Knitting: Not Just Two Needles and a Ball of Yarn

Knitting: Not Just Two Needles and a Ball of Yarn

Ha Tien Nguyen
Knitting for DummiesPam Allen, Shannon Okey, Tracy L. Barr, and Marly Bird

Knitting has always been regarded as a grandma's hobby. However, many would disagree. Simply ask Cara Delevingne, Lorde, Kate Middleton, and Amanda Seyfried. Knitting is more than just two needles and a ball of yarn. The past-time is calm, relaxing, and centering. In this fast-moving world in which we live, we often forget to take the time to do something that requires us to slow down and refresh ourselves. The repetitive rhythmic movements has shown to help  manage stress, pain and depression. Not to mention, there's a certain thrill and sense of accomplishment that comes with holding up something you've just made with your own two hands. In Knitting for Dummies, the book educates and nurtures knitters in their process of crafting a product worthy of pride and satisfaction.

In chapter 4 of Kitting for Dummies, the book enlightens the reader with a step-by-step instruction of knitting techniques. The very first step of any knitting project is, "creating the first row of stitches... call casting on" (Allen, Shannon Okey, Barr, Bird 58). The casting on process is very important since these create the very first stitches for which every other stitches will be knitted upon. From there, "knitted and purled stitches are made by using a continuous strand of yarn and two needles to pull new loops through old loops" (Allen, Shannon Okey, Barr, Bird 64). Knit and purl stitches are two stitches upon which all other knitting techniques are based since they are undeniably the most simple and important stitches of any other stitches. Through the whole of the text, the authors provide encouraging advice such as, "Learning to knit can be a little stressful. Your fingers have to work in ways they're not accustomed to... When you feel yourself getting tense or frustrated, set your knitting aside and do something else for a while, or head to Chapter 21 for suggested exercises to unkink yourself" (Allen, Shannon Okey, Barr, Bird 57). In Knitting for Dummies, the authors cover every single detail of knitting and provide a very comprehensive manual for learning to knit.

There I was, a ball of yarn in one hand, two knitting needles in the other, and perhaps the most enormous headache of my life. Beginning off, I was quite confused. The hardest part of learning how to knit was learning it off a book. Being a visual learner myself, I had trouble interpreting the given directions into actions. However, by following many of the authors' advice and carefully examining the visual aid, I managed to master the techniques. Through it all, I found the encouragement in book to be very helpful to a struggling novice like me. I personally had a great time learning this new skill and found that my hard work paid off.

What was your predisposed opinion of knitting and what is your opinion of knitting now? Would you like to learn to knit? Why? What would you make if you knew how to knit?

Works Cited

Allen, Pam. Knitting for Dummies. John Wiley, 2014.

Getting Started: Knitting on Circle Looms

Knitting on Circle Looms!

Hello everyone and welcome to my blog! My name is Sabica Nasar and here you will follow me through my journey of mastering the art of knitting on circle looms! 

I have always wanted to learn to knit because I love the comfort of fluffy scarfs and blankets, especially in the winter time, so I decided to take up knitting as my new hobby. 

Learn to Knit on Circle Looms by Denise Layman, teaches the benefits of knitting and of course, how to knit on circle looms! This was my first time knitting and I realized the patience and work it takes to master the art of this hobby. I decided to knit a comfy scarf which goes perfectly with the cold weather we are currently experiencing!

Getting Started

First, I had to get all of the supplies from Jo Ann Fabrics. They have enormous amounts of yarn, I didn't know where to start! But I finally decided on simple grey colored yarn.

You will also need a circle loom. Circle loom knitting is very different from normal needle knitting since it involves circle looms and no needles. Although, they create the same end results if you are creating something simple such as a scarf. Circle looms come in many different sizes and are perfect for beginners like me!

Layman emphasizes that knitting on looms is a fun and easy hobby to master and allows one to relax and alleviate the stresses of the day (Layman 15). This shows the importance and benefits loom knitting produces. In addition to being a practical and interesting hobby, knitting showed me a community I never knew existed!

The materials you will need to begin knitting on circle looms are:

• A circle loom (any size)
• Yarn
• Knitting loom hook

Circle Looms

After 30 minutes of knitting

After gathering all of your materials, the fun part begins! 

First, you have to make a basic knit on the loom. Then repeat that for the amount of pegs you have decided to start with. (I decided to go with 17 pegs). Next, you keep repeating this step until the last peg. Then go the opposite way, making a "purl stitch" for every other peg. This creates a fun and interesting texture. 

