Category: Crafts and Hobbies
I like knitting and wonder if anyone on here knits and would like to share patterns and instructions, or just talk about knitting.
I don't know how to knit, but I'd really love to learn. I heard that even though you use two needles, it's pretty easy. Is this true? I don't know anyone nearby who knits, so I don't know how I'd learn, but it's something that I'm very interested in.
Yes, two needles. And yes, started working on that write up, but haven't gotten it complete yet.
Hellow, I also enjoy knitting. I'm making some scarves for the team enterprize group at college to sell in March. I started learning to knit about 2 and a half years ago.
I'm also interested in learning to knit. My mom tried teaching me last year, but we're both impatient and it didn't go so well lol. If anyone who knits has any advice or an easy way to explain it to me, go right ahead lol.
Lol! My mum knitts, but had no idea how to teach me. Lol! I'd like to try a hand at it though.
If anyone lives in the UK, you can borrow knitting patterns and books and things from NLB (National Library For The Blind).
ok, so yesterday I decided to try my hand at knitting again. I bought a set of size 8 knitting needles, and a ball of yarn. I went to a web site for instructions on casting on, and I can't even make a slip knot. That's so frustrating... lol. Does anyone on here know of a simple way to explain how to make a slip knot to me. Can anyone explain the process of casting on?
I wouldn't mind learning either, meant to be very relaxing! I tried to learn when I was in the Brownies but they found it hard to teach me and my efforts were pretty shocking. I know how to do a basic stich, but how on earthe do you cast on or off! Let alone do any of that fancy shit!
I wonder if there are any classes for blind knitters. Also, are there any good books in braille or on tape that teach blindies how to knit???
i've been wondering the same thing. someone told my my hand stitching is fine, but that was sewing a project for my Family and Comsumer Education class back in middle school. I remember how to thread a needle, but actual knitting, forget it. lol
I know that the NLS has several books about knitting, but I'm not sure how well written they are, and if they'd be good enough at explaining how to knit. Some of the books are for beginners, so I think I'm going to order a couple to see how they are.
I've started making a blanket and made some hats for a charity. They're small baby's ones, but it's helping someone, because the charity sends them out to people or to the hospitals that needs them.
I don't no of anyone that teach's only blind people to knit, but if you speeck to a local craft store and express your wish to learn and the fact that you would be payshint with the teacher I think most people would be glad to give you a chance. You could recamend the hand over hand methid. This is ware you have your hand's on the neddle, or the teacher has her hands on the neddles and you do the stiches to gether until you have it down. And for the person that started knitting with size eight neddles, I would recamend switching to size 10's, there alot esyer to hold. Also chunky yarn is really good for us begining knitters.
Best of luck,
Tracey
If you go to www.knittinghelp.com there are vidios that a sighted person can watch with you in the room. This is how I learned the longtail cast-on. Also www.knittingpatterncentral.com has a instructions section that may help along with a forum. The nfb has a crafters devision now as well. You have to pay the membership feefor the phone confrence classes but they're taught by a blind lady. The fee is five bucks though. Web braille has some good knitting books by Barbara Walker and Elizabeth Zimmermann. These ladies were well known and are still considered knitting authorities. Also just doing a google search on blind knitters will turn up a few finds especially for the uk. Horizons for the Blind has a decent sized crafting catalog with kits and books in braille or on tape. If I can think of anything else I'll post. Good luck. Tiffany
The knitting pattern Central website also has loads of free knitting patterns to download. Some of them are quite hard though and not very well explained because they've been put up by people who have designed them themselves rather than taken from books.
This has interested me too. There is something you can get that is sort of like knitting. It is called a knifty knitter and most major craft stores like Jo-An fabrics and Michaels carry them. They come in different sizes circles and squares and rectangles as the frame. The frames have stand up pegs that the yarn goes around and once you make one circuit of the frame; you pick up the bottom piece of yarn and bring it up and over the others until its on top.
Also I know of a blind person who puts out braille books with instructions and patterns in it. The books are cheap, like around $10 U.S. and range from basic stuff to harder stuff. I think the name of her site is Copper Dots, but I've the address so I'll have to look it up and post it here for you all if anyone is interested. You do need to be able to read grade 2 bralle because that's what she prints her books in. She also has crochet patterns and instructions too.
Chastity
Okay this is the best I can come up for a direct link to the copper dots page.
http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~rowan
This person is hosting her site so go to the third heading for various links and under there you can click on Margarie's copper dots page.
She prefers orders by phone and yes the address and phone number listed on the site is valid. I checked it out. Payments to be made in U.S. dollars if possible. Just give her the names of the things you're interested in.
Note: there is no copyright listed on either site, so I don't know how old it really is.
Chastity
I have one of those knifty knitters it is pretty easy I think I started about a month ago I do have some sight though my mom showed me how to do it I think I have made 2 scarfs and am started on a third I have messed up several as well though but it just takes alittle practice
chinchillac, thanks for the site. I'm joining a knitting group so these books will be helpful.
i started using the nifty knitter looms about amonth ago. after only 3 days of knitting for a couple hours each, I started to develop callaces on my braille reading fingers. So that was the end of that. Then I tried getting a little hand tool to grab the yarn with to pull it over, but it didn't work so well for me. So now perhaps I will have to check into regular knitting as a blindy.
