Asked to teach Gdd to knit!

Good luck! 🧶

Your post brings back memories of teaching my dd’s to knit - or attempting to. They’re both left-handed and I’m not. Neither of them have picked up the knitting ‘bug’, sadly.

My dil wants me to teach her to crochet which will also be a challenge - yup, you guessed it, she’s left-handed too!

When I was 5, and suffering - quite mildly - from measles, my aunt came to stay and taught me to knit. To this day, I sometimes repeat the 'mantra' in, over, through, off'. I can't remember how old DS1 was when I showed him how to knit, but he must have been four of five and was a quick learner. He made a scarf for his teddy bear all by himself. He is now 52 and, to my knowledge, has never lifted a knitting needle since!
When I try to crochet, I become all fingers and thumbs and none of them working together.

We were taught knitting and crocheting at primary school, age 6. By age 7 we could knit socks. Pity these crafts are no longer taught at school now.

I attempted to teach both crafts to DDs when they were younger but they found it boring. Now in their forties, they both asked me to teach them again last summer. Success this time and they enjoy their efforts. DD1 has even joined a local knit and natter class.
I also taught both GDs, when they asked me to knit clothes for their dollies, eldest took to it quickly, youngest, ran out of patience. Circular needles are a great invention especially when doing blankets/throws.

I am left-handed and was taught to knit by a right-handed person. I knit right handed but people have said it looks awkward, too late to try to knit left handed now.

😁 not sure about that!!
But she does wear it (I think!)

I’m sure any poncho you made would be lovely, Callistemon!

Of course, different regions of the world have very different knitting methods too.

MawtheMerrier

The ultimate crochet threat - be afraid, sons-in-law, be very afraid!

Thanks for the laugh- yes, enough to put anyone off for a very long time!

I learnt to crochet when spending 7.5 months in hospital aged 19- on my back- no tv, no internet, no phones these days- and knitting needles were too long to use in bed. Just suggested it as it is much easier with regard to 'tension' for a beginner or child, and results are quick too. Squares, hearts, toys.

Urmstongran

When our Boy Wonder was expected my daughter said ‘no home knitteds thanks mum”!
🤣

DIL was thrilled when an elderly person knitted an outfit for DGC1 when she was a baby, so I picked up my needles again and knitted a lot for the DGC until they were about 9 when they preferred sportswear!

Witzend I knitted a poncho for DD not long ago, but in subdued colours; she does wear it. They're very 'in' just now, apparently.

Callistemon21

^Not long ago I saw a young woman on the bus so laboriously lifting the yarn for each stitch - I was dying to show her, but was afraid of being seen as an interfering old bag^

If you see an actor on TV doing that you know for sure they can't really knit.

And there was recently an advert on tv where a woman in a care home was seen knitting a crochet blanket!

That is hilarious!

When our Boy Wonder was expected my daughter said ‘no home knitteds thanks mum”!
🤣

I’m not sure the garish things my housemate made would ever be in vogue, Callistemon. In ‘quieter’ colours, I dare say…

That photo was hilarious Maw!

Not long ago I saw a young woman on the bus so laboriously lifting the yarn for each stitch - I was dying to show her, but was afraid of being seen as an interfering old bag

If you see an actor on TV doing that you know for sure they can't really knit.

And there was recently an advert on tv where a woman in a care home was seen knitting a crochet blanket!

Slight snag there, in that I never learned to crochet - and alas I’m not going to start now. In fact I really don’t like the look of crochet - very unreasonable of me, I know, but it’s probably down to a pre-marriage housemate who was forever crocheting the most hideous, garishly coloured things - usually ponchos, which I had to pretend were lovely. I lived in dread of her presenting me with one - and having to wear it!

They're retro and very in vogue now, Witzend
I find crocheting more soothing than knitting, having taught myself during lockdown.

Witzend I was taught to knit like the young woman you saw on the bus, I think: holding the active needle in one hand and the other to loop the yarn round it.I did get up a fair rhythm and speed eventually. I wonder if it’s a common knitting hold elsewhere. I’ve read of a ‘continental’ style. But I always felt it must be ‘wrong’ as it seemed less efficient.

I have a photo of my Mum teaching our older two DC to knit. Mum was an excellent, avid knitter, sadly neither of them took to it.

Our DGS thought he'd like to try when he was about 7 and seemed to pick it up well, did a few rows then said "This is boring, can I go out to play".

Younger DGD seemed keen, was doing well and wanted to knit a coat for the dog in squares; she took the first square home to carry on, apparently dropped stitches and that was the end of that. 🤔

Good luck, Witzend, who knows, your DGD may take after you 🙂

The ultimate crochet threat - be afraid, sons-in-law, be very afraid!
😂

I have promised my DGD (8) I will teach her to sew if she likes when she comes. However, her great-aunt is a fabulous needlewoman, but if I just teach her some basics, it can't do any harm. When she was only 6 we did some French knitting which she cottoned on to immediately, but we couldn't do much because she only had a children's set and it was an impractical, unwieldy wooden needle and even I couldn't get on with it.

It will be easier to teach DGS (also 8) which I may well do. He is fascinated by the sewing machine and lives nearer and we see them more often.

I'd love to hear how everyone gets on with this: which is a good age to start, how you keep their attention, etc.

Thanks for that, Gymstagran, I’m sure I’ve got a pattern for wrist warmers somewhere!

I've suggested learning to knit as an activity with granddaughters next week too. They have tried before but I've found a pattern for wrist warmers that is quick and easy. Will fill an hour on so I guess.

My GM taught me to knit in the forties. In those days knitted dish cloths were often used. She bought me dishcloth wool which was off white in colour and quite thick. I remember her saying “you make me feel quite weak “ as I pulled the wool around in a very loose fashion. However, I really enjoyed it dropped stitches and all. When I was about 12 I set about knitting a blanket for my baby cousin. My mother bound it in ribbon. My gran remarked that she couldn’t believe I had knitted it as she remembered my early attempts. That blanket was well used on a daily basis.
Unexpectedly, my gs asked me to teach him to knit when he was about 6 and he saw me knitting. He had a good go at it and managed quite well. However, he didn’t continue as other things took over. Not like my friend’s father who knitted all their jumpers etc. I remember dh looking at me knitting and saying he wished he could do that. I hope you have a lovely, cosy time with your gch and she remembers the lovely time she spent with her granny, dropped stitches and all.

MawtheMerrier

The ultimate crochet threat - be afraid, sons-in-law, be very afraid!

Eeeek!

I know I put drops in my eye this morning, but I really thought the thread title was "Asked to teach God to knit".

MawtheMerrier

The ultimate crochet threat - be afraid, sons-in-law, be very afraid!

Love the one on the left!

I was never taught crochet but was knitting at 5 so can't be that difficult