Need some help/suggestions

#1

Hello knitters!

Well, let me start by saying that I’ve been a crochet’er for over 30 years (gasp!). I’ve have tried to teach my self to knit so many times, I can’t even count them. I LOVE to watch people knitting and spend hours sometimes on youtube watching knitting video’s. It looks so easy!! I am pea green with envy. I want to learn to knit so bad I can barely stand it. I’ve tried large needles, small needles, chunky yarn, lace weight. Continental, English, throwing the yarn, you name it, i’ve tried it. but it always feels like trying to speak a foriegn language. No matter what I try, I can’t seem to make my hands want to do it, and my work looks like a 2 year old did it. The needles are cumbersome, and its like I’m trying to knit with my feet. I don’t know if the problem is the fact that I’ve been holding a hook for so many years (can’t teach an old dog new tricks?), or what. but I am determined! Everytime I try, i usually get so frustrated after about 1/2 an hour, and just throw it down. then I scold myself and tell myself “just stick to what you know” and pick up my hook. I’ve never come across a crochet pattern that I couldn’t do, and would consider myself an advanced crocheter. why why why can’t I knit??

Does anybody have any suggestions? maybe some of you knitters had the same problem? please help me, I want to knit!! :hair:

#2

There are many ways to approach this problem. You can buy a video on learning to knit or you can check out your LYS and see if they have any beginning classes for learning to knit. I have crocheted for over 45 years and was taught both around the same time. I love both and you will also so don’t give up!!! Take a class and go from there. Maybe you need the on hands approach that a class gives. For my first pair of socks I took a class and I love making socks and now that I know how I just keep making them. My first pair of socks cost me $68.00, $45 for the class and the rest was yarn. Best investment I made.

#3

If you can do the stitches correctly then you’ve mastered half the battle. My suggestion is to just keep at it and don’t rip out your work. Just keep going. Practice will make it feel more comfortable and your tension gets better, too.

Also… it doesn’t matter which way you knit. You do what works best for you. I was a crocheter and found that english worked better for me when I was learning.

Oh and if you can tension the yarn through your fingers it’ll help, too. If not don’t worry, just keep practicing no matter how it looks. You’ll be able to see the difference from beginning to end of the knitting if you don’t rip it which is really cool. :thumbsup:

#4

I think you’re right. I think I’m giving up to quickly. When I learned to crochet, i took to it in one day, like a duck to water. I guess I’m just expecting that I’ll take to knitting just as quickly. I keep telling myself that if i can crochet SURELY i can knit too. I am so determined to “get” this. My nearest LYS is 50 miles from here, I so wish there was a class I could take. When I first started trying to teach myself, I checked out a video at the library. taught myself how to cast on and do the knit stitch. I can “do” the stitches, it just feels so awkward. I suppose I’m just not giving myself enough time to get the feel for it and get comfortable. I’ll keep trying!

#5

Work for about 15 minutes, then put down your work and go do something else for a while. Just keep going, even if you think you’re not doing it right. It takes time for your hands and fingers to learn what to do, even if your brain knows what they’re supposed to be doing. It just takes practice and patience with yourself.

#6

I was exactly the same way – crocheted for years, always wanted to knit, couldn’t get the hang of it until this year.

For me, the key was realizing that I had to learn on fibers I liked and on good tools. I kept thinking I should use cheap yarn and needles to learn on, and just kept frustrating myself. I wish I wasn’t a fiber snob (I could afford so much more yarn that way!), but trying to work against myself meant I took 42 years to learn to knit.

Find a project to work and learn on that you absolutely love and are dying to wear in fibers you absolutely adore. That will get you over a lot of frustrations. :slight_smile:

Have fun!

#7

Thank you Zina!!! Thank you everyone. I’ve decided to put the hook down for a while (oh the temptation!) and just concentrate on this. I started practicing last night, and took Jan’s advice and just kept going no matter how awful it looked (and believe me…it looks pretty bad). I’m just going to persevere

#8

Have you ever used an afgan hook? Knitting is just like working a row of afgan stitch where the stitches stay on the hook/needle all the way across. The only difference is that the knitting needle doesn’t have a hook on the end to grab the yarn. I use the same hand and finger tension for knitting that I use for crochet. hang in there you’ll get it

#9

Yes actually I have used an afghan hook. I don’t really like tunisian crochet. but you’re right, and it does look a lot like knitting.

but I have an update!!

sticking with it is paying off. I cast on this weekend for a scarf. i’m slow as christmas, and my tension needs some work but I’m doing it!!! I’m really knitting! I’m knitting one row, purling one row ( I never in a million years thought I’d be able to purl!). the first few rows look kinda wonky, but as it gets bigger, it looks better. I may never (probably never) be a master knitter, at least probably never as good as I am at crochet, but that’s ok. I can atleast get good enought that I can do a scarf, or make some squares to sew to gether for an afghan. I’m stoked people!!!

#10

You’ll get better than that, is my bet. Yay! Congrats for you!

#11

Way to go…It will get better. Just remember as long as you are having fun, you are doing a great job.:knitting: :knitting: :knitting: Then the tension will come.

#12

[COLOR=Black][SIZE=5][I]You’re doing great…just keep at it! If you have that much desire to learn, I promise you, you will be just as good at knitting!

Try and find a friend who knits…check out your LYS…many places have a knit-night…everyone is so willing to help out. I was very fortunate to be taught by someone who is just incredible, when it comes to any hand work…she took me under her wing and the rest is history! And…I didn’t learn to knit until I was 49…3 years ago…I really wanted to learn how to crochet, because I think it’s so pretty…especially the doilies! So…I kept at it and have learned and made so many beautiful things…if you have the desire to knit, you will!

My first knitting project was a felted booga bag…so much fun!
Have fun knitting!
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#13

Much like Zina I started knitting with really cheap yarn and crappy needles and it was BEYOND frustrating!!! Then I had a friend who suggested trying a natural fiber yarn and play around with a few different needle types. I’ve found that I like wooden needles the best, with Birch being my favorite :slight_smile: My partner thinks I’m a fiber and needle snob as well, but I’m only willing to knit with what makes me happy :wink: