Good luck with the knitting, Mason. It stinks that your scarf won't be ready for your mom, but I'm sure she'll like which ever gift you give her.

Mom's birthday is tomorrow and I was kind of hoping I could have finished it tonight to give her tomorrow (it's her favorite color), but that's not going to happen. Maybe it'll be ready by her next birthday.

aw it is the thought that counts! good luck with finishing it.

Good luck with the knitting, Mason. It stinks that your scarf won't be ready for your mom, but I'm sure she'll like which ever gift you give her.

aw it is the thought that counts! good luck with finishing it.

Thanks. I'm going to go back at it this morning after I've finished my coffee. Maybe it'll go quicker today. As I have a decent (but not perfect) few rows going this time maybe I can finish it. At this point I refuse to tear it apart again and will just try and make it as best I can. Maybe I can have it finished for her later today or this evening.

good luck and I hope you do not drop any stitches! enjoy

Thanks Jen

Thanks to some online videos by Amy Finlay I think I have a shot at finishing it correctly. One big problem I'd been having and the reason I kept starting over was loose end stitches. I thought it was something that I was doing wrong (well it was sort of). One of her videos shows how to deal with this common problem. I just did a couple of rows using her suggestion and it's much better.

Books are great for information, but videos are fantastic for seeing the technique.

Don't forget to put a picture of the finished item up on JU for us to see!

Getting a start early for next year?

Good luck!  I never learned, and at my age, dont expect to.

Getting a start early for next year?

Could be, but I'm holding out hope that I'll get it finished yet today. Now that I have picked up a few things via the videos it's going much better (and quicker).

I never learned, and at my age, dont expect to.

Never too late to learn something new. Despite the frustrations that go along with learning a new skill, it is quite relaxing.

Heh heh....Yeah, starting especially is a real bitch. The first few row or so after casting on are a pain in the ass, after that it gets easier.

There's a real simple pattern you can do for practice. Grab a set of size 13 needles and one skein on Lion Brand Chenille Thick and Quick, any color. Cast on say about 40 stitches, then go to town in stockinette stitch. (alternate knitted and purled rows). Just keep going 'til it's about 4 ft, then bind off.

That's how I started off. It's a little easier, and while I did occasionaly goof up, it's such a large stitch that it wasn't any big deal unless I dropped one. It's also way, way quicker because of the large size. Really I figured just easier to f--k up the 1st one a little for practice, and do better. Ripping it back out only makes you go crazy.

Good luck, and God go with you.

SPC, I was hoping you'd chime in here. You are one of the ones who inspired me to give it a try.

Your idea sounds a lot easier than mine

I'm working on a red scarf for my mother. Medium worsted weight, size 10 needles, and all garter stitch (the easiest way to go I thought).

I've been working on it off and on all day and it's now about 4 inches long or so (without any dropped stitches). I do think I slipped a couple by mistake as there are two spots with a hole where there shouldn't be one. Looks like a slip stitch to me. Brain fart I guess, but way too far back to unravel to them now.

I shoulda gone with a bulky weight and larger needles, I might be finished already. I started with an even lighter weight and size 6 needles but quickly realized it would take me forever to finish.

I remember my grandmother knitting ALL the time. She kept me in sweaters for sure! Good luck with it, I image it is a peaceful activity once you get the hang of it.

Good luck with it, I image it is a peaceful activity once you get the hang of it.

Thanks. When I was growing up my mother did crochet all the time. Now that I am knitting she wants to start knitting too.

Even through the frustration (and sore hands) of learning, it is quite relaxing and there is a pleasure that comes from seeing the project start to take shape and actually look like something.

What do you call that thing where they spell something out and frame it? Is that needlepoint?

What do you call that thing where they spell something out and frame it? Is that needlepoint?

Yeah, I think so.

Yeah, I think so.

I had a friend who had one hanging in his kitchen (he's a farmer) that said:

A PLUMP WIFE AND A BIG BARN NEVER DID ANY MAN HARM.

I always thought that was cool! lol.

I want want one to frame and put up at work where everybody can see it that says a quote from EmperorofIcecream's that I read on a reply to Dyl. To wit:

EITHER YOU LIKE IT OR YOU HAVEN'T HAD ENOUGH

I think that would be perfect!