beginners knitting

[sntm]

I am finally going to learn to knit. I've ordered Knitting for Dummies, signed up at a local store for lessons, and bought the highly tempting Hanna cotton yarn.

What do I need to know? Any good patterns to start with? My goal is sweaters and things, but I'm not sure I will get to that point before this winter. And most of the books of patterns I've seen are for babies -- any for toddlers and young children?

TIA!
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shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03

[christic]

I like to browse the patterns at www.theknittinggarden.com Rowan and Debbie Bliss especially. The Rowan Babies book actually has patterns up to age 5. I'm almost done with a poncho out of there and they have some really cute boy stuff too. At Knitting Garden you can also search the patterns by type and pull a list of boy patterns (mostly sweaters) or find a some hat/mitten/scarf patterns for kids under Misc. Difficulty levels are shown also.

It also helps to find some other people to knit with once the class is over.

Good luck!

[sntm]

This is so confusing! I have my first class Monday.

How much yard do projects usually take? I was looking at the Debbie Bliss cashmerino on ebay and they sell in packs of 10.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03

[christic]

Well of course it depends on the project but most will not take as much as 10. If you look here http://www.theknittinggarden.com/db-bookbabycash.htm at the hooded striped top the biggest size fits a toddler 12-18 mos and only needs six skeins, 3 in each of the colors. Knitters are known though for collecting yarn they don't quite know what to do with ;). Baby cashmerino makes great booties (that usually doesn't even take up 1 skein) so it can be nice to just have around.

Good luck at your class!

[sntm]

Good, they were going to quickly get unaffordable!

I learned to cast on and knit and purl today and it looked really pretty! I got lots of compliments from all the ladies at the shop. Guess all that suturing prepped me for something! I'm making a scarf as my homework project. I also stopped by the library and picked up half a dozen pattern books. I am hooked already. I wish I could start a sweater now! That pattern you linked to was one I was eyeing earlier -- it would be perfect for Jack. I'll have to start looking for sales on yarn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03

[Momof3Labs]

Shannon, check out www.elann.com. You have to watch the yardage on the yarn (a skein is not always a skein) but they have some wonderful specialty yarns at great prices. No, I don't knit, but I crochet, and crocheters collect yarn, too!

[Melanie]

A friend has this site: http://woolywonder.com/

I don't know how prices compare or how the classes work b/c I can't purl yet, but I thought you might want to check it out.

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif