!), and other items I enjoy or are on my wish list!
The pink swatches in the first photo were made last weekend as I followed the directions in My Knitting Teacher for the Knit and Purl stitches and binding off. If you know anything about knitting, you can see that the Purl stitch swatch is incorrect - it should look like rows of Vs (I think that's because I didn't have the yarn in front).
Last night while watching The Shield on DVD (it's an excellent show - so riveting!), I started again from the beginning. I practiced casting on until I could do it (almost) rhythmically, then I practiced Knit and Purl, alternating K 2 P 2, slip stitch, and binding off. I pulled out the swatch several times until I was comfortable. The swatch in the second (right side) and third (wrong side) photos was started when I wanted to see how my tension was (pretty good!), and after a while I moved on in the booklet to yarn overs, increasing, and decreasing.
The My Knitting Teacher booklet is easy to follow - and provides instructions for left- and right-handers. In addition to 15 patterns (some outdated), instructions for casting on, knit stitch, purl stitch, slip stitch, and binding off, the booklet includes instructions on reading patterns, joining new yarn (different or same color), casting on while work is in progress, correcting errors, picking up stitches along an edge, making a cable, working with circular needles, knitting with four needles, working from charts, stranding (carrying yarn across the wrong side), finishing techniques, and making tassels, fringe, pom-pons, and twisted cords.
A few things I've noticed about knitting vs. crocheting:
- Crocheting (for me) is much faster. The larger knitted swatch took about 1.5 hours! I could have crocheted about 5 granny squares (7-8 inches wide) in that amount of time!
- Knitting gives my hands a different workout - they were tingling all over when I stopped practicing last night!
- Knitting needs more of my attention - and that's not even trying to follow a pattern.
- Knitting splits yarn more than crochet (i.e., partial bits of the yarn strand is more easily accidentally picked up instead of the whole strand).
- Knitting creates a softer, stretchier fabric than crocheting when the same yarn is used.
Sounds like a great book. I picked up a very short beginner's guide yesterday because I won't get far knowing only how to knit and purl. I want to learn! My mom picked up a Knitting for Dummies book that I should have soon. Can't wait!
P.S. I noticed the yarn splits too - wasn't sure whether it was the yarn I chose or because I kept pulling it out and restarting. Or just because. :)