What’s challenging about learning to knit?

Categorized | Knitting

What’s challenging about learning to knit?

Posted on 22 September 2009 by Tara

Last week you shared wonderful stories of learning to knit. (If you haven’t read them yet, you don’t want to miss it!)

I’ve taught all different ages and abilities to knit (from 8 yr old boys to their grandmas!) and it seems everyone has a different perspective on what was (or wasn’t) difficult about the learning process. Some learned from a book and couldn’t get the “scooping” part of the stitch (that would be me!). Some learned from a family member that insisted you were doing it “wrong”. Some know how to knit, but if they go too long between sessions, they completely forget what to do (hi Mom!)

What did you find challenging about learning to knit? Did it come easily? Or slowly?

Please share your challenges in the comments!

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hollsmit99

I'm trying to learn from a book, but can't get past casting on...now am turning to the internet for videos.

stacers

The way I learned how to knit was by taking a class at my LYS. It was a beginner class, so not only did the teacher help us, but we could also help each other. For me, the most difficult part about knitting is staying in pattern. I just get into a zone and knit away until I realize my mistake...thank goodness it's easy to undo!

blondechicken

Stacey, I know what you mean! I'm always zoning out, enjoying the knitting itself...probably why I rarely knit from a pattern (of course, zoning out while designing is not helpful either!)

Tara

Blonde Chicken Boutique
Local, Sustainable, Colorful Yarn

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Goddess Leonie

hey sweetie!

i still don't know how to knit...

what i find confusing is the actual process of trying to watch someone else knit. i think if someone showed me really slowly the pattern to get into, i might master the art ;)

blondechicken

Yep, it's super-hard to learn from just watching, without any instruction! Also, you may learn better with words than with just visuals. My best friend learned to knit with me just *talking* her through it while I drove (we're very verbal that way!)

Tara

Blonde Chicken Boutique
Local, Sustainable, Colorful Yarn

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Mary

the hard part of learning to knit was the learning to knit part. ;) Actually, gauge is (still) my downfall.

blondechicken

Ack! Gauge!

Tara

Blonde Chicken Boutique
Local, Sustainable, Colorful Yarn

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TravelingAnn

I've been crocheting since I was little, so I was accustomed to playing with yarn. My mother in law taught me to knit in 2001. The big hang up for me was casting on. I couldn't learn it from a book for some reason. After that I thought it was rather easy to make mistakes, as compared to crocheting. Mistakes in knitting seemed to escalate, but in crochet they don't tend to. Happily, I was able to learn to pick up dropped stitches from a book!

blondechicken

That's a good point about mistakes in knitting vs. crochet. Of course, I crochet so sloooowly, maybe it's better to knit full of mistakes :)

Tara

Blonde Chicken Boutique
Local, Sustainable, Colorful Yarn

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