Almost finished!

Knitting involves lots and lots of repetition, "Work your piece repeatedly to get the desired length of your scarf" (Layman 7), but once you get the hang of it, you can knit practically anywhere! I have been knitting while watching TV, in the car and pretty much anywhere I have free time. I have also realized that you need to have patience and precision while knitting because if you mess up on one peg, it ruins the rest of you product!

Although knitting a scarf may seem like an insignificant achievement, once you finish your creation you can feel proud knowing that it was you who created a thing that will be used multiple times!

Now that you know a little bit about me and my new favorite hobby, would you take up knitting as a hobby and if you do or already have, then how do you think knitting will improve or maybe worsen your patience?

Citation: Layman, Denise. Learn to Knit on Circle Looms: 10 Easy Projects! Berne, IN: DRG Pub., 2006. Print.

You Can Knit: SWATCH ME KNIT!

I’ve been introduced to knitting at a fairly young age. My aunt taught me how to knit when I was about 6 or 7 years old. She only taught me the really basic things, like how to cast-on and the knit stitch, but she didn’t teach me how to bind off so all of my scarves were unfinished. I like knitting because I like to learn how to do new things, or re-learn to do things and also because it’s relaxing. It gives me a sense of accomplishment especially after making a scarf. In the book You Can Knit! written by Stephanie White, I finally learned how to bind off, and other really cool knitting techniques.

 

Gauge Swatch: Super Bulky Garter Stitch

The garter stitch is the “Simplest of all stitch patterns” (White 12). 

Materials: 
-         Super Bulky Yarn

-         Size US 10 needles, or size needed to obtain gauge

-         Measuring tape

-         Scissors

-         Yarn needle 

Gauge:

11 stitches x 26 rows= 4” 

STEP 1:

The first step to making this swatch, and any other knitting project, is to cast-on. This cast on method is called the long-tail method, but it doesn’t matter what method you use. Repeat this cast-on method until you have 11 stitches, but in my case, I only made 8 stitches. 

To start casting-on, you start with a single slip knot.

I made 8 stitches for my swatch.

STEP 2:

Now for the actual knitting! Hold the needle with the stitches in your left hand and an empty needle in your right. Take the empty needle and slip it through the loop of the first stitch, making sure the empty needle is behind the left one. “The two knitting needles will form and X” (White 15).

Using just your left hand to hole both of the knitting needles, take your right hand and grab the ball side of the yarn (the string of yarn that is directly connected to the ball of yarn) and wrap it around the empty needle from behind (wrap it counterclockwise).

Now that the yarn is wrapped around the empty needle, slip it out of the loop. Make sure the yarn wrapped around the empty needle still on wrapped around it after you take it out of the first loop. So now you should have a single stitch on the right needle and 10 on the left needle, but in my case I had 7. 

You can see the two knitting needles form an X.

STEP 3:

Repeat step 2 until there are no more loops on the left needle, and they’re all on your right one. Take the right needle and place it into your left hand, and put the empty needle into your right. Now it should be how we started, all of the stitches on your left and the empty needle on your right, the needle with the stitches should always be in your left hand (White 15).  Now you’re ready to start the next row.

As you continue to creating each row, your swatch gets longer.

STEP 4:

Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the length of the swatch is 4”, but my swatch is only 2.5”.

STEP 5:

To bind off, start a new row, but only knit 2 stitches. With the left needle, slip it through the first loop on the right needle. Then take that loop, go over the second one, and off of the right needle. Now there should be 1 stitch on the right needle and 9 on the left (or 1 and 6). Next, knit another stitch so that there are 2 stitches on the right needle again. And repeat slipping the left needle through the first loop and pulling it out until there are no more stitches on the left needle and 1 on the right needle. 

Cut a short tail on the yarn that is connected to the right needle. Using the right needle pull it straight up, this pulls the yarn through the stitch.

The swatch, before I pulled the yarn through the stitch.

Now you should have 2 tails on either side of your swatch. To tuck those in, use a yarn needle and thread the ends through the stitches of the scarf. 

Cut the excess yarn off the ends, and you’re done!
 

My finished swatch! (those are my knitting needles not chopsticks)

What activities do you do to get a sense of accomplishment?

White, Stephanie. You Can Knit!: Knit and Purl Your Way through 12 Fun and Easy Projects. Cincinnati, OH: Fons & Porter, 2015. Print.