learning a craft
I went to the library and took out pretty much every book on knitting technique. Along with some of the books in my (very small) personal knitting library I plan on learning from these. I was horribly dissapointed by Vogue Knitting when I got it a few months ago. There was very little in it that I didn’t already know. I consider myself to be an adventurous, intelligent knitter but I don’t think I’m particularly knowledgable. I was possibly expecting too much from ‘the ultimate knitting book’ but if my expectations were high we only have some of the wonderful people on the internet to thank. I re-taught myself to knit from the ‘Odhams Encyclopedia of Knitting’ as a teenager, without much regard for why a particular increase was right for a particular purpose. (please tell me I did not just use the phrase ‘as a teenager,’ I’m not even 21 yet and still think of myself as about 16 most of the time). I didn’t even look at the diagram for the ‘knit stitch’, mores the pity. My first sweater, camisole and at least 20 hats were all knit with crossed knit stitches. It took me a while to even notice. My first sweater incidentally was from a 1940s pattern. It’s pretty cool but way too warm to actually wear often. It’s soooo 40s though so I wear it when I’m having a certain kind of vintage day. You know, as you do. I only wish it was navy not black - it does have short puffed sleeves and a square neckline. I was so proud of those sleeves, even if I did use yarn overs to increase. You see the Odhams book has a section of increases, the explanation confused me and I just picked one randomly - I didn’t exactly get lucky with that choice huh? The Odhams book has lots of info and some vintagey appeal but as a practical instruction book it is somewhat lacking. Arranged alphabetically within broad sections it begins with blocking, and gets to cables before you cast on. Well you see cabling is before casting on in the alphabet and it is an encyclopedia after all. Stitch n bitch ironed out those issues. The puns got to me after a while but at least I read it and actually looked at the all important knit stitch diagram. Ooooh the yarn goes that way round. But it was the internet that taught me to knit. Or the wonderful people on the internet. The free patterns, the craftster discussions, the wonderful tutorials and technique guides, the explanations of why I might want to do something, not just that I could. I learnt to read my knitting, and to experiment. And if I’m forced to I can knit from a pattern without having to randomly pick an increase method. But I think now it is time for some studying. I can’t wait to know more than I need to. What fun :)
On a different note has anyone used Kemtex or Fibrecrafts acid dyes, I’m trying to decide which to order.
To change the subject entirely I agreed to go paintballing tomorrow. What on earth have I got myself in for. Haha I’m sure it will be fun, I’m going with 7 guys which makes me by far the smallest target. And I have knitting muscles so shouldering the gun shouldn’t be a problem.
Posted: June 1st, 2006 under Uncategorized.
Comments: 15
Comments
Comment from Your-Secret-Pal
Time: June 1, 2006, 9:10 pm
It sounds like a real good essay! ;) I like your adventorous mind and the will to know more or as you say “more than you need to”, too :)
The kniting muscles come pretty much handy sometimes… Something I discovered once after having been knitting for over 24 hours in row (I hate deadlines and they hate me!)
Hope to read more on your study progress! :)
Comment from jezze
Time: June 1, 2006, 10:13 pm
Montse Stanley’s Knitter’s Handbook is great, if you can find it. It has more techniques than you’ll ever need - cross-referenced!
Comment from Sally Sue
Time: June 2, 2006, 2:04 am
Thanks for the nice comment!
Yes, that does sound a lot like me. I’ve heard of bicycle spokes being made into knitting needles during some war or another when aluminum was scarce, but never just for the sake of being thrifty like me.
I’m very thankful for the internet, as today I was searching for a good knitting reference book and, by reading the brief descriptions, discovered that I either already knew all of the information they offered or a good place to find it online.
I think what I’d enjoy, rather than a reference book, is a historical narrative on the craft. It’s so humbling to think of all the people who knit for necessity, not liesure, and didn’t have this endless sea of knowledge at their fingertips.
Anyway, I’ll let you get back to your reading. :)
Comment from clementine
Time: June 2, 2006, 8:25 am
Hey Ysolda, I just noticed you linked me? thanks so much! :) I’m on Apocalypse hoodie number two, by the way! I’ll send you pics if you’re interested.
