Knitting down the generations

The last time I knitted was over 25 years ago when my daughter was born.
But last year I got the news that I was going to be a grandmother so out came the knitting needles and the same pattern that I knitted for my daughter

the last time i knitted was for my grown up son a monkey

Did you knit a monkey or is that a euphemism for your son??

I have a feeling knitting is going to come back into vogue (pun not intended) just taken it up again. Picked an Aran to start with not an ideal start project so have a scalf on the go too, both will be ready for this winter.

Are there any good sites with knitting patterns, wool seems to be cheaper on line than in shops.

I was pleased to see D of C wearing a little angora bolero over her evening dress. They were all the rage for little girls when I was about 9, in pretty pastel colours, and I never did get one. Hope I'll be able to get a pattern easily to indulge the little girls I know.

I learned to knit when I was a child, but never got past the basics; when my youngest son was 8 I taught him all I knew and he's since knitted some amazing things. Husband then got in on the act and now he's the best knitter in the house! In the summer he's very active and in the winter he knits - often swapping patterns with my close friends.

Hi Ladies, my daughter is expecting her first baby (a girl) at the end of May, and this (very) excited new gran to be has been knitting like a crazy woman! Yes, the very first knitted cardigan I've made was one from a lovely pattern that I've had for just over 30 years, and it's the one that I brought my first daughter (her sister) home in from the hospital. I love the pattern it's so easy to make and I must have made about a dozen over the years. I've also made my daughter a little knitted pink angel top, very similar to the one that I brought her home in too! Luckily my daughter loves the jackets I've made and as a recent baby shower present I presented her with a wicker hamper filled with home made knitted baby clothes which she was thrilled to receive. I think that knitting is a great hobby and I'm glad to see so many new lovely patterns available. I suppose I should have chosen my net name as 'knittynora'!!

Hi there My mum taught me how to knit many moons ago but I gave up after a bit. My daughter bought me the new Art of Knitting magazine when it first came out and I am now hooked on it. If anyone had told me twenty years ago that I would be knitting for the grandkids I would have laughed at them.

I would just mention as a knitting shop owner that wool is cheaper on line because they are not paying high rents and business rates and without the customers coming through the doors, all wool shops (including mine) will disappear. Anyway it is OK buying on line but how do you know what the yarn feels like? Wool is very tactile and you get lovely sensations through your finger tips when you pick up something really lovely.

I buy all my wool from my local knitting shop as I can see what the colours actually look like as you don't get the same effect buying on line

your grown up son is a monkey?

I have to travel miles to get knitting wool - my local chemist sells wool!! but with a very limited selection. My daughter-in-law buys hers on line, but being old fashioned I like to feel the wool and get a better idea of the colour. I live in Bournemouth and have to go to Christchurch or Ringwood, both a long bus ride away and I worry that these two shops may be forced to close . Material is also difficult to get. I also sew. We have to travel to a warehouse in the Dorset countryside to obtain quality cloth - Poole has a 'Fabricland' but again the selection and quality is poor.

Have just knitted (some) of the Royal Wedding - bit of a blow when found William in different uniform, so reknitted his jacket, and added extra bling on Harry's. Huge success with 6 year old Alfie - or his teachers - who sent him round 4 classes to 'show and tell' and then sent a 'Good Work' sticker home for me! Now my daughter wants me to knit her Ken and Deirdre!!

Have saved all the favourite knitting patterns from our daughters' younger years, knitted some for (step) grandchildren, and Godchildren (and in one case, one of Godsons who has little boy). Just waiting for the call from one of the girls and will get them out - again!

http://www.allaboutyou.com/craft/pattern-finder/knitting-patterns/designer-knitting-patterns/knit-a-baby-shrug-free-knitting-pattern-40996
The link is to is a lovely little pattern for a simple shrug for little girls
So much more Third Millennium than the matinee jacket idea.

(doesn't the square bracket url thing work for posting links here?)

For traditional and retro knitting patterns and books, dont forget to look in charity shops. Sometimes you have to ask them, and they will have a boxfull under a counter somewhere that no-one ever gets to see.

This is one of my favourite things to do when on holiday in UK (How sad is that?) If I get half an hour to browse on my own, leave hubby resting with the newspaper - or better still if its his turn to make lunch - instead of looking at tatty souvenir shops, check out the local charity shops.

I love knitting - it gives you something to do with your hands while watching telly. When I was pregnant for the first time, my mum knitted a vest for the baby, but she managed to make it without a hold for the baby's head.

I taught two of my grandchildren to knit (one girl, one boy) and they loved it. No-one else had time to show them how.

One of the first things I did when my daughter told me she was expecting, was to get out the knitting needles and old patterns, so when we went out today my 12 week old grandson was wearing a cardigan I knitted for him. I recently heard from one of my friends (we met at antenatal classes 35 years ago) and she told me that she was using a pattern for an angel top which I had given her when we had our daughters.

All my old patterns cost huge sums of money - 15p, etc.! I also have problems getting hold of wool and have to travel 15 miles to a little wool shop in a small town - all I can get locally is buttons.

My grand daughter is left handed, any tips on teaching her how to knit.

hi GrannyJ try showing your daughter by sitting her in front of a mirror while you demonstrate. she copies your reflection - bingo

I've come to the conclusion that unless you live in a city it's nigh on impossible to get fabric by the yard. We had a factory shop in the town until recently but it was mainly curtaining and even it has gone now. Small shops can't afford to keep a really good range so it's more fuel and greenhouse gases on a trip to Glasgow or Edinburgh. I do get good deals from sale rails in, eg: New Look but have to watch for the cut. Anything gored or panelled is useful only for patchwork, unless you're making for a very small child.

A great place for free patterns is

http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory.php

I use it all the time!

I knit a cardigan for my granddaughter that came from a pile of patterns that my mum had used for me and my siblings, so third generation! Also my dgd wore a cardigan that my late mum had knit for my dd - the actual cardigan, not just the same paattern! It was a lovely link through the years as my mum died a couple of years before my dgd was born.
By the way, in case anyone is here from pedants' corner, "knit" or "knitted" for past tense?

Grannyj, my daughter is also left handed but learned to knit right handed no problem? I handed thought of the mirror idea, so just did what i could.