11/20/09

knitting? you can do it, too. (and a winner!)


Hello again! It's Jen from HeyJenRenee, wishing you a happy Friday. I was thrilled to see all of your comments on my guest post from Monday – thanks so much for all of your kind words!

Since there were several people who said "I want to learn how to knit!", I thought I'd throw out a few easy ways that you can get started. (Because, trust me – if I learned how, you can too.)

1. Visit your local yarn shop. I can almost promise that they offer beginner classes that can get you off to a solid start. Often, if you purchase yarn at a locally-owned shop, they'll offer free assistance should you run into trouble with your knitting.

2. See if your city has a knitting group. Meetup.com is a great resource to find local groups of women (and men too!) who schedule small gatherings at coffee shops and local hot spots to knit. If you're lucky enough to find a group like this, you'll surely make some great new friends and meet lots of knitters who will be more than willing to help you out if you get stuck with a new stitch or need a little help getting through your pattern. (They'll also hear you out should you need to vent about your day.)

3. Join Ravelry. This should be a requirement for everyone who knits or crochets. Ravelry offers thousands of free patterns and an online community where you can find anything and everything you could ever imagine to keep you inspired. It's also the perfect place to keep track of all the fun things you knit. Take a photo of your finished projects – especially of the things you end up giving away. It's all part of your knitting history.

4. YouTube. Rachel would agree – you can find awesome video tutorials for almost any knitting/crochet technique or stitch on YouTube. And you can replay them again and again until you get it, in the comfort of your own home.

5. Hit up that friend or family member. Do you know someone who is really great at knitting or crochet? Call them up and ask them if they'd be willing to give you a beginners' lesson. Meet them on a cold winter day and maybe offer to buy them a cup of coffee in exchange for their wisdom.

It may or may not be a bit chilly where you live, but around here it's starting to get downright cold. I'm obsessed with chunky knits, and I know I'm not the only one because they're everywhere. I'm addicted to knitting enormously long chunky scarves. (I'm not even going to tell you how many skeins go into one of these!) Here are a few other knits that have caught my eye...

Deena and Ozzy blanket scarf.

Flocks Urchin Pouf. (I am obsessed with these!)

Super-easy leg warmers, pattern from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

Adorable nautical-themed crocheted ornaments.

This fantastically cushy colossal cables throw from Anthro? Yes please.

If you knit, you can totally make something similar for yourself using chunky yarn. Try this free pattern – Sutter's Mill Throw – by Lion Brand Yarn, photo above.

And now, for the winner of the chunky red cowl giveaway ... (courtesy of random.org)


EMILY!


You are the winner! Email me your shipping address (jgeigley[!at]gmail.com) and I'll send the red cowl your way. Thanks so much to everyone who entered. Stop by and visit me at HeyJenRenee any time. And a huge thank you to Rachel for this fun chance to be a guest blogger. I had such a blast!

16 comments:

HELLO TIGER! said...

I love Flocks Urchin Poufs! And the ornaments from Anthropologie.

Barbara said...

Is the cowl knitted or crocheted? I can't knit!!

island jen said...

Great post Jen...and everything you mentioned is totally true! I have met some amazing people via knitting/meetup..and yes RAVELRY is a must!!

Domestica said...

Jen,

Love your finds. As soon as I get out of Granny hell (heaven), I'm gonna learn to knit. That's it!

RachelDenbow said...

I'm coveting those poufs.

Unknown said...

Wow those Urchin Poufs look so inviting. I'd love to just jump on one of them!

My boyfriend is learning to knit and he's getting really good at it! You should check out my blog, I posted pictures of a winter hat he knitted me. :)

Bri Bri said...

Thanks for the links! I crochet, so those ornaments are PERFECT! I'm running low on cash for presents this year. Thank you so much!

Emily said...

oh my! Thank you so much!!! This really was the cherry on top of my not so hot day! & thank you to the always lovely Rachel for introducing so many great guest bloggers!!!
~Emily

BuenoBueno said...

just wanted to say that Rachel - you are awesome!

Eryn Marie said...

oh man what is the stitch pattern on that chunky green scarf?? i'm in love with it!!! it almost looks like a k2p1 rib, but i'm guessing there's a little more to it. lace pattern perhaps?

Francesca Forzoni said...

I LOVE the leg warmers! they look incredible!

check out my blog

http://francescaforzoni.blogspot.com/

xx

Olivia Carter said...

I love those leg warmers. I think even I, with my limited skills, might be able to figure those out. Thanks for the link!

Rhoda said...

Thanks for the links to the free resources. I think I really need to pick up knitting again. I used to do it, but never knew how to do the patterns and stuff. Thanks for the inspiration!

alittlebitofscrap said...

Great tips. I enjoy knitting. It is very much a part of my life and necessary to my sanity :)

smauge said...

I tried to knit a scarf a couple of winters ago. I must have been overly worried about dropping stitches because I found myself half way through having 20 stiches on my needle instead of the ten that I started with 8]

MyShenanigans said...

Thanks for posting these helpful links!