Hobbies and Crafts

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

timzagain — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:33:54 GMT

I never took to either knitting or crochet. I will sew (or attempt to sew) just about anything but knitting and crochet are not for me.

Maybe if I lived in a cold climate, I might have made the effort to learn to knit but it's a pretty useless craft here in tropical Paradise! Of course my DD16 thinks that it would be really cool if Mom crocheted a swimsuit for her, but that isn't going to happen!

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

MarthaMFI — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:36:44 GMT

I crochet but more fun. Have tried to learn to knit. I have made baby quilts as gifts, some hats and scarves for the kids and me. in the past doilies and filet crochet items. making wash/dish cloths now is just a quick and easy thing to do for others. I have lots of cotton yarn to use up from making baby quilts in the past. the baby boom with friends is over.

The high school near me always has sewing,quilting, cooking, crochet and knit classes for reasonable prices. plus if you spend $100 or more a year on classes it is a tax deduction here.

knitting shops, micheals often have classes. If you ask around you will be amazed how many people knit. Lionbrand website is a good place to get an a idea of stitches. right and left handed

I am very left handed so my mom taught me.

like everything it takes practice!

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

Joyous — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:30:10 GMT

Thanks! Once things start going in January again (I'm in a very rural area until January) I'll start trying these ideas. I really appreciate the support, guys! I would really like to be able to knit - right now I've been able to teach myself to cast on and to knit, but I can't purl and I make many mistakes. I think they're dropped stitches, but I'm not certain. It'd be wonderful to have a living person to be able to observe.

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

Edey — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:25:09 GMT

Joyous:
I would really, really rather not pay, though, and I think posting a flyer saying, "I'm looking for free lessons!"

Offer to barter the lessons; is there something you can do for the person in exchange for the lessons? Cook a meal, mend some clothes, clean their apartment/house, walk their dog, take them to the dr., organize something for them. I'm sure you have a skill that could be useful to someone in exchange. Edey

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

karenteacher — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:53:53 GMT

Joyous:
Karen, that sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately, we don't have any yarn stores, and our "hobby" store only has home decor classes and cake-decorating classes. This is why I've gone looking for a person. Maybe I can post a flyer saying I'm looking for a lesson? I would really, really rather not pay, though, and I think posting a flyer saying, "I'm looking for free lessons!" is going to be interpreted as tacky. What do you think?

In that case, Joyous, I'd check around the schools. Some of the schools around here have a community school program that teaches all sorts of things for a minimal price - I used to teach cross-stitching at one - or see if you can post signs at some of them; there's got to be a parent out there somewhere who knows how to knit or crochet who would be willing to teach you for childcare, or possibly even just to have adult conversation.

Also, I signed up for an e-zine about knitting groups through a link I found on Stitch-n-*** (http://stitchnbitch.org/) - you might check there and see if you can find any groups in your area.

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

Joyous — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:44:10 GMT

Karen, that sounds like a good idea. Unfortunately, we don't have any yarn stores, and our "hobby" store only has home decor classes and cake-decorating classes. This is why I've gone looking for a person. Maybe I can post a flyer saying I'm looking for a lesson? I would really, really rather not pay, though, and I think posting a flyer saying, "I'm looking for free lessons!" is going to be interpreted as tacky. What do you think?

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

karenteacher — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:37:54 GMT

You might also check around hobby and yarnn stores; I signed up for a knitting e-group and one of the posters owns a yarn store and offers free lessons to anyone who walks in, even if you bring your own yarn, and craft stores often run free or low-cost seminars in how to knit and crochet.

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

Joyous — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 15:34:41 GMT

Thanks for the idea, Edey!

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

Edey — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:27:10 GMT

In addition to a nursing home, try a senior citizen's center and maybe post a bulletin there asking for lessons. A Seniors only apartment building might have a manager that you could contact and could direct you to someone. Edey

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

cmouse01 — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:34:25 GMT

I crochet and am hoping to teach myself how to knit after the first of the year. A lot of our gifts this year are purchased (kids that I'm not sure would appreciate handmade gifts), but I did make a few for Christmas this year - hat, scarf, "plaid" afghan (yep, it's crocheted), something for mom I can't mention here . I'm also making some towel toppers and scrubbies for friends. Last year I think I only had mittens for my sister.

Also in the new year, I'm hoping to finish a caridgan sweater I started earlier this year for myself. I've made a few afghans - for a friend, baby afghans for newborns, a personalized afghan for an adopted child, etc. I even made a hobo bag (purse) for a friend earlier this year who broke her leg - took me just 3 days to completely make it!

I have to agree that crocheting is relaxing. Unless you're under a deadline . I'm a fairly new crocheter, but it always seems like there's something new to learn (which I love) ... new stitches, new techniques (like filet, tunisian), different items to make (sweaters, afghans, toys/amigurumi). Of all the crafts I've learned, I think crocheting is my favorite - plus, I can do it anywhere!

Carmen

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

Joyous — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:34:55 GMT

Hi April! To be on the safe side, you might check with your boss and make sure he or she doesn't mind you crocheting on the clock. In my experience, folks see me crocheting and think of me as being "idle!" The notion is that "oh, she is SO BORED and SO LAZY that she hasn't anything better to do, so she's crocheting." Actually, they usually tell me that I'm knitting, so we all know how knowledgable they are! It's odd that surfing the YouTube can be seen as more productive than creating fabric out of string, but them's our times.

I don't know if you're a scarfy person, but if you want a fast-and-fabulous pattern, I recommend the One-Skein Scarf from Debbie Stoller's SnB:HH crochet book, and if you want something a little more thoughty and unusual, the Boteh Scarf by Kathy Merrick as seen in Interweave Crochet's Spring 2007 issue. http://interweavecrochet.com/issue/2007/toc-spring07.asp

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

missapril_piano — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:39:35 GMT

coolness! You just gave me a great idea cindy! I need to bring my crochet to work so I won't be so bored. Its always really slow before the 25th of December. People aren't at home--they are out shopping. So we generally only get *real* issues. After the 25th though..everyone's gotten new computers (a lot of times their first computers) & new service, so it gets super busy.

So, while I have a lil bit next work week (today is my Friday), but now I'm really looking forward to next weed so that I can crochet a bit.

Now.....what will I make? lol

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

gayla50 — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:15:05 GMT

call the director most would welcome someone. to come.

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

Pat — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:49:19 GMT

Joyous:
I wonder if I could get lessons from someone in a nursing home a few evenings? How would I go about asking that?

It's a possibility. Why not just call them and ask if there is anyone there who is a knitter? You could go and visit her and then ask her if she would teach you.

Re: Do you knit or crochet? How does it benefit you and your family?

Joyous — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:39:17 GMT

I'm looking for ideas on how to get a few knitting lessons from a flesh-and-blood person. I asked for some lessons on Freecycle, and found a lady willing to teach me for a few sessions, but our schedules never meshed. There is no one in my church or workplace who is willing to teach me. There is a knitting group which meets in the town I work in for Job A, but on the nights they meet, I have to be in a different town for Job C. Any other ideas? I wonder if I could get lessons from someone in a nursing home a few evenings? How would I go about asking that?