Do you know how to knit/crochet?

[luvmyeor]

I taught myself how to crochet when I was in college. I used the book "I taught myself how to crochet."

I recently took a knitting class at Joann's but I do not like knitting. I think it is much more time consuming than crocheting.

I live in SouthCentral PA and there are a few yarn shops in the area that offer classes.

 

[Jusacuz]

My mother taught me how to crochet when I was really young. She attempted to teach me to knit, but I never understood it. I think maybe because knitting wasn't really her thing either.
I ended up teaching myself to knit with a lot of help from the internet (knittinghelp.com). Unfortunately, I don't get to knit much these days because I have a very helpful kitty who would probably tear my hands off trying to get the yarn. I would love to learn to make more complicated things than scarves.

 

[Mickey1Fan]

Michael's have knitting and crocheting classes.

What about night school classes.

 

[gk90]

I was just going to mention Michaels, was surprised that nobody had mentioned it until now! Or something like CTdiznymom's senior center idea. Also there's a group in our church that does something called the "Prayer shawl ministry"--I'm not exactly sure what they do but I know that they get together and knit and crochet once a month, you may find a similar church group.

I learned to knit when I was 9 and our class had a project, knitting squares for blankets for charity. I didn't quite get it at first and couldn't figure out why my square wasn't "growing" until my aunt showed me that the yarn had to be pulled through the loops with the knitting needles! So I would definitely suggest a video if you don't find a class. I've come a long way since then, have knitted at least 3 sweaters, several scarves as well as dozens of blanket squares.

I learned to crochet from my mom when I was 10---this thread is bringing back lots of memories and making me think of finding my needles, yarn and hooks!

 

[Kirby]

My neighbor taught me how to crochet when I was in my early teens. I can remember her showing me how to crochet arount a broom stick. It made such a lovely afghan. She's passed away now but I have many memories of her. She taught me to sew also.

I've thought about learning to knit but I think I'll just stick with crochet.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

My mom taught me to crochet as a child and my sister in law taught me to knit as an adult. (I got a birthday present one year- yarn + knitting needles + an IOU for directions on how to make a dishcloth.)

If you belong to a church or other organization with older ladies in it- see if any of them would be willing to teach you. The ones at our church love to try to "convert" everyone to the knitting bug!

 

[Neesy228]

OP here...

So, let me ask all of you who have been so kind to respond....which one is EASIER to learn? It seems like people either prefer one or the other. I'm leaning toward crochet because I've read that it's faster and I have three little ones, so free time is a valuable commodity around here, but I welcome thoughts on which to learn first...

You guys are awesome! Thanks a bunch!

 

[goofyredraider]

My mom taught me how to crochet when I was young, but I forgot how now.

My daughter is teaching herself to knit using a hoop, and she's doing amazingly well! I am impressed.

 

[wowsmom]

I taught myself to crochet, using a book, about 20 years ago. I started with a basic rectangular baby blanket in double crochet. I've since crocheted probably more than 100 baby blankets, plus probably at least 50 full size afghans, and I don't know how many scarves, mittens, hats and even leg warmers!

I took a knitting class at a craft store about 10 years ago. I really liked it, picked it up pretty quickly and started to knit a scarf for my son, but then set it aside to crochet an afghan for my mom's friend. By the time I got back to the scarf, I'd forgotten how to knit. Oops!

I think crocheting is easier...but that might be because that's what I learned first? Either way, it can be very enjoyable and it's nice to make useful things.

 

[Jey12]

Oh! I'm a lefty too! I never even thought about that as an issue...ugh.

We do have Jo-Ann's. I'll check there...

If you're a typical lefty your brain is accustomed to figuring out right handed things, so you might be fine in a classroom. Thankfully most of the books have pictures showing the right and left handed methods. Make sure you buy a book with left handed pictures or watch the lefty videos on youtube if you go that route. If you've been watching righties that could be some of the issue with not understanding, because if the instructions are telling you work left and then flip you are going to work right and then flip. If you work left you'll just make one long strand that goes on forever. So many just don't understand that being a southpaw can be a challenge.

 

[Echo queen]

OP here...

So, let me ask all of you who have been so kind to respond....which one is EASIER to learn? It seems like people either prefer one or the other. I'm leaning toward crochet because I've read that it's faster and I have three little ones, so free time is a valuable commodity around here, but I welcome thoughts on which to learn first...

You guys are awesome! Thanks a bunch!

Crochet

 

[Sandy321]

OP here...

