I thought I was the only one who hardly ever finished up her projects. I just ditched a scarf that I wanted to make because it was sooo ugly! I had increases and decreased so many times that it hardly looked like a scarf to me anymore. Then I decided to start on something else but the yarn has been getting tangled so much. I'm using this light blue soft acrylic mixed yarn that is really soft to the touch with some size 5 bamboo needles. Boy are they little! I might not use this yarn anymore because it's getting on my nerves!

I have several projects started and put them down have not gotten back into them.  I will not tell you how long they have been sitting there........  Maybe someday I will finish them.

glenda

hey yall my grandmother is going to teach me to know, but does anyone have any REALLY good how to books?  I make soap ortherwise :-)

I've been knitting for 8 years and have two projects- a southwestern motif vest for my daughter(she's 26) in jewel tones and a sweater/ jacket for myself done in black with great borders done in gold, brick and olive. Both are on hold right now because it's too darn hot to have wool on my lap! I've also just finished up a baby blanket done in random sized stripes that I'm lining with a cute Sesame Street flannel fabric. I love lining knit blankets, they are cozy beyond belief. Paige- I taught myself using a book called Knitting in Plain English by Righetti. There are none in the system right now, but they do come up occasionally, so put it on your WL and you could get lucky!

I think that the website knittinghelp.com was really helpful to learn,  actually easier and better than a book because they use video that shows you how to do it step by step while talking you through it. Ohterwise, go to the library and look at alot of books because they all show you how but at  different levels of difficulty. I would recommend using a children's book because they have very simple instructions.

As for how-to books, I like Sally Melville's book - The Knit Stitch, but for great diagrams, Vogue Kitting has a little book of knitting basics.  I forget the exact title, but it's a small, spiral bound book that fits great in a bag.  It's the one I refer to over and over - especially for casting on because I'm a dummy and forget how because there's too much time between projects for me.  ;-P  I'm much better with diagrams versus videos.

Thanks for all the suggestions, My grandmother taught me to knit yesterday afternoon, and I'm getting the hang of it.  She said it makes her sick to see me just pick the needles up and go, but its not me, its her teaching. 

The biggest issue I had learning from someone is that everyone I know is a right-handed knitter and I'm a lefty.  Hence, books and diagrams came in handy for me. 

Same here Marci, that's why I ended up teaching myself, too- although I taught my daughter and she's a righty....hhmm

I think there's a different way you can knit, I'm not sure if it's called The Continental way or the English way but if you go to knittinghelp.com they teach you both ways. The reason why I know is because my sister is a lefty and she gave up learning how because of it. I hope you go there and learn.

Check out Debbie Macomber's new website as she now has knitting patterns on her page.  This time it is for a knitted tote!  Also some good recipes!

I just found a great book at my local ubs called Chic Knits for Stylish Babies: 65 Charming Patters for the First Year . It has many very cute outfits and most of them have a level of advanced beginner to intermediate. Just thought I'd post a link in case anyone wanted to take a look at it and maybe put it on your WL!

Oops I just went back to Debbie Macomber page and looked at that pattern again and it is a CROCHETED tote bag instead of knitted!  SORRY!

I started knitting in February, and now I'm working on my first real project, a jacket that I found in a magazine.  I'm making it for me because I figure that no one else would want to wear my first attempt, but later on I'd like to make something for my niece, or maybe some socks.  I'm not brave enough to try more than two needles yet.  lol

Cool, you're very brave to try a jacket. You go girl! I just started knitting in May and I don't think I'll be making any jackets or sweaters for a long time, I think I'm a chicken LOL. I'm sticking to scarfs, hats and purses mainly. All the easy things. Please keep us updated.

Im a knitter, albeit a beginner. I just learned how to use circular needles. I was soo happy and attempted my first skull cap... Came out real good too! no project right now though...tomuch reading going on..LOL

Hi! I'm new to the swap, I just mailed out my first book!  I'm a serious knitter, i did try crochet but mason jar toppers is all I can do with that.  Right now I am working on: a pair of fingerless gloves, a bag made from strips of plastic shopping bags (yellow and blue bags only. My daughter is a serious Bobby Labonte fan and she wants it in his colors), a cream bag that will get felted w/ matching felted cell phone case.  Yes I have serious knitting attention disorder, I can never work on just one thing at a time,but bounce between projects.  i do finish at least one before starting another 2 though LOL!

Maria

I thought I was the only one with that problem...lol. I think I've cast on like 3 different projects and want to cast on a few more. I just bought more yarn yesterday so I'm happy. i'm working on a scarf for me, a scarf  for my boyfriend and a scarf for my dad's fiance. Then I'm knitting a purse and starting over on my sister's scarf and I have 2 baby blankets to make. One before November and the other before December...whoooo. So much yarn and not enough time.

Hi Everyone,

  I started knitting about 6 months ago, the deal was if I had both my hands busy, it would be easier to quit smoking!  Anyway, I have made an ansomble of hats, scarves and mittens for my daugther and her friends.  Working on a patch blanket right now for my husband.  Soon to start a prayer shawl for my daughter, as she is due to have her first baby on January 25, 2008.  I am hoping it will remind her of God's loving arms around them both on those cold winter nights while rocking the baby to sleep.  I have looked for more pattern books here on this site, but not sure if I am searching properly.  I sure do not find much!  Anyway, that's my story and I am sticking to it.  HEE HEE! 

I am really looking for some serious instructions on different patterns, the prayer shawl that I am making my daughter, is quite intense, calling for double needles and stuff.  I only started 6 months ago, so need a little explaining on some of the patterns. 

Any advise is welcomed!

Terri Lynn

I've got waaaay too many projects going on at once right now:

I just cast on the second sleeve on my Sesame Sweater.  (pattern is at magknits.com)

I've been working on an afghan for our sofa for months - it's 48 squares stitched together.  I won't be able to stand doing the border until it's cool enough here to put it on my lap - probably November - so I'm in no rush.

I'm ignoring a sweater I started last spring.

I bought two balls of trekking off ebay, and now I'm dying to start socks, but will be strong until something else is actually finished.

(This is ignoring the sweater I did last winter that is too small/now unattractive that needs to be frogged.)

Lesley

Wow! for the girl making a jacket for her first project!!!!!  You go girl!  I am doing fingerless gloves, an alpaca scarf for hubby and a scarf for my grandaughter.  I just mail off 2 scarfs as gifts.  My biggest project was a big blanket for a wedding gift.  My second project was a short cape with a collar.

I have a friend who will probably get married next year and I want to make a couch throw but I don't have any money now.  Bummer!  What can I make that won't be as expensive?

I've been knitting for several years now. Since I'm in graduate school (with family and FT job), I don't knit a lot anymore.  But there are are bunch of babies arriving this year, so I've made two baby hats this summer.  They turned out cute, if I do say so myself!

Terri, I don't find knitting books too frequently. I think people tend to hang on to them. I really like the Stitch N B*tch book for instruction.  Also, there is a book called The Knitter's Companion that is a good reference.  At least the patterns are plentiful on the internet.  I've also found that my library has a good number of knitting books - I liked to try the book out that way before buying.