A Close to My Learning Project

Throughout the last semester, I have been working on this knitting learning project. It is hard to believe that the time has come to end it. I chose to knit because I did not have a clue to how to knit. Many people throughout my life have told me that knitting is too hard for a Lefty to learn or that you need a left-handed person to show you how. However, this is not the case anymore, throughout my learning project I have learned to knit using Youtube and various other websites to get me started. I now can say I’m a knitter for life.

During my journey, I have learned how to hold the needles, what a knit stitch and purl stitch are. The stitches I have learned:

• Knit stitch
• Purl stitch
• slip stitch
• knit, yarn over, knit
• pass one over stitch
• knit two together
• purl two together
• garter stitch
• increase by a stitch
• decrease by a stitch
• stitch one below
• zig zag

I have joined knitting a knitting community through Ravelry, I now post my questions and get feedback from my peers. I also learned that Youtube is a valuable tool when it comes to learning. Not only did I watch Youtube video to learn how to do different stitches, but I have also posted some videos of my own.

I have tried many different patterns, most of which have failed. I have completed 4 different patterns that are used for making dishcloths and I have started a scarf. Through these patterns, I have learned to read the language of knitting (which is mostly abbreviations). I also learned to gauge and find the right tools that are needed.  Having the right tool important to be successful in any learning project. I have learned that short needles are not the best for what I make and that the size (width) of the needle really does matter.

Lastly, I have been able to pass on my knowledge through this blog and twitter. I hope that my readers are able to pick up knitting as easy as I was able too. Here is a progression of my work:

 

 

Purple- K1 into stitch below
Multicolour- K1, yarn over, K1

 

Photo credit: Me

 

Is knitting becoming popular again?

So haven’t really posted anything new about my learning project in a long time. Not that I was super busy with midterm assignments being due, but because I have run into a lull. I have found a knitting community that shares patterns and ideas to help beginners. I have started and stopped and restarted projects. My next step will be to produce an instructional video that will help with learning to knit left handed. But I need someone to hold the camera for me. However, with all these set backs I have looked into whether or not knitting is becoming popular again.

I posed this question onto Google and found an article that states that knitting becomes more popular when the season changes and if celebrities are doing it.  This just makes sense, in winter many people spend more time at home and knitting is just easy to pick up.  I also have had discussions about knitting with many people and they say that they knit to relax. I am also finding this to be true. At night, when I’m ready to relax on the couch I pick up my knitting turn on a relaxing tv show and just knit. It is almost blissful.

My project that I am working on right now is a scarf. I have made a ton of mistakes but I am learning to let that go and just keep on going. I found the pattern for this scarf on Ravelry.

Let me know how I’m doing, or how should I get out of my knitting lull. Any productive suggestions will be considered.