Knitting for Knumptys

[Weasel Mender]

I have decided to attempt knitting, even with my ogerish ham-hands and ham-fingers. My wife has said "not only no, but hell no I will not even try to teach you" this was after a crocheting disaster So do I start with a book, or at Michels, or should I just and buy hose, garters, and sweaters from others?

Weasel

[ChattanCat]

You can do it! I am 6' 5" and have undertaken kilting and weaving. Just think of the football jocks that turn to knitting after they retire...

[TheKiltedWonder]

I have what a dear friend has termed "fat fingers". She didn't believe they existed till she saw mine. Yet I've perservered through learning to knit and am pretty decent. So don't give up on your ham-fingers. I'd start at a crafts store. Something like knitting can quickly lead to frustration. Having human guidance will cut down on initial frustration and make you less likely to give up. Who walks out halfway through a lesson? Even if you want to, you won't. So I vote for Michel's; it'll hopefully keep you knitting.

[Rex_Tremende]

There are several beginning knitter books written for men. Titles include: Men Who Knit & The Dogs Who Love Them: 30 Great-Looking Designs for Man & His Best Friend; Son of Stitch 'n B***h: 45 Projects to Knit and Crochet for Men; The Knitting Man(ual): 20+ Projects for Guys; and Knitting With Balls: A Hands-On Guide to Knitting for the Modern Man.

Have fun,
Rex.

[The Wizard of BC]

I will second the idea that you find someone to teach you in person. That is the way it has been taught for centuries and is still the best.
You must be able to find a yarn shop nearby. Walk in and ask to speak to someone from the local knitting guild.

I find knitting to be very calming. And you can do it almost anywhere. Sitting in the doctors office. Airport waiting rooms. Your local coffee shop.

Next to the kilt a guy sitting and knitting is the next best babe magnet.

Oh wow! Idea, A guy in a kilt, knitting, with a puppy playing at his feet. You'd have to have a stick to beat them off.

[pipesndrumsnun]

You can do it!

[BozemanboB]

I started knitting two months ago, and I'm presently within a couple of hours of completing my first pair of hose. (It helps that I'm sort of an over-achiever when it comes to learning new hobbies.)

Upsides: the gals at my favorite knitting shop adore me. I'm a guy, I learned only two months ago and I'm already knitting hose, I'm sociable, I wear a kilt, I hang out with a shopful of knittin' women on knit nights and I go right along with all their conversations (which can be a bit weird at times, but certainly educational!), and my wife loves that they're all jealous of her because she had the luck and skill to marry a real gem!

It's e-a-s-y to learn to knit. All decent yarn shops offer classes - as does Michael's, in case you have one nearby. You'll start with a scarf, which quickly becomes frustrating, then rewarding, then boring, then rewarding. Then you'll increase the complexity by knitting a scarf with a cable or rib pattern. Then you should do a hat with ribs and cables 'cause you'll learn decreases or increases and knitting in-the-round, and you can challenge yourself to learn more on every project. What's gonna happen if you mess up? Ha! Nothing!! You just try again!

Books are good. But learning from an experienced knitter who's excited to teach a man [in a kilt] how to knit is THE way to go.

I knit everywhere I can get away with it. My wife and I go to bars and knit. The guys give me funny looks like they think I'm a poofter, but then their girlfriends/wives say "Oh! Look! A guy knitting! My grandmother taught me to knit when I was a girl... (sigh) I should go back to knitting again..." And then the guy who gave me a funny look is jealous that his gal finds me attractive, and he no longer thinks I'm a goof for knitting. Trust me - it's true!!

Alright, I'll stop now. I think I've successfully communciated my enthusiasm for knitting...


boB

[auld argonian]

Maybe start by looking at some of these:

http://www.knittinghelp.com/videos/learn-to-knit

...might be helpful...as Steve mentioned, it has always been a person-to-person thing. My mom started teaching my brother and me how to knit when we were about ten...I think that she thought that it was "cute".

...and will those sticks to beat the chicks off be available from the Freedom Kilts website? I certainly don't need one but I might need to give my son one for Christmas.

Best

AA

[Jennifer D]

I agree with the suggestion to have someone teach you in person. Yarn shops are a great place to ask but don't forget your local library. The one I worked in had a knitting group and they were great about teaching people to knit. I tried to learn once, I should try again. Be sure to let us know about your progress.

[Fedgunner]

Oh wow! Idea, A guy in a kilt, knitting, with a puppy playing at his feet. You'd have to have a stick to beat them off.

My wife said, "Without fail!!!"