anyone in london want to teach me to knit? Will pay.

[Bessie123]

I can do basic stitches but I don't know how to follow a pattern. I'll pay you.

bessie, buy the stitch adn bitch book. honestly it is really easy. or find a knitting group near you. everyone will be falling over themselves to help you.

Well I bought the knitting bible and taught myself stitches but I must be a bit special because I can't figure out how to follow patterns, so I can only make scarves. There's only so many scarves you can knit... I'm left handed which makes it a bit more difficult, I think.

Can I buy the stitch and bitch book from amazon?

yes you can get it from amazon. can you do increases adn decreases?

no, I told you, I'm a bit special.

I have found the stitch and bitch website and signed up to their newsletter, I will try to go along to a teaching meet up - it must be easier than finding someone to teach me privately.

Thanks v much for the help.

good luck!

Agree with BariatricObama, the Stich n Bitch book is very good to teach your self with. I started with a scarf out of it, moved on to a stripey hat and then made the baby blanket. Only problem is that some of the yarns aren't that easy to get a hold of.

Also recommend asking in the yarn shore for help on specific questions. They are usually lovely and very helpful.

cool, stitch and bitch book it is. Thanks again for the advice

have you trid looking at tutorials on youtube as well? i think sometimes you really do need to watch someone doing it.

good suggestion, I will try that. I see there is a stitch and bitch teaching meet up in a couple of weeks, I will go there too.

I've got the Debbie Bliss "Baby knits for beginners" book.

It has taught me how to knit patterns.

John Lewis sell it (as do about a million other places).

I bought a couple of baby knit books from John Lewis, I can't remember which now but they were both beyond me (it doesn't take much). I will see which they are, am always looking for a good baby knitting patterns book, I have an as yet unfulfilled fantasy about being able to knit clothes for my children.

bessie choose a pattern adn just go for it. my first knit was a wrap round cardie for dd when she was about 3. i must have restarted it about 10 times but i got there in the end.

Don't taunt me. Seriously, scarves are my limit just now, I can't understand the patterns or do this increase decrease business. But I am determined to do it. I will be a proper mum; baking, knitting and sewing (now there's a hurdle)

btw, all practical tips gratefully received.

You'll be fine, just take it little by little! Like you've done scarves first. Next time pick a pattern that just has one thing more in it. (I picked the hat because all I needed to do was change colours and a few decreases. It was much easier than I thought and DH actually wears it too and shows his friends what I made!) Each time just pick something a little bit harder and go for it.

I'm still a beginner, but now I've moved on from the SnB book to a Debbie Bliss baby book. First thing I made was a pair of bootees. The first one took weeks and I had to keep referring to my SnB book to follow the pattern and had to keep unknitting it and starting again. Second bootee took a bit more than an afternoon, much easier, and no mistakes. Doesn't matter if it's not perfect and you only learn by throwing yourself in a giving it a go!

bessie.. whereabouts in London are you? i've got a busy few weeks (getting married 3/4/10 and haven't finished making my dress yet!!) but i'd be happy to meet up with you and show you few things once things calmed down and no, i don't want any money!

Wow, pressure. I hope you get it done in time.

I'm in East London, where are you? It's very kind of you to offer to teach me for free but you might change your mind when you see how rubbish I am...

If you live in East London, you should go to Aneeta. She is great and managed to teach me to knit!

My god, she lives about 2 minutes' walk from me. How perfect is that???

I'm over that way too! small world!

I've taught quite a few children over the years, including my most challenging (a tomboy who really didn't want to but her mother wanted her to learn) and haven't had any faiures yet!

anyhow, just let me know if you want to meet up

I think they have teach-ins in the John Lewis branches - ring up and ask to speak to Haberdashery/the Rowan design Consultant.

Also try the good yarn shops like [[http://www.loopknitting.com/classes/index.html Loop] in Islington - that would be Aneeta again by the look of it.

This page lists quite a lot of knitting groups, if you scroll down to London Regent Street/Liberty's they are very friendly, if Yvonne knows you are coming she will look after you and is a great teacher too. Also you get to feel like a queen swanking about in Liberty!

Wow, so many options, who knew?

Miamla you are very kind and I would definitely take you up on your offer apart from it seems like you have more than enough to do without me imposing on you as well... how is the wedding dress going?

Did you ever go to the knitting meet ups at the museum of childhood? I heard they were going to resurrect them but they don't seem to have done it yet.

i saw an advert in john lewis yday about a knitting thing they're doing...tried my best to remember details but i seemed to have failed and should have written them down...sorry! Hmm, their website doesn't give any clues...pretty sure it was a Wednesday in April. I'll have another look next time i'm in there! Our local church has a knitting group that are really lovely and helpful for beginners, perhaps there's something near you? (don't worry, you don't have to be a church goer!)

dress is going really well apart from the blobs of blood I keep pricking my finger... not sure what i'm going to do yet! Head in sand approach working well at the moment!

never been to the museum of childhood ones, would be a good place to go though in the hope that DS would happily entertain himself whilst i sit and knit [wishful thinking emoticon] do you know when they are?

Miamla thankyou. Which church is that?

The museum of childhood knitting group used to be on a Friday but it hasn't been on since last summer. I suppose we could start a new group, I am free Friday mornings...

not sure the name of the church..sorry not being much help!

FRIDAY MORNINGS WOULD WORK FOR ME AS argh sorry, didn't spot caps! only got one hand free and can't face retyping!

Ah, maybe we should start a knitting group after easter then.