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Congratulations! You have been to to Ship Full O' Pirates over 100 times! Just thought you'd like to know.
Be who you are
and say what you feel,
because those who mind
don’t matter and those
who matter don’t mind
-Dr. Seuss
Now, I know you are all my friends, and you all matter, so you won’t mind.
Here’s the deal. All I can think about today is the fact that I do not know how to knit. Seriously, while I was doing the 14 million things that I needed to get done today (so far) all I could think about was, “Do I bite the bullet and teach myself to knit, or do I just drop it and continue to enjoy crocheting.”
Kinda shallow, huh? Sorry, this is the part where you don’t mind.
So, instead of extolling the virtues of crochet, or bragging on all of the projects I’ve enjoyed making, I’m going to call on you for some help.
I want to know which craft you enjoy, crochet or knitting. Or the sneaky, secret answer, both. Have you tried to learn one or the other (or both) and failed? Have you failed and persevered and ended up with success? If I learn to knit, will it snow at my house this winter? Is it easier to think in crochet or knit as you read the patterns?
The source of the whole problem is that I look at knitting patterns. I always think they are cute and end up regretting the fact that I never took the time to learn. So, I feel like I’m left out of a fun, cool, crafty club by not being able to do both crafts.
So, that’s where you come in. Leave me a comment. I want your advice.
And if you are a knitter I want to know stuff like: Were you an adult when you learned? Did you have to watch someone else do it, or can this be mastered without a mentor? How long did it take you to learn? What kind of cool projects do you enjoy knitting? Can you come over and show me how to knit? Is it really hard to knit socks? Do you mind doing a load of laundry and the dishes while I sit and practice? You know, just the basics.
So, let’s hear it. Help me out. Tell me your opinion. 
And if you enjoy either craft, leave a link to your favorite site for projects and patterns.
No related posts.
Well I haven’t donated alot of crochet work myself. Up until a couple of months ago I was sewing bean bags for the nurses to use on premies as positioning aids. But we are no longer doing that right know. So I will probably be crocheting edges on blankets for now. I have also made knitted loom hats.
Well, I’m Suzanne’s daughter, the one who can knit, but doesn’t do socks. Not because I don’t like to, I just haven’t tackled that skill yet. I agree with Mum that knitted items look nicer than crocheted. Just our opinion! Anyway, I got those links from craftster.org which is a fantastic place for ALL kinds of crafts. You’ll be able to find links for learning to knit.
Mother,
No worries! I do not (read can’t) crochet or knit. My mother tried to teach me when I was little and, like so many other good things I was to stubborn to learn, it didn’t take.
I too have been thinking of learning to knit now that I appreciate the home arts. But quilting is taking up my time right now.
I say go for it. Learn a new skill and keep up with the crocheting. They are both good things to know how to do.
Y’all are making me feel much better about this. I had it in my head that I was the only devoted homemaker in the world who couldn’t knit. Why did I think that? I have no idea, but I had a picture of y’all in my mind, and y’all were knitting. Cool stuff. All the time! LOL!
I know the basics of both, but am expert in neither.
I have learned both and failed several times as I was learning but eventually got it.
I believe it’s easier to knit because my fingers get all cramped up and really hurt when I crochet. Mind you, my little fingers do a bit with knitting as well, but not half as bad as crocheting.
I’m bad at reading any pattern, and have to take it really really really slow. I’m really still a beginner.
If you regret that you never took the time to learn, learn. It’s really simple.
Yes, I was an adult when I learned. I was also a child, a pre-teen and a teenager. SO I suppose you COULD say that I actually learned as a child and was just REMINDED subsequently….but I disagree. I totally forgot between times and had to learn all over again. =D
I watched my mother – and one or two other people – knit. My mother showed me. However, when I was an adult I learned using a CD that I bought called “teach yourself to knit” or something. It had picture slide shows and videos to show you each step. It really helped.
Learning to knit takes a very short time. Learning fancy schmancy stuff might take a while. I don’t know, I’ve never got that far. I’ve never done any cool projects, unfortunately.
I’d love to learn how to knit socks! =) I hope other commenters have insight into that particular activity.
I would love to come over and do some laundry for you while you learn – I’ll bring over my children to do the dishes as I hate hate hate dishes. =D However, unfortunately I believe I live too far away. Sorry!!! =)
My mom taught me crochet, I haven’t done it for a while and I am not good at it :p I think I tried knitting once, but I got frustrated.
Wow, I love the frog XD And I am sure my kids wouldn’t mind the hat.
I am woefully inept in the crafty arts. I can neither crochet nor knit (nor sew, nor cross-stitch, nor make wreaths or flower arrangements, nor…you get the picture!) I volunteer to come to your house and do the laundry and dishes so you can practice. By the way, that is a totally rockin’ hat that my son would love!
Oh groooossssss.. that last project makes me want to gag. Seriously. Ew. Can you tell I had a difficult time in biology?
Hi Suzanne,
Thanks for all the links and the encouragement. You’re right, I should just throw myself into learning to knit, with all my heart. Then I’ll be able to conquer it.
Hi Michelle,
I am impressed that you are so involved in charitable crocheting. Good for you!
okay among all the crafts I enjoy doing, I do know how to crochet I learned the summer before my freshman year. I enjoy it. now i am a member of a charity group that donates things to local NICUs also we give diaper bags(filled with baby things) to local Ft. Sam, we also donate lapgans to injured solders recovering at the fisher houses. Any way. Some people crochet come knit. While I am in awe of some of our crocheters (the lady that started the group writes her own [patterns). I am very much in awe of some of our knitters. So it has been a desire of mine to learn to knitt. One of the knitters in my group told me to go to http://www.knittinghelp.com/ now I have tried to learn by book but with this site I am cathing on. It has videos for two different styles. Just figure out what works for you.
I’m sure you could have found these by yourself, but my daughter happened to have sent them to me so I pass them on to you. I think knitting is nicer looking than crocheted work, but I can crochet almost without looking and am still finding knitting a challenge. It’s probably because my brain is old and hardened. :^) However, I have two daughters who can knit very well, one of whom does a great job on sox! But not me. I can only knit and purl and when the pattern calls for anything more complicated, I lose it and go back to knitting and purling. I’ve done lots of dishcloths–all start out with some kind of pattern or other and end up knitted and purled! Well, I didn’t really answer your questions, but I imagine you would do just fine. Remember how it is with your pirates–the motivation to learn something makes a big difference. Do you read copperswife? Cheryl knits dishcloths–nice ones! And btw, I LOVE the frog. That is too funny! I enjoy reading your blog. Thanks for sharing your life.
http://home.earthlink.net/~oscarsdotter/id2.html
http://freepatterns.k1p1keepingyouinstitchesstudio.com/index.html
http://www.knitsbyrachel.com/page19.html
http://www.allfreecrafts.com/knitting/dishcloth.shtml