So, let me ask all of you who have been so kind to respond....which one is EASIER to learn? It seems like people either prefer one or the other. I'm leaning toward crochet because I've read that it's faster and I have three little ones, so free time is a valuable commodity around here, but I welcome thoughts on which to learn first...

You guys are awesome! Thanks a bunch!

When I was young my grandma taught me to crochet granny squares - then years and years later dd at 8 wanted to learn to knit - I could not figure it out - we watched youtube over and over - Thankfully my computer nerd dh watched it once, figured it out and showed us how to cast on!!

I then took a class at JoAnn's! (I wasnt impressed) For a few years all I did was knit scarves - and I was happy with that! Then our church called for knitters and crocheters to make "prayer shawls" (google, its so wonderful, has been so warming for me!)

Then (honestly, of all places - kindleboards.com, yep due to the kindle I found the most miraculous of all sites!) I found www.ravelry.com

OMG! I was able to go to the "knitting" convention - called Stitches (they have a west,midwest, south, east..) I found "PEOPLE"

Google - find out if your high school has adult education with knit classes (becauses they are smaller class sizes, and its cheaper here!) or google "LYS" (= Local Yarn Shop) the quintessential "mom and pop" business - they have "knit or crochet" "ins" they have classes - they have people that you can connect to!!

I went to Stitches learned about "mistakes and how to correct them" as well as "circular knitting" It was such an overload of classes - but the people... amazing - I found people to talk to!!

AT ravelry.com - I found help, and so much more - free patterns, aspirations... and help. Because of ravelry, I'm learning to crochet mittens (and pattern reading is above me, but there is help at ravelry!) I found the pattern for the slippers grandma made every Christmas - so I'm making them for my mom!

I actually learned how to crochet because of Project Linus http://www.projectlinus.org/chapter.php
This group belives everyone needs a "lovey" like Linus - our group makes holes in fleece, then crochets "edges"
http://projectlinuschicago.webs.com/makeafleeceblanket.ht

hope its not TMI

 

[Sandy321]

Knitters and crocheters -

please, after the holidays - please consider "Halos of Hope"

http://www.halosofhope.org/

I was so inspired listening to Pam, who had cancer, who stumbled on this passion - when she had cancer and lost her hair - and people knit and crocheted with love hats for her - she ended up in a "pilot Program" started a grass roots "give back" that has gone National

100% goes to the program -

patterns and where you can donate are on the home page under the "volunteer"

To hear for yourself all about this AMAZING person, and this AWESOME CHARITY

listen to this podcast! (for crocheters - but on Halos for Hope the have knit caps, the owner tells how she started, what and why caps help cancer patients - its so inspiring - so many cancer centers ask for specific hats, and she meets these needs - I've met her at our LYS - but had NO IDEA, until listening to the podcast!)

http://gettingloopy.com/
click on Halos of Hope (also available on itunes)
she inspired me to "youtube Hat" and I crocheted my first EVER cap! I hope after the holidays to do better - or after reading the halos for hope site - make some fleece hats! (I know dh wears fleece hats when he camps when its cold out - but for cancer patience that lose their hair - they also need caps to sleep in!)

 

[Jey12]

Knitters and crocheters -

please, after the holidays - please consider "Halos of Hope"

http://www.halosofhope.org/

Thank you for this amazing link! The patterns are fairly easy, and forget waiting until after the holidays, I'm going to start working on a few of these this week!

 

[Alesia]

OP here...

So, let me ask all of you who have been so kind to respond....which one is EASIER to learn? It seems like people either prefer one or the other. I'm leaning toward crochet because I've read that it's faster and I have three little ones, so free time is a valuable commodity around here, but I welcome thoughts on which to learn first...

You guys are awesome! Thanks a bunch!

As far as learning how to do it, I lean toward crochet, but only slightly. The main advantage of learning crochet over knitting is that with crochet, if you make a mistake, it's really easy to pull out the stitches just to the point you need to and fix them. You can do that with knitting, too, but it is much more complicated.

Another advantage of learning crochet over knitting is that crochet is faster. Much faster. I can crochet a 3' x3' baby blanket in about 20 hours. The same size blanket will take me at least 60 hours to knit.

Also, crochet is easier to put down whenever you need to. With knitting, it's better if you can wait until you reach the end of a row. That's a big advantage when you have kids to chase after.

 

[RumpleMom]

I like knitting better because I find the style of the patterns more to my liking.

I learned a few crocheting stitches to be able to do blankets because I like the look of the crocheted blankets more.

I suggest that you look at crochet and knit patterns and see what style appeals to you and then learn to do that first.

Frequently, a knitted pattern calls for a crocheted edge, so it is good to know how to do both.