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At 6:26pm on January 29, 2009, Elianastar said…: Thanks for adding me as a friend. I am honored. And thanks for the compliment about my writing... something I've enjoyed much longer than knitting! LOL!

One additional thing I would add... if you have been using "American" style (holding yarn in your right hand), consider switching over to Continental (yarn in left hand) as soon as possible. I was taught American initially and it was unnecessarily clumsy and frustrating. When I switched to Continental, it made ALL the difference... once I got past the initial learning curve.

If you've done any crocheting, or if think you would ever do any crocheting, it will make that a lot easier too, cuz you hold the yarn in your left hand for that. :-) One reason I found Continental easier was because I had been crocheting for some time before I learned to knit anything. I strongly encourage knitters to learn to crochet as well because it makes beautiful borders on afghans and other projects and can really "polish" a project!

At 4:20pm on January 29, 2009, Elianastar said…: I had similar feelings about knitting. I saw and purchased the Sweater Workshop book first. When it came, I was completely overwhelmed. I read it and put it aside. And then I saw the First Knits book and thought, "This starts at the VERY beginning! It assumes I am completely ignorant! Maybe if I can do THAT, I can do the sweater one."

If you do get First Knits, I encourage you to do EVERY exercise and skip none... even the ones you already feel like you know how to do. Use a smooth, light color, worsted weight yarn, and a size 8 or 9 needle. There was something about knowing I "skipped" over nothing that really gave my confidence a boost!!! Prior to that, I'd tried a zillion ways to figure out knitting in a way that I felt confident with it, and I was always left feeling like someone had "left something out" and I was being "set up."

After I worked through all the tutorials in First Knits, that feeling was gone and I felt excited... for the first time... to really master this knitting thing and had the confidence to really start to explore in a way I hadn't before.

Then, I basically did what Susan did... I swatched with different yarns and tried different pattern stitches from a stitch pattern book, and continued to make scarves and afghans, but used my new stitch patterns rather than just garter or stockinette. I continued with "flat" knitting... no garments like a sleeved sweater... and kept projects small so I could finish them quickly and practice something new more quickly. Scarves and hats and baby stuff are great for that.

I don't generally make promises, but I am confident that once you've worked through the First Knits tutorials, you'll be willing to try out a KAL. I worked one or two tutorials from the book each day that I could and took my time with it. Even with that, I was through it in a couple of weeks, if I remember correctly. I know I was dumbfounded at how quickly I finished and was like, "what? That's it??? That's all there is TO it???... too COOL!" LOL!

It approaches the whole process very systematically, and I think that's why I felt like the "veil had been lifted" and the mystery was gone. :-) If you are like me, you tend to make things more complicated and difficult than they actually are? You'll feel less intimidated with this systematic, logical, paced, approach to basic knitting. And, I predict, you'll join a KAL within two months of finishing the book... tops! :-)

At 3:46pm on January 29, 2009, Susan the Blue Lake Knitter said…: Vikeena, When I did my "practice" knitting, I already had yarn on hand from my crocheting, so I didn't buy any yarn. I guess looking back that was a plus... didn't think about it at the time. I was trying to see if I could do it. I did some knits, did some purls, did some ribbing, did a cable or two, etc. I had just had a total knee replacement, and couldn't do much else, so I had the time on my hands, the hubby was doing laundry and cooking, and I was playing with yarn. Everyone has a different experience, that is mine. If you need any help - just yell.

At 9:08am on January 29, 2009, Susan the Blue Lake Knitter said…: Vikeena,

I posted an answer to your question/comment. If I can be of further assistance, please leave me a message on my page. I'll be more than happy to help - from the other side of the country.