Preparing for Winter V

cuddlymarm

I think it’s a skill you can either master or can’t. I like knitting but nothing that could ever be worn afterwards. I always have a blanket on the go and when they get scruffy recycle the best wool and reuse.

Laura_Elsewhere

This is the right time of year for looking out bargains for winter warmth, I think - eBay or charity shops or Freegle often have people dumping their winter stuff when the first sunny weekend like this comes along... everything from bedding to coats to pyjamas, etc... 

Worth checking to see if you're eligible for anything, too - neither of us gets benefits and we rent, so we thought we wouldn't be eligible for anything, but in fact we've just got our loft insulation completely free (and free to the landlords too!), on one of the energy-efficiency schemes. 

London_1

I was so little when my late Mum taught me to knit, that I can't remember a time when I didn't to be honest. I started around 3-4 I know before I started school.

But I just cannot crochet at all I have tried many times but I just can't get it right. I can handsew, but machining is a lost cause to me as well. I remember turning sides to middle with sheets, and my late Mum at one end and me at the other and we would handsew them and try to meet in the middle she would tack and pin the line, and then with small stitches we would sew towards each other. She was always faster than me but she had been handsewing for a lot longer than me as her machine was damaged during a bombing raid when she was bombed out in 1942 and she couldn't get it repaired.

I have knitted for my late husband, my children, my grandchildren and now my great-grandchildren yet neither of my daughters have managed to learn. 
I think its because perhaps it was a necessary skill years ago, although I remember in 1956 a lot of London school children both boys and girls learned to knit squares for the Hungarian refugees from the uprising I know my middle brother learned and was actually quite good at it. I think he was just cross that I could do something that he couldn't, so he was determined to learn  

But its very relaxing and I still enjoy clicking away  

happydenial

I’m the other way round Jackie - my Polish grandma taught me how to crochet when I was about 6 (I remember making chains upon chains upon chains 🤣) but I cannot knit at all! It’s like my left hand is confused by having to do something other than hold yarn! I also
like to sew, either embroidery or machine sewing, I make crochet blankets for any littlies on the way, and quilts as birthday/Christmas presents. I’m in my early 40’s and this is very unusual among my friends. 

London_1

Well done happydenial, you sound pretty sorted for crocheting and sewing. I think often its stuff you learn at a young age that you remember all of your life My late Mum insisted I learned to knit but for some reason wasn't fussed about anything else, even though she could crochet. Sewing I learned to handsew very small stitches and still do. My eldest DD I could never teach her to knit as she is extremely left handed and my youngest DD just wasn't interested .She cannot sew a button on bless her and although she had a daughter and four sons still cannot sew.The children always saved sewing jobs for me and last week her 21 year old gave me a pair of trouser to shorten slightly he said "No good asking Mum she hasn't a clue " I have done all the running repairs for all the family as I am heading to 80 I just hope my eyesight keeps going  

JackieO xx

annieb64

I still have to  do repairs for DD1 and family and sew on all of DGS's scout badges.

DD2 can sew. She wasn't interested when she was younger but taught herself. She also learnt to crochet at a "stitch and !!!!!!" group at work. Her first project was a throw -132 squares , each in a different  pattern.

SIRENS

My stepmother taught me how to knit a row when I was about 9, but that was all. I became interested when my son was born when I was 34, I used cloth nappies for him and wanted wool covers and trousers so thought I'd try to learn and through various books and YouTube I can now knit at 49 (or try) most things, jumpers, hats and scarves and blankets and toys. I do struggle with socks but have knit a couple of pairs this year to try and improve, can't crochet to save my life and a very wonky sewer, but I love to knit ❤️, but don't actually know any other knitters in 'the real world'.

YorksLass

My late DM taught me to hand sew and knit and one of her older sisters taught me machine sewing.  Auntie used to make all her own clothes but when her eyesight became a problem in later life, she gifted me her sewing machine, a sewing basket and all its contents.  They've been well used over the years.  I'm always knitting something or other but for the life of me I can't crochet - it just doesn't feel intuitive.  I can just about manage a chain!  I also like to embroider or cross stitch.

happydenial - Interesting you mention you were taught to crochet by a Polish grandmother.  My DiL is Polish and can crochet but not knit.

Jackie - yes, I can remember turning sheets too.  Frugal skills are never a waste of time and probably more so than ever as belts get tightened even further.

Primrose

annieb64 said:

I still have to  do repairs for DD1 and family and sew on all of DGS's scout badges.

DD2 can sew. She wasn't interested when she was younger but taught herself. She also learnt to crochet at a "stitch and !!!!!!" group at work. Her first project was a throw -132 squares , each in a different  pattern.

I smiled at this. It reminded me of my Girl Guide years many decades ago.  I had just passed my sewing badge and asked my mum to sew the badge on my uninform for me.  I was aghast when she refused.  "You,ve just learnt a new skill.  Use  it". It,s strange as a teenager suddenly finding yourself forced into new unknown territory and discovering in practice what independence is supposed to be about!

newlywed

I learnt to knit when young. Knitted my first jumper for myself when I was about 10 (slash neck and little shaping). Learnt crochet too. My gran was always knitting, crocheting or sewing toys for us. 

Didn’t crochet for about 30 years but then picked it up again a while back.

I find I can make patterns up more easily with crochet whereas with knitting I have to follow a pattern precisely.  Plus crochet was easier to do on the bus to work.