I think everyone knows I’m a confirmed crocheter. I tried to learn to knit in high school when my AP art teacher had some down time. She gave me some needles, taught me how to cast on and I think taught me the knit stitch.
Then I forgot it all.
I tried again a few years ago and realized I had forgotten to cast on. It went downhill from there.
Last year I found a book at the local thrift store. It looked promising. But I had a lot of crocheting to do.
Now, for the first time in I can’t remember how long, I am not in the middle of a crocheting project and have none looming on the horizon. I decided to give it a go.
I started at the very beginning and relearned how to cast on. Then I remembered/relearned how to do the knit stitch. After a while it got a little faster. Then I tried purling. Not so good. I went back to knit. This morning I tried purling again and it was a little better. Then I tried adding a pattern.
Thinking of this wretched yarn as practice (I started with some nicer, but decided to humbly submit to a bright, scratchy acrylic for the purposes of figuring out what I was doing…), I went through the book, learning some techniques I figured I’d better get down. Like using more than one color.
Hey! I can do this!
I’m going to pick a simple pattern and actually make something next. I hate just practicing with no purpose for the article. I also don’t like scratchy yarn.
While I had my needle case out I was inspired to get a #6 steel hook and work a little place mat in thread for the doll house. Thanks, Liiolii, for the inspiration – although your doilies are much more impressive and beautiful!)
Praying With My Feet 
very neat!!
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Wonderful! Now if I could just learn to crochet. My daughter has just picked it up again too. I think http://www.knittinghelp.com/ has been helpful, I remember my MIL and I referring to it when using a brioche stitch for matching sweaters for two of our boys. Also, if your not on there yet, Ravelry's site has lots of patterns that you can search and specifically look for a color or yarn that your using or just a generic category to look into (remember to also click free, though usually the fees are low). Have fun!
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I joined Ravelry a few weeks ago – are you on there too? That's a good idea about finding a REALLY SIMPLE pattern though.
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Yay!! I began knitting almost 10 years ago. (I'm still only an amateur I think, though I love to knit teddy bears.) I remember it being a bit complicated to learn because I had been a crocheter from the time I was six years old when my grandma taught me. The muscle memory of crocheting seemed to “work against” learning to knit… but it just required some serious perseverance and all of a sudden it “worked”. 🙂 I can't wait to see pictures of all the beautiful things you'll make!
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I'm impressed. I've learned to knit about five times. The last time, I started a nice scarf. Three years later, I haven't finished yet! Every time I go on vacation, I take it with me, and I find I have to learn again. Sigh.
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Nonna, I found to my amusement that I automatically knitted in the “continental” style rather than the “American” style because I'm so used to holding the yarn with my left hand from crocheting. I promise I have no power to change this either, so I'm glad it is an accepted “style”. (:
Maria, I hope you're not impressed with that little swatch! It took forever! Magda is on Ravelry too and has some baby pants she started working on when her oldest was a baby. I bet she'll be able to sympathize with you. (:
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I don't even know the difference between knitting and crocheting 🙂
Best wishes!
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Knitting is too difficult for me… I suppose. Maybe I should try again. I knitted mittens at school when I was about 11 years and they looked really awful. 😀
Doily – thank you for learning me a new word. I used a “table cloth” altought I guessed it's incorrect. 🙂
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