Knitting

LameWolf

Charity shops and car boot sales often have wool going for a song. The last cardigan I made for myself cost the princely sum of £1. That was what the wool cost, a few years back, at a car boot; I found it lurking in the stash, and decided to actually make something with it. The pocket linings were made from another shade of blue (the main cardi is navy blue) left over from another project, as I didn't think I'd have enough of the navy blue to do those, and the buttons came from my button box.


As Monna rightly says, you get to the point where you can't have tv on without picking up wool and needles..... (I do often turn to my cross stitch to make having the tv on bearable, too).

trailingspouse

Knitting will use up just enough of your brain to give it a break from thinking about your bereavement. I did counted cross-stitch for a while, and I swear it saved me from a nervous breakdown.
All the very best, time is a great healer, and your proactive attitude will help enormously.
I learnt to knit donkey's years ago, and I'm really chuffed that it's trendy at the moment. For once in my life I'm ahead of the curve!! I find knitting really relaxing.

madlyn

The kits I have seen are around £30 and that is for everything I would need. It is a basic stitch for a scarf or a cushion, I've found a pattern for a "cup cosy" again just a basic stitch.
May well give the charity shops a go for wool and needles and just knit a few squares.

joedenise

Check out your local library. My local one has a knit & natter group which meets weekly. If they don't run one they may well know of a group locally, or as others have said, a local knitting/sewing/craft shop my know.

Denise

Katiehound

Check out charity shops for knitting needles- several round here have needles but not always on show

I certainly wouldn't start with a scarf- takes a lot of wool and a lot of time to get to any great length.

Squares can be turned into all kinds of things including toys. You can also try fancy stitches out on squares.

With crotchet they suggest left handers look at the diagrams in mirror, however with knitting both hands are working.

Ask in your local craft/ wool/ needlework shop to see if they have classes, if no, they are likely to know where there are some.

Knitters and crafters love to help others, you just need to ask- maybe even your friends and neighbours?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I've never been in a charity shop that didn't have a vase full of knitting needles.

The Knit & Natter type things will put you in a group with not just people of your age, but very likely, quite a few older ladies (mostly), who will be able to help you - and intimidate you with incredibly beautiful knits. It's quite common for the groups to knit things that make a difference somehow - OH's Auntie knits beautiful, delicate bonnets and bootees for babies in all sizes from preemies and they are both sold in the hospital shop and new sets are given for use in NICU & in Maternity for stillbirths/late miscarriages (she lost her baby many, many years ago). Another friend of hers knits delicate blankets or wraps. Others knit toy mice for cat charities.

The 'Natter' aspect could be very good for you - and they'll be great at showing you how to recover from a dropped stitch or explaining what a particular set of instructions mean.

SIRENS

I second the Knitty Gritty book, my stepmother taught me the basics when I was about 9 but I didn't pick it up again until my son was born about 11 years ago. I had the above book which was very good, also YouTube, it helps to see stiches in action. Also Ravelry for free patterns and ideas. Pound shops sell yarn and needles now which are fine to start out on.
I have never been to a knitting group as my nearest is on a Saturday (I work Saturdays) but would love to, I don't know any other knitter in the real world, but would imagine it must be nice!

PipneyJane

madlyn wrote: »

I am thinking of taking up Knitting, my Mum showed me how to knit many years ago, but the thought of sitting still and having to concentrate put me off.
But Knitting seems to be a trendy thing to do now and having looked online at "celebrity" Knitters I have found a couple of beginners kits.
I know the initial outlay is not really money saving but I have to start somewhere.
I also want to get Myself sort of hobby and have lost my Mum last month I would like to do something to take my mind off the doom and gloom.
Any Knitters out there with any advice would be very well received.

Do you have a yarn shop near you? Or a larger branch of John Lewis? Many yarn shops run classes in the evenings/at weekends, including beginners classes, and will often have an associated knitting group too. If you only have John Lewis, chat to the ladies behind the counter - they may know of local knitting groups and may even teach you to knit, if it's quiet. Alternatively, they may invite you back to meet the "Rowan Lady" when she's next in the shop and she will teach you. (The yarn brand, Rowan, used to send staff into John Lewis for demos and promotions on a regular basis. I think it still happens.)

Additionally, your profile says that you're in the East Midlands, so I would suggest asking the members of the Midlands discussion forum on Ravelry for knitting groups in your local area. Ravelry is free to join.

Regarding projects, I have two pieces of advice. Firstly start with a hat, knitted flat then sewn up. That way, you'll learn all the basic skills you need to knit, it won't take forever and you'll have something you can wear at the end. If you make a mistake or it goes wonky, you can always rip it out and start again - it's not the end of the world. Don't start with a scarf - they take forever to knit and show up every error.

My second piece of advice is buy a smooth, fairly tightly spun wool/wool-blend for that project. It'll hold up better and be easier to knit with. Acrylic is not wool. Acrylic is basically plastic and will squeak on your needles, has no "give", doesn't feel nice in your hands; if you are going to invest the time to make something then you deserve better.

Knitting need not be an expensive hobby - I set aside £10 a month to feed my addiction to yarn. I've knitted jumpers for less than £20 in 75% wool-25% nylon 4-ply "sock" yarn (a.k.a. 4-ply).

HTH

- Pip.

CAFCGirl

I just wanted to add in, knitting doesn't always have to be needles.

My brain cant cope with needles (nor can my hands) so I 'loom knit' and I absolutely adore it.
I started out with scarves (on a straight loom), then hats (when I get round looms), leg warmers and boot toppers, and then I have since mastered making vest cardigans, poncho style long line tops, cushion covers (which are equally good as a starter project) and loom knitted pumpkins for my Autumn decorations

Charity shops are often good for yarn, as too are the shops previously mentioned - The Works sell it online too and a number of yarn websites often have sales

ancientofdays

I think Pipney Jane's advice is spot on. I usually suggest starting with something little because if you are just starting out, you may not knit fast and you are likely to get desperately bored making a scarf as a first project.

I started knitting when I was 7, 60 years ago. It keeps my hands busy while I read or watch tv, and I think it helps exercise my hands as I am getting more arthritic by the day! But the real health benefit is in my emotional health because making clothes and toys gives me a lot of pleasure.

Ravelry is a good source of inspiration.

While it is great go practise with cheap yarns, the joy of working with pure wool or silk is wonderful, once you have practised and feel confident that your money won't be wasted, they aren't cheap!

A really good online shop us Kemps Wools, they offer a huge range at discount prices.