From the article: Learn to Knit
All of us came to knitting through different pathways and for different reasons, whether because a loved one taught us how or because we wanted to learn to make gifts for family members and friends. Whatever the reason you learned to knit, share your story about why and how you learned to knit here. Share Your Story
Wannabe Surgeon
- I am a young medical student who aspires to be a surgeon. Aside from the obvious relaxation factors, knitting remains to be one of the most productive hobbies I can have to develop and improve my manual coordination and dexterity.
- —Guest MD
Babies
- I was pregnant with my first child when my cousin taught me to knit booties with four needles. She said if I could use four I could knit anything. I am 85 and that was 64 years ago. I am still knitting booties for great grandchildren. I have seven grandsons, one granddaughter and seven great granddaughters. I love the little sweaters I knit for them from an old pattern from the 50's.
- —Guest Shirley
Why Not?
- I was originally a crocheter. My sister in law once asked "Why not learn to knit?" and suggested that I finish a scarf that she had started but could not finish due to carpal tunnel syndrome. I now am teaching others the basic knit and purl that I know very well. So far, that is all I know. I am hoping to take some lessons with a local teacher or one of the experts where I work.
- —Guest carmen
Determination!
- I had tried to learn to knit at age 12, but could not keep it loose enough to get it off the needle. After my daughter was born, I was determined to learn to knit so I could make her sweaters. I bought Evie Cohen's "Learn to Knit" book and off I went! Her talkative style was just right. My daughter is now 25.
- —kaykatrn
Cable Stitch Leads Me To Knitting
- I started out as crocheter, doing dollies and table clothes. When i was shopping one day, i came across a cable knitted sweater, and I was amazed by the patterns. I learned the basic stitches at age 18 and my first project, a sweater, was a failure. I stopped for a while and went into cross stitch. After doing 3 patterns, i realized i did not like cross stitch and went back to knitting again. This time, i refered to reference books and learn the basic stitches again. I have made dozens of scarves, afghans and shawls for my family members and friends.
- —shirleyobl
The Distraction of Socks
- I learned back in 1963 when I was working with some R.N.'s in surgery who were knitters. My fiancee was in the Army and the nurses felt I should learn to knit to use up my 'off time' so I wouldn't be worrying about him. I learned on argyle socks of all things! #1 needles, carrying bobbins, etc. But learn I did and I've been knitting ever since. Socks are still my favorite thing to knit. There's always a pair on my needles. And yes, the argyles were for my fiancee who's now been my husband for 45 years, and he still has the socks! They were worth the work that went into them!
- —Guest Sharon
Knitting for War Babies
- In second grade we sewed little needle cases for boys' wartime kit bags. In the third grade we knitted soakers for war shelter babies. The next project was a little sweater to match. I have been knitting ever since.
- —Guest maggierose
Yarn Love
- I learned to knit when I was a scout. I waited a long time before I picked it up again. In college I made socks with the help of an upper classman. My father endured wearing (probably only one time) some rather "bumpy" socks. Now I knit all year and design a lot. My weakness is yarn. I go to a local shop and want all the new ones.
- —Guest Martha
Lifelong Love and Extra Income
- My grandma taught me to knit when I was five years old. Throughout my life, I've had knitting projects. Now retired and on a fixed income, I began knitting scarves to sell at craft sales. Later I branched into ribbon yarn scarves and shawls, and this year am making beaded necklaces of ribbon yarn. The extra income has made it possible to squeak through the month sometimes! My mother knit beautiful sweaters in complicated patterns. She would read and knit, which I do, also. It's a great passtime. I have taught my five grandchildren to knit, also. Fun!!
- —Ember35
Learned 72 Years Ago
- At age 8 I knew how to crochet, but a friend of my mom's was a knitter. She taught me how when I was 9. I am now 81 and I knit for fun, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
- —Guest Martha Thomas
Knitting Taught in School in Finland
- In my country, Finland, every child has to learn to knit at primary school. So if I had not learned before starting school, I would have learned at the latest by then. But I learned at the age of five because it looked so interesting watching my mother knit.
- —Guest Tuula
To Be "Grown Up"
- My mother and grandmother were wonderful knitters. I would sit in my grandmother's kitchen and watch them knit and listen to them talk. When I was about 8, my grandmother finally agreed to let me try, so she gave me a little ball of leftover worsted (those were very thrifty days) and a pair of red plastic needles. I knit mostly the occasional pair of slippers until I went to college. The girl in the dorm room next door was knitting an aran poncho, so I picked up my needles again, bought 2 skeins of yarn from the "dime store", taught myself to cable and made scarves as Christmas gifts for my boyfriend and my mother. When my first child was born, it took me almost a year to finish a little sweater for him and I put the knitting away for a few years. Then a friend introduced me to the concept of the "local yarn shop", I discovered the amazing variety of beautiful yarn, and I was off & running again!
- —aweinh25
Cloth Diapering
- I learned to knit after looking for cloth diaper covers and realizing how expensive they can be. I knew my hubby would not like to pay so much for something that was adding extra work so after searching online on how to save money cloth diapering I stumbled onto people talking about felting their own wool soakers. I tried that, it didn't work, so I found patterns at Little Turtle Knits. They were cheap, about $3.50 per soaker and I found I liked knitting. :) I've finally branched out to socks and even knit my first sweater for my 3-year-old daughter. It's much less stressful to wait in lines or waiting rooms when I've got a little project to work on. People stop and ask me questions and I'm not flustered if it's a long wait. :)
- —Guest Julie
the stress sweater
- My favorite Aunt taught me to knit when I was about 10. Fast forward 20 years. My kids brought home a teen-aged friend who had big problems. He was living with a physically abusive stepfather. His grandmother in Hawaii wanted him to come back and live with her, but there were legal delays and problems. I went to court and obtained temporary custody of this boy. He lived with us while we waited for the legal strings to unknot themselves. There's a big time difference between Vermont and Hawaii. Night after night i waited till 10:00 or 11:00 "my time" so I could call his grandmother in Hawaii. And while I waited, I knitted ... a great big brown sweater. Miles and miles of stockinette stitch. The perfect thing to keep my hands busy and the anxiety at bay. We all began to call it "the stress sweater". 20 years later, though I never wear it, it still has a place of honor in my closet. And since then, I knit constantly.
- —Guest vickib
Why I learned to knit
- I had no choice. July 3, 1946. I awakened that morning with polio. It had struck the right side of my body from the neck down to the bottom of my right foot. My Mom and Grandmother decided I must do something besides just "lay there." It was determined I would learn to knit and crochet....Before I drove everyone, including myself, crazy. Also, they figured I would be able to support myself after I was grown if I were not able to get around well. Thank GOD, I can walk and my arms and hands work. But, truthfully, I believe learning knit and crochet were just the things I needed to keep me active, occupied and did not allow me to lay there in self pity and real depression.
- —Guest Patricia
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