I’m also self-taught, and have a tendency just to make things up as I go along. I’ve never been able ot work out how to *know* which increases/decreases you should use, or with some patterns, why they have chosen that particular method. Sames goes for a lot of other little bits of know-how that simply haven’t been in any of the knitting books I’ve read. Even the internet hasn’t helped although maybe I’m just phrasing questions badly (and I haven’t asked on craftster, I’m a bit lurky). So I just knit, frog, knit, frog etc., etc., until I’ve got it right. That might be why I find it easier to make up my own pattern, but I haven’t really tried anything majorly ambitious yet!
I’m also attempting to finish a pattern for the SnB book but more as a personal challenge rather than with any realistic expectations of publication! I am positive you will get in? hell, I’ll boycott the book if you don’t! haha.
Watch your fingers when you’re paintballing? sounds dumb I know but I got shot in the hand when I went painballing, and I couldn’t knit for a week. eep!
Comment from Abi
Time: June 2, 2006, 10:31 am
I agree, Montse Stanley’s book is a great reference but can be a bit overwhelming to start with.
I find learning new techniques is best during a project rather than extra to a project, as then I still feel like I’m during something worthwhile.
Also, thanks for linking, I was so excited when I saw I emailed my mum to show her
xxxx
Comment from Larissa
Time: June 2, 2006, 12:21 pm
Wow, I’m so impressed (and just a bit jealous) that you managed to get all those books from the library. Knitting seems to be so popular here (or maybe the libraries are just so poorly funded)that I can never find a thing in stock, and had to ‘reserve’ a solo copy of Loop-d-Loop three months in advance! I agree that the internet has been such an amazing resource; I honestly think that without all the online inspiration and knowledge I wouldn’t really be knitting today. Happy reading!
Comment from Amy
Time: June 2, 2006, 7:35 pm
Please, please, please wear your safety glasses whilst paintballing, and never take them off, even to wipe sweat from your brow. I’ve seen countless people who became blinded or lost an eye entirely from paintball. (Not to spoil the fun, but it has to be mentioned).
Amy
Comment from purlpower
Time: June 3, 2006, 11:34 am
I quite agree with you on the Vogue book, I bought it last year and have been disappointed with it. Several times I have turned to it for explanations of terms only to find they aren’t included. There are also problems with some of the terminology where they don’t give the European or British terminology as well as the States. Not good.
One of the best written books I have is by Mary Thomas - she wrote a series of books on knitting and embroidery and you can often find old editions of them in second hand shops or second hand amazon. Brenda Dayne talked about her on Cast On recently. Here’s a link or two:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0486228185/qid=1149330718/sr=8-16/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i16_xgl/026-8093494-2710036
Comment from Annarella
Time: June 4, 2006, 8:51 pm
You scored all those at your library?? Blimey, must get down there asap and check out what mine has, thanks for reminding me :)
x
Comment from Woolly Wormhead
Time: June 18, 2006, 1:28 am
Ok, a couple of weeks late on responding to this post…Was gonna 2nd Montse Stanley as well. When I learnt to knit, I only had my mum as a guide, so made loads of the same mistakes with increases/decreases as yourself.
And Kemtex are by far one of the best acid dyes around.
Trackback from madonna porn
Time: September 20, 2006, 4:01 am
porn…
hlbpzzqca icnsthkeonm shatoydgos …
Trackback from amateur home made sex video
Time: November 20, 2006, 5:06 am
amateur home made sex video…
amateur home made sex video amateur home made sex video amateur home made sex video amateur home made sex video amateur home made sex video ybsxcr…
Trackback from tvpnlfcwa
Time: December 14, 2006, 3:24 pm
anime xxx…
ogrbtuxjfi cpicbmboomg qfajmjxiai lttssmmi fwumrkhtlk oalzkyhsw ferlnhazpb yefrbongga…
Trackback from mhycakssmv
Time: January 1, 2007, 5:42 pm
hardcore movie…
azihuzyks zeylanch hiensclry ualduietis mhjzanov tlzpqpltrim…
Trackback from aphodhapcca
Time: January 1, 2007, 6:28 pm
mature anal sex…
xgbtkobkis fffcigbe yrweyqgp gshekboqzu azlqxkjhw pfxoqgmiww ythgornis…
Write a comment