? Id love to learn!

[kitsandbits]

Did anyone teach themselves? I dont know anyone who does it to teach me (well not anyone that has the time to do so)

thanks

[dressedupnowheretogo]

lol i taught myself there is a thread on art and crafts that has really good sites with instructions on them

i also buy simply knitting magazine and that literally shows how to do anything

and if i get stuck i just come on here and ask

[Nbg]

and she tried to teach me but as it turns out, I am unteachable

[kitsandbits]

pmsl

is it hard though??

whats the easiest thing to start with?

DPs nana does it and i asked the other da and she started talking about blackberry stitches and she lost me - she had he stuff there - i should've asked her to show me, but she seemed tired.

[Nbg]

theres a really good site which has a video on of how to cast off.

I actually managed that and from there I think its quite easy, so long as you dont balls it up and if you do you know how to rectify it.

[Bundle]

not hard
john lewis stores do nice courses if you live near one

[gringottsgoblin]

i did! caught myself telling some one i couldnt do it and thought i woudnt let the kids say that so taught myself using knitting help website here

[flamingtoaster]

Have a look at www.knittinghelp.com/

It has videos of all the basics.

Stick to just learning the plain and purl stitches - all other stitches arise from combinations/slight varistions of those.

Start with knitting a scarf which is very straightforward. It will give you practice in plain straight knitting.

Have a go and if you get stuck just post - there are lots of knitters here who will help if they can. Good luck.

[SlightlyMadSweden]

I can knit, but I can't cast on or off.....I might look at those vids and see if I can learn so I can do it and not just the bit in teh middle...which doesn't help if you can't cast on or off!!!

[flamingtoaster]

SlightlyMadSweden - if you can knit you can cast on and off! Have a look at the videos and think of casting on as knitting the stitch (as you would in normal knitting) but putting it back on the needle it came off. For casting off it's just a case of:

knit two stitches and slip the right hand one of the two over the left stitch, then knit another stitch, slip the new right hand stich over the left, and repeat. When you get to the point where you have one stitch left break the wool and pull it through the stitch to "lock" it.

Have a go!

[warthog]

i taught myself and have been fine

do it - it's great therapy!

[mummytheresa]

I am left handed and had to teach myself as all my relatives said I confused them.
Before the days of the internet I went to the childrens dept in Waterstones and found myself a really basic book intended for 8 year olds (which I still refer to now )

[GreebosWhiskers]

dressedupnowheretogo - did you get last month's Simply Knitting? ds was pictured on the letters page holding a knitted boob

[Flibbertyjibbet]

My grandma taught me, sorry but she isnt' around any more for you .
I once saw a teach yourself knitting cd on a website, which seemed a lot better than a book as you could actually see how the needles move etc rather than still pictures.
www.knitknack.co.uk/
hope I did that link ok.
I used to be on the next yoga mat to the lady who is featured on the website and created the cd - she is fab!

[dressedupnowheretogo]

wow how fab and yes i did thats wicked

[littleboo]

I went into our local wool shop as I really wanted to have a go at one of those lovely soft scarves. The lady in there showed me what to do, even cast on for me to start, and then asked me to come back and show when finished, they were great.