I learned to do the basic stitch a couple of years ago to have something to do with my hands rather than smoke. lol I had a difficult time learning the pearl stitch and most things seem to require it. I'd love to get back into it again. Talking with a craft store about a class is a great idea. I'm not sure why I didn't think of that so thanks.
I love knitting. I've made almost all the dish towels we have in the house, and when our cupboards can't handle any more, I make them for others. there's always someone around looking for knitted dish towels. I firmly believe they're a better quality than the store bought ones.
I also like to knit scarves and hats, and I'd love to try a sweater one day. Sometimes, if I find some extra yarn lying around, I just knit...whatever, just for the fun of doing something with my hands.
I'm about to start on a baby blanket. I haven't knitted in a very long time so hope I can remember how, or that it's at least like riding a bicycle. lol Any tips for how to pearl? I only learned the knit stitch.
I'm going to start loom knitting. Do any of you do this, or have you ever tried it out?
I am really looking forward to learning and making this a regular hobby. I have never knitted before, so I'm hoping that it's not too complicated to learn. I'd love to make blankets and other things for charity and local hospitals.
I know the basic stich, but nothing else, and I can't cast on at all lol. I do really like it though when I get time and inclination to do it.
I've knitted dozens of dishcloths myself. Neighbor lady likes them especially round Christmas. I'm wondering if there are blind knitters who make skirts blouses and stockings. I'd love to be able to make timeless lovelies for myself. I think for my first garment I'll get some sighted help. Any tips for measuring etc? I don't want to make sweaters. I have a beautiful 18 inch doll who I want to knit for but she's in storage. A hand-knitsed wardrobe for miss dolly would be an accomplishment. I saw the cutest sailor suit pattern for a little boy. I may do that instead. Anyone have some blue and gray yarn they don't want? Tiffany
Hey! I too would love to learn, actually I did discuss this with Mom about a week ago and she told me that it might be hard to knitte cause I'm blind, but I've never done it before, so I don't know... I don't wanna accidently poke myself with a neadle either lol! I will be calling the craft stores in my area and seeing if I can get a person to show me for cheap, cause I don't wanna spend a lot of money learning how to knitte lol! I'm also planning when/if I get good enough to make blankets and things for the homeless so they can sleep at night and not be cold, also for the hospitals and things.
I'll let everyone know how this calling my craft store goes!
Amber
I'm totally blind, and I've been knitting for so long that I don't even have to think about it once I've gotten past the first couple stitches in the row. If you're knitting something that requires you to have a large number of stitches on the needle at once, and you find you're having a hard time keeping track of them, as I often do, try pushing the stiches you're not working with as far to the far end of the needl as possible. That way, the ones closest to you will be a little more spread out. You have to be careful about, I would say, the first three stiches in the row, as well as the last three. Dropped stiches in the middle of rows are really simple to pick up again, but I find it very difficult at the beginning and end of the row. I've never taken a stab at socks/slippers, although I'd love to some day. I just find the idea of working with four needles to be a little nerve wracking. I'm always worried I'm going to drop a stitch. Having said that, i'm sure I'd get used to it once I become more familiar with it.
I am a beginner and mainly know how to make scarfs, pot holders, and square colsters. Yes you need two needles and a coller yarn of your choice. I am not sure if I can discribe it to you because it is difficult, but I will try. Put out your left index and ring fingers. wrap the yarn around them and then push the needlee through. Countinue this about a dozen times. Then turn this needle so the working yarn is in between your two hands. Take the second needle and put it under the front-right of the first loop and move it back-left of your left hand's needle. wrap the yarn behind the needle in the back to the middle then try to move the loop of the needle off the needle in your left hand. Repeat untill all are off the needle in your left hand, switch needles so the one ine in your right hand is in your left and the one in your left is in your right. repeat the method until the scarf or item is as long as you want. If you want a purl stitch instead of a knit simply put the right needle point down through the right side of the loop to the front of the left needle until it is on the left side of the left needle. otherwise the process is the same.
To bind knit (or pearl) two stitches and lift one stitch over the other untill all are off. You will have to cast on on stitch to finish this process.
I have told you what I do know but I must also admit I have bought a book to increase my tallents This is not much for clothing, but it gives more paterns. It is "Learn-to-Knit Afghan Book" by B Barbara Walker. I bought it from the American Printing House.
here is a great website I posted on another board that you can get books in braille and electronic formats to do this.
https://www.blindmicemegamall.com/bmm/shop/Directory_Departments?storeid=1109
I was wondering when someone would mention blindmicemegamall. Nice, Nicky. They have a lot of knitting books. I tried that nifty knitter, but it confused me. How do you do it so the yarn stays on?
I am afraid I have not made it this far in my knitting. I am barely learning how to knit slippers with help from another person to do the last step to use a yarn needle to sew it up.