<p>Err, well, does anyone here knit? I'm very bored, artsy, and I have a big penchant for scarves, so I decided to learn. It's not going very well, at all. Anyone have any tips or hints? Oh, and I am definitely left-handed.</p>
<p>I knit! I just know the basic stich, and I have knitted a few scarves.</p>
<p>Tip: Always make the scarf longer than you think it needs to be.</p>
<p>I tried once. It wasn't pretty.</p>
<p>I knit all the time. I do sweaters, scarves, etc. All it takes is practice. If there's a yarn shop near you, see if they have classes. Some chain craft stores, such as Michael's, or fabric stores like Joann's, also have classes for free or very reasonably. Our Adult Ed program often has knitting classes, too.</p>
<p>I'm right-handed, but my mother is left-handed, and she taught me how to knit. So even though I knit right-handed, I still cast on left-handed, and have to knit the first row backwards!</p>
<p>I taught myself to knit out of a library book about a year ago. So far I've made various scarves, socks/url</a>, an iPod case (I made up the pattern), [url="<a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTfetching.html%22%5Dcabled">http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTfetching.html"]cabled</a> fingerless gloves, and a few more that I don't remember. Right now I'm working on a cabled</a> scarf for my dad and a lace</a> scarf for my mom. </p>
<p>My advice: Stay away from cheap acrylics and use natural fibers. It's more expensive, but it's so worth it (feels and looks a million times better).</p>
<p>I love knitting! I started about 5 years ago... I've made several sweaters and things.</p>
<p>I agree about using nicer yarn.
I actually haven't knit in quite a while though... I really want to start again.</p>
<p>One thing - don't use cotton yarn. It stretches terribly and is very hard to work with. Although I often knit with wool, I also enjoy using the better acrylics. Easy to work with, and the resulting item (like a sweater or socks) is machine washable & dryable.</p>
<p>I tend to favor wool although my knitting experience is relatively limited. I recently got some bamboo needles and LOVE them. They don't hurt my fingers at all.</p>
<p>^yeah, bamboo needles are a LOT easier to use.</p>
<p>^I agree. (I use birch needles, which is almost the same thing.)</p>
<p>I've knitted for around 7 years, but still only make basic stuff in basic stitches (lots of scarves!). I agree about the bamboo needles. They have the perfect balance of slip and grip, so I can knit faster and drop fewer stitches. I don't like wool, or most natural fibers for that matter, so I just use nicer synthetics.</p>
<p>I remember once, when I was about nine, I decided that I was going to learn to knit. I thought that I would just be able to make up a pattern, so I tied a ribbon to a chopstick and tried to "knit." Ha, ha. That went well. (Sadly, I think that I actually made more progress than when I ACTUALLY tried to knit seven years later!)</p>
<p>cameliasinensis, I LOVE the fingerless glove link you posted!!!!
I'll probably be making those as my next project!</p>
<p>I have this yarn sitting around, that I want to use for a hat/fingerless-glove combination, only I've been having trouble finding a pattern I like.
and I'm tired of designing things...
I might use the glove pattern and make a matching hat...</p>
<p>lol CC kids knitting... should i be surprised?</p>
<p>jk jk :) i suck at it, so im hating